Inzaghi and Chiesa take Lazio to a probable 4th round

Season 2002-03

UEFA Cup Third Round, First Leg

Thursday, November 28, 2002

Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium, Graz

Sturm Graz Lazio 1-3

Two goals by Inzaghi and one from Chiesa allowed Lazio to face a comfortable return in the first leg of the third round of the UEFA Cup.

In this season's Uefa Cup, Lazio comfortably passed the first round against Xanthi thanks to a 4-0 home win in the first leg. Round two was slightly more complicated after a 1-0 in the first leg at home against Red Star Belgrade. Lazio went under in the second leg, but Enrico Chiesa solved everything taking Lazio to the third round.

The match

Lazio was clear favourite against Sturm Graz and would have led 4-0 in the first half had Simone Inzaghi scored all of his chances. At the beginning of the match he was face to face

with the goalkeeper but his shot went wide; in the 29th minute after a cross from Lucas Castroman, Inzaghi fired the ball over the crossbar despite a favourable position; in the 37th minute he again shot the ball wide and shortly after he became an involuntary defender for the Austrians by being in the wrong place at the wrong time after a Juan Pablo Sorin shot from outside the penalty box.

Sturm Graz responded by creating a couple of chances but they were comfortably managed by the Lazio defence. This until the 45th minute when an Imre Szabics counter attack found Charles Amoah all alone in the penalty box. He dribbled Angelo Peruzzi, a bit too slow in his reaction to the cross, and it was 1-0 for the Austrians.

Lazio was quick to react. In the first minute of the second half a Chiesa volley off a Fabio Liverani corner made it 1-1. Eleven minutes later Inzaghi finally found the back of the net thanks to a Enrico Chiesa assist.

The Austrians attacked in a desperate attempt to equalise but their lack of precision and some Peruzzi saves avoided any damage. Three minutes from the end there was a free kick for Lazio. Liverani’s weak shot was fumbled by Heinz Weber and Inzaghi made it three for Lazio.

Not an easy match for the Biancocelesti, but it looked like the fourth round of the Uefa Cup was very close indeed.

Who played for Sturm Graz

Weber, Golemac, Angan, Strafner, Wetl (60' Korsos), Masudi, Mahlich, Brzeczek (81' Rauter), Dag, Amoah (76' Mujiri), Szabics

Substitutes: Hoffmann, Petrovic, Heldt, Bosnar

Manager: Foda

Who played for Lazio

Peruzzi, Oddo, Negro, Couto, Pancaro, Castroman (71’ Cesar), D. Baggio, Liverani, Sorin (71’ Manfredini), S. Inzaghi, Chiesa (’84 Colonnese).