Quarter Finals, Intertoto Cup, First Leg
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Tampere United 3-0
Goals by Belleri and Rocchi in the first half and Di Canio at the beginning of the second make light work of the Finns.
Today was the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Intertoto Cup. The competition gave the opportunity to teams that had not qualified to enter the UEFA Cup. It was played between July and August. From 2006, 11 qualification places were granted.
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Lazio had only started training 20 days before and the Finns were halfway through their domestic league so there was the risk Lazio’s superior level could be balanced by the Scandinavians superior fitness. It was also extremely hot, not good if you are unfit or if you are from Finland.
The match
The game was played in an empty stadium due to the usual minority of idiots' racist boos in a previous year's Lazio vs Partizan Belgrade encounter.
The game started off evenly balanced. Lazio were more skilful and technical but the Finns were more dynamic and energetic. Lazio attacked but Tampere were quicker and sharper and managed to break down their attempts. Lazio however gradually started creating chances and had several shots off target with Manuel Belleri, César and Tommaso Rocchi.
The deadlock was broken in the 28th minute by an unlikely protagonist and in an unlikely manner. Cesar teed up Belleri who blasted a left footed volley (his wrong foot) past Kaven. Lazio 1 Tampere 0.
On a high, Lazio immediately doubled their lead. In the 29th minute Fabio Firmani won possession in midfield and set up Tommaso Rocchi who scored in similar style to Belleri. Lazio 2 Tampere 0.
So, with a double lead at halftime Lazio's superior level was having the better of the visitors' superior fitness.
At the start of the second half Lazio almost immediately made it three. In the 49th minute a bad back pass by Jussi Kuoppola was picked up by Paolo Di Canio who went round the keeper and slotted the ball in. Lazio 3 Tampere 0.
At this point a combination of the score line, fading energy and the heat led Lazio to sit back.
The Finns, still running and with nothing to lose, came out of their shell. They pushed forward albeit without particular conviction. They did however create some chances with Mika Lahtinen and Antti Hynynen but Matteo Sereni was safe.
Lazio controlled the game and ran down the clock with their residual energy and would take a three-goal advantage to Finland in a week's time.
Delio Rossi was pleased with the result and pleasantly surprised by the team's level of fitness after such a short period of training.
Who played for Lazio
Sereni, Belleri, Cribari (80' Sannibale), Lequi, Zauri, Manfredini, Firmani, Liverani, César, Di Canio (69' Muzzi), Rocchi (85' Pandev)
Substitutes: Peruzzi, De Silvestri, Ciani, Melara
Manager: D. Rossi
Who played for Tampere United
Kaven, Sainio, Rasenen, Wiss, Heinanen, Kuoppala, Saarinen, Kujala (50' Lahtinen), Ojanpera, Sheweleff, Hyhynen
Substitutes: Hilander, Marchis, Aho, Sipilainen, Junnila, Savolaninen
Manager: Hjelm
Referee: Piccirillo (France)
Goals: 28' Belleri, 29' Rocchi, 47' Di Canio
Sources
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