Lazio blossom in second half and take two goal lead to Turin
Despite a missed penalty by Cesar, two goals by Stefano Fiore put Lazio in a good position in double legged cup final
Also on this day: March 17, 1929, Lazio Fiorentina 5-1. The Romans outplay the Florentines and cruise to easy victory. Player of the day: Francesco Rier
The season so far
This was Roberto Mancini’s second season in charge at Lazio. The first had been a success with 4th place and a Champions League qualification.
The squad had been reshuffled slightly. There were some new players: defender Luciano Zauri (Atalanta), midfielders Demetrio Albertini (Milan) and Ousmane Dabo (Atalanta) plus Lazio fan, striker Roberto Muzzi (Udinese). Leaving Lazio were three scudetto heroes; Luca Marchegiani (Chievo), Giuseppe Pancaro (Milan) and "El Cholo" Diego Simeone (Atletico Madrid - he is still there). Also saying goodbye were midfielders Dino Baggio (Blackburn Rovers, then Ancona), Lucas Castroman (Udinese) plus striker Enrico Chiesa (Siena). In January another piece of the scudetto 2000 also left, with Dejan Stankovic joining Inter.
So far, in the league Lazio had won 12, drawn 5 and lost 7, so were on 41 points, in 4th place. In the Champions League Lazio had been knocked out in the group stage with Chelsea, Beşiktaş and Sparta Prague after 1 win, 2 draws and 3 defeats.
This however was an Italian cup game. To get to this final Lazio had knocked out Modena (2-0, 1-0), Parma (2-0, 1-1) and Milan (2-1, 4-0). A good unbeaten run ending with the destruction of Milan at the Olimpico.
Today's opposition were Italian champions Juventus. This year the team managed by Marcello Lippi had already won the Italian Supercoppa defeating Milan on penalties (a small revenge after the previous year's Champions League final loss on penalties).
The Bianconeri had started the season well, winning 8 out of the first 10 matches, with 2 draws. Then they faltered losing to Inter 3-1, Lazio 2-0 and Roma 4-0. Three days before today's game they had lost 3-1 at home to Milan and were currently in 3rd position. The "Zebras" had won 16, drawn 4 and lost 4. In the Champions League they had got through the group stage with Real Sociedad, Olimpiacos and Galatasaray after 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat. They had then been surprisingly eliminated by Deportivo La Coruña (0-1, 0-1) in the Round of 16.
Today, however, was a domestic affair, the Coppa Italia. To reach the final the Bianconeri had eliminated; Siena (2-1, 2-1), Perugia (2-1, 1-0) and Inter (2-2, 2-2 and then penalties).
The match: Wednesday, March 17, 2004, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A 65,000 crowd, worthy of a cup final, welcomed the two contenders to the Olimpico.
Juventus were on top in the early stages. With an extra man in midfield they controlled the tempo and had a big chance after only five minutes. A low cross by Mauro Camoranesi from the right found Marco Di Vaio but his close-range shot was miraculously saved by Matteo Sereni. Another former Lazio player, Pavel Nedved, then had a dangerous long range shot go just wide. Juventus continued to have the upper hand and Di Vaio had another chance but was again denied by Sereni.
Lazio had difficulty in creating scoring opportunities. Roberto Muzzi and Cesar were unable to find space on the wings and Bernardo Corradi was isolated up front. Lazio's only shot came from the Senese centre-forward but it was easily blocked by Antonio Chimenti. In the last minute of the first half Lazio did score straight from a Massimo Oddo cross but it was disallowed as Corradi was deemed to have pushed the keeper. All square after 45 minutes, Lazio 0 Juve 0 but the Bianconeri playing better.
For the second half Lazio manager Roberto Mancini decided to replace Muzzi with Simone Inzaghi. It was immediately clear that something had changed, Lazio were far more dangerous and Juventus were suddenly on the back foot.
In the 52nd minute Inzaghi put Fabio Liverani through in the area and he was pulled down trying to get past Chimenti. Penalty to Lazio, Cesar took it but his too central, low, weak shot was blocked and caught by Chimenti. This missed opportunity however did not deter Lazio who continued pushing forward. Lazio had another penalty appeal in the 57th minute for a challenge by Igor Tudor on Inzaghi but Collina did not agree and instead booked the striker.
In the 59th minute Lazio broke the deadlock. A long Giuliano Giannichedda cross from midfield was headed into the box by Fernando Couto and Stefano Fiore, with a clever snooker like left-footed low volley, beat Chimenti. Lazio 1 Juve 0.
Lazio at this point were dominant. The confident Juventus of the first half disappeared and Lazio had several more chances. A Fiore shot was blocked by a defender and a Cesar effort, heading towards the top hand corner, was well saved by Chimenti.
In the 80th minute came a possibly final deciding moment. From a corner for Lazio the ball was cleared by Lilian Thuram but it fell to Fiore, only a couple of metres from goal, who with an acrobatic scissor kick scored. Lazio 2 Juventus 0.
Juventus and especially Tudor then lost their heads and the big Croat was sent off for a reckless foul in the 82nd minute. Lazio went close to getting a third in particular with Jaap Stam whose header was brilliantly parried by Chimenti.
The final score was however a satisfactory 2-0, so a two goal lead to take up to Turin without any away goals conceded. The Coppa Italia format was a strange one meaning the return match would not be for another two months, May 12 at the Delle Alpi stadium, Torino.
Who played for Lazio
Sereni, Oddo, Stam, Couto, Favalli, Fiore, Giannichedda, Liverani (81' Dabo), Cesar (89' Zauri), Corradi, Muzzi (46' S.Inzaghi)
Substitutes: Peruzzi, Colonnese, Mihajlovic, Albertini
Manager: Mancini
Who played for Juventus
Chimenti, Thuram, Tudor, Legrottaglie, Pessotto, Camoranesi (84' Bartolucci), Tacchinardi, Conte (74' Maresca), Appiah, Nedved, Di Vaio (76' Palladino)
Substitutes: Buffon, Boudianski, Urbano, Chiumiento
Manager: Lippi
Referee: Collina
Goals: 59' Fiore, 80' Fiore
What happened next
In the league Lazio finished 6th. In the last 10 games, including the Bologna fixture postponed for snow, they won 4, drew 3 and lost 3 (including 1-0 to Juventus on April 10).
Juventus finished 3rd. In their last 9 games they won 4, drew 2 and lost 3 and the scudetto was won by Milan (17th title). Serie B opened up its jaws to Perugia, Modena, Empoli and Ancona.
But let's get back to the cup final. On May 12 Lazio and thousands of travelling fans went up to the Delle Alpi stadium in Turin to defend their two-goal lead and try to put their hands on the Coppa Italia.
A gloriously sunny May day had welcomed Lazio fans to Turin and the " Città della Mole" was at its beautiful best. Hopefully the same would be said about Lazio for tonight's 9 o'clock kick-off.
Lazio had more or less the same line-up as the first leg with the exception of Sinisa Mihajlovic coming in for Couto. Sereni kept his place in goal as he was officially the cup keeper.
Juventus had some big guns back; Ciro Ferrara was back in defence, Gianluca Zambrotta in midfield, David Trezeguet and Alessandro Del Piero up front.
A 40,000 crowd applauded the players onto the pitch, the Lazio away sector was sold out and bursting at the seams.
The early stages of the game saw " La Vecchia Signora" (The Old Lady) attack but Lazio did not run any real risks. Until the 20th minute, from an Alessandro Birindelli cross, Trezeguet anticipated Mihajlovic and headed Juventus into the lead. 1-0 on the night to Juve but still 1-2 on aggregate. It was a hard fought first half but Lazio were never really dangerous up front and Corradi was kept quiet by a so far infallible Lillian Thuram.
The second half started with a bang. After only three minutes Juventus doubled their lead. A Stephen Appiah long ball was headed on by Nedved to Trezeguet, the Frenchman clearly pushed the ball forward with his arm before clashing with keeper Sereni, the ball then fell to Del Piero for an open goal. The Laziali protests came to nothing (this was of course pre-VAR) so it was all tied, 2-0 on the night and 2-2 on aggregate. Things were not looking good, Lazio had dissipated their advantage and now had another 40 minutes of the cup final away from home.
At this stage however just when Juventus were expected to push for a third it was Lazio who suddenly reacted and went on the attack. Corradi started to find some space and chances. In the 61st minute Inzaghi replaced a subdued Muzzi and the Biancocelesti, as in the first leg, became livelier. Lazio were permanently in the opposition's half and forced a series of corners.
From one of these endless corners came the decisive moment of the entire final. Mihajlovic took a high corner from the left and it reached a crowded area where Corradi towered above the defenders and with an impressively powerful header made it 2-1. I've been to many a Lazio match, both home and away, but what followed in the packed away section was a delirious mayhem of unseen proportions. It was a fundamental goal, Juventus now needed another two goals to prevent the cup leaving for Rome.
Juventus went for all-out attack and threw more strikers on, first Di Vaio for a midfielder Enzo Maresca and then Fabrizio Miccoli for Del Piero. Lazio by now were full of enthusiasm and defended well while the clock ticked away. They had space on the break too so it was by no means one-way traffic.
The light blue and white ribbon could finally be attached to the trophy in the 83rd minute. A high cross into the Juve area was cleared but only as far as Fiore who with a low and angled left-footed shot beat Chimenti. 2-4 on aggregate and with the hosts now needing three unanswered goals. An almost impossible feat.
So final score Juventus 2 Lazio 2 and wild celebrations on the pitch and in the Lazio fans' end.
A fantastic and in many ways unexpected triumph for Lazio. Despite the end of the Sergio Cragnotti era and in the middle of a financial crisis they still managed to bring home their 4th Coppa Italia victory.
A few days later the cup was paraded around the Olimpico where on the last game of the season Lazio defeated Modena 2-1. Lazio's top scorer in total was Fiore with 16 (4 against Juve), while in the league it was Corradi with 10.
So, Juventus ended the season trophyless. Their top scorer was Trezeguet with 22 (16 in the league).
Lazio 2003-04
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals Scored |
Serie A | 34 | 16 | 8 | 10 | 52 |
Coppa Italia | 8 | 6 | 2 | - | 16 |
Champions League | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 10 |
Total | 50 | 25 | 12 | 13 | 76 |
Top Five Appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Champions League |
Fiore | 47 | 32 | 7 | 8 |
Corradi | 46 | 32 | 6 | 8 |
Oddo | 44 | 31 | 7 | 6 |
Favalli | 43 | 29 | 6 | 8 |
Stam | 42 | 29 | 6 | 7 |
Top Goal Scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Champions League |
Fiore | 16 | 8 | 6 | 2 |
Corradi | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
Inzaghi | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 |
Cesar | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
Let’s talk about Matteo Sereni
Matteo Sereni was born in Parma, on February 11, 1975. He is the son of Giorgio Sereni, former player (Reggiana, Palermo, Padova) and manager (including Parma, Foggia, Padova, Salernitana). His father was full-back but Matteo decided to be a goalkeeper.
He started his youth career at Petrarca and then Sampdoria. It was with the Blucerchiati in 1993-94 that he began his professional path but in that first year never played. He was then loaned to Crevalcore (Bologna) in C1 but again made no appearances.
He finally made his debut in 1995 when he returned to Sampdoria. He played 4 league games that year (95-96) and 6 the following.
In 1997 he went to Piacenza on loan in Serie A and made 34 league appearances and 1 in Coppa Italia under manager Vincenzo Guerini. The following year he joined Empoli on loan in Serie A and played 30 league games under managers Mauro Sandreani (1-21) and then Corrado Orrico (22-34), the Azzurri were however relegated to Serie B.
In 1999-2000 he went back to his mother club Sampdoria in Serie B and became first choice keeper. He stayed two years, the first with manager Gianpiero Ventura and the second with Luigi Cagni. Sereni played respectively 37 and 38 times in this period.
In 2001-2002 he went for the Premier League adventure and joined Ipswich Town in England. He played 25 league games and 6 in the UEFA CUP. The Tractor Boys from Suffolk were relegated and so Sereni moved back to Italy.
In 2002 he was loaned to Brescia in Serie A. At the Rondinelle (Little Swallows) he found manager Carlo Mazzone and played in the same team as legend Roberto Baggio. Brescia had a decent season coming 9th and Sereni made 26 league appearances.
In 2003 he joined Lazio who were looking for a good reliable keeper for the bench, behind first choice Angelo Peruzzi. In his first year, under Roberto Mancini, he played 9 league games and 1 in the Champions League but it was in Coppa Italia where he would have his moment of glory. He was officially the cup keeper and helped Lazio lift their 4th domestic trophy in a double legged final versus Juventus.
The following year, under Delio Rossi, he made 20 league appearances, 4 in the UEFA Cup and one in Coppa Italia.
The 2005-2006 season saw Sereni run into some problems at Lazio; he only played 2 league games and 4 in the Intertoto Cup and also had contractual issues.
In January 2006 he was loaned to Treviso in Serie A where he played 7 league games but the Veneti Sky Blue and Whites were relegated to Serie B. The three managers Ezio Rossi (1-12), Alberto Cavasin (12-27) and finally Diego Bortoluzzi were not able to avoid Treviso the drop.
At this point Sereni came back to Lazio. The Capitolini had a great season under Delio Rossi, coming 3rd and qualifying for a Champions League preliminary, Sereni however would not be involved. His ongoing contractual problems led to him being dropped from the squad. He was not the first to receive this treatment from owner Lotito and certainly not the last. The fans, seeing an enemy to use against the unpopular president, took the player's side but Sereni would never play for Lazio again.
In 2007 Sereni, at the end of his contract, joined Torino and started another chapter in his career. He performed well for the Granata and played 32 games in Serie A and 1 in Coppa Italia. In one match against Siena he stopped two penalties by Massimo Maccarone, although " Big Mac" did manage to score the second after the rebound.
His second year was not as positive for " Il Toro" and the Torinese got relegated. The Granata changed managers from Gianni De Biasi (1-16) to Walter Novellino (16-34) and finally to former Lazio player Giancarlo Camolese (34-42) but failed to keep their place in the big time. Sereni however played with continuity getting 31 league games and 1 in Coppa Italia.
Sereni followed Torino down to Serie B but was not able to help them win promotion. They finished 5th and were eliminated by Brescia in the playoff final (0-0 at home, 2-1 away). The managers came and went as usual from Stefano Colantuono (1-16), then Mario Beretta (17-21) and then Colantuono again (21-42). Sereni played 35 league games and 2 in Coppa Italia.
In 2010 he went back to Brescia in Serie A for one last season. "La Leonessa" got relegated under two different managers Giuseppe Iachini (1-15), Mario Beretta (16-22) and Iachini again (22-38). Sereni only played 15 league games and Brescia were relegated in penultimate position.
In 2011 Sereni retired after 373 professional games. With Lazio he played 49 games and will forever be linked with the 2004 Coppa Italia triumph but also for the unfortunate way his Lazio relationship came to an end.
His retirement was also due to personal family problems. He went through a divorce and was accused by his wife of physically abusing their kids. Sereni was later cleared of all accusations and declared innocent.
At 1.86 metres tall and 80 kilos Sereni was a strong keeper. He was often likened to Angelo Peruzzi physically and to Gianluca Pagliuca technically. He was an excellent penalty saver and hypnotized many a player over the years. His goalkeeping ability perhaps deserved a more illustrious career but he did win 2 Italian Cups, one in Sampdoria's squad in 1994 and the other as absolute protagonist with Lazio in 2004. He also earned two U21 caps for Italy and won the Mediterranean Games with Italy in 1997.
Lazio Career
Season | Total games | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Champions League | UEFA Cup | Intertoto Cup |
2003-04 | 18 | 9 | 8 | 1 | - | - |
2004-05 | 25 | 20 | 1 | - | 4 | - |
2005-Jan 06 | 6 | 2 | - | - | - | 4 |
Total | 49 | 31 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
Sources