Lazio-Fiorentina 1-0

Season 1996-97

Game 22, Serie A

Saturday, March 1, 1997

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio-Fiorentina 1-0

An injury time goal by the full-back gives Lazio three points

The Serie A campaign had started very badly with two defeats (Bologna 0-1 away and Udinese 0-1 at home). After that they were very inconsistent with 6 wins (including Milan 3-0), 5 draws (including the derby 0-0 and Inter 1-1 away) and 5 defeats. The last defeat to Bologna 1-2 at home on January 26 had cost Zdenek Zeman his job and back came Dino Zoff. Since Zoff's return the Biancocelesti had won 1 (first game 3-2 away to Udinese), drawn 1 (Inter 2-2 at home) and lost 1 (Parma 0-2 away a week ago). Lazio were currently in joint 12th place with Udinese on 27 points, with 5 points on the relegation zone (before the change of manager Lazio had also been joint 12th and also with a 5-point cushion on the drop zone).

A balanced match was expected today between two teams who had not lived up to expectations so far and were separated by only one point in the table.

The match

A mild day with sun and clouds saw a crowd of about 35,000 at the Olimpico.

Lazio had a few absences; midfielders Paul Okon, Roberto Baronio, Giorgio Venturin and Dario Marcolin (at last minute due to flu) plus forward Gigi Casiraghi. Diego Fuser was playing but he too had some light flu symptoms and Beppe Signori was not fully fit either.

Fiorentina on the other hand had the whole squad to choose from apart from suspended defender Daniele Carnasciali.

In the first half Lazio attacked more but the chances were few and far between. Francesco Toldo had to save from efforts by Pavel Nedved (twice), Igor Protti and Beppe Signori but did not have to pull off any spectacular saves.

For Fiorentina Gabriel Batistuta had two free kicks but Luca Marchegiani was safe.

The first half ended 0-0 and, so far, it was clear why these teams were both struggling in Serie A.

Early in the second half Fiorentina seemed more energetic. First Manuel Rui Costa put Batistuta through on goal but Bati-gol was having an off day and messed up his ball control. Then Anselmo Robbiati inside the area had his shirt pulled by José Chamot but sportingly continued the move and so lost the moment and Marchegiani came out and blocked.

The Viola however soon faded and were unable to threaten again. In the 60th minute Lazio replaced a tired Sergio Buso with Roberto Rambaudi and in the 67th a groggy Diego Fuser with Guerino Gottardi.

Meanwhile in the 66th minute Ranieri had taken off a subdued Rui Costa and put on Emiliano Bigica.

Then came Lazio's huge goal scoring chance. Signori, only about two metres from goal, hammered a shot onto the post. It looked easier to score than miss but this time Beppe-gol missed. He had hit it so hard however that it then almost reached the corner flag.

In the 68th minute the Tuscans replaced "Spadino" Robbiati with Luís Oliveira. Only five minutes later however the Viola were reduced to ten men when Lorenzo Amoruso was shown a red card for a second booking, this time for a foul on Gottardi.

Lazio had no more arrows on the bench but strangely Fiorentina made no further substitutions either.

Lazio obviously took control at this point and attacked constantly. Their efforts seemed to be in vain and some fans were already leaving to beat the traffic when the goal finally came.

In 91st minute after the umpteenth scramble in the visitors' area Signori, on the left side of the area put the ball into the middle where Andrej Kanchelskis blundered and sent the ball back towards the far post where Paolo Negro pounced and scored from close range. Lazio 1 Fiorentina 0.

The fourth official had signalled three minutes of injury time but after Negro's goal the game was over.

An important and satisfying win for Lazio, despite their absences and some players not at their best.

It had not been a great game but Lazio had just about deserved the win for effort and perseverance while Fiorentina had been poor.

Lazio were now joint 9th with Napoli on 30 points (only two from last UEFA slot) while Fiorentina were down to joint 12th with Udinese on 28 points (five from B zone).

Who played for Lazio

Marchegiani, Negro, Nesta, Chamot, Favalli, Buso (60' Rambaudi), Fuser (67' Gottardi), Piovanelli, Nedved, Protti, Signori