Udinese Lazio 0-2

Season 1997-98

Game 27, Serie A

Saturday, March 28, 1998

Stadio Friuli, Udine Udinese Lazio 0-2

Mancini and Fuser score as Lazio keep Juve and Inter in sight

Lazio in the beginning of the season were not playing all that well, even though they beat Roma 3-1 and had drawn in Milan both against Inter and Milan. However since the controversial loss against Juventus in early December they had won 11 league games and drawn four with no losses, as well as reaching the final of the Coppa Italia and the semi-final of the UEFA Cup. They were third just two points from leaders Juventus. The previous Sunday they had squandered an opportunity to reach first place by drawing 0-0 at home against Piacenza.

The match

Lazio started strongly and in the 18th minute Roberto Mancini was fouled in the box by Valerio Bertotto. Penalty for the Biancocelesti, Vladimir Jugovic, a specialist, took the spot kick but Luigi Turci managed to save. A few seconds later Pavel Nedved hit the woodwork with a shot from 25 metres. The game looked to be jinxed.

Shortly after Alessandro Calori tried a shot from outside the penalty area slightly to the right, Luca Marchegiani parried.

In the 32nd minute Lazio scored. Nedved from the by-line on the left sent a ball across the box, Diego Fuser crossed back into the middle and Mancini volleyed it past Turci.

In the second half Lazio closed the match. In the 56th minute Alessandro Nesta took a free kick and sent the ball towards the Udinese penalty area, Alen Boksic headed for Mancini, back heel for Fuser, 2-0.

The game was practically over. There were some opportunities for both sides with Nedved, Oliver Bierhoff and Guerino Gottardi but Lazio were in total command and tried to save some energy. Lazio proved to be way superior to Udinese.

Who played for Udinese

Turci, Bertotto, Calori, Pierini, Helveg, Giannichedda, Walem (46' Statuto), Bachini, Poggi (62' Locatelli), Bierhoff, Amoroso (81' Jorgensen)

Substitutes: Frezzolini, Zanchi, Pineda, Navas

Manager: Zaccheroni

Who played for Lazio

Marchegiani, Chamot, Nesta, Negro, Favalli, Fuser, Venturin, Jugovic, Nedved, Boksic (75’ Casiraghi), Mancini (82’ Gottardi)