A six-minute turnaround

Simon Basten

Oct 23, 2022

3 min read

Season 1999-00

Game 7, Serie A

Sunday, October 24, 1999

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Lecce 4-2

Lazio came from behind to beat Lecce 4-2 at the Olimpico, scoring three times in six extraordinary minutes before surviving a spirited second-half fightback from the visitors

In Serie A Lazio were currently top with a point lead over Inter and Juventus. The had won 4 and drawn 2.

The match

Lazio remained at the top of Serie A after a thrilling 4-2 victory over Lecce at the Olimpico, but the scoreline did little justice to an afternoon that was far more complicated than the final result suggested.

Sven-Goran Eriksson had made several changes following the midweek Champions League trip to Maribor. Pavel Nedved was left in the stands because of the foreign-player restrictions, while Sergio Conceição started on the bench. Most significantly, Lazio had to cope with the absence of Alessandro Nesta, leaving Nestor Sensini and Sinisa Mihajlovic together at the heart of the defence. It was a combination that would struggle badly against the pace and movement of Cristiano Lucarelli and David Sesa.

Lecce showed from the start that they had no intention of simply defending. Alberto Cavasin's side played without fear and took the lead after 16 minutes. Sesa's effort was intercepted by Lucarelli, who found himself in front of Luca Marchegiani and made no mistake.

The goal finally woke Lazio up. The reaction was immediate and powerful, and within six minutes the Biancocelesti had completely turned the game around.

In the 26th minute Mihajlovic sent over one of his trademark corners and Beppe Pancaro rose above the Lecce defence to head Lazio level. Four minutes later the home side were ahead. Marcelo Salas' cross was not dealt with by Massimo Lotti and Dejan Stankovic reacted quickest to the loose ball, firing it into the net.

The young Serbian was not finished. Two minutes later Alen Boksic finally found some space on the left and delivered a cross towards the far post. Stankovic arrived at exactly the right moment to head his second goal and make it 3-1. In the space of six extraordinary minutes, Lazio had transformed 0-1 into 3-1.

But Lecce immediately reminded Lazio that the match was far from over.

Just a minute after Stankovic's second, Lucarelli reduced the deficit. His shot took a decisive deflection off Paolo Negro and left Marchegiani helpless.

The second half became increasingly uncomfortable for Lazio. Lucarelli in particular remained a constant menace, and in the 57th minute he came desperately close to an equaliser. He raced through with only Marchegiani to beat, but Mihajlovic produced a remarkable last-ditch recovery to get back and prevent the striker from finishing.

Lucarelli's frustration boiled over soon afterwards. After another confrontation with Sensini, he was eventually substituted, visibly furious at Cavasin's decision. The Lecce forward had scored twice and had caused Lazio's defence problems throughout the afternoon.

Eriksson was equally concerned about the direction of the game. He withdrew the increasingly ineffective Boksic and introduced Conceição, effectively adding another midfielder and leaving Salas as the lone striker. It was a pragmatic decision: Lazio were no longer trying to overwhelm Lecce but simply to survive their pressure.

There were weaknesses elsewhere, too. Negro was replaced by Beppe Favalli at half-time, while neither Juan Sebastian Verón, Diego Simeone nor Matias Almeyda were able to impose themselves as they normally might. The absence of Nesta was particularly noticeable, with Sensini and Mihajlovic looking uncomfortable against Lecce's mobile attack.

Lecce continued to threaten, but Lazio finally found the breathing space they needed deep into stoppage time.

Verón produced the decisive moment, breaking forward and supplying a superb assist for Simone Inzaghi. The substitute kept his composure and finished past Lotti to make it 4-2 and finally extinguish Lecce's hopes of an unlikely comeback.

This victory was Lazio's fifth in their first seven league matches and kept them alone at the top of the table, three points clear of Juventus.

Who played for Lazio

Marchegiani, Negro (49' Favalli), Sensini, Mihajlovic, Pancaro, Stankovic, Almeyda, Simeone, Veron, Boksic (65' Conceição), Salas (82' S.Inzaghi)