Coppa Italia, Quarter Final, First Leg
Tuesday, January 6, 1998
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Roma 4-1
Lazio destroy Roma with goals from Boksic, Jugovic, Mancini and Fuser
In Coppa Italia it had not been an easy ride so far. Lazio entered the competition in the second round and met Fidelis Andria who played in Serie B that season. After winning away 3-0 (thanks to an own goal and two Beppe Signori goals), the second leg was almost a friendly with the Biancocelesti winning 3-2 (another Signori double plus a goal from Alen Boksic).
In the third round Lazio faced a struggling Napoli. The first leg, in Rome, saw Lazio seemingly destroy any hopes Napoli had of playing a decisive second leg at home. 4-0 to Lazio thanks to two braces, one from Boksic and yet another from Signori. The return match should have been a mere formality but Napoli fought to the death and won 3-0 putting Lazio’s qualification in danger until the end.
This meant that the quarter final was going to be a double derby, since Roma had first eliminated Verona, then Udinese.
The match
Just two minutes and Lazio were already ahead. Vincent Candela was dispossessed by Roberto Mancini on the limit of the Roma penalty area, ball to Matias Almeyda who gave a splendid assist to Boksic in front of Konsel. No problem for the Croatian forward, Biancocelesti ahead.
Roma had a chance to equalise but a Luigi Di Biagio volley, following a corner, was saved by Luca Marchegiani. In the 11th minute an Abel Balbo shot on a free kick in the box was again saved by the Lazio keeper. Boksic was creating havoc in the Roma half, cross from the left, Mancini in complete solitude headed the ball wide.
In the 32nd minute Vladimir Jugovic again in the box for Boksic, Konsel tried to stop him but fouled the Alien. Penalty for the Biancocelesti and Jugovic, the specialist, made it 2-0 for Lazio.
Game over? No because in the 39th minute Pavel Nedved, in an attempt to let the ball go out, fouled Cafu when the Brazilian tried to anticipate him. This time spot kick for the Giallorossi which Balbo comfortably put away. Lazio 2 Roma 1.
In the second half the Biancocelesti dominated. Marchegiani was forced off injured and substituted by Marco Ballotta but the new keeper was just another spectator. It took a while to score but when Lazio did it was spectacular. In the 75th minute splendid Jugovic pass to Mancini on the edge of the box, Konsel way too far out, lob over the keeper and it was 3-1.
Five minutes later, free kick for Lazio on the left, just outside the box. Jugovic tapped the ball for Diego Fuser, big whack, Lazio 4 Roma 1.
An impressive statement win by the Biancocelesti. Roma in big trouble, to go through to the next round they would need to win 3-0.
Who played for Lazio
Marchegiani (46’ Ballotta), Pancaro, Nesta, Negro, Favalli (78’ Grandoni), Fuser, Almeyda (55’ Venturin), Jugovic, Nedved, Boksic, Mancini
Manager: Eriksson
Who played for Roma
Konsel, Cafu, Petruzzi, Aldair, Candela, Tommasi, Di Biagio, Di Francesco, Paulo Sergio (46' Gautieri, 82' Vagner), Balbo, Totti
Substitutes: Chimenti, Dal Moro, Scapolo, Delvecchio
Manager: Zeman
Referee: Rodomonti
Goals: 2’ Boksic, 32’ Jugovic (pen), 39’ Balbo (pen), 75’ Mancini, 80’ Fuser
Sources
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