Igor finally makes his mark

Simon Basten
Apr 20, 2023
3 min read

Season 1996-97

Game 28, Serie A

Sunday, April 20, 1997

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Reggiana 6-1

Protti scores a hat trick as Lazio demolish Reggiana

In campionato, Lazio did not have a good start. After eight games they were 14th, just a couple of points above the relegation zone. But the situation improved and five games later they were only two points away from third place. In January Lazio beat Milan 3-0 and everybody thought they had recovered. But two home defeats in the next two games meant a further debacle. Owner Sergio Cragnotti sacked Zdenek Zeman and called Dino Zoff to solve the season. Zoff was President of the club at the time, but he left the presidency and put his tracksuit back on.

Under Zoff the situation improved and the Biancocelesti were currently 6th on course for a UEFA Cup qualification.

The match: Sunday, April 20, 1997, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Reggiana started well and pressed Lazio in their own half in the first ten minutes. But then the Biancocelesti took over. Beppe Signori thanks to Roberto Rambaudi had a chance to score but was fouled from behind by Gianluca Cherubini. Penalty which Beppe-gol scored in the 12^th minute with his usual no run up.

Five more minutes and it was 2-0. This time Pavel Nedved fortuitously found himself the ball in the box and beat Marco Ballotta.

Another 300 seconds and it was 3-0. Signori beat the offside trap and from the left byline waited for the upcoming Igor Protti who had a simple tap in to score his second of the season. And ten minutes later it was four. Protti, with a lot less weight on his shoulders, from outside the box tried a shot which beat the Reggiana keeper for the fourth time.

Another error in the off-side trap on a Diego Fuser header put Protti alone in front of Ballotta. Lob over the keeper and it was a hat trick for Igor. Five goals in forty minutes.

In the 42nd minute the Lazio defence fell asleep and Igor Simutenkov was able to beat Luca Marchegiani to make the score only slightly less humiliating.

In the second half Protti had a chance with a shot well saved by Ballotta and Signori failed to score despite a one-on-one with the Reggiana keeper. The sixth goal however did arrive thanks to a Nedved shot from outside the box which Ballotta could do nothing about.

The referee at this point decided that he too wanted to join in the fun and awarded a ridiculous penalty to the visitors. Damiano Longhi in front of Marchegiani tried a shot which the Lazio goalkeeper did well to save, the ball reached Massimo Minetti. José Antonio Chamot was in the way of his attempted tap in. He parried his private parts and that is exactly where the ball went. Salvatore Racalbuto gave a penalty and showed the Argentinian a red card. Ridiculous penalty and even more comical sending off. Simutenkov stepped up to take the spot kick but Marchegiani saved.

Nothing more to add about the game except the return of Gigi Casiraghi after two months of injury. Good game, good win, but Chamot will not be playing the next match, against Roma...

Who played for Lazio

Marchegiani, Negro, Chamot, Grandoni, Favalli, Rambaudi (61' Buso), Fuser, Venturin, Nedved, Protti (77' Casiraghi), Signori (71' Fish)