Finally a point

Season 1996-97

Game 3, Serie A

Saturday, September 21, 1996

Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan

Inter Lazio 1-1

Lazio get off the mark with a deserved and hard-fought draw in Milan

The Serie A campaign had started very badly with two defeats (Bologna 0-1 away and Udinese 0-1 at home). Lazio were bottom with Verona. Today was the third fixture and was a traditionally difficult game away to Inter.

Inter had won two out of two in Serie A, Udinese 1-0 away and Perugia 1-0 at home. The Nerazzurri were top with Bologna and Roma.

Back to Serie A Inter were strong favourites today.

The match

A big crowd of 65,000 came up to north-west Milan for this big Saturday game.

The hosts had no injury worries apart from defender Fabio Galante while Lazio only had defender Alessandro Grandoni and midfielder Giorgio Venturin unavailable. The two sides were basically fielding their strongest line-ups.

Lazio started better and were more positive. Beppe Signori put a cutting freekick onto the far post but Paolo Negro came sliding in just a little late.

Inter responded with a Jocelyn Angloma-Youri Djorkaeff combination but the Frenchman from Guadalupe's low shot, following a clever back heel by the Frenchman of Polish-Armenian origins, was saved into corner by Luca Marchegiani.

Signori then uncharacteristically sliced a golden opportunity in front of Gianluca Pagliuca on a Paul Okon cross. Lazio played well with fast, precise moves. Signori again wasted a good chance when he was unable to control the ball in front of goal.

In the 33rd minute Signori remembered he was top Serie A scorer and put Lazio in front. Pavel Nedved teed up the number eleven with a perfect through ball on the left side of the area and Beppe-gol did not miss with a low left footer on the far post. Inter 0 Lazio 1. A well-deserved lead so far.

Inter struggled to be dangerous but seven minutes later equalised from a set piece. Maurizio Ganz floated a freekick in from near the left corner flag and Angloma rose higher than anyone and headed past Marchegiani. Inter 1 Lazio 1.

Lazio almost took back the lead immediately but Diego Fuser's low freekick was parried into corner near the right-hand post by Pagliuca. Half time 1-1 but Lazio should have been in front.

Inter came on more determined after the break. Ciriaco Sforza had a low effort saved by Marchegiani with his feet early on.

Lazio responded with a Nedved low cross which Gigi Casiraghi lunged to but could not make contact. Inter then had an almost identical opportunity but Ivan Zamorano was unable to get to Sforza's pass.

Both sides made changes, first Guerino Gottardi replaced Beppe Favalli in the 54th minute and then former Lazio, Aron Winter came on for Ganz in the 58th.

The Dutchman was immediately active as he set up Djorkaeff but Marchegiani with perfect timing dived at his feet and clutched the ball.

Then Lazio had a glorious chance with Fuser who, after a one-two with Roberto Rambaudi, had a clear sight of goal just inside the area but on his wrong foot and it went wide.

Lazio then decided to try with both previous season's top scorers and threw on Igor Protti for Casiraghi in the 62nd minute.

Inter now attacked more. Marchegiani was forced to come out of the area to challenge Sforza in the air and then Djorkaeff was fouled by José Antonio Chamot. On the subsequent freekick Inter appealed for a penalty as Djorkaeff 's curling shot was blocked by Chamot's arm. Today it would be a clear penalty but at the time it was judged unintentional.

Inter tried to win the game putting on Marco Branca for Zamorano in the 75th minute while Lazio took off Okon for Roberto Baronio in the 81st.

Alessandro Nesta walled two Djorkaeff close range efforts and then Branca tried to steal the show with a bicycle kick but did not hit it perfectly and Marchegiani caught it comfortably. Final score Inter 1 Lazio 1.

An enjoyable game, physical but not dirty despite Lazio's seven bookings compared to Inter's one. Lazio had been superior in the first half while the hosts had more of the second. A draw was probably a fair result in the end.

A good point for Lazio who were no longer bottom of the table. Inter were still top as both Roma and Bologna had lost, but the Nerazzurri were now in the company of Juventus and Parma on seven points.

Who played for Inter

Pagliuca, Angloma, Fresi, Paganin II, Pistone, Zanetti, Ince, Djorkaeff, Sforza, Zamorano (75' Branca), Ganz (58' Winter)

Substitutes: Mazzantini, Bergomi, Carbone, Festa, Berti

Manager: Hodgson

Who played for Lazio

Marchegiani, Negro, Nesta, Chamot, Favalli (54' Gottardi), Fuser, Okon (81' Baronio), Nedved, Rambaudi, Casiraghi (62' Protti), Signori