94th minute equaliser and then penalty shoot-out win

Dag Jenkins
Dec 19, 2022
4 min read

Season 2012-13

Round of 16, Coppa Italia

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Siena 1-1 (5-2 on pens)

An under par Lazio scrape through the cup tie but unbeknownst at the time it was a vital win

This evening was a Coppa Italia game. It was Lazio's debut, a last 16 clash with Serie A side Siena who were keen to repeat the previous year's good run. So far to get to this stage they had beaten Vicenza 4-2 and Torino 2-0 both at home.

This afternoon was a single knock-out game with eventual extra-time and penalties if necessary. There had to be a winner.

The match

A Wednesday afternoon 3 p.m kick off just before Christmas attracted a poor crowd of under 10,000.

Lazio fielded a strong side but had keeper Federico Marchetti, defenders Giuseppe Biava and André Dias, midfielders Stefano Mauri and Antonio Candreva plus striker Miro Klose missing from the regular XI. At least Marchetti, Mauri and Klose were on the bench.

Siena too made a few changes from their usual line-up. Regular keeper Gianluca Pegolo, midfielder Alessandro Rosina and forward Emanuele Calaiò were on the bench while defenders Angelo and Claudio Terzi, midfielders Matteo Rubin and Alessio Sestu plus forward Michele Paolucci were missing altogether.

The first half was a stalemate. Lazio were unable to threaten Simone Farelli as Siena were well organised and closed Lazio down well.

It was not until the half-hour that the Biancocelesti went close to scoring. Sergio Floccari let off a crisp left-footed strike which Farelli tipped over for a corner.

Siena defended well but had hardly any forays into Lazio's half. On one Reginaldo was blocked at the last second by a defensive wall. Halftime score Lazio 0 Siena 0.

A dull 45 minutes and most Laziali were probably pleased they were at work and unable to attend (the Curva Nord displayed a banner protesting about the kick-off time).

The second half showed no improvement as Lazio continued to be slow and predictable.

In the 55th minute Siena made their first substitution, bringing on Chilean forward Marcelo Larrondo for Albanian striker Erjon Bogdani.

Only a minute later the visitors scored with a fortuitous goal. Francesco Valiani shot and Juan Pablo Carrizo parried without too much difficulty and Michaël Ciani then went to clear but kicked the ball against Lorik Cana and it ricocheted backwards into the net, 0-1. A comical goal but Siena were leading.

In the 63rd minute Vladimir Petkovic took off Eddy Onazi and Christian Brocchi, putting on Cristian Ledesma and Mauri.

Lazio attacked but were unable to change gear. It was Siena who had chances with Larrondo and Nicola Belmonte on the counter attack.

In the 72nd minute the Sienesi took off midfielder Valiani and brought on midfielder Francesco Bolzoni.

Lazio were increasingly desperate and frenetic but could not undo the Tuscans' defence.

In the 83rd minute they threw on another forward Antonio Rozzi for defender Mobido Diakitè for the final assault. Siena responded in the 87th minute replacing midfielder Gaetano D'Agostino with more defensive minded midfielder Ribair Rodríguez.

Lazio piled up corners and just when it seemed they were crashing out of the cup they scored. In the 94th and last minute of added time Ciani rose up in the crowded area and headed past Farelli, 1-1.

Lazio had saved themselves from defeat but now there was extra-time to be played. No more substitutions were allowed in those days so the same line-ups continued.

It could now be expected that Lazio would be in the driving seat but it was not the case. The Biancocelesti continued to have difficulty in rattling the Tuscans' defensive setup. Instead it was Siena who went closer to stealing it but both Reginaldo and Simone Vergassola were hypnotised by Carrizo (a taste of things to come...).

So, a lacklustre Lazio and a battling Siena were forced into a penalty shoot-out.

The spot kick lottery took place facing the Curva Nord, a slight advantage for the home side.

Penalties

1- Captain Mauri stepped up for the first shot and placed a hard-medium height penalty to Farelli's left who was not far off it, 2-1.

1- Siena's first kick was taken by Belmonte and he hit a similar shot to Mauri's but to Carrizo's right, 2-2.

2- Ledesma sent Farelli the wrong way and put a low shot to the keeper's left, 3-2.

2- Vergassola struck a medium height penalty to the left but Carrizo sprung to his right and saved, 3-2.

3- Floccari then scored with a similar execution to Ledesma's 4-2.

3- Larrondo hit a shot rising towards the top right-hand corner but Carrizo pulled off a superb save and with his left hand palmed it onto the post and out 4-2.

4- Libor Kozak then took an off-centre penalty just slightly to the left where the keeper parried but the ball then trickled along the goal line and sneaked in near the right post. Not a great penalty but with a bit of luck it had gone in and more importantly gave Lazio the win, 5-2.

Not a great performance by Lazio but mission accomplished with Carrizo and Ciani the heroes. Next up would be Catania at home on January 8.

At the time little did the Laziali know just how important today's win would be for their history.

Who played for Lazio

Carrizo, Diakitè (83' Rozzi), Cana, Ciani, Cavanda, Onazi (63' Ledesma), Hernanes, Brocchi (63' Mauri), Lulic, Floccari, Kozak