Nordic air rejuvenates Boksic

Dag Jenkins
Jul 29, 2022
3 min read

Season 1999-00

Pre Season Friendly

Thursday, July 29 1999

Stadsparksvallen, Jönköping

Helsingborgs - Lazio 1-2

An energetic display by the Croat helps Lazio end Swedish tour on positive note

Lazio had started their Swedish tour seven days earlier and had drawn 1-1 with IFK Gothenburg in front of 30,000 spectators with an equaliser on a Sinisa Mihajlovic freekick. They then beat Elfsborg 4-1 and today was their third game. They would then head off to Amsterdam to play Atlético Madrid and Ajax.

Helsingborgs had finished 2nd the previous season under Norwegian coach Åge Hareide. They lost the title to AIK in the last game by falling to a shock defeat to already relegated Häcken. They however won their 2nd Swedish Cup defeating Örgryte IS on penalties.

This season Hareide was still in charge and "Di Röe" were currently 2nd (the Allsvenskan runs from late March/early April to November) again battling with AIK.

Lazio's third game on their Swedish tour and probably faced the best opposition yet.

The match

A sunny Thursday afternoon kick-off attracted about 10,000 spectators. The game was in Jönköping, 235 kilometres from Helsingborg. The Stadsparkvallen is a historic stadium built in 1902.

Lazio had several absences; Beppe Pancaro, Sergio Conceiçăo and Roberto Mancini were injured while Matias Almeyda, Diego Simeone and Marcelo Salas were not available yet.

The game was controlled by Lazio from the start. The Biancocelesti played with fluidity and pace, pushing the Swedes back for prolonged periods.

Lazio suffered a setback in the 21st minute as Alessandro Nesta was forced off due to a knock and replaced by Fernando Couto.

Four minutes later the Romans took the lead. Sinisa Mihajlovic hit a 40-metre pass forward to Alen Boksic and the Croat still running brought it down beautifully before beating Sven Andersson, 0-1. Boksic at his best.

A few minutes later Simone Inzaghi teed up Nestor Sensini but the Argentine was off target.

Just after the half hour Lazio scored again with a similar move to the first goal. In the 32nd minute Sensini from 50 metres away found Dejan Stankovic who pushed the ball past the keeper and then tapped it in, 0-2.

Pavel Nedved then had a dangerous shot but it was deflected behind for a corner.

"Die Röe" only threatened with a Mattias Jonson freekick as Lazio bossed the first 45 minutes.

At halftime the "Mjölkkossan" made three changes and Lazio seven, even bringing on two youth players.

The game obviously changed, losing pace and shape. The Swedes started to attack more and Lazio were content to try and strike on the break.

Both sides made several more substitutions on the hour mark but such was the friendly nature of the game that the players who went off were then allowed on again in place of someone else (such as Nedeved and Paolo Negro).

Lazio suffered another injury in the 66th minute as Inzaghi limped off with a muscular problem.

The locals pushed forward but it was Lazio who went close again when the ever active Pavel Nedved hit the crossbar.

The Scandinavians were rewarded for their efforts in the 90th minute when Magnus Powell scored with a spectacular volley, 1-2.

A good practice game for Lazio albeit with two injuries. The real game had been in the first half and Lazio had played with authority and satisfactory rhythm. Good indications had come from the usual Nedved, which was no surprise, but also from Boksic who looked fit, sharp and keen (not always the case).

A positive and sunny tour of Sweden came to an end. Two wins and a draw against top flight opponents who were a lot fitter too as in the middle of their domestic season.

Lazio now flew to Amsterdam. Helsingborgs now had to try and catch up with AIK, the "Gnaget" (The Rodent).

Who played for Helsingborgs

S.Andersson (46' Larsson), Nilsson, Powell, Jakobsson, Andersson, Bakkerud (61' Ljung), Johansson (61' Wahlstedt), Lindstrom, Stavrum (46' Prica), Johansen (46' Lindberg), Jonson

Manager: Hareide

Who played for Lazio

Marchegiani (46' Ballotta), Negro (46' Gottardi), Nesta (21' Couto), Mihajlovic (46' Di Fiordo), Favalli (66' Negro), Stankovic (46' Lombardo), Sensini, Veron (46' Pinzi), Nedved (46' Cinelli), Boksic (46' Andersson), S.Inzaghi (66' Nedved)