Game 10, Serie A
Sunday, November 23, 2003
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Perugia 3-1
More scuffles than football with six red cards but Lazio get two late goals and win the battle
So far, it had been a mixed bag. In Serie A, Lazio had played 9 games, winning 5 (Lecce, Sampdoria, Chievo, Bologna and Udinese), drawing 1 (Empoli) and losing 3 (Parma, Milan and most recently the derby to two late goals). Lazio were therefore on 16 points and were in 6th position.
Today the Biancocelesti were favourites, but Perugia were a hard team to beat as their six draws so far proved.
The match
A sunny day and 45,000 spectators in Rome today.
The first half was an extremely balanced affair with neither team creating much danger. The deadlock was broken in the 47th minute and it was an episode which would not only affect the score line but the mood of the remainder of the game. Just before half time Fabio Liverani put in a high cross from the left, Sergio Conceição jumped up with defender Massimiliano Fusani, the ball fell a couple of metres backwards to Dejan Stankovic who hammered in a half volley, just inside the right post. It looked like a clear goal but the Umbri were furious and claimed Fusani, who had collapsed a little theatrically, had been pushed by Conceição. Anyway, the goal stood but Perugia would be seething about the decision for the rest of the match. For now, luckily halftime came, Lazio 1 Perugia 0.
The second half brought bad news for Lazio as an injured Jaap Stam did not reappear on the field, replaced by Paolo Negro.
Perugia started to push forward more but there was suddenly bad blood between the sides and the game became increasingly tense and dirty.
Mancini tried to remedy Perugia's attacks by replacing Ousmane Dabo with Giuliano Giannichedda in the 57th minute but five minutes later the Grifone equalised. In the 62nd minute, after Angelo Peruzzi had parried a Massimo Margiotta effort, Grosso scored with the left foot. Lazio 1 Perugia 1.
In the 70th minute Perugia had a man sent off when Souleymane Diamoutene got his marching orders for a rough foul too many, this time on Giuseppe Favalli.
Lazio did not really take advantage of the extra man but soon they would have two players more. In the 84th minute Do Prado, who had come on for Margiotta, pulled up with a muscular problem but Lazio did not put the ball out of play immediately causing another hysterical reaction by the visitors. Massimo Oddo then did the right thing but it was too late and scuffles broke out between the players. When "calm" returned Conceição and Perugia's Giovanni Ignoffo were shown red cards.
With Perugia in 9 men and Lazio in 10 the Biancocelesti managed to score in the 87th minute with a Bernardo Corradi goal from a Stankovic assist. Lazio 2 Perugia 1.
The looming defeat caused the visitors to lose their heads completely. A killer tackle by Marco Di Loreto on Stankovic, right in front of the benches, earned him a red card too and led to more pushing, shoving and aggro. The result was marching orders for Perugia manager Serse Cosmi, who made no new friends by shouting "Forza Roma" to the crowd while going down the steps to the changing rooms and also for team manager Alessandro Gaucci (son of owner Luciano Gaucci).
Against 8 men Lazio made it three in the 94th minute with a Simone Inzaghi chip over the keeper. Final score Lazio 3 Perugia 1.
Not a great advert for football but the game had gradually degenerated after Perugia's exaggerated protests on the first goal.
Lazio would have to improve in Champions League during the week while Perugia would have to steady their nerves if they wanted to stay in Serie A.
Who played for Lazio
Peruzzi, Oddo, Stam (46' Negro), Mihajlovic, Favalli, Conceição, Dabo (57' Giannichedda), Liverani, Stankovic (90' Albertini), Corradi, S.Inzaghi
Manager: Mancini
Who played for Perugia
Tardioli, Diamoutene, Di Loreto, Ignoffo, Zé Maria, Tedesco, Obodo, Grosso, Fusani, Vryzas (75' Bothroyd), Margiotta (72' Do Prado, 85' Nastos)
Substitutes: Pardini, Loumpoutis, Gatti, Berrettoni
Manager: Cosmi
Referee: Bolognino
Goals: 47' Stankovic, 62' Grosso, 87' Corradi, 94' S. Inzaghi
Sources
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