El Carranza must wait

Dag Jenkins
Aug 7, 2022
4 min read

Season 1999-00

Pre Season Friendly, Ramon de Carranza Trophy Final

Saturday, August 7, 1999

Estadio Ramón de Carranza, Cádiz

Betis Sevilla Lazio 2-2 (6-4 pens)

Lazio go two goals up, miss a penalty, tire, concede two goals to Oli and lose on penalties

So far Lazio had played six friendlies: Göteborg 1-1, Elfsborg 4-1, Helsingborgs 2-1, Atletico Madrid 3-1, Ajax 3-2 and Cádiz 2-0, a draw and then five consecutive wins.

Today's opposition were Real Betis Sevilla. Betis is the Latin name of the Guadalquivir river which flows through Sevilla. They had and still have one league title to their name (1934-35).

This season the manager was Argentine Carlos Timoteo Griguol. The Béticos had so far played one pre-season friendly, a 1-2 defeat to Celta Vigo on July 30.

Today's game was officially the final of the Ramon de Carranza Trophy. Lazio had beaten Cádiz while Betis had beaten Vasco de Gama from Brazil.

No Italian club had ever won this tournament in its 45-year history.

The match

The final of this pre-season tournament took place in the 20,000-capacity stadium of Cádiz, 120 kilometres from Seville.

Lazio were without several players: midfielders Matias Almeyda, Diego Simeone and Sergio Conceição plus strikers Marcelo Salas and Alen Boksic.

After only a couple of minutes Lazio were forced to take off Beppe Favalli who suffered a twisted ankle. Paolo Negro came on and played on the right while Beppe Pancaro moved to left full-back.

Injury aside Lazio got off to a perfect start and after only three minutes were in front. Attilio Lombardo crossed low into the box where Romanian defender Iulian Filipescu put the ball into his own net, 0-1.

The Spaniards reaction was timid as Lazio's press was constant and they controlled the wings well too. The Verdiblancos had a couple of shots easily blocked by Luca Marchegiani and Alessandro Nesta received applause for an impressive recovery and challenge on the speedy Finidi George.

In the 19th minute Lazio doubled their lead. A flying move involving Dejan Stankovic, Roberto Mancini and Simone Inzaghi ended with Inzaghi being pulled down by the keeper for a penalty. Sinisa Mihajlovic did not miss, 0-2.

Lazio then slowed down and exaggerated with fancy touches going for entertainment over substance.

Betis, with an inspired Denilson, gained ground and had a good chance with Oli but he shot straight at Marchegiani.

Lazio went for spectacular one touch plays and just before halftime Inzaghi was denied by Toni Prats.

For the second half Lazio took off Marchegiani who had a problem with his shoulder and he was replaced by Marco Ballotta. They also introduced Pavel Nedved for Mancini.

In the early stages after the break, it was still Denilson who was the most threatening and the Brazilian shaved the post with a blistering strike.

In the 56th minute Lazio had the chance to close the contest. Mihajlovic teed up Lombardo who was tripped up by David Rivas for the second spot kick of the match. This time however struck his shot just wide.

This was the turning point of the game as Lazio suddenly seemed to run out of steam and Betis, led by an unstoppable Denilson, took advantage.

In the 63rd minute Ballotta failed to hold on to a Miroslav Karhan effort and Oli was there for the close-range tap-in, 1-2.

Lazio were groggy and three minutes later the Béticos equalised. In the 66th minute Oli was left with too much time and space and his cross goal shot beat Ballotta, 2-2.

From then on it was one way traffic as Betis pushed forward looking for a winner. Lazio had little more to give but somehow held on to take the game to penalties.

In the shoot-out the Goldfinches from Seville were more lucid and only missed one while Lazio failed two attempts with Negro and Nestor Sensini. The Ramon de Carranza trophy would remain in Spain.

Lazio had played well for an hour and then according to the manager Sven-Goran Eriksson simply ran out of energy. It was understandable after 20 days on the road, from Sweden to Holland to Spain and ending with two games in 24 hours.

The Swede nevertheless was satisfied and confident that with the return of some key players Lazio would be ready for Manchester United.

The most disappointed were possibly the local Cádiz fans who saw their Andalusian rivals lift the cup.

Lazio now returned home and had three more friendlies to get ready for the big clash against the Red Devils at the Louis II; Fiuggi, Ternana and River Plate.

Who played for Betis

Prats, Otero, Filipescu, Karhan, Rivas, Benjamin, Canas, Alexis, Denilson, Finidi, Oli

Substitutes: Bornes, Merino, Varela, Valerio, Ito, Galvez, Cuellar, Fernando

Manager: Griguol

Who played for Lazio

Marchegiani (46' Ballotta), Pancaro, Nesta, Mihajlovic, Favalli (2' Negro), Lombardo, Sensini, Stankovic, Veron, Mancini (46' Nedved), S.Inzaghi