Champions League Second Group Phase
Game 6
Wednesday, March 22, 2000
Stamford Bridge Stadium, London
Chelsea Lazio 1-2
A fantastic Mihajlovic free kick gives Lazio the qualification to the Champions League quarter finals
A very entertaining match in London. Chelsea were already qualified for the quarterfinals but needed a draw to maintain first place, Lazio needed to win. A draw would mean that the Biancocelesti would have to hope that Feyenoord did not win in Marseilles.
Lazio started the game well and had a number of chances in the first half. In the 3rd minute Pavel Nedved crossed from the left, Simone Inzaghi’s scissor kick was saved by Ed de Goeij. The Chelsea goalkeeper had to repeat himself four minutes later on a Juan Sebastian Veron shot from outside the box. In the 9th minute Gianfranco Zola’s shot was saved into corner by Luca Marchegiani.
In the 29th minute Inzaghi was unable to convert a tap in following a Sinisa Mihajlovic free kick saved by de Goeij and in the 41st minute the Lazio forward headed the ball wide after a perfect Nedved cross.
Chelsea scored in the 44th minute. Mihajlovic headed the ball towards the goal line, Didier Dechamps anticipated Nedved, ball to Gustavo Poyet who had all the time to advance and shoot. Impossible for Marchegiani to save the shot and 1-0 for the Londoners.
In the second half Eriksson sent in Alen Boksic who had a chance after two minutes, but his shot went wide. Seven minutes later Lazio equalised. Inzaghi stole a ball on the right and passed it to Boksic, the Croat saw Diego Simeone just outside the box on the right and passed it to him. Simeone to Nedved on the left who went into the box, reached the goal line and crossed. Inzaghi anticipated Marcel Desailly and tapped the ball in.
A draw may not be enough and Lazio went for the kill. Free kick on the left in the 66th minute. Mihajlovic on the ball. Everybody was expecting a cross from that position, but the Serb aimed for the top corner on the other side over the goalkeeper. He did just that, ball from the left into the top right hand corner, 2-1 for Lazio.
Lazio were too strong for Chelsea, but as we fans know, the Biancocelesti like to make things difficult for themselves. Fernando Couto got a second yellow card with seven minutes to go and Chelsea charged forward. In the 87th minute Dan Petrescu had a massive chance, his shot from inside the penalty box on the right beat Marchegiani but not Paolo Negro who was able to clear the ball on the line.
Lazio won a dramatic game and went through to the quarterfinals.
Who played for Chelsea
De Goeij, Ferrer, Desailly, Leboeuf (62' Hogh), Babayaro (74' Harley), Petrescu, Di Matteo (74' Morris), Deschamps, Poyet, Flo, Zola.
Substitutes: Cudicini, Sutton, Ambrosetti, Thome
Manager: Vialli
Who played for Lazio
Marchegiani, Negro, Couto, Mihajlovic, Pancaro, Simeone, Almeyda, Veron, Stankovic (46’ Boksic), Nedved, S. Inzaghi (68’ Salas, 87’ Gottardi)
Substitutes: Ballotta, Sensini, Conceição, Mancini
Manager: Eriksson
Referee: Melo Pereira
Goals: 44’ Poyet, 54’ Inzaghi, 66 Mihajlovic
Sources