Fuser blasts Lazio closer to Europe

Dag Jenkins
May 15, 2023
4 min read

Season 1996-97

Game 31, Serie A

Sunday, May 15, 1997

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio-Napoli 3-2

Two cracking goals by the midfielder consolidate 4th place in an error strewn but exciting game

The Serie A campaign had started very badly with two defeats (Bologna 0-1 away and Udinese 0-1 at home). After that they were very inconsistent with 6 wins (including Milan 3-0), 5 draws (including the derby 0-0 and Inter 1-1 away) and 5 defeats. The last defeat to Bologna 1-2 at home on January 26 had cost Zdeněk Zeman his job and back came Dino Zoff.

Since Zoff's return the Biancocelesti had won 7 (including Reggiana 6-1 and most recently 4-1 at home against Perugia), drawn 3 (including recent derby 1-1) and lost 2. Lazio were currently in joint 4th place with Bologna on 47 points, in the UEFA Cup slots (before the change of manager Lazio had been joint 12th, with Udinese, and only had a five-point cushion on the drop zone). Things were now looking far better.

Napoli were currently joint 12th, with Roma on 37 points. Since the change of managers they had won 1 (recent 1-0 at home against Roma) and lost 1. The Partenopei were not seriously risking relegation as the drop zone was seven points further down but were not safe yet with four games to go.

Lazio were favourites today to continue their good work under Zoff but Napoli could not relax completely and were keen to avoid any end of season nasty surprises.

The match

An unusual Thursday evening kickoff brought just over 40,000 fans to the Olimpico.

Lazio had Beppe Favalli missing while Napoli were without defender André Cruz and midfielder Francesco Turrini.

Napoli somewhat unexpectedly had control of the game in the opening twenty minutes or so. They tightly man marked all Lazio's danger men and used the flanks well with Massimiliano Esposito and Fabio Pecchia out wide. In the meantime Lazio seemed distracted and not really in the game yet.

This brought Napoli to take the lead in the 10th minute. Esposito floated in a free kick from the left and Roberto Ayala jumped up and headed home his first Serie A goal, 0-1. The Lazio defenders, in particular Alessandro Nesta and Alessandro Grandoni had been day dreaming.

Lazio despite trailing showed no sign of reacting and Napoli were not put under any particular pressure.

It was thus equally unexpected when the Biancocelesti equalised in the 24th minute. Ayala inadvertently heeled a Gigi Casiraghi attempt to chest the ball down and this put the former Juventus forward in front of Giuseppe Taglialatela whom he beat without any problems, 1-1.

The game which had been tight and cagey suddenly became more open and this suited Lazio fine.

It suited them tactically but they continued to make technical mistakes with Luca Marchegiani, José Antonio Chamot and uncharacteristically Nesta. The visitors did not take advantage but went close with Mauro Milanese who shaved the post.

In the 39th minute Lazio took the lead with a spectacular goal. Diego Fuser raced forward from inside his own half, exchanged passes with Beppe Signori and unleashed a brilliant low curling shot from 25 metres which beat Taglialatela, 2-1. Half time: Lazio 2 Napoli 1 but not totally deserved.

For the second half the Azzurri made two changes: attacking midfielder Beto for French midfielder Alain Boghossian and forward Alfredo Aglietti for attacking midfielder Esposito. Their intentions were clear.

The game became even more end to end. Aglietti immediately missed a favourable chance and then Signori forced Taglialatela into a difficult save.

The chances kept coming; Signori volleyed over the bar, Casiraghi missed a sitter, Nicola Caccia fired high and Aglietti was denied by Luca Marchegiani.

In the 64th minute Lazio made their first change in a more or less role for role substitution: Renato Buso replacing Roberto Rambaudi.

Two minutes later Napoli equalised in a somewhat comical way. In the 66th minute Grandoni was absent but Beto completely missed the volley thus deceiving Marchegiani and the ball then bounced up allowing the Brazilian to head it in. 2-2. A lucky goal but they all count.

Napoli's hopes of taking away a point from Rome lasted another five minutes. In the 71st minute Fuser hit another cracking long range shot, this time into the top right-hand corner, to put Lazio back in front, 3-2.

In the 74th minute both sides made a substitution, for the hosts Igor Protti replaced Signori and for the visitors a more offensive midfielder Gennaro Scarlato replaced Roberto Bordin.

Napoli tried to get back in the game but Lazio decided to concentrate more in defence and managed to avoid unnecessary risks.

In the 90th minute Pavel Nedved went off and on came Guerino Gottardi but there was no late drama. Final score: Lazio 3 Napoli 2.

An exciting game although full of mistakes for the purists. Lazio had lacked concentration and determination for long periods but Napoli failed to take full advantage and were punished by two Fuser "Euro- Gol" (spectacular long distance strikes).

Lazio were now solitary 4th on 50 points (Bologna had lost 1-5 in Perugia). With three games to go Lazio were four points behind 3rd placed Inter, two ahead of 5th placed Udinese and three of 6th placed Bologna. It was Lazio's sixth consecutive home win and they were closing in on Europe.

Napoli's situation complicated itself slightly as they were now 13th on 37 points but their cushion on relegation had been cut to four points (Piacenza on 33). No alarm bells but they had to be careful.

Who played for Lazio

Marchegiani, Negro, Grandoni, Nesta, Chamot, Rambaudi (64' Buso), Fuser, Venturin, Nedved (90' Gottardi), Casiraghi, Signori (74' Protti)