Game 7, Serie A
Saturday, October 13, 2001
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Atalanta 2-0
A lucky own goal and a rare Fernando Couto strike give Lazio flattering 2-0 win
The season had started with three lacklustre draws which led the club to substitute manager Dino Zoff with Alberto Zaccheroni. Since then, the Biancocelesti had not really improved and had drawn one (Parma 0-0 at home) and lost one (Milan 0-2 away), their other game away to Chievo had been postponed due to an icy pitch. So, Lazio were on a meagre four points after five games.
Today Lazio desperately needed a win to kick start their so far disappointing season.
The match
A 40,000 crowd at the Olimpico despite Lazio's difficulties.
Lazio were still without Alessandro Nesta and Hernan Crespo.
Atalanta started well and put pressure on Lazio. They had two penalty appeals waved away by the referee and generally attacked more, Angelo Peruzzi saving low with his feet on Cristiano Doni. Lazio had a Stefano Fiore shot and a Claudio Lopez effort and header go wide. In the 31st minute Luca Saudati hit the post with a powerful shot, the ball then hit Angelo Peruzzi's head and went out for a corner. In the 42nd minute another stroke of luck helped the Biancocelesti. On a Lopez shot from outside the area the ball was deflected by Massimo Paganin's backside and changed direction, giving Massimo Taibi no chance. Lazio 1 Atalanta 0. A slightly flattering scoreline for Lazio who had not done much to deserve the lead.
For the second half there were no changes. The Orobici also continued to have superior territorial and ball possession.
In the 65th minute Karel Poborsky replaced Fiore and in the 68th, for Atalanta, Ousmane Dabo and Fausto Rossini came on for Alessandro Rinaldi and Luca Saudati.
In the 71st minute on a rare attacking excursion Lazio scored again. Lopez was free down the left wing and put in a low cross which Fernando Couto lunged into in front of goal and made it two. Lazio 2 Atalanta 0. A clinical Lazio now well in control.
In the 75th minute Corrado Colombo took a subdued Gianni Comandini's place. A minute later the replacement almost immediately pulled one back for the Dea. A long ball into the area was headed back across goal to Colombo but his header came back off the crossbar. It was not looking like Atalanta's day.
Lazio made two more substitutions, Darko Kovacevic for Simone Inzaghi in the 78th and Paolo Negro, back from injury, for Giuseppe Pancaro in the 80th.
Atalanta had another dangerous header saved into corner by Peruzzi and then, having had their chances and not scoring, Atalanta slowly faded, despite still attacking until the end. Final score Lazio 2 Atalanta 0.
By far a vintage performance by Lazio but a morale boosting three points. Star signing Gaizka Mendieta had been disappointing again but luckily Fabio Liverani and Giuliano Giannichedda had played well. Lazio would have to play better to get anything out of the season as they would not always have today's dose of luck on their side.
Who played for Lazio
Peruzzi, F. Couto, Stam, Favalli, Mendieta, Giannichedda, Liverani, Pancaro (80' Negro), Fiore (65' Poborsky), C. Lopez, Kovacevic (78' S. Inzaghi)
Substitutes: Marchegiani, D. Baggio, De La Peña, Stankovic
Manager: Zaccheroni
Who played for Atalanta
Taibi, Paganin, Sala, Carrera, Rinaldi (68' Dabo), Zenoni, Berretta, Doni, Zauri, Saudati (68' Rossini), Comandini (75' Colombo)
Substitutes: Pinato, Rustico, Natali, Orlandini
Manager: Vavassori
Referee: Bertini
Goals: 42' C. Lopez, 71' F. Couto
Sources
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