Lazio-Auxerre 1-0

Season 1997-98

UEFA Cup, Quarter Final, First Leg

Tuesday, March 3, 1998

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio-Auxerre 1-0

A Gigi Casiraghi second half goal gives Lazio slim lead

In the UEFA Cup Lazio had started in the round of 64 and comfortably won 6-1 on aggregate against Vitória Guimarāes. Then came the Russians Rotor who Lazio defeated 3-0. In the last 16, on November 25, Lazio had then won 2-0 in Vienna against Rapid with goals by Gigi Casiraghi and Roberto Mancini. Tonight was the first leg of the quarterfinals.

In the UEFA Cup Auxerre had eliminated Deportivo La Coruña 2-1, OFI Crete 5-4 and Twente 3-0, all on aggregate.

Their main danger man was prolific goal scorer Stéphane Guivarc'h. Another player to look out for and who would later play in Italy was midfielder Sabri Lamouchi.

The match

Ticket owned by Dag Jenkins, photo by Dag Jenkins

About 30,000 fans turned up for this quarter final clash.

Lazio had more or less their strongest team out for this game.

The first half was very blocked. The French played with a very defensive 3-5-1 and Lazio, despite attacking for most of the half, had difficulty creating any major threats. The only excitement was a penalty appeal by Lazio at the end of the half for what appeared to be a clear foul by Diomede on Beppe Pancaro and a Giorgio Venturin shot parried by Lionel Charbonnier.

The AJA were quick on the break but Alessandro Nesta was superb in keeping Stéphane Guivarc'h quiet. The "Diplomats" had one chance but Bernard Diomede's lob went high. Half time 0-0.

In the second half Lazio pushed forward even more aggressively but a Mancini shot went wide and an Alen Boksic low effort was parried by Charbonnier.

In the 62nd minute Eriksson decided it was time to go for a more attacking line-up and put forward Gigi Casiraghi on for midfielder Giorgio Venturin.

The move paid off immediately as in the 63rd minute Casiraghi scored. Pavel Nedved crossed from the left, keeper Charbonnier and defender Franck Rabarinovy hesitated and Gigi "Tyson" Casiraghi volleyed in acrobatically near the far post. Lazio 1 Auxerre 0.

Lazio now hoped to build on their lead but their hopes were stunted almost immediately as in the 67th minute Vladimir Jugovic was sent off for a second yellow for dissent.

Three minutes later Eriksson reorganised the team taking off a subdued Mancini and throwing on a more defensive Dario Marcolin.

There followed a period where the French could have equalised. First Luca Marchegiani saved well on a powerful, low Guivarc'h effort and then Diomede hit the crossbar with a curling left-footed free kick from the right side of the area.

Lazio weathered the storm and then led by Nedved started to attack again.

The French strangely made no changes at all while Lazio made a last substitution in the 85th minute bringing on Guerino Gottardi for Alen Boksic.

The last two attempts were shots by Nedved but Charbonnier was safe. Final score Lazio 1 Auxerre 0.

A result difficult to evaluate. On the positive side Lazio had not conceded any away goals, resisted for 25 minutes in ten men and forward Diomede would be suspended. On the down side taking a single goal lead to France left things completely open especially as the visitors had shown to be dangerous, particularly on set pieces.

Who played for Lazio

Marchegiani, Pancaro, Nesta, Favalli, Fuser, Venturin (63' Casiraghi), Jugovic, Nedved, Mancini (70' Marcolin), Boksic (85' Gottardi)