Lazio miss out on a Liverpool clash
- Dag Jenkins
- Jul 31, 2023
- 3 min read
Pre Season Friendly, Carlsberg Trophy
Friday, July 31, 1998
Lansdowne Road, Dublin
Leeds United Lazio 1-1
A last minute Leeds equaliser and then a penalty shoot-out deny Lazio a match against old friends Liverpool
Today was Lazio's 4th pre-season friendly; Fassa Calcio 5-0, Monza 0-0 (4-5 on pens), Panathinaikos 1-1 (2-3 on pens).
Today's opposition were Leeds United.
This game today was officially part of the Carlsberg Trophy, a pre-season tournament between four clubs; Leeds, Lazio, Liverpool and St Patrick's Athletic (Irish champions). This was the second semi-final as in the first the Reds had beaten the locals.
The match
A grey day in Dublin saw a substantial crowd of 30,000 turn up at the national stadium used both for football and rugby.
Both sides had several absences.
Leeds were without defender Jonathan Woodgate, midfielder Harry Kewell and forward Alan Smith.
Lazio were missing defenders Alessandro Nesta, Fernando Couto and Beppe Pancaro, midfielders Sergio Conceição and Matías Almeyda plus forwards Alen Boksic and Marcelo Salas (mainly players who had taken part in the 1998 World Cup).
The game predictably was not played at a great pace. Lazio however were more dangerous with a couple of Sinisa Mihajkovic free kicks and a Roberto Mancini effort which shaved the post after a good combination with Ivan de la Peña.
Towards the end of the half though it was Leeds who went extremely close with Floyd Hasselbaink who hit the post after a defensive blunder. Half time 0-0.
The second started with Lazio going forward but an Alessandro Iannuzzi shot was too central after a Beppe Favalli assist.
Leeds responded with a dangerous strike by Lee Bowyer but Luca Marchegiani did well to save behind for a corner. The Lazio keeper was then alert on a David Hopkin attempt.
In the 53rd minute Lazio made a triple substitution bringing on Guerino Gottardi, Giorgio Venturin and Rosario Aquino for Roberto Rambaudi, Dejan Stankovic (promising performance) and Iannuzzi.
Ten minutes later de la Peña also went off and on came Dario Marcolin. The Spaniard was clearly not fit yet but had some clever touches.
Leeds now looked fitter and sharper, a logical consequence of the fact that the English League kicked off in just over two weeks.
Lazio nevertheless threatened with another Mihajlovic freekick saved with a foot by Nigel Martyn and then 18-year-old youngster Aquino wasted a good chance after being set up by Gottardi.
Going into the last twenty minutes Leeds too started to turn to their bench. On came Matt Jones for Bruno Ribeiro and Martin Hiden for Hopkin.
The young lad from near Naples then redeemed himself in the 79th minute by putting Lazio in front. Two through balls, first by Pavel Nedved and then Mancini were finished off well by the Lazio youth player Aquino, 0-1.
Lazio then took off Mihajlovic and put on Stefano Lombardi while for the last few minutes Leeds replaced Hasselbaink with Alfie Haaland.
Lazio were just starting to savour a prestigious and exciting clash with Liverpool and former player Karl-Heinz Riedle in the final when Leeds equalised. In the 90th minute the Lazio defence had a collective hesitation and Bowyer headed in to level the score.
The game ended 1-1 and so went to penalties which Leeds won 4-2.
A good training game for Lazio against a quality Premier League side. Lazio had shown signs of improvement and the old Mihajlovic-Mancini partnership was still as effective as in the Sampdoria days. De la Peña had shown flashes of class but would have to get into better physical shape to be really competitive. Finally, young Serb Stankovic looked strong and confident.
Next up for Lazio were the game for 3rd place against St. Patrick's Athletic, then Benfica away, Real Madrid in La Coruña, Deportivo La Coruña, Fiorentina at home, Atlético Madrid away and then the Supercoppa appointment.
Who played for Leeds
Martyn, Kelly, Molenaar, Radebe, Harte, Halle, Bowyer, Ribeiro (73' Jones), Granville, Hasselbaink (87' Haaland), Hopkin (73' Hiden)
Substitutes: Wetherall, McPhail, Hatthens
Manager: Graham
Who played for Lazio
Marchegiani, Negro, Lopez, Mihajlovic (84' Lombardi), Favalli, Rambaudi (53' Venturin), Stankovic (53' Gottardi), De la Peña (62' Marcolin), Nedved, Iannuzzi (53' Aquino), Mancini
Manager: Eriksson
Referee: O'Hanlon
Goals: 79'Aquino, 90' Bowyer
Pens:
Jones (Le) - saved
Nedved (La) - missed
Harte (Le) - 1-0
Aquino (La) - 1-1
Haaland (Le) - 2-1
Venturin (La) - missed
Bowyer (Le) - 3-1
Marcolin (La) - 3-2
Hiden (Le) - 4-2
Sources
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