Game 16, Serie A
Sunday, January 12, 1997
Stadio Marc’ Antonio Bentegodi, Verona
Verona Lazio 1-1
The Biancocelesti drew a match they should have won
In campionato, Lazio did not have a good start and after ten games they were only 12th. But in the game prior to today’s match, they had thoroughly beaten Milan 3-0 and were now 7th, not too far off second placed Vicenza who were four points away.
The match
Lazio had come into the game after a fantastic win against Milan so expectations were high. In the 19th minute Renato Buso had a chance when on the counterattack he managed to find himself unmarked on the left in front of Matteo Guardalben but after dribbling past the keeper his shot was touched by the keeper and Sebastiano Siviglia was able to clear on the line. In the 24th minute usual defensive blackout of the Lazio defence and Nicola Zanini had a clear path towards goal, but Luca Marchegiani managed to save. In the 33rd minute Lazio scored. On a corner taken by Signori after a Diego Fuser freekick had been parried by Guardalben, Gigi Casiraghi rose higher than all the Verona defence and headed a ball down for Mark Fish who scored his first goal for the Biancocelesti. Towards the end of the first half Marco Baroni had the chance to equalise but his volley went over the crossbar.
In the second half Lazio were too long and opened up spaces for the Verona counter attack. Alessandro Manetti had a chance in front of Marchegiani in the 52nd minute, but the Biancoceleste keeper managed to parry. In the 61st minute Filippo Maniero was again all alone in front of Marchegiani, Paolo Negro from behind tried to harpoon the ball but fouled the Verona forward in the box. Penalty and Pierluigi Orlandini equalised.
In the 77th minute great ball from Pavel Nedved into the box, Casiraghi beat his marker and volleyed the ball onto the crossbar. Maniero had another chance on the counterattack but sent the ball out of the stadium.
Not a great match from Lazio, especially since seven days earlier they had played so well. The top of the table was now seven points away.
Who played for Verona
Guardalben, Fattori, Siviglia, Baroni, Vanoli, Orlandini (90' Ametrano), R. Bacci, Ficcadenti, L. Colucci, Maniero (83' De Vitis), Zanini (46' Manetti)
Substitutes: Landucci, Caverzan, Paganin, Ferrarese
Manager: Cagni
Who played for Lazio
Marchegiani, Negro, Nesta, Fish, Favalli, Fuser, Okon, Nedved, Buso (75’ Gottardi), Casiraghi, Signori
Substitutes: Orsi, Marcolin, Baronio, Franceschini, Piovanelli, Venturin
Manager: Zeman
Referee: Braschi
Goals: 33’ Fish, 61’ Orlandini (pen)
Sources
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