March 30, 2013: Lazio-Catania 2-1
- Simon Basten
- Mar 30, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Mar 30
Vital win
Two late goals secure victory against Catania
Also on this day:
The season so far
Edy Reja had left after the end of the previous season and Lazio had given the keys to the squad to Vladimir Petkovic, a Swiss National of Bosnian origin, who had had a successful managerial career in Switzerland. Lazio had added Ederson and Michael Ciani in the summer plus Bruno Pereirinha in the winter transfer session.
Lazio started the season very well and by the end of the first half were second. The Champions League looked possible. But since January they had won just two games and qualification for the top European tournament was seven points away, perhaps too many.
But things had continued to go right both in Europa League and in Coppa Italia. In the former, after beating Mura 05 in the playoff in August, Lazio topped their group (Tottenham, Panathinaikos and Maribor the opponents), and later eliminated Borussia Mönchengladbach and Stuttgart. They were now to face Fenerbahçe in April.
In the fourth round of the domestic cup Lazio had beaten Siena in the penalty shootout after Ciani saved the campaign with a last second equaliser and Juan Pablo Carrizo stopped two penalties. Things went smoother in the quarterfinals with a 3-0 win over Catania.
In the semi-finals Lazio had to face Juventus. In the first leg in Turin Lazio managed to draw 1-1 thanks to a number of miracles from goalkeeper Federico Marchetti and another last gasp goal from Stefano Mauri. In the return match, Lazio scored with Alvaro Gonzalez in the beginning of the second half and it looked as if the Biancocelesti had secured the final. But a Stefan Radu mistake in the second minute of injury time gave Juventus the equaliser. Extra time was on the cards but a Sergio Floccari header with one minute to go gave Lazio the ticket for the final. A ticket which was about to be thrown away as Juventus had an open goal chance in the 95th minute but Claudio Marchisio kicked the ball wide.
The final would be against Roma who had eliminated Inter in the other semi-final. This was going to be the first derby in a final. Whoever won would have their names in the history books.
The match: Saturday, March 30, 2014, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio started well and in the 9th minute Antonio Candreva from the right went into the box but in front of Mariano Andujar kicked the ball over the crossbar. In the 15th minute Eddy Onazi on the right tried a shot, Nicola Legrottaglie managed to stop it but as it was slowly going into corner Louis Saha managed to get to it but could make decent contact with the ball and his attempted tap in went out on the other side. In the 28th minute, Lorik Cana went off on the left, dribbled past a Catania player and passed to Senad Lulic who immediately gave it to Hernanes. Cana had followed the play and the Brazilian passed to him who by that time had arrived in the box. The Albanian stopped the ball but it went a little too far forward. His shot was parried by the goalkeeper but the ball ricocheted off Cana and hit the crossbar. Lucky but unlucky.
In the 50th minute Gonzalo Bergessio was at the edge of the box, challenged by Onazi and Cristian Ledesma. The Argentinian, in an attempt to anticipate Marco Biagianti, kicked the ball into the Lazio box, but Stefan Radu had control of the situation. He turned around and tried a clearance but the ball hit Mariano Izco and went into the net. Lazio 0 Catania 1, completely against the run of play and very, very lucky for the Islanders.
The Biancocelesti were in shock and had problems thinking straight. So, Vladimir Petkovic sent in Ederson, Libor Kozak and Miro Klose, returning from 54 days of inactivity due to injury. This changed things a little bit and Lazio increased their momentum. In the 69th minute Ederson slalomed into the box and tried to pass to Kozak but the tall Czech was anticipated by a defender. In the 76th minute Kozak was fouled in the box but the referee, Massa, ignored it. Three minutes later Radu put a low cross into the box and Legrottaglie, in an attempt to anticipate Kozak, put the ball into his own net.
Two minutes later Ederson again tried a slalom into the Catania box and was very clearly fouled by Giuseppe Bellusci. This time, but he could do little else, the ref gave Lazio the penalty and Candreva slotted in the spot kick.
Difficult, but vital win for the Biancocelesti in a match that looked jinxed.
Who played for Lazio
Marchetti, Biava, Cana, Radu, A. Gonzalez, Ledesma, Onazi (64’ Ederson), Hernanes (75’ Klose), Lulic, Candreva, Saha (63’ Kozak)
Manager: Petkovic
Who played for Catania
Andujar, Alvarez, Legrottaglie, Bellusci, Marchese, Izco, Lodi, Biagianti (86' Doukara), Barrientos, Bergessio, Gomez (78' Castro).
Substitutes: Frison, Terracciano, Rolin, Ricchiuti, Salifu, Cani, Keko, Petkovic.
Manager: Maran
Referee: Massa
Goals: 50’ Izco, 79’ Legrottaglie (og), 81’ Candreva (pen)
What happened next
In campionato Lazio finished seventh and missed out on a Europa League qualification. In EL they lost in Turkey against Fenerbache following a horrendous refereeing display and were not able to overcome the deficit in the return match.
It all came down to the Coppa Italia final.
Lazio won the Cup thanks to a goal from Senad Lulic in the now famous 71st minute. Among the most important wins in the history of the club, it gave the players eternal glory, Lulic is now worshipped like a Saint, and Lazio qualified for next season’s Europa League. One of the best seasons ever.
Let's talk about Louis Saha
Louis Saha was born in Paris on August 8, 1978. He began his football career with FC Soisy-Andilly-Margency and later moved to Clairefontaine. At the age of 15 he started playing in the Metz youth teams and two years later signed his first professional contract. He debuted in Ligue 1 on August 8 1997 in the match against Bordeaux. He scored after 60 seconds. After a first season with 26 appearances, in his second he found difficulty in getting playing time (just 6 games) so in January 1999 he was sent on loan to Newcastle. He did not play much there either (12 games), but the experience was a good one and when he returned to Metz for the 1999-00 season he made 35 appearances with 12 goals.
In 2000 he signed for Fulham who were in Division 1. They managed to get promoted to the Premier League and he stayed three and a half seasons in London with 142 appearances with 63 goals.
In January 2004 the big move to Manchester United. In four and a half years he played 124 games (42 goals), won two premierships in 2006-07 and 2007-08, a League Cup in 2005-06 and two Community Shields in 2007 and 2008. His stay in Manchester was hampered by numerous injuries which did not allow him to play more.
In 2008 he signed for Everton on a pay-as-you play deal. He was not exactly fit when he joined so he offered to train without being paid while he was injured. In three and a half years he played 115 games for the Toffees with 35 goals. In 2009 Everton played the FA Cup final against Chelsea. He scored after 25 seconds, the fastest goal in a Cup Final. Everton, however, lost. Having had numerous injuries, and not being as competitive, in January 2012 he signed for Tottenham but played little, as he then did in the six months with Sunderland. His last attempt was with Lazio. He signed for the Biancocelesti in January 2013 but he was way past his prime and his contribution was minimal, just six appearances. He did however win the Coppa Italia of 2012-13, though not playing a single match in the competition.
At the end of his stay in Rome he retired.
Saha has 20 caps for France with 4 goals. He played two games in Euro 2004 in Portugal and three in the 2006 World Cup in Germany when France were beaten by Italy in the final on penalties.
He was a good forward in his prime, but arrived at Lazio a little bit too late in his career.
Lazio Career
Sources
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