Lazio take bull by the horns and dominate

Updated: Nov 13

1999-00 Season

Game 3, Serie A

Sunday, September 19, 1999

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Torino 3-0

Despite a non-vintage first half, Lazio lead by two goals at the break, then outclass Toro and finish them off with the Matador

In the league Lazio had won on their debut 2-1 at home to Cagliari and had then drawn away at Bari 0-0. Today was the third Serie A fixture.

The match

It was still hot in Rome for the 3 o' clock kick off and the Olimpico gathered a crowd of about 45,000.

Lazio as predicted used a consistent turnover compared to the mid-week game in Germany. The line up presented seven changes, the main absences were Leverkusen goal hero Sinisa Mihajlovic plus Roberto Mancini and Alen Boksic. Lazio played with Simone Inzaghi and Marcelo Salas up front while defender Nestor Sensini was making his Lazio debut.

Torino had a few absences and were missing defenders Cruz and Roberto Maltagliati. The Granata chose a more defensive midfielder Mendez over the more creative Ivic, probably to try to limit Pavel Nedved.

The game started with Torino surprisingly authoritative and positive although they never really threatened apart from a Marco Ferrante shot well wide. They however looked sharp and well organized.

Lazio slowly stirred and had a Sérgio Conceição low left foot go wide and then in the 14th minute were awarded a penalty. Nedved had a shot walled but was quick to pounce on the rebound for another closer effort but he was tripped by former Lazio Mauro Bonomi and simultaneously by Massimo Ficcadenti for a clear foul. Juan Sebastian Veron took the responsibility and beat Bucci to his left but the referee saw too many players inside the area and ordered it to be retaken. "La Brujita" stepped up again and this time put it in the opposite corner. Lazio 1 Torino 0.

At this point Lazio sat back and controlled the game looking for the right counterfoots. Torino were very light up front with only Lentini causing any problems but his cross was headed over the bar by Ferrante. Torino then in the 29th minute were forced to replace injured defender Ficcadenti with Mirko Cudini.

Lazio struck again just before halftime. Salas gave a perfect assist to Inzaghi at the edge of the box, Simoncino's shot was then parried by Luca Bucci but came back to the Lazio striker who hit it again and it somewhat luckily hit the ground and bounced over the keeper. Lazio 2 Torino 0.

A flattering scoreline for Lazio who were two nil up with the minimum effort.

For the second half Luca Marchegiani remained in the changing rooms due to a muscular problem and was replaced by Marco Ballotta. By then however Lazio did not really need a keeper as it was all one-way traffic. Torino soon brought on Ivic for former Roma Alessio Scarchilli but Toro' s horns would continue to be blunt.

Lazio started queuing up and could have scored several more goals. Salas had a massive chance from near the penalty spot on an Inzaghi square ball after Bucci had blundered coming out, but the Chilean's shot was cleared off the line by Djibil Diawara. Then Bucci redeemed himself pulling off an excellent save off a Conceição close range shot from Beppe Favalli's cross and then some minutes later the Portuguese winger shot out from an inviting position. Lazio had chance after chance, again with Inzaghi set up by Paolo Negro, but he pulled his shot wide and then Diego Simeone's shot shaved the post.

Torino were outplayed and finally capitulated again in the 88th minute. It was aptly the "Matador" Salas who finished off the Toro. He challenged a defender in the area and in the tackle went to the ground from where he then hooked the ball over the keeper for a perfect lob. A brilliant, if not unusual goal, Lazio 3 Torino 0.

A well deserved win for Lazio who after a few initial difficulties cruised to an easy victory and could now look towards the next Champions League home debut against Dynamo Kiev.

Who played for Lazio

Marchegiani (46' Ballotta), Negro, Nesta, Sensini, Favalli, Conceição (79' Stankovic), Veron, Simeone, Nedved, S.Inzaghi (75' Almeyda), Salas