Champions of Italy

Simon Basten
Jun 24, 2024
3 min read

Season 1994-95

Final Scudetto Primavera, Second Leg

Saturday, June 24, 1995

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Perugia 1-0

Lazio Primavera beat Perugia 1-0 with a Ianuzzi goal and win the scudetto

The Primavera League is the under-19 youth competition. The tournament began in 1962-63 taking the place of the Cadetti League which had started in 1954 and Lazio had won in 1955-56.

In the first seven years of the Primavera league there were two distinct final phases for Serie A and Serie B but since 1969 it became one single tournament. The Biancocelesti had so far won twice, in 1975-76, with Bruno Giordano, Lionello Manfredonia, Maurizio Montesi and Andrea Agostinelli, managed by Paolo Carosi, and in 1986-87 with Valerio Fiori and Antonio Rizzolo managed by Giancarlo Morrone.

The teams in the first phase were divided into four regional groups. The top four teams proceeded to the second phase. The teams qualified were Padova, Udinese, Atalanta and Milan for Group A, Genoa, Juventus, Parma and Torino for Group B, Palermo, Reggina, Bari and Foggia for Group D.

The Biancocelesti had a good group of players managed by Mimmo Caso, hero of the -9 season. The previous season they had lost in the final against Atalanta.

Lazio won Group C ahead of Perugia, Fiorentina, and Ancona with 18 wins, 4 draws and only 2 losses.

In the second phase, the 16 teams were divided into four groups. The winners would go on to play the semi-finals. Group A was won by Juventus, Group B by Udinese, Lazio won Group C and Perugia Group D.

In the semi-final, the Biancocelesti won the first leg against Udinese 1-0 with a 90th minute Giacomo Paniccia goal and then drew 1-1 in the second leg after Marco Di Vaio had given Lazio the lead in the 56th minute. The final was against Perugia who had eliminated Juventus.

In the first leg Lazio had lost 2-1. The Biancocelesti had scored first with Alessandro Iannuzzi but Perugia had overturned the result and won 2-1.

The Biancocelesti needed to win today.

The match

The stadium was packed and almost full for this very important game despite it being a Primavera match. And Lazio immediately went ahead. In the 4th minute free kick from outside the box. In came specialist Alessandro Iannuzzi. Marvellous curling shot and 1-0 for the young Biancocelesti.

Lazio put their foot on the accelerator looking for a second and had chances with Marco Napolioni, Marco Di Vaio with a header only just too high and another great Iannuzzi free kick saved by the keeper.

In the second half Perugia woke up and started to attack. The visitors went close to an equaliser with a Danilo Vitali header which went only just wide and then in the last second there was a massive scramble in the Lazio area, ball to Stefano Gioacchini who from favourable position tried a shot. Flavio Roma needed all his ability to save and did so, handing the Biancocelesti their deserved scudetto.

A first for manager Mimmo Caso, legendary player of the -9 season, as well as for Sergio Cragnotti who could look to the future with great optimism since the club could go a long way with such talented kids.

Who played for Lazio

Roma, Di Nicolantonio, Nesta, Piccioni (63’ Sogliani), Cristiano, Orfei, Di Vaio, Napolioni, Lucchini (79’ Birzò), Iannuzzi, Franceschini