Lazio take minimum advantage to Inönü cauldron in a week’s time

Season 2002-03

UEFA Cup quarter finals, First Leg

Thursday, March 13, 2003

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Beşiktaş 1-0

A second half goal by Simone Inzaghi breaches Turkish bunker but leaves qualification to the UEFA Cup semifinal in the balance.

Ticket owned by Dag Jenkins, photo by Dag Jenkins

In the UEFA Cup, Lazio were having a good run. To reach the quarter finals they had eliminated; Xanthi (Greece - 4-0, 0-0), Red Star Belgrade (Serbia - 1-0, 1-1), Sturm Graz (Austria - 3-1, 0-1) and Wisla Krakow (Poland - 3-3, 2-1).

The match

From the early stages it was obvious the Istanbul Eagles had flown across from the Bosphorus with the clear intention of taking away a 0-0 draw or at least to limit the damage.

Straight from the kick-off they placed all eleven players deep in their own half in protection of goalkeeper Oscar Cordoba. Lazio, despite this extremely tight defence, did have some chances. In the 13th minute, a first Claudio Lopez attempt was denied by the Colombian keeper. A minute later, Enrico Chiesa failed to domesticate a Beppe Favalli cross and then Nikola Lazetic was unable to coordinate himself for a shot. In the 17th minute, a lunging close-range effort by Fernando Couto hit the keeper. So, constant pressure by the home team but not an abundance of chances. Beşiktaş only foray and chance came in the 34th minute, when Sergen Yalçın dispossessed a Lazio player at the edge of the box but hammered his shot way over the bar. Halftime score Lazio 0 Beşiktaş 0.

For the second 45 minutes Roberto Mancini decided to throw caution to the wind and in the 50th minute replaced defender, and captain, Favalli with striker Simone Inzaghi (who had a knack of getting European goals). Besiktas, obviously satisfied with the stalemate, kept their starting line-up.

Mancini's move was soon rewarded. In the 56th minute, a Lopez cross was turned in with a low twisting volley by Inzaghi. A good goal and a precious lead for Lazio.

Beşiktaş stuck to their game plan although they did have a couple of opportunities both with İlhan Mansız who first in the 20th minute, under pressure by Couto, put the ball wide and then ten minutes later, having got past Sinisa Mihajlovic, had a shot saved by Angelo Peruzzi.

It was Lazio however, who went closer to doubling their lead and a potentially less risky trip to Istanbul. First Stefano Fiore, who had replaced Chiesa for the last 15 minutes, spawned a clear chance from near the penalty spot, sending the ball into Curva Nord. And then in the dying minutes Lopez, with the keeper rushing off his line, had his shot blocked. Final score Lazio 1 Beşiktaş 0.

A win, with no away goals conceded, was not a bad result but no-one at Lazio was under any illusion that the trip to the fiery atmosphere of the Inönü stadium would be a comfortable one.

Who played for Lazio

Peruzzi, Stam, Couto, Mihajlovic, Favalli (50' S. Inzaghi), Lazetic (85' Liverani), Simeone, Stankovic, Cėsar, C. Lopez, Chiesa (74' Fiore)