March 11, 2007: Reggina-Lazio 2-3
- Dag Jenkins
- 2 hours ago
- 11 min read
Five in a row
Pandev shines in Calabria as Lazio win fifth consecutive game to strenghthen Champions League credentials
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had finished a positive 6th under Delio Rossi but that all changed at the end of the season due to the Calciopoli scandal for which Lazio were docked 30 points thus losing their UEFA Cup place. Top scorer was Tommaso Rocchi with 17 goals (16 in A).
The season too would start with an eleven-point penalisation (then reduced to three) also for the previous year's Calciopoli scandal.
It was Delio Rossi's second year in charge and the main new players of note were defender Modibo Diakité (Pescara), midfielders Cristian Ledesma (Lecce) and Massimo Mutarelli (Palermo), plus attacking midfielder Pasquale Foggia (Milan). In January Lazio had also signed Chilean midfielder Luis Jiménez (Ternana on loan) while Foggia had been sent out on loan (Reggina).
Meanwhile, Lazio had lost midfielders Ousmane Dabo (Manchester City), Fabio Liverani (Fiorentina) and above all charismatic leader Paolo Di Canio (Cisco Roma). One player who was leaving, goalkeeper Samir Handanovič, (Udinese end of loan then Rimini) would later be cause for regret as he went on to become a top keeper (455 games for Inter). In the winter transfer window Lazio had also lost Massimo Oddo to Milan for 11 million Euros.
Lazio's season had started in August in Coppa Italia. They knocked out Rende 4-0 and Monza on penalties but then lost 4-3 to Messina after extra-time.
In Serie A the Biancocelesti were doing well and currently 4th on 44 points. Lazio had won 13 (including Roma 3-0), drawn 7 (including Reggina 0-0) and lost 6. They also came from four wins in a row.
Reggina had finished 13th the previous season under Walter Mazzarri. The Amaranto defeated Lazio 1-0 at home but lost 1-3 in Rome. The top scorer was Nicola Amoruso with 11 league goals.
This season Mazzarri was still in his place. The main new additions were goalkeepers Andrea Campagnolo (Cagliari) and Christian Puggioni (Pisa - in winter market), defenders Salvatore Aronica (Messina) and Ricardo Esteves (Vicenza - back from loan), midfielders Luca Tognozzi (Pescara), Alessandro Gazzi (Bari - in winter market), Riccardo Nardini (Catania - on loan in winter market), Daniele Amerini (Modena), Luca Vigiani (Livorno - in winter market) plus forwards Pasquale Foggia (Lazio - on loan in winter market) and Nicki Bille Nielsen (Frem).
Leaving Reggina were goalkeepers Nicola Pavarini (Siena then Lecce), and Ivan Pelizzoli (Lokomotiv Moscow - in winter market), defenders Juriy Cannarsa (Frosinone), Ivan Franceschini (Torino), Filippo Carobbio (Genoa - in winter market) and Gaetano De Rosa (Genoa), midfielders Carlos Paredes (Sporting Lisbon), Julio Cesar de León (Genoa - in winter market) and Davide Biondini (Cagliari) plus forward Fabio Ceravolo (Pro Vasto - on loan).
Reggina started the season with an 11-point docking for their involvement in Calciopoli. They were climbing the table however and were 18th at the moment on 22 points (only one from safety - Messina and Chievo on 23). The Amaranto had won 8 (including Roma 1-0) drawn 9 (including Lazio away) and lost 9.
In the Coppa Italia they had reached the last 16 but lost to Chievo on away goals. Reggina had previously eliminated Pro Vasto 3-1, Cremonese 1-0 and Crotone 1-0.
A difficult game today for Lazio against a battling Reggina. The Biancocelesti however were in good form and hoped to continue their winning run.
The match: Sunday, March 11, 2007, Stadio Oreste Granillo, Reggio Calabria
An overcast day in Calabria saw just over 10,000 gather at the Granillo.
Lazio had a few absences; defenders Sebastiano Siviglia and Emílson Cribari plus midfielders Stefano Mauri and Massimo Mutarelli. This meant Luciano Zauri moved into the centre of defence and played alongside Guglielmo Stendardo. In midfield Christian Manfredini and Luis Jimenez were chosen.
Reggina were missing goalkeeper Ivan Pelizzoli and defender Maurizio Lanzaro (both former Roma).
The first dangerous shot at goal was Lazio's but, on a Goran Pandev chipped lob, Christian Puggioni stretched and tipped it out for a corner.
Lazio took the initiative but were punished at their first hesitation. In the 26th minute Gaby Mudingayi tried to anticipate a horizontal pass outside the box and failed thus leaving Giacomo Tedesco with time and space to take aim and he sent a brilliant shot past Angelo Peruzzi and into the top right corner, 1-0.
Lazio continued to be positive and took the game to the hosts. Manfredini hit a cracking left foot from the left edge of the box but Puggioni parried well.
The Biancocelesti were amply rewarded for their efforts right at the end of the half. In the 45th minute Tommaso Rocchi did well on the right and crossed into the goalmouth where Manfredini beat the offside trap and volleyed in from close range, 1-1.
Only a minute later the Romans were in front. It was courtesy of a great Pandev move as the Macedonian took advantage of a passive defence to enter the box and smash an unstoppable mid-height shot to Puggioni's left, 1-2.
Lazio seemed in control at the beginning of the second half until Reggina decided to make a change. In the 61st minute Mazzarri, seeing Lazio's superiority, made a substitution and took off struggling defender Antonio Giosa and threw on midfielder Daniele Amerini.
The Amaranto immediately looked more balanced and determined. They started to peg Lazio back and threaten. Peruzzi was forced into a superb save on Nicola Amoruso and then Rolando Bianchi was wasteful on the rebound.
The equaliser came in the 65th minute when former and future Lazio Pasquale Foggia wonderfully volleyed a Giandomenico Mesto cross into the roof of the net, after a period of sustained pressure by the home side, 2-2.
Reggina continued to attack, believing in the three points. Lazio absorbed the pressure well and in the 73rd minute brought on Stephen Makinwa for Rocchi.
With Reggina over enthusiastic, Lazio then struck on the break. In the 79th minute it was the Nigerian replacement who immediately left his mark on the afternoon. An intelligent Pandev pass sent him down the right side of the area where he cut back, beat a defender and fired past Puggioni, 2-3.
The Biancocelesti, predicting a final assault, then took off midfielder Jimenez and put on defender Manuel Belleri.
Reggina tried desperately to salvage a point but Peruzzi after a four-game absence showed he was back on form by saving on Foggia in a one-on-one situation.
The hosts tried with two more changes: midfielder Riccardo Nardini for Luca Tognozzi (85') and Danish forward Nicki Bille Nielsen for Foggia (89') while Lazio made a late change, mainly to break up the rhythm, with Igli Tare for today's star performer Pandev (92').
Lazio held on in the five minutes of added time and brought back a good win to Rome after a hard-fought and exciting game. A fifth consecutive win for Lazio and tenth game without defeat.
A solid and mature performance by Lazio despite missing their two regular central defenders. Man of the match was with no doubt Pandev.
Reggina had given all they had but were possibly too keen to grab the three points rather than settling for a draw. They left the field head high while their fans contested the referee probably more for recent mistakes against them, as today there was little to complain about.
Lazio were now joint 3rd with Palermo on 46 points (with a game in hand - Chievo at home on April 18).
Reggina were still 18th on 22 points. The safety zone was now two points away (Chievo and Messina, who had drawn 1-1, on 22 points).
Who played for Reggina
Puggioni, Aronica, A.Lucarelli, Giosa (61' Amerini), Mesto, Tognozzi (85' Nardini), Tedesco, Modesto, Foggia (89' Nielsen), Bianchi, Amoruso
Substitutes: Novakovic, Di Dio, Esteves, Missiroli
Manager: Mazzarri
Who played for Lazio
Peruzzi, Behrami, Stendardo, Zauri, Bonetto, Mudingayi, Manfredini, Ledesma, Jimenez (81' Belleri), Rocchi (73' Makinwa), Pandev (92' Tare)
Manager: Rossi
Referee: Saccani
Goals: 26' Tedesco, 45' Manfredini, 46' Pandev, 65' Foggia, 79' Makinwa
What happened next
Lazio had an excellent season conquering 3rd place and an unexpected but extremely welcome Champions League Preliminary qualification. The Biancocelesti then won another three games in a row before slowing down and in the last seven games they won 1, drew 3 (including derby 0-0) and lost 3. They had done enough however to hold onto 3rd place with 62 points.
A great season, starting from minus three points and with a satisfying 3-0 derby win thrown in as well. Top scorer was Tommaso Rocchi with 19 goals (16 in A).
Lazio would then qualify for the Champions League beating Dinamo Bucharest 4-2 on aggregate.
Reggina finished 14th on 40 points (one above the drop zone). A positive season for the Calabresi who without the initial handicap would have finished 8th. In the remaining games the Reggini won 3 (including Milan 2-0 at home), drew 6 (including Inter 0-0 at home) and only lost 1. The top scorer was Rolando Bianchi with 19 goals (18 in A).
The Scudetto was won by Inter for the 15th time. For Serie B football it was Ascoli, Chievo and Messina (the Sicilians have not been seen again while Chievo bounced straight back and stayed another ten years but now play in amateur leagues).
Let's talk about Christian Manfredini
Christian José Manfredini Sisostri was born in Port-Bouet, Ivory Coast, on May 1, 1979. When he was five, he was adopted by an Italian family in Battipaglia (Salerno). He has dual nationality, Ivorian and Italian.
He grew up in the Juventus youth sector (1988-93). In 1993-94 he joined the first team while still appearing for the "Primavera" (U19s). In fact, the youth team won the league title and the prestigious Viareggio tournament, also with the help of a young Alessandro Del Piero.
In 1994 he started the first of his many loan spells. He spent a year each at Pistoiese (promotion to Serie B - 19 games and 2 goals), Viterbese (C2, 35 games and 3 goals), Avezzano (C2, 34 games and 4 goals), Fermana (C1, 29 games and 4 goals), Cosenza (Serie B, 39 games and 4 goals).
In 1999-2000 he signed for Genoa in Serie B. He was coached by Delio Rossi (1-22) and Bruno Bolchi (23-38) and played 25 league games with 2 goals (Empoli, Ravenna) and 2 games in Coppa Italia. The "Grifone" (The Griffin) finished 6th.
In 2000-01 he signed for Chievo Verona in Serie B. He was coached by Luigi Delneri and stayed two seasons. These were possibly the best years of his career and the "Clivensi" first got promoted and then finished 5th in Serie A (UEFA Cup qualification). The "Mussi Volanti" beat Inter, Lazio and Atalanta amongst others. In his first year Manfredini played 38 games with 7 goals and in his second 31 games with 2 goals (Piacenza, Torino) and countless assists. Chievo were the talk of Italian football in those years.
In the summer of 2002 he joined Sergio Cragnotti's Lazio, coached by Roberto Mancini. Manfredini had problems breaking into the team and only played 3 league games, 3 in Coppa Italia and 6 in the UEFA Cup with 1 goal (Skoda Xanthi) and so in January went out on loan. Lazio had a good season and finished 4th (Champions League qualification).
In January 2003 he moved to Pamplona and joined Osasuna in La Liga. He played 11 league games with 1 goal and 3 in Copa del Rey with 2 goals. The "Navarros" finished 11th.
In 2003-04 he was loaned to Fiorentina in Serie B. Under manager Alberto Cavasin he played 10 league games with 1 goal (Ternana) but in January was loaned to Perugia in Serie A. He played 14 league games and 2 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal, under manager Serse Cosmi. The "Grifoni" got relegated after a playoff, against Fiorentina ironically. In Florence Emiliano Mondonico had taken over after 26 games and he and the "Gigliati" won promotion beating Perugia (2-1 on aggregate).
In the summer of 2004, he returned to Lazio. Mancini had left along with a lot of the stars. New owner Claudio Lotito had chosen former player Domenico Caso as manager but he was then replaced after 16 games by Giuseppe Papadopulo. Lazio had a difficult season but ultimately finished 13th and won a derby 3-1. Manfredini played 16 league games with 1 goal (Messina), 1 game in Coppa Italia and 4 in the UEFA Cup.
In 2005 Delio Rossi arrived at Lazio. The Biancocelesti finished 6th but were then docked 30 points (for match fixing scandal) and ended up 16th. Manfredini played 26 league games with 2 goals (Palermo, Messina), 3 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Inter) and 4 games in the Intertoto Cup.
In 2006 Lazio started with a three-point docking but had a great season and finished 3rd (Champions League preliminary). Manfredini played 25 league games with 2 goals (Reggina, Empoli) and 2 games in Coppa Italia. Lazio won the first derby 3-0 and drew the second 0-0.
In 2007 Lazio passed the CL preliminary (Dinamo Bucharest 4-1 on aggregate) so Manfredini made his debut in the top European Cup. They were then eliminated in a group with Olympiakos, Real Madrid and Werder Bremen after 1 win, 2 draws and 3 defeats. In the league the Biancocelesti finished 12th and reached the Coppa Italia semi-final. Manfredini played 23 league games, 4 in Coppa Italia and 5 in the Champions League with 1 goal (Werder Bremen). Lazio lost one derby (2-3) but won the second (3-2).
In 2008-09 he played less. He made 8 league appearances and 3 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Benevento). Lazio came 10th in the league but triumphed in the Coppa Italia beating Sampdoria on penalties. They lost one derby (0-1) but won the second (4-2).
In 2009-10 Lazio had a new manager, Davide Ballardini. He won the Italian Supercoppa (Inter 2-1 in Beijing) but was replaced by Edy Reja in February. Lazio finished 12th but Manfredini was often injured, never played and was left out of the squad
The 2010-11 season again saw Manfredini failing to get any games under Edy Reja. Lazio had a good season and finished 5th. This was Manfredini's last season with Lazio.
In 2011 he went to play for Sambonifacese from San Bonifacio near Verona. The "Sambo" played in Lega Pro 2 and he played 14 games. The Rossoblu got relegated to Serie D.
In 2012 he joined Agropoli (Salerno) in Serie D but only played 3 games before leaving in January. He joined Picciola (Salerno) at amateur level but never played.
He retired at 33.
At international level he won two caps for Ivory Coast with one goal (Spain).
Since retiring he has worked as a coach at amateur level with Valdiano (Salerno) and at youth level with Spezzano Albanese (Cosenza). In 2020 he became head of Bassano's (Vicenza) youth sector. In 2023 he became head coach of the Pinerolo Under 19s and since 2024 he has been technical director for A.S.D. Sanseverinese.
Manfredini was a midfielder. He is 1.80 and 73 kilos. He played mainly on the left, being left footed, but could play with both feet. He was a quick and agile player and had a good footballing brain. He was a quick thinking player and, with Chievo especially, specialized in setting up goals.
At Lazio he had some good years, in particular from 2004-2008. He played 132 games and scored 9 goals. He won a Coppa Italia and an Italian Supercup and played and scored in the Champions League. He may not have lived up to his Chievo levels but under Delio Rossi he played regularly and put in good performances.
Lazio Career
Season | Total apperances (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Champions League | UEFA Cup | Intertoto Cup |
2002-Jan 2003 | 12 (1) | 3 | 3 | - | 6 (1) | - |
2004-05 | 21 (1) | 16 (1) | 1 | - | 4 | - |
2005-06 | 33 (3) | 26 (2) | 3 (1) | - | - | 4 |
2006-07 | 27 (2) | 25 (2) | 2 | - | - | - |
2007-08 | 32 (1) | 23 | 4 | 5 (1) | - | - |
2008-09 | 11 (1) | 8 | 3 (1) | - | - | - |
Total | 136 (9) | 101 (5) | 16 (2) | 5 (1) | 10 (1) | 4 |
Sources
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