A narrow escape in Avellino

Simon Basten

Aug 28, 2022

3 min read

Season 1996-97

Round of 32, Coppa Italia

Wednesday, August 28, 1996

Stadio Partenio, Avellino

Avellino Lazio 0-1

Casiraghi's header and a magnificent Marchegiani send Lazio through in the Coppa Italia

Today was the first game of the season, the round of 32 of Coppa Italia in a single game away at Avellino who were in Serie C1.

The match: Wednesday, August 28, 1996, Stadio Partenio, Avellino

Lazio began the 1996–97 season with a 1–0 victory over Avellino in the Coppa Italia, but the scoreline concealed a difficult evening for Zdeněk Zeman's side. The Biancocelesti were still finding their feet after an incomplete pre-season, while Avellino, two divisions below their opponents, played with far greater intensity and created enough chances to cause a major upset.

Zeman was already dealing with several absences. Igor Protti, Giuseppe Favalli, José Chamot, Renato Buso and Roberto Baronio were unavailable, while the coach made the surprise decision to leave Paolo Negro on the bench. Alessandro Nesta moved to the left side of the defence, with Guerino Gottardi on the right and the unfamiliar central pairing of Mark Fish and Alessandro Grandoni.

The early stages belonged entirely to the hosts. Fiorenzo D'Ainzara came close with an effort that narrowly missed the post, while Salvatore Giorgio fired over before Stefano Guidoni forced a superb save from Luca Marchegiani with a close-range header.

Lazio struggled to build from the back and were repeatedly exposed by Avellino's pace. Fish, making his competitive debut for the club, and the inexperienced Grandoni had an uncomfortable opening, while even the midfield struggled to impose itself.

Slowly, however, Lazio began to settle. Zeman initially used Paul Okon as the central point of their midfield, but his slow distribution did little to accelerate the visitors' play. Pavel Nedvěd subsequently took on more responsibility in the middle of the pitch and Lazio began to look more dangerous.

Then, in the 26th minute, came the decisive moment.

Beppe Signori received the ball on the left and delivered a cross towards the centre. Pierluigi Casiraghi rose above the Avellino defence and headed the ball beyond marco Giannitti to put Lazio ahead. It gave the visitors a lead that, for the first time, appeared to settle their nerves.

Avellino's initial fury subsided and Lazio gained greater control. Diego Fuser came close to doubling the advantage before half-time with a powerful effort from outside the box which Giannitti tipped over the crossbar.

But the second half brought another spell of pressure from the hosts.

Six minutes after the restart, Avellino appealed for a penalty when Guidoni went down following a challenge from Grandoni. Referee Piero Ceccarini waved play on, despite strong protests from the home side. Shortly afterwards, Guidoni came close again with a spectacular effort that narrowly missed the top corner.

At the other end, Fuser produced one of Lazio's best moments of the evening. He picked up the ball in midfield and drove forward, taking advantage of a series of ricochets before finding himself with a clear path towards goal. Giannitti was forced into a desperate save to keep Avellino in the game.

Zeman made several changes as Lazio tried to protect their advantage, bringing on Dario Marcolin, Negro and Marco Piovanelli. Yet the visitors increasingly retreated towards their own penalty area.

The final stages became an outright siege.

Guidoni came close to finding the equaliser again, while Marchegiani repeatedly had to intervene. The Lazio goalkeeper produced another excellent save to deny D'Ainzara and ensure that Avellino's pressure did not produce the goal it deserved.

Lazio thought they had finally settled the tie in the 89th minute when Casiraghi headed another cross into the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

There was still time for Avellino to threaten again, but Lazio survived.

The Biancocelesti had done enough to reach the next round, although there was little to suggest that Zeman's new Lazio were ready for the challenges that lay ahead.

Lazio were through — but there was clearly plenty of work still to do.

Who played for Avellino

Giannitti, Turrone, Parisi (56' Bocchino), Colletto (85' Minadeo), Radice, Castiglione (58' Federico), Menolascina, De Juliis, Giorgio, Guidoni, D'Ainzara

Manager: Zoratti

Who played for Lazio

Marchegiani, Nesta, Fish, Grandoni, Gottardi (71' Negro), Fuser (74' Piovanelli), Okon (46' Marcolin), Nedved, Rambaudi, Casiraghi, Signori