Epic draw

1999-00 Season

Game 5, Serie A

Sunday, October 3, 1999

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Milan 4-4

A spectacular eight goal draw to go down in the history books

Lazio’s season had started in a triumphant way on August 27 in Montecarlo when they had beaten Manchester United 1-0 with a Marcelo Salas goal to lift the European Super Cup.

In Serie A so far Lazio had played four games and won 3 (Cagliari 2-1, Torino 3-0 at home and Parma 2-1 away) and drawn 1 (Bari 0-0 away). Lazio were currently joint top of the table with Inter on 10 points.

Milan were in 2nd place on 8 points. The Rossoneri had won 2 (Perugia 3-1 and Bologna 4-0 at home) and drawn 2 (Lecce 2-2 and Bari 1-1 away).

This evening was the continuation of the previous season's rivalry. Lazio were desperate for revenge.

The match

A crowd of almost 60,000 were present for this much awaited clash. It was still warm in Rome as it often is in early October.

Lazio were without Pavel Nedved while Milan had Paolo Maldini, Zvonimir Boban and Leonardo out and surprisingly left Thomas Helveg and Oliver Bierhoff on the bench.

Lazio started at lightning speed looking for a consolation to the previous year's huge disappointment. After only one minute a venomous Sinisa Mihajlovic corner had to be punched away on the front post by Christian Abbiati. A minute later Alen Boksic burst into the Milan area but Abbiati rushed off his line, dived low and blocked.

Milan popped up in the 8th and 10th minute with shots by Massimo Ambrosini and Federico Giunti which went wide.

In the 18th minute Lazio took the lead. Roberto Ayala messed up the control of the ball inside the area and it rolled to Sebastian Veron who hit a first-time half volley and beat Abbiati on the near post. Lazio 1 Milan 0.

Lazio almost doubled in the 21st minute when a thundering, long range Veron shot came off the crossbar.

Milan responded with Andrij Shevchenko who beat Alessandro Nesta for speed and hit a low cross goal shot but Luca Marchegiani dived to his left and palmed away. This was a warning for Lazio, Shevchenko was alive, kicking and fast.

In the 34th minute Lazio lost Paolo Negro to injury and on came Beppe Pancaro.

A minute later Milan equalised. Serginho crossed from the left and George Weah went for a back heel that didn't really come off but it then fortuitously hit Mihajlovic's head and went in. Lazio 1 Milan 1. A lucky goal, continuing from the previous year when Milan had the knack of scoring "unorthodox" goals hence the proverbial "Cul de Zac" (Cul being backside).

Lazio however reacted well and a minute later Boksic, through on goal, blasted a shot which Abbiati double fisted over the bar. On Mihajlovic's successive corner Diego Simeone and Abbiati got in each other's way and the ball came off the keeper on the front post and into the net. Lazio 2 Milan 1.

Milan were groggy and two minutes later Lazio scored again. A perfect cross by Sergio Conceição was headed in by Marcelo Salas. Lazio 3 Milan 1. Lazio fans were in heaven.

Unfortunately for the Biancocelesti the "Devil" was not finished yet. Just before halftime, in the 43rd minute, Massimo Giunti teed up Shevchenko who anticipated a hesitant Beppe Favalli, raced towards goal, went round Marchegiani and put the ball under the crossbar. All at lightning speed. Lazio 3 Milan 2.

A highly entertaining first half came to an end with Lazio ahead but with Milan suddenly back in it.

The second period started with Lazio on the attack. In the 46th minute a Conceição curler went just over the bar. In the 47th Veron teed up Salas but the Chilean arrived just short. In the 62nd Abbiati saved superbly from a Salas header which bounced in front of the line and looked like a winner but the young keeper somehow got a hand to it.

In the 63rd minute Milan were awarded a penalty. The Rossoneri struck on the break and Weah went round and then into Marchegiani and collapsed theatrically (as most strikers do in fairness). Shevchenko stepped up and scored with a low shot to Marchegiani's right. Lazio 3 Milan 3.

Lazio had the chances to close it but now it was suddenly all square again.

Lazio threw themselves forward desperate for the win. Conceição tried his luck but Abbiati got down and caught the Portuguese's effort.

In the 67th minute came another twist in the story and Milan went ahead. It was Shevchenko again who, after a Weah assist, beat Pancaro and then Marchegiani with a low, left footer on the far post. Lazio 3 Milan 4. An incredible turnaround in just four minutes.

Lazio were undeservedly trailing now and pushed forward again. In the 71st minute Abbiati brilliantly saved a Mancini header on the goal line from a curling Mihajlovic corner.

A minute later Lazio drew level. Veron squared the ball in low from the right and "El Matador" Salas, who was lurking near the penalty spot, drilled a left footer past four defenders and the keeper to equalise. Lazio 4 Milan 4.

Lazio were not satisfied and wanted the win at all costs. The Biancocelesti had several chances in the last fifteen minutes. Abbiati however had other ideas and saved well from Roberto Mancini, Veron, in the 90th minute a diving Salas header and finally another venomous Mihajlovic corner. Final score Lazio 4 Milan 4.

Lazio were disappointed but it had been a superb game. Both teams were applauded off the pitch after a game which would go down in history.

Lazio dropped down to joint 2nd place with Roma, two points behind now solitary leaders Inter. Milan meanwhile fell to 5th place, overtaken by Juventus too.

Who played for Lazio

Marchegiani, Negro (34' Pancaro), Nesta, Mihajlovic, Favalli, Conceição, Simeone (71' S.Inzaghi), Almeyda, Veron, Salas, Boksic (61' Mancini)