Finally a point
Lazio get off the mark with a deserved and hard-fought draw in Milan
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had finished 3rd (UEFA) under manager Zdeněk Zeman. The highlights were beating Juventus 4-0, Sampdoria 6-3, Atalanta 5-1, Cagliari 4-0, Fiorentina 4-0 and especially Roma 1-0, all at home. Top scorer was Beppe Signori with 26 goals (24 in A).
This year the Bohemian stayed on. The main new signings were: South-African defender Mark Fish (Orlando Pirates), midfielders Pavel Nedved (Sparta Prague) and Paul Okon (Club Bruges) plus forward Igor Protti (Bari), previous year's top Serie A scorer with Signori.
Leaving were defender Cristiano Bergodi (Padova), midfielders Roberto Di Matteo (Chelsea), Aron Winter (Inter) plus forwards Alen Boksic (Juventus) and Marco Di Vaio (Bari - on loan).
The Serie A campaign had started very badly with two defeats (Bologna 0-1 away and Udinese 0-1 at home). Lazio were bottom with Verona. Today was the third fixture and was a traditionally difficult game away to Inter.
Lazio had also started their Coppa Italia campaign on August 28 and had won 1-0 away at Avellino. Next up were Verona away on October 23.
In the UEFA Cup, the Biancocelesti had played the first leg of the round of 64 away at Lens, winning 1-0. On September 24 they hoped to complete the revenge on the French side, nineteen years after the humiliating 0-6 defeat in extra-time in 1977.
Inter had finished 7th the previous season. The Nerazzurri had changed managers twice, from Ottavio Bianchi (1-4) to Luis Suárez (5-6) and finally to Roy Hodgson (7-34). Top scorer was Marco Branca with 17 league goals.
This season the manager was still Englishman Hodgson. The Milanese however had seemingly brought some good players in, these included: defenders Jocelyn Angloma (Inter), Fabio Galante (Genoa), midfielders Youri Djorkaeff (P.S.G), Ciriaco Sforza (Bayern Munich), Aron Winter (Lazio) plus forwards Iván Zamorano (Real Madrid) and Nwankwo Kanu (Ajax).
Many players were leaving, these included defenders Giovanni Bia (Udinese), Felice Centofanti (Genoa), Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid), midfielders Alessandro Bianchi (Cesena), Francesco Dell’Anno (Salernitana), Davide Fontolan (Bologna), Antonio Manicone (Perugia) and Pierluigi Orlandoni (Verona).
Inter had won two out of two in Serie A, Udinese 1-0 away and Perugia 1-0 at home. The Nerazzurri were top with Bologna and Roma.
In Coppa Italia, Inter had defeated Ravenna 1-0 away on August 28. Their next opponents would be Cagliari on October 24.
In the UEFA Cup the "Biscione" had won the away leg 3-0 at Guingamp on September 10. The return leg was on September 24.
Back to Serie A Inter were strong favourites today.
The match: Saturday, September 21, 1996, Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan
A big crowd of 65,000 came up to north-west Milan for this big Saturday game.
The hosts had no injury worries apart from defender Fabio Galante while Lazio only had defender Alessandro Grandoni and midfielder Giorgio Venturin unavailable. The two sides were basically fielding their strongest line-ups.
Lazio started better and were more positive. Beppe Signori put a cutting freekick onto the far post but Paolo Negro came sliding in just a little late.
Inter responded with a Jocelyn Angloma-Youri Djorkaeff combination but the Frenchman from Guadalupe's low shot, following a clever back heel by the Frenchman of Polish-Armenian origins, was saved into corner by Luca Marchegiani.
Signori then uncharacteristically sliced a golden opportunity in front of Gianluca Pagliuca on a Paul Okon cross. Lazio played well with fast, precise moves. Signori again wasted a good chance when he was unable to control the ball in front of goal.
In the 33rd minute Signori remembered he was top Serie A scorer and put Lazio in front. Pavel Nedved teed up the number eleven with a perfect through ball on the left side of the area and Beppe-gol did not miss with a low left footer on the far post. Inter 0 Lazio 1. A well-deserved lead so far.
Inter struggled to be dangerous but seven minutes later equalised from a set piece. Maurizio Ganz floated a freekick in from near the left corner flag and Angloma rose higher than anyone and headed past Marchegiani. Inter 1 Lazio 1.
Lazio almost took back the lead immediately but Diego Fuser's low freekick was parried into corner near the right-hand post by Pagliuca. Half time 1-1 but Lazio should have been in front.
Inter came on more determined after the break. Ciriaco Sforza had a low effort saved by Marchegiani with his feet early on.
Lazio responded with a Nedved low cross which Gigi Casiraghi lunged to but could not make contact. Inter then had an almost identical opportunity but Ivan Zamorano was unable to get to Sforza's pass.
Both sides made changes, first Guerino Gottardi replaced Beppe Favalli in the 54th minute and then former lazio, Aron Winter came on for Ganz in the 58th.
The Dutchman was immediately active as he set up Djorkaeff but Marchegiani with perfect timing dived at his feet and clutched the ball.
Then Lazio had a glorious chance with Fuser who, after a one-two with Roberto Rambaudi, had a clear sight of goal just inside the area but on his wrong foot and it went wide.
Lazio then decided to try with both previous season's top scorers and threw on Igor Protti for Casiraghi in the 62nd minute.
Inter now attacked more. Marchegiani was forced to come out of the area to challenge Sforza in the air and then Djorkaeff was fouled by José Antonio Chamot. On the subsequent freekick Inter appealed for a penalty as Djorkaeff 's curling shot was blocked by Chamot's arm. Today it would be a clear penalty but at the time it was judged unintentional.
Inter tried to win the game putting on Marco Branca for Zamorano in the 75th minute while Lazio took off Okon for Roberto Baronio in the 81st.
Alessandro Nesta walled two Djorkaeff close range efforts and then Branca tried to steal the show with a bicycle kick but did not hit it perfectly and Marchegiani caught it comfortably. Final score Inter 1 Lazio 1.
An enjoyable game, physical but not dirty despite Lazio's seven bookings compared to Inter's one. Lazio had been superior in the first half while the hosts had more of the second. A draw was probably a fair result in the end.
A good point for Lazio who were no longer bottom of the table. Inter were still top as both Roma and Bologna had lost, but the Nerazzurri were now in the company of Juventus and Parma on seven points.
Who played for Inter
Pagliuca, Angloma, Fresi, Paganin II, Pistone, Zanetti, Ince, Djorkaeff, Sforza, Zamorano (75' Branca), Ganz (58' Winter)
Substitutes: Mazzantini, Bergomi, Carbone, Festa, Berti
Manager: Hodgson
Who played for Lazio
Marchegiani, Negro, Nesta, Chamot, Favalli (54' Gottardi), Fuser, Okon (81' Baronio), Nedved, Rambaudi, Casiraghi (62' Protti), Signori
Substitutes: Cudicini, Fish, Marcolin, Piovanelli
Manager: Zeman
Referee: Collina
Goals: 33' Signori, 40' Angloma
What happened next
Lazio improved and earned seven points in the next three games (home wins vs Parma and Cagliari and away draw in Florence). Nevertheless, they never found much consistency and despite some good wins (including Milan 3-0) on January 26, after a 1-2 home defeat to Bologna, Zeman was sacked and Dino Zoff returned. Lazio were in joint 12th position with Udinese on 23 points.
With Zoff, results got better. Over the next 16 games, the Biancocelesti won 9, drew 5 (including derby with 91st minute equaliser in ten men, Milan and Juventus, both 2-2 away) and lost 2. Lazio finished 4th and qualified for the UEFA Cup.
In Coppa Italia, Lazio beat Verona 2-1 but then went out to Napoli 1-2 on aggregate.
In the UEFA Cup, Lazio eliminated Lens by drawing 1-1 in Rome but then crashed out 4-5 to Tenerife, after leading three times in the Canary Islands and ending up losing 3-5. This was probably the beginning of the end for Zeman.
Inter finished 3rd. With two games to go Roy Hodgson resigned and was replaced by Luciano Castellini. The Nerazzurri won 15 (including Milan 3-1), drew 14 (including Lazio 2-2 and Milan 1-1) and lost 5. Top total scorer was Maurizio Ganz with 20 while in Serie A it was Youri Djorkaeff with 14.
In Coppa Italia, Inter reached the semi-finals but lost to Napoli on penalties (2-2 on aggregate).
In the UEFA Cup they reached the final. On the way they eliminated Guingamp, Grazer AK, Boavista, Anderlecht and Monaco. In the final however they lost to Schalke 04 on penalties (1-1 on aggregate).
The Scudetto was won by Juventus for the 24th time. The next stop for Cagliari, Perugia, Verona and Reggiana was Serie B.
Lazio 1996-97
Season | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 34 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 54 |
Coppa Italia | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
UEFA Cup | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
Total | 42 | 19 | 12 | 11 | 64 |
Top five appearances
Players | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia | UEFA Cup |
Marchegiani | 40 | 32 | 4 | 4 |
Signori | 39 | 32 | 4 | 3 |
Fuser | 38 | 31 | 3 | 4 |
Nedved | 38 | 32 | 3 | 3 |
Rambaudi | 36 | 28 | 4 | 4 |
Top five goal scorers
Players | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia | UEFA Cup |
Signori | 15 | 15 | - | - |
Casiraghi | 11 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
Nedved | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
Protti | 7 | 7 | - | - |
Fuser | 6 | 4 | - | 2 |
Let’s talk about Paul Okon
Paul Michael Okon Engstler was born in Sydney on April 5, 1972.
He started his career with the Marconi Stallions, playing 49 league games and scoring 4 goals.
In1991 he joined Club Brugge where he played five seasons and 72 league games with 1 goal (with 1 league title and 4 domestic cups). In 1995 he was voted Player of the Year in Belgium.
Paul Okon arrived at Lazio in 1996. He then stayed three years in Rome.
In 1996-97 the manager was first Zdenek Zeman and then Dino Zoff. Lazio finished 4th (UEFA Cup). The highlight was beating Milan 3-0 while both derbies were draws. Okon played 14 league games, 2 in Coppa Italia and 2 in the UEFA Cup. His playing time was limited by physical problems.
In 1997-98 Sven-Goran Eriksson arrived as manager. Lazio had a good season, finishing 7th in Serie A but winning the Coppa Italia and reaching the UEFA Cup final, losing to Inter in Paris. The Eagles also beat Roma a record four times in a season. Okon unfortunately was out all season injured.
In 1998-99 Lazio went close to the scudetto finishing 2nd but won the Supercoppa beating Juventus and the last ever Cup Winners Cup beating Mallorca 2-1. Again, Okon played little, only 5 league games due to injuries.
In 1999-2000 he played for Fiorentina under Giovanni Trapattoni. The Viola finished 7th (UEFA Cup) and Okon played 11 league games, 1 in Coppa and 4 in the Champions League.
He then went to England and played for Middlesbrough (28 league games), Watford on loan (15 league games) and Leeds United (21 league games). He was not a great success and still hindered by physical problems.
In 2003 he returned to Italy and played for Vicenza in Serie B. He played 11 league games, under manager Giuseppe Iachini, before returning to Belgium in January and joining Oostende, in the second tier, where he finally played regularly for a season and a half (44 league games).
He then played a season in Cyprus for APOEL (12 league games) before returning to Australia and the Newcastle Jets for one last season (17 league games).
He won 29 caps for Australia and reached the Olympic semi-final in Barcelona 1992.
Okon was a midfielder. He could play in various roles including playmaker. He was an excellent player with great feet, vision and tactical intelligence. In Belgium in 1995 he was awarded the Golden Boot for the best player of the season. His career however was limited by injuries and physical problems which did not allow him to reach his full potential.
At Lazio, especially in his first season, he showed glimpses of his immense class and talent. He was nicknamed "Il Poeta" for others he was, maybe a little far-fetched, "The Australian Beckenbauer". At Lazio he won three cups.
After retiring he became a manager, working in Australia and Belgium.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances | Serie A | Coppa Italia | UEFA Cup |
1996-97 | 18 | 14 | 2 | 2 |
1998-99 | 5 | 5 | - | - |
Total | 23 | 19 | 2 | 2 |
Sources
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