It’s not over yet

Simon Basten
Jun 10, 2024
3 min read

Season 2000-01

Game 33, Serie A

Sunday, June 10, 2001

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Fiorentina 3-0

Lazio beat Fiorentina and there is still a very slim chance to be champions again

After winning the Super Coppa against Inter in September, Lazio did not start too well in the campionato and by the end of the year were fourth with 21 points, way off Roma who were leading the Serie A eight points ahead.

Once Dino Zoff replaced Sven-Goran Eriksson who resigned in January arrived, things improved. They were currently third, five points behind Roma but had possibly thrown all chances of catching the Giallorossi with a draw in the last second against Inter the previous game. They could have been just three points behind with two games to the end and Roma with serious energy issues.

The Giallorossi were to play in Naples and it looked as if today was going to be a sombre day for Lazio fans.

The match: Sunday, June 10, 2001, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Last home match of the season and everybody was disappointed. Roma were just a step away from the scudetto and the Biancocelesti who had got very near the Giallorossi had thrown everything away in the previous game against Inter. And also considering that Fiorentina were really not in the mood, more concentrated on the second leg of the Coppa Italia Final, the game could have been boring.

The fans cheered Roberto Mancini on his return to the Olimpico. When Sven-Goran Eriksson left; he too had resigned as he was Sven’s assistant. Pavel Nedved too, rumoured to be the first player to leave in the summer, got a lot of support.

The fans seemed to be more concentrated on what Roma were doing in Naples and when Nicola Amoruso scored at the San Paolo in the 18th minute, Lazio also almost went ahead. Sinisa Mihajlovic took a free kick and crossed, Hernan Crespo headed the ball onto the post. Previously there had been attempts from Karel Poborsky, Nedved, Claudio Lopez and Mihajlovic, all to no avail. The Viola were passive and Crespo had another chance in the 19th minute but his header off a Claudio Lopez cross was too central. In the 35th minute the Biancocelesti scored. Claudio Lopez dribbled past Roberto Massaro and crossed, Alessandro Pierini tried to anticipate Crespo but deflected the ball towards the goal, Crespo and Giuseppe Taglialatela tried to get to it in some way but the Viola defender in an attempt to clear then kicked the ball into his own net.

Fiorentina finally gave Angelo Peruzzi a bit of work to do when a Mauro Bressan shot in the 39th minute was saved into corner by the keeper.

Alas Gabriel Batistuta equalised for Roma in the 42nd minute and the Olimpico went silent. It was Crespo who livened things up in the 44th when on a Claudio Lopez counterattack he found himself alone in front of the keeper and made no mistake.

In the interval Mancini decided to send in Manuel Rui Costa and Enrico Chiesa, but it was Lazio who scored in the 55th minute. Francesco Totti had just scored a penalty in Naples and Roma had virtually won the scudetto, when Juan Sebastian Veron took a corner and Paolo Negro headed the ball into the net.

The game practically ended here. All ears were then on what was happening in Naples. In the 81st minute Fabio Pecchia scored for Napoli. It was not over. Roma on 72, Juventus 70, Lazio 69. One match left.

Who played for Lazio

Peruzzi, Negro, Nesta, Mihajlovic (73’ Pancaro), Favalli, Poborsky (77’ Gottardi), D. Baggio, Veron (68’ Simeone), Nedved, Crespo, C. Lopez