Game 15, Serie A
Sunday, December 12, 1993
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Juventus 3-1
The Croatian-English duo give Lazio a rare and prestigious win against the "Old Lady " of Italy
Lazio were currently 6th in the table, on 16 points. The previous two games had been a 4-0 thumping of Genoa at home and an 1-1 away draw at Bergamo. Juventus were 4th, on 19 points. Milan were top of the table but only on 21 points so Juventus were still in the running for the Scudetto while Lazio were only one point from the last UEFA Cup slot.
The match
A 66,000 crowd was present at the Olimpico for this big game.
Lazio finally had Paul Gascoigne in the starting line up. Gazza had an injury prone start and only played four league games so far, the last coming almost two months earlier in a home game against Piacenza.
Juventus were without defender Júlio César, midfielder Giancarlo Marocchi and had Alessandro Del Piero on the bench.
The first half was a balanced affair although Juventus attacked more.
The first initiative was by the Bianconeri with Moller who picked up the ball in midfield, burst forward on a solo run gliding past the Lazio defenders but was finally ended by Luca Marchegiani who dived low at the German's feet and blocked the ball.
Lazio answered with Gazza. From a floated Beppe Signori free kick into the area there followed a scramble until the Geordie got the ball, skilfully dribbled past a defender and let loose a mid height left foot which Angelo Peruzzi dived to his right and caught.
Lazio insisted and Alen Boksic received the ball from an Aron Winter throw-in and powered past Kohler on the right side of the area before unleashing a dangerous low effort again caught by Peruzzi.
Juventus and Moeller then almost stole the show. Antonio Conte went down the right and crossed into the heart of the area where the German coordinated himself perfectly, connected and sent a superb bicycle kick just over the bar.
Then came arguably the visitors biggest chance. From a freekick from the right Marchegiani punched the ball up into the air to the edge of the box where Roberto Baggio volleyed it low towards goal. It looked like a winner but on the line Mauro Bonomi stretched and managed to get a boot to it and then Beppe Favalli headed clear before Fabrizio Ravanelli could pounce. Halftime Lazio 0 Juventus 0.
An even first 45 minutes with Juventus probably winning on points for the danger of their chances.
There were no changes at halftime but the scoreline changed almost immediately. In the 49th minute Gazza tried to jiggle his way into the area but was tackled, the ball went back to Roberto Di Matteo who with a first touch sent it straight into the box to Signori, the striker shot but at the same time was tackled by Torricelli and the ball then ricocheted off Kohler and trickled past a wrong footed Peruzzi. A fortuitous goal but Lazio 1 Juventus 0.
Paul Gascoigne was suddenly more lively. He went on one of his characteristic runs, gliding past opponents but once in the area his shot was weakened slightly by a lunging challenge and Peruzzi comfortably dived to his right and saved.
In the 54th minute Juventus equalised. Juventus had a free kick at the edge of the box for a foul by Bacci on Baggio. The "Divin Codino" himself took it and it hit the crossbar, came back into play where it was headed by Kohler but only as far as Fortunato who blasted the bouncing ball in from close range. Lazio 1 Juventus 1.
Lazio reacted well and Boksic especially became the protagonist. First he was unlucky when he hammered a shot onto the crossbar, the ball bounced back and Gascoigne's bicycle kick was deflected into corner.
In the 59th minute the big Croat was on target. Diego Fuser ran down the right flank and put in a precise cross which Boksic, running towards the front post and anticipating Torricelli, headed past Peruzzi under the crossbar. Lazio 2 Juventus 1.
Juventus at this point predictably pushed forward but rarely threatened while leaving themselves vulnerable to Lazio's counter attacks. Unfortunately for the Biancocelesti in the 74th minute Signori had to go off due to a pulled muscle and was replaced by Gigi Casiraghi. In the 78th minute a shattered Boksic also gave in to cramps and on came a more defensive Claudio Sclosa. Juventus tried the Del Piero card and in the 78th minute "Pinturicchio" came on for "Silver Fox" Ravanelli".
In the 90th minute came the liberational third goal for Lazio. Favalli crossed into the area from the left and Juventus defence messed up the offside trap leaving Gazza unmarked in front of Peruzzi. His first volley was weak and central and parried with one hand by the keeper from nearby Blera but luckily it came straight back to the Englishman who then had a simple tap in. Lazio 3 Juventus 1.
A great and prestigious victory for Lazio. The Biancocelesti showed they had the quality to compete with the best. They had to find more consistency to do it week in week out.
Who played for Lazio
Marchegiani, Bacci, Favalli, Di Matteo, Bonomi, Cravero, Fuser, Winter, Boksic (78' Sclosa), Gascoigne, Signori (74' Casiraghi).
Manager: Zoff
Who played for Juventus
Peruzzi, Porrini, A.Fortunato, Conte, Kohler, Torricelli, Di Livio, D.Baggio, Ravanelli (78' Del Piero), R. Baggio, Moeller
Substitutes: Marchioro, Francesconi, Notari, Galia
Manager: Trapattoni
Referee: Ceccarini
Goals: 49' Kohler (og), 54' A. Fortunato, 59' Boksic, 90' Gascoigne
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