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Writer's pictureSimon Basten

Magic from Di Vaio

UEFA Cup, Round of 16, Second Leg

Tuesday, December 6, 1994


Rome, Stadio Olimpico

Lazio Trabzonspor 2-1


An incredible goal by youngster Di Vaio secured Lazio progress to the quarter finals of the Uefa Cup for the first time in their history. Cravero had made it 1-0 in the middle of the first half. The qualification, following the 2-1 win away in the first leg, was never in any doubt.


Ticket owned by Dag Jenkins, photo by Dag Jenkins

The season started relatively well. Lazio’s main ambition was a place in Europe in some way or form and to play well. They managed to keep a high standard of play – a couple of 5-1’s (against Napoli and Padova) – despite an occasional pause (losing the derby for example).


In the third round against Trabzonspor the first leg was in Turkey and Lazio managed to score their first two away goals and guaranteeing themselves good odds of reaching the quarter finals.


The match


Lazio went into the match fairly confident of going through to the next round. The 2-1 win in the first leg was a comfortable safety net. Lazio closed all the gaps and the Turkish side did not look capable of overturning the result.


In the 25th minute there was a free kick after Diego Fuser was fouled near the penalty box on the right. Beppe Signori crossed the ball in high and Roberto Cravero was there to head the ball into the net.


At this point the main objective became trying to get Signori to score his first international goal with Lazio. He had never scored in Europe, despite being the best scorer in Italy for two consecutive years. He had a few chances but then Zdenek Zeman decided to save the striker’s energy for the Campionato and substituted him with Marco Di Vaio twenty minutes through the second half.


In the meantime Trabzonspor were increasingly menacing and Luca Marchegiani had to push a dangerous shot from Orhan Kaynak into corner. Fuser had another chance but kicked the ball straight at the goalkeeper. With Signori gone Lazio then had their usual five minutes of madness and Trabzonspor scored. José Chamot lost a risky ball at midfield, Soner Boz passed it to Hami Mandirali who found Marchegiani way too far out of the goal. He went round him and deposited the ball in the net to make it 1-1.


At this point the Black Sea Turks had to score another two goals to go through the next round but a superb goal from youngster Di Vaio closed the match. He received the ball on left from a throw in, two strides and he hammered a volley that ended up in the top hand corner. An incredible goal from a great talent with a bright future.


Who played for Lazio


Substitutes: Orsi, Bergodi, De Sio

Manager: Zeman


Who played for Trabzonspor


Nikat, Lemi, Hamdi, Ozkoylu, Tolunay, Abdullah, Gengiz, Unal, Soner, Haml, Orhan.

Substitutes: Ramazan, Ender, Osman, Zafer, Somavl

Manager: Senol Gunes


Referee: Heyemann (Germany)


Goals: 25’ Cravero, 73’ Hami, 75’ Di Vaio





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