Vicenza-Lazio 0-2

Season 1996-97

Game 25, Serie A

Sunday, March 23, 1997

Stadio Romeo Menti, Vicenza

Vicenza-Lazio 0-2

Without forwards after five minutes Lazio rely on Nedved and Fuser to win tense game

The Serie A campaign had started very badly with two defeats (Bologna 0-1 away and Udinese 0-1 at home). After that they were very inconsistent with 6 wins (including Milan 3-0), 5 draws (including the derby 0-0 and Inter 1-1 away) and 5 defeats. The last defeat to Bologna 1-2 at home on January 26 had cost Zeman his job and back came Dino Zoff.

Since Zoff's return the Biancocelesti had won 3, drawn 2 and lost 1. Lazio were currently in joint 8th place with today's opposition Vicenza on 34 points, with 11 points on the relegation zone (before the change of manager Lazio had been joint 12th, with Udinese, and with a five-point cushion on the drop zone) and only one from the last UEFA Cup place. Things were looking better.

Today in Serie A it was a clash between two sides on the same points but Lazio were on the rise while Vicenza seemed to have past their peak performances.

The match

A grey day in Veneto with about 15,000 presents at the old Menti stadium.

Lazio were without forwards Igor Protti (suspended) and Gigi Casiraghi (injured) plus Beppe Signori was not at his best.

Vicenza had defender Gustavo Méndez unavailable.

Lazio played in their yellow away jerseys while Vicenza wore their classic red and white stripes.

Both sides started with 4-5-1 formations but after only five minutes Lazio lost their only forward Signori to a muscular problem and he was replaced by Roberto Rambaudi.

The first shot was by former Roma midfielder Giampiero "Jimmy" Maini but it was wide.

Lazio immediately looked sharper, more determined and better organised.

Lazio dominated the first half. Guerino Gottardi had a shot saved by Luca Mondini and on the rebound Pavel Nedved had a shot cleared off the line by Davide Belotti. Another shot by Paolo Negro was also intercepted by Daniele Amerini on the goal line.

In the 19th minute however Belotti went from hero to villain. He messed up his ball control at the edge of the box and was dispossessed by Nedved who then chipped the keeper coming off his line. Vicenza 0 Lazio 1.

On the half hour there were some protests from the home fans as Beppe Favalli, already on a yellow, committed another clumsy foul but was let off by the referee.

For the second half the hosts brought on midfielder Gabriele Ambrosetti for defender Gilberto D'Ignazio.

It was still Lazio who were more dangerous. Mondini saved well on a Nedved strike.

Vicenza however were unlucky too. On one of their few attacks Maini hit the crossbar with a brilliant long-range volley.

Lazio controlled the game well but without forwards were not able to close out the contest.

Vicenza tried with more substitutions: former Lazio Alessandro Iannuzzi for Amerini in the 63rd minute and forward Giovanni Cornacchini for Roberto Murgita in the 73rd.

In the 80th minute the Biancorossi were reduced to ten men. Giovanni Lopez pulled Nedved down in midfield on the right but without the foul the Czech would have had a clear run on goal. Lopez protested furiously claiming it was he who had been fouled and the referee, after having a word with the linesman, sent him off.

At this point the unexpected happened, there was a pitch invasion by four angry Vicenza fans. In the end it took seven long minutes and numerous carabinieri, directors and rugby tackles by players to restore order.

When the game finally restarted Lazio scored in the 90th minute. Rambaudi surged forward for at least thirty metres before pushing the ball through to Diego Fuser who went round the keeper and slotted the ball into the empty goal. Vicenza 0 Lazio 2.

Before the final whistle there was still time for another Lazio substitution, Marco Piovanelli for Rambaudi and two more red cards, Mimmo Di Carlo for Vicenza and Renato Buso for Lazio, for reciprocal insults. Final score Vicenza 0 Lazio 2.

A good win for Lazio without forwards and in a difficult atmosphere at the Menti. Lazio had been the better team although Vicenza felt hard done by, probably excessively so, by the referees booking strategy.

Lazio moved up to 6th on 37 points, overtaking Roma and Atalanta. Vicenza were down to joint 10th with Fiorentina on 34.

Who played for Vicenza

Mondini, Sartor, Belotti, G.Lopez, D'Ignazio (46' Ambrosetti), Otero, Di Carlo, Amerini (63' Iannuzzi), Maini, Beghetto, Murgita (73' Cornacchini)

Substitutes: Brivio, Rossi, Viviani, Gentilini

Manager: Guidolin

Who played for Lazio

Marchegiani, Negro, Chamot, Nesta, Favalli, Fuser, Nedved, Venturin, Gottardi, Buso, Signori (5' Rambaudi, 90' Piovanelli)