Derby enthusiasm conquers Florence

Dag Jenkins

Jan 9, 20244 min read

Season 2004-05

Game 18, Serie A

Sunday, January 9, 2005

Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence

Fiorentina Lazio 2-3

After defeating Roma, the Biancocelesti continue on the waves of enthusiasm and win against La Viola.

The season started with a 0-3 defeat by Milan in the Supercoppa final. In the league Lazio earned 7 points in the first 3 games, with two away wins, but then started struggling. In the next four games the Biancocelesti only managed to muster one point (away draw at Bergamo). Lazio then beat Messina 2-0 at home but after that only earned 6 points in the next 8 games.

After the defeat to Udinese, on December 19, Caso was sacked and replaced by Giuseppe Papadopulo, another former Lazio player. He faced a difficult task especially as his first game was the derby. Lazio however surprisingly thumped Roma 3-1 with goals by Di Canio, César and Rocchi.

Lazio were currently 15th on 20 points, four above the drop zone but with a more positive outlook.

A balanced game was expected today but Lazio went up to Florence on the waves of enthusiasm after unexpectedly triumphing in the derby. It was also the 105th anniversary of their foundation, January 9 1900.

The match

A cold day in Florence with about 30,000 spectators.

Fiorentina were without midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata and forward Giampaolo Pazzini. Lazio had defenders Luciano Zauri and Fernando Couto unavailable.

Lazio started better than the Viola. In the 4th minute César had a dangerous shot saved into corner by Cristiano Lupatelli.

Lazio looked more organised and balanced than Fiorentina but it was then the hosts who took the lead in the 21st minute. Christian Riganò chested the ball down and teed up Fabrizio Miccoli on the edge of the area who with a low strike to Angelo Peruzzi's right put the Gigliati ahead. Fiorentina 1 Lazio 0.

The game now changed with Fiorentina far more confident. They almost doubled their lead twice with Enzo Maresca in the 30th and 32nd minutes but Peruzzi denied the future Chelsea manager.

Then against the run of play Lazio equalised. In the 33rd minute Antonio Filippini put Paolo Di Canio in front of the keeper and he chipped him with a clever touch. There were however huge doubts over his position which seemed offside. The goal was given though and Lazio were level.

Fiorentina then attacked for most of the remainder of the half with an abundance of crosses for Riganò and a deflected Mirko Savini shot which shaved the post. Halftime Fiorentina 1 Lazio 1.

After halftime Peruzzi did not reappear, obviously injured, and was replaced by Matteo Sereni.

Lazio came back on with renewed energy but again it was Fiorentina who went closer to scoring when Miccoli hit the crossbar. Lazio however responded with a Tommaso Rocchi effort from near the penalty spot which went wide to the right by a whisker.

In the 60th minute Lazio replaced Di Canio with Goran Pandev. It was the right move as a minute later the Macedonian scored. A Pandev-Liverani one-two put him in front of the keeper but between two defenders, however he did well and curled a low left foot past Lupatelli. Fiorentina 1 Lazio 2.

The Viola reacted but the Lazio defence controlled their most dangerous player Miccoli well.

In the 69th minute the home side brought on an out and out striker Javier Portillo for midfielder Jaime Valdes.

Lazio controlled and in the 82nd minute struck again. Savini lost the ball in midfield and Pandev charged forward on the right before moving towards the centre and setting up Ousmane Dabo at the edge of the box, the Frenchman placed a surgical low right foot in the bottom left hand corner. Fiorentina 1 Lazio 3. Lazio home and dry? No.

In the 85th minute Miccoli confirmed to be the main danger man and pulled one back. Riganò headed across goal where the Salentino hammered a right foot under the crossbar from close range. Again, as in Lazio's leveller, there were strong suspicions of offside, both by the striker and by another Viola player obstructing Sereni's view, but the flag stayed down. Fiorentina 2 Lazio 3.

Lazio reacted by taking off forward Rocchi and putting on midfielder Christian Manfredini.

The last minutes were thrilling with both sides almost scoring. First César put in a perfect low cross for Pandev in front of goal but, challenged by a defender, he could not get enough power on his shot and the keeper saved. Fiorentina then shaved the post with a powerful Maresca drive from the edge of the box. The triple whistle was met with huge celebrations by the Lazio players and the thousands of travelling fans. Final score Fiorentina 2 Lazio 3.

A second consecutive win for Lazio after the memorable derby win. The team had battled hard and César and Pandev in particular had been outstanding. Things were suddenly looking up and Lazio climbed to joint 10th with Reggina, overtaking Fiorentina on 22. The relegation zone was now a more comforting seven points away.

Who played for Fiorentina

Lupatelli, Ujfalusi, Viali, Savini, Maggio, Maresca, Obodo, Chiellini, Miccoli, Valdes (69' Portillo), Riganò

Substitutes: Roccati, Delli Carri, Helguera, Di Livio, Piangerelli, Fantini

Manager: Buso

Who played for Lazio

Peruzzi (46' Sereni), Oddo, Siviglia, Giannichedda, E. Filippini, A. Filippini, Dabo, Liverani, César, Di Canio (60' Pandev), Rocchi (85' Manfredini)