Still six points behind

Simon Basten
Feb 4, 2024
3 min read

Season 2000-01

Game 17, Serie A

Sunday, February 4, 2001

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Lecce 3-2

Lazio win but cannot reduce the distance from the top

After winning the Supercoppa 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. There had been a lot of problems. This first issue was that Sven-Goran Eriksson had signed a contract with the English FA to manage England starting from the summer of 2001. This meant that it was going to be his last year with Lazio. This created a negative psychological situation in the team, uncertain of what would happen in the future. Secondly, Crespo got injured early on and he was taking time to get back into form. Thirdly, the team was badly missing a right-winger since Attilio Lombardo was past his prime and Dejan Stankovic was fulfilling the task but rather reluctantly. Fourthly, Claudio Lopez, Lazio’s star summer signing, also got injured early on in the season and would be out for a lengthy period.

There was still optimism but in the first game of the new year Lazio lost at home and Eriksson, realising that he might be the problem, resigned. The Biancocelesti were 11 points away from Roma who led the table. The team was handed to Dino Zoff.

The team picked up winning first at Udine then at home against Inter and a week prior to this match they won 4-1 in Florence. They were now six points behind.

The match

Lazio started well and in the 8th minute had a chance with Hernan Crespo on a Beppe Pancaro cross, but his header went over the crossbar. On the cross Marcelo Salas was thrown to the ground by Teixera Juarez but the referee was not impressed. It was followed by a big whack from outside the box by Pavel Nedved, but Antonio Chimenti parried into corner. Lazio continued to attack and had a number of half chances with Crespo, Salas and Juan Sebastian Veron, but the goal arrived just three minutes from the end of the first half. Veron passed a low ball into the box to Crespo. The Argentine International, despite being pressed by a defender, turned around and beat Chimenti for Lazio’s 1-0.

The Biancocelesti came out for the second 45 minutes still digesting their hot tea and Lecce equalised. In the 51st minute David Balleri with a throw in for Klas Ingessson who headed towards the box. Cristiano Lucarelli anticipated Angelo Peruzzi and Paolo Negro with a lob, Alessandro Conticchio on the line then headed it in for the 1-1.

Lazio put their foot on the accelerator. In the 56th minute free kick from the right, Veron crossed into the box and Crespo headed the ball onto the crossbar. Shortly after, from a difficult angled position, he hit the woodwork again. Finally, in the 65th minute Crespo managed to score after a Pancaro low cross from the left, anticipating the Lecce defence.

The Apulians almost managed to equalise again with a William Viali header, but Karel Poborsky saved on the line. At this point Veron decided to close the match with a thundering shot in the 75th minute taking Lazio to 3-1.

Referee Boriello decided to re-open the game four minutes later giving an absurd penalty after Davor Vugrinec dived into Fernando Couto. Lucarelli scored from the spot kick. But apart for an improbable penalty claim for Lecce in the final minutes, the game was over.

Lazio still six points behind Roma.

Who played for Lazio

Peruzzi, N egro (86' Favalli), Nesta, Couto, Pancaro, Poborsky (78' Simeone), Veron, D.Baggio, Nedved, Salas, Crespo