A win for Giuliano Fiorini
- Dag Jenkins
- Sep 3, 2023
- 4 min read
Pre Season Friendly
Sunday, September 3, 2006
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Anderlecht 3-2
Lazio defeat Anderlecht and honour unforgotten hero
This was Lazio's 12th pre-season friendly. The main ones being Ipswich Town 2-0, Benevento 4-0, Al-Shabab Dubai 3-0 and Espanyol 0-2.
This was the first at the Olimpico and came only two days after the defeat in Barcelona. It was officially the Giuliano Fiorini Memorial, the unforgettable Lazio forward from the mid-1980's who had scored the epic history saving goal against Vicenza in 1987. Giuliano had passed away on August 5 2005 at 47.
Lazio's Serie A campaign would be on September 10 away to Milan.
Lazio were already out of the Coppa Italia. They had defeated Rende 4-0 at home on August 20, Monza away on penalties on August 23 but then fell to Messina 3-4 away after extra time.
A competitive friendly for Lazio against a prestigious and good European side who were already playing competitive football.
The match
A crowd of about 10,000 were present at the Olimpico tonight. Giuliano Fiorini's mother was one of them. The anti-Lotito movement did not help the atmosphere and attract fans.
There were some speeches before the game, by former manager Eugenio Fascetti and Fiorini's teammates Angelo Gregucci, Massimo Piscedda, Luca Brunetti and Ernesto Calisti. Fiorini's historic 1987 goal against Vicenza was also shown on the mega screens. Fiorini will always be a legend at Lazio. Actor and Lazio fan Gianni Elsner also read out a poem dedicated to the "bomber".
Lazio were missing their two main forwards, Tommaso Rocchi and Goran Pandev, midfielder Stefano Mauri and were also without recent world cup winners, goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi and defender Massimo Oddo plus injured midfielder Valon Behrami.
Delio Rossi already had his eye on the league debut at the San Siro in a week's time.
Anderlecht were between league games so they too played a mixed side of regulars and second choices. The main absences were: defenders Anthony Vanden Borre, Roland Juhász and Jelle Van Damme, midfielder Ahmed Hassan plus wingers Mbark Boussoufa and Bart Goor. Some other big names were on the bench such as future Lazio, Lucas Biglia.
The game was played at a friendly pace but both teams looked interested.
The "Bruxellois" took the lead in the 15th minute with a well taken free kick by Jonathan Legear, 0-1
It was another freekick fifteen minutes later which gave Lazio the equaliser. It was Cristian Ledesma who beat Jan Van Steenberghe, 1-1.
Only six minutes later the Belgians were in front again. The goal came courtesy of a misunderstanding between Sebastiano Siviglia and Marco Ballotta who then lost the ball and was forced to bring down Serhat Akin for a penalty. Akin himself took it and Ballotta saved but then the Turkish striker did not miss on the rebound, 1-2.
This time the visitors' lead lasted even less. In the 39th minute a long Ledesma pass of about 40 metres found Stephan Makinwa who raced forward and beat the keeper, 2-2 at halftime.
A reasonably entertaining game so far.
The "PaarsWit" made three changes at halftime; they had Moucron away on September 9.
Lazio went ahead for the first time in the 53rd minute. It was defender Manuel Belleri who finished off an Alberto Quadri effort in a crowded area, 3-2.
Anderlecht reacted and went close twice in quick succession. Ballotta pulled off two excellent saves on long range efforts by Sami Allagui and Mbo Mpenza.
From the 67th minute Lazio started making changes too; Lorenzo De Silvestri for Pasquale Foggia, a few minutes later Simone Inzaghi for Quadri and finally Riccardo Bonetto for Makinwa.
"Les Mauve et Blanc" also made one more change taking off goal scorer Legear for Vadis Odinja-Ofoe.
The game slowed down even more and it was only Inzaghi who almost changed the score line again but he was denied by a good block by Van Steenberghe. Final score Lazio 3 Anderlecht 2.
A useful friendly for Lazio and a chance to remember and honour Giuliano Fiorini. The positive notes were Ledesma and Foggia in midfield plus Makinwa had looked like a valid alternative to first choice forwards Rocchi-Pandev. The negative note was the central defensive duo Siviglia-Cribari who were often in difficulty against the quick Belgian players.
Only a week to go now to the league debut. A tough season awaited the Biancocelesti as at the moment they would start at minus eleven points. There was optimism however in a reduction although Lazio's request for 75 million Euros in damages for the exclusion from the UEFA Cup had not gained them any new friends at the FIGC headquarters (Italian Football Federation).
Who played for Lazio
Ballotta, Belleri, Siviglia, Cribari, Zauri, Foggia (67' De Silvestri), Ledesma, Mudingayi, Manfredini, Quadri (71' S. Inzaghi), Makinwa (78' Bonetto)
Manager: D. Rossi
Who played for Anderlecht
Van Steenberghe, Lamah, Deschacht, Vanderhaeghe (46' Pareja), Kage, Legear (67' Odinja), Akin, Allagui (46' Lifongja), Leiva, Mpenza, Mbokani (46' Tchité)
Manager: Vercauteren
Referee: Squillace
Goals: 15' Legear, 29' Ledesma, 35' Akin (pen), 39' Makinwa, 53' Belleri
Sources
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