That was not easy

Simon Basten
Aug 29, 2022
2 min read

Updated: Sep 6

Season 1999-00

Game 1, Serie A

Monday, August 30, 1999

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Cagliari 2-1

Lazio start the season with a win, but Cagliari played well making it very hard for the Biancocelesti

The 1999-00 season opened with the victory against the mighty Manchester United in Monte Carlo for the UEFA Super Cup with a Marcelo Salas goal. Another European triumph after having won the last ever Cup Winners Cup the previous year in Birmingham against Real Mallorca.

Today was the first game of the Campionato.

The match: Monday, August 30, 1999, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

The game had been postponed to Monday because of the UEFA Super Cup.

Five minutes and the Biancocelesti were already ahead. Free kick for a foul on Sergio Conceição, Sinisa Mihajlovic was absent so it was the turn of Juan Sebastian Veron to take it, big whack, deflection, 1-0.

All downhill? Far from it. Cagliari attacked and had three opportunities in two minutes. In the 20th Patrick Mboma shaved the post and a minute later Daniele Berretta found himself in complete solitude in front of Luca Marchegiani but a great save from the keeper denied him the equaliser and then Jason Mayelè shot wide. In the 31st minute Fabian O’Neill hit the top of the crossbar directly from a corner kick. Then a free kick taken by O’Neill was saved again by Marchegiani, Tiziano De Patre tried a tap in but was walled, ball to Diego Lopez, over the crossbar.

Simone Inzaghi was clearly fouled in the box in the 50th minute but the referee was not convinced. Shortly after, Fabio Macellari had a chance but yet again Marchegiani parried a close range shot into corner. After an Inzaghi shot well saved by Alessio Scarpi, in the 63rd minute there was a penalty for Lazio. Pavel Nedved to Marcelo Salas, Scarpi came out to stop him, minimal contact, penalty. Inzaghi took it and it was 2-0 for the Biancocelesti.

Cagliari reduced the deficit in the 77th minute. Beretta crossed form the right, Marchegiani got a hand to it but the ball landed in front of Mboma who passed to O’Neill and it was 2-1.

There was a quarter of an hour left but nothing much happened. Three points for Lazio, but it was certainly not easy.

Who played for Lazio

Marchegiani, Pancaro, Nesta, Negro, Favalli, Conceição, Veron (58’ Simeone), Almeyda, Nedved (79’ Lombardo), Inzaghi (69’ Andersson), Salas