Game 6, Second Group Phase, Champions League
Wednesday, March 14, 2001
Elland Road Stadium, Leeds
Leeds Lazio 3-3
Both teams had weakened sides but it turned out to be a six-goal, entertaining game
In the Champions League, Lazio were in the second group phase but already out.
They had started the tournament in September in the first group phase. The Biancocelesti had won 4 (Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 away and 5-1 at home, Sparta Prague 3-0 at home and 1-0 away), drawn 1 (Arsenal 1-1 at home) and lost 1 (Arsenal 0-2 away).
In the second group phase things had started badly with 3 defeats (Anderlecht 0-1 away, Leeds United 0-1 at home and Real Madrid 2-3 away, with a dubious last-minute penalty). They then held Real Madrid to a 2-2 home draw and beat Anderlecht 2-1 at home but it was too little too late and Lazio were going up to West Yorkshire already eliminated.
Leeds were already guaranteed second place in the group behind Real Madrid.
Tonight's game therefore was not important for qualification but it was still a Champions League game. There was pride involved, plus European reputation and of course economic incentive.
The match
A big crowd turned up at Elland Road, 37,000. There was only pride at stake but it was a Champions League night and when you have been through what Leeds and Lazio have, you don't snub these occasions.
Both sides however logically put out slightly weakened line-ups. Leeds had an away game against Charlton on the Saturday and Lazio had a big match against Juventus on the Sunday.
Leeds were without Alan Smith and Eirik Bakke suspended, Radebe was injured and they rested Rio Ferdinand, Jonathan Woodgate and Robbie Keane while Nigel Martyn, David Batty and Olivier Dacourt were on the bench. Lazio decided to play without Angelo Peruzzi, Alessandro Nesta, Giuseppe Favalli and Diego Simeone while Paolo Negro, Beppe Pancaro and Hernan Crespo were on the bench. Karel Poborský could not play having already participated in the event with another team.
The game started with Lazio shaky at the back and in the 2nd and 3rd minutes mistakes by Emanuele Pesaresi and then Fernando Couto almost cost them early goals but Leeds were off target with Bowyer.
After this dodgy start Lazio grew into the game especially thanks to Pavel Nedved who was one of the livelier players. In the 21st minute he charged down the right wing and put in a perfect cross which Fabrizio Ravanelli headed in. Leeds 0 Lazio 1. Ravanelli was already far from popular in Leeds for having played for rivals Middlesbrough.
Lazio's lead only lasted seven minutes as Lee Bowyer equalised. Kewell crossed in from the right, Lazio cleared badly with Pesaresi and the ball fell to Bowyer who struck a wonderful curling lob on the half volley into the far post corner. Leeds 1 Lazio 1.
Lazio, however, took only a minute to take back the lead. In the 29th minute Ravanelli latched on to a long ball into the area and was pulled down by his back for a penalty. The specialist Sinisa Mihajlovic made no mistake with a powerful mid-height strike to Paul Robinson's left. Leeds 1 Lazio 2.
The game was entertaining as neither team really had anything to lose. Bowyer threatened again with a header from a corner but Luca Marchegiani blocked centrally. In the 44th minute the home side won a corner despite heavy protests from the Italians who were adamant it had come off a Leeds player. Anyway, the corner was swung in and went over the defence to Jason Wilcox who drilled in a low left foot for the Peacocks' equaliser. Leeds 2 Lazio 2.
The second half started with no changes but was less balanced, with Leeds more dominant. Lazio struggled to get out of their own half with Ravanelli and Claudio Lopez far too isolated up front. Leeds had shots by Wilcox, Kewell and Bowyer but were either off target or not clinical enough in front of goal.
The Leeds goal came however in the 62nd minute. Kewell floated in a freekick from the right and Viduka beat Mihajlovic and twisting his body sent a strong, low header past Marchegiani. Leeds 3 Lazio 2.
A deserved lead for the Yorkshire side who then took the Australian striker off and brought on 20-year-old Anthony Hackworth. Lazio did not have much of a reaction and it was Leeds who went closer with a Kewell header well saved by Marchegiani.
In the 73rd minute Lazio threw on Marcelo "Matador" Salas for Claudio Lopez. Lazio almost equalised with a curling freekick by Mihajlovic from about 27-28 metres out but Robinson did well to dive to his right and parry for a corner, especially as the ball had taken a slight deflection.
Lazio then seemed to have half given up when they put on a youth player in the 88th minute, Daniele Ruggiu for Lucas Castromán.
In the 90th minute however Leeds made the mistake (although they did contest the decision) of giving Mihajlovic another chance on a freekick from a similar position, possibly slightly closer, about 25 metres out centrally. This time Sinisa curled it over the wall but towards the other post and into the right corner. Leeds 3 Lazio 3.
There was only time for a final substitution as in the 92nd minute David Batty replaced Alan Maybury.
A fair draw in the end. Lazio had led twice but Leeds would have won on points. An enjoyable game, possibly more than could have been expected under the circumstances.
So, Leeds were marching on together in the Champions League while Lazio had to turn to Sunday's big game against Juventus.
Who played for Leeds
Robinson, Maybury (92' Batty), Mills, Matteo, Harte, Kelly, Bowyer, Burns, Wilcox, Kewell, Viduka (63' Hackworth)
Substitutes: Martyn, Dacourt, Hay
Manager: O'Leary
Who played Lazio
Marchegiani, Colonnese, F. Couto, Mihajlovic, Pesaresi, Castroman (88' Ruggiu), Stankovic, Baronio, Nedved, Ravanelli, C. Lopez (73' Salas)
Manager: Zoff
Referee: Plautz (Austria)
Goals: 21' Ravanelli, 28' Bowyer, 29' Mihajlovic (pen), 43' Wicox, 62' Viduka, 90' Mihajlovic
Sources
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