Lazio aerial power obliterates Verona

Dag Jenkins
Nov 7, 2022
4 min read

Season 1999-00

Game 9, Serie A

Sunday, November 7, 1999

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Verona 4-0

A goal directly from a corner, two headers and a final goal by Boksic blow Verona away

In Serie A this season Lazio were currently top on 21 points, one ahead of second placed Juventus. The Biancocelesti had won 5 and drawn 3 (including Milan 4-4 at home and recently Inter 1-1 away).

Verona had won 2, drawn 2 (including recent 0-0 at home with Milan) and lost 4. They were joint 13th with Lecce on 8 points but were unbeaten in the last three games.

Lazio were clear favourites today but Verona were improving after a difficult start.

The match

A sunny and mild day attracted just under 45,000 to the Olimpico.

Lazio were without suspended Matías Almeyda while Verona had defender Anthony Šerić, midfielder Vincenzo Italiano and forward Fabrizio Cammarata missing.

Verona made their intentions clear from the start with a very defensive 4-5-1 setup with only Adaílton up front, the Brazilian is a skillful player but cannot really bear the weight of the attack alone.

After only four minutes the visitors lost defender Giancarlo Filippini through injury and on came Danish defender Martin Laursen.

Lazio first attacked on the ground but did not find an immediate breakthrough so decided to try the aerial tactic.

Juan Sebastian Veron almost scored directly from a corner twice but first the ball went narrowly wide and shortly after his corner hit Diego Simeone on the goal line.

In the 19th minute Veron took another corner from the left and this time managed to curl it directly into the back of the net, 1-0.

Alen Boksic almost doubled soon after but Sébastian Frey parried the Croat's powerful strike.

Adailton then had a rare Verona effort but his left footed strike from the edge of the box went well off target.

In the 22nd minute Veron swung another corner in and this time it was met by Marcelo Salas on the far post who headed past Frey, 2-0.

Lazio continued to threaten on corners. Veron took one from the right this time and Sinisa Mihajlovic attempted a volley from the edge of the area but was not lucky as his effort flew just over the bar.

Mihaljovic then hit a crossbar on another set piece with his speciality, a curling freekick which was deflected by the wall and came back off the woodwork.

In the 45th minute Lazio made it three. The move again started from a corner but this time Pavel Nedved took it short, the ball then reached Veron about 30 metres out on the left and the Argentine crossed into the area where Paolo Negro was more alert than defender Gianluca Falsini and Frey and headed home, 3-0.

Verona had put up no resistance and been swept away by Lazio's aerial power. The game was practically over by halftime.

In the second half the game looked more like a friendly and in the 63rd minute was definitely over. It was still Lazio who attacked constantly and scored again. Diego Simeone cleverly teed up Alen Boksic with a low through ball into the box where the "Alien" blasted it past Frey, 4-0.

The game had nothing more to say. Lazio continued to go forward but were unable to add to their tally. After the fourth goal Sven-Goran Eriksson gradually took off his stars so Salas, Alessandro Nesta and Veron were replaced by Roberto Mancini, Fernando Couto and Nestor Sensini… hardly journey men either…

Verona tried changing things but neither Croat Robert Špehar for Adailton or Emiliano Salvetti for Martino Melis made much difference.

Lazio had another header by Mancini go just wide and then Luca Marchegiani denied the Scaligeri even a consolation goal as he dived low to his right and pulled off a superb save on a Špehar header.

An easy win for Lazio who had disposed of Verona without any problems.

Lazio were still top obviously but now had a three-point advantage on Juventus and four on Milan. The table read: Lazio 21, Juventus 18, Milan 17.

Verona had now slipped down on 15th on 8 points and in the last relegation slot.

Who played for Lazio

Marchegiani, Negro, Nesta, (68' Couto), Mihajlovic, Pancaro, Conceição, Simeone, Veron (73' Sensini), Nedved, Boksic, Salas (64' Mancini)