March 7, 1999: Lazio-Salernitana 6-1
- Dag Jenkins
- Mar 7
- 10 min read
Second half rampage annihilates Salernitana
After a difficult first half the Biancocelesti score five after the break to stay top
Also on this day:
The season so far
The previous season, under manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, Lazio had won silverware after 24 years, triumphing against Milan 3-2 on aggregate in the Coppa Italia. The Biancocelesti had lost the first leg in Milan 0-1 and had been 0-1 down in Rome too, but then scored three goals in ten minutes to win 3-1 and give some generations the new sweet taste of success. A Cup Winners Cup campaign awaited them.
In Serie A Lazio had finished a deceiving 7th. In reality they had challenged for the Scudetto until early April but then lost 0-1 at home to Juventus and never recovered. In the last 6 games they got one point...
Over the summer there had been some changes to the squad. Important players arrived: defenders Fernando Couto (Parma), Sinisa Mihajlovic (Sampdoria), midfielders Iván De La Peña (Barcelona), Dejan Stankovic (Red Star Belgrade), Sergio Conceição (Porto) plus strikers Marcelo Salas (River Plate) and Christian Vieri (Atlético Madrid).
Leaving were: keeper Fernando Orsi (retiring), defenders José Chamot (Atlético Madrid) and Alessandro Grandoni (Sampdoria), midfielders Diego Fuser (Parma) and Vladimir Jugovic (Atlético Madrid) plus striker Pierluigi Casiraghi (Chelsea) and, in October, Roberto Rambaudi (Genoa). So quite an upheaval to the squad.
The season had started triumphantly on August 29 when Lazio beat Juventus 2-1 in Turin to lift their first ever Italian Supercoppa.
In Serie A so far, Lazio had played 23 games. They got off to a sluggish start and in the first ten games won 3 (including Inter 5-3 away), drew 4 (including first 3) and lost 3. The Biancocelesti had then drawn a thrilling derby 3-3 and since then were flying. Lazio then won 9 consecutive games (including Juventus 1-0 away) before a 0-0 away draw in Cagliari. Lazio had continued with two more wins (including Inter 1-0 at home). Lazio were currently top of the table which read Lazio 48, Fiorentina 44 Parma 44, Milan 43.
The defence of their Coppa Italia had ended in the quarter finals. In September they had eliminated Cosenza 4-1 on aggregate and then beat Milan 4-2 on aggregate but In December and January Lazio had been defeated by Inter 3-6 on aggregate.
In the Cup Winners Cup Lazio were through to the quarterfinals to be played in March. The Biancocelesti had eliminated Lausanne on away goals (1-1, 2-2) and Partizan Belgrade 3-2. They had recently played the first leg of the quarterfinals against Greeks Panionios and won 4-0. Lazio had a foot and a half (if not both) in the semi-finals. The return leg was on March 18.
Salernitana were newly promoted as they had won Serie B the previous year under Delio Rossi. Top scorer was, former Lazio, Marco Di Vaio with 21 league goals.
This season Rossi had stayed on. The Granata had been busy on the transfer market, the new players were: defenders Dražen Bolić (Partizan Belgrade), Salvatore Monaco (Foggia), Marco Rossi (Lucchese), midfielders Gennaro Gattuso (Rangers), Antonino Bernardini (Perugia), Ighli Vannucchi (Lucchese) plus forwards Vincenzo Chianese (Atalanta via Foggia), David Di Michele (Foggia), Federico Giampaolo (Genoa). In January defender Salvatore Fresi arrived (Inter - on loan).
Leaving Salerno were: defenders Francesco Galeoto (Pescara), Mirko Cudicini (Torino), midfielder Paolo Rachini (Pescara) and forward Edoardo Artistico (Torino). A player who had arrived but then left in the winter was Cameroonian defender Rigobert Song who had arrived from Metz but soon left for Liverpool (after playing only 4 league games).
So far, the Granata were struggling. The Campani were in 17th position with Vicenza on 20 points and three points from safety (14th placed Sampdoria on 23). The Bersagliera (a nickname coined by a historic fan in 1981) had won 5 (including Lazio 1-0 and Roma 2-1 at home), drawn 5 and lost 13. Their most recent game had been a 1-1 home draw to Fiorentina.
Lazio were strong favourites today to continue their winning ways.
The match: Sunday, March 7, 1999, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
The Olimpico welcomed 55,000 spectators on a sunny, March day. Lazio were on a roll and the word "Scudetto" was no longer blasphemy.
Lazio however were without several players: Beppe Favalli, Matías Almeyda, Dejan Stankovic and long term absence Alen Boksic. The main problems were in midfield where Sven-Goran Eriksson was forced to adapt defender Fernando Couto.
The first shot at goal was by Marco Di Vaio who battled shoulder to shoulder with his childhood friend Alessandro Nesta but fired high over the bar.
In the 15th minute Lazio had a chance with Christian Vieri. Roberto Mancini verticalized to Marcelo Salas who dummied, setting up the Italo-Australian striker but his shot was stopped by Andrea Ivan who rushed off his line and saved with his feet.
Just after the half hour the Salernitani surprisingly took the lead. On a freekick, from the right of midfield, Václav Kolusek floated the ball into the crowded area where Ighli Vannucchi was first to the ball and headed past Luca Marchegiani. Lazio 0 Salernitana 1. The 3,000 traveling fans went mental.
Lazio took a while to get over the shock and the Granata almost took advantage. Gennaro Gattuso set up Vannucchi in the area but his imperfect control forced him go for a low cross instead of a shot and Paolo Negro cleared before Di Vaio could punish Lazio again. Then Di Vaio was freed on the left wing but was too ambitious trying to dribble past Nesta and lost the moment.
In the 40th minute Lazio finally stirred. On a long ball from midfield Vieri headed into the area to Pavel Nedved who won an aerial challenge and the ball fell neatly for him but his low left foot was weak and blocked by Ivan.
A few minutes later Lazio equalised. On a Sinisa Mihajlovic freekick from the right wing, Ivan fumbled the low catch and the ball trickled to Negro who tapped in one of the easiest goals of his career. Lazio 1 Salernitana 1. Exactly what Lazio needed just before halftime.
They then almost got another but Vieri's header from a Sergio Conceição cross from the right went just high. The period ended in controversy when the referee told Mihajlovic to go ahead and take a corner and then blew up just as the Serb was about to curl the ball in, he then got himself booked (and suspended for the next game) for showing his anger at the decision. Halftime Lazio 1 Salernitana 1. The Biancocelesti were showing signs of life but would have to improve after their hot teas.
The second half started with Lazio on the attack. Mihajlovic went very close with a long range freekick which shaved the post.
In the 51st minute Lazio took the lead. Conceição crossed from the right but neither Vieri nor Dražen Bolić got a head to it and the ball reached Marcelo Salas on the byline, he passed it back to Giuseppe Pancaro, who crossed in low and Vieri scored from close range. Lazio 2 Salernitana 1. The Campani however were furious as they claimed Vieri had pushed Bolic on the aerial challenge. The referee waved away their protests and the goal stood. Lazio 2 Salernitana 1.
Lazio were now playing freely and to their full potential. In the 55th minute a long assist by Mancini set up Vieri on the left side of the area but his powerful low left foot was blocked by Ivan at the second attempt.
Salernitana came back to scare Lazio in the 57th minute when Di Vaio got between Nesta and Negro but his shot went wide.
That was their chance as three minutes later Lazio made it three. Beppe Pancaro to Vieri, on the left side of the box, he squared the ball beautifully to Salas who drilled home from close range. A great move, Lazio 3 Salernitana 1.
Salas tried to return the favour to his attacking partner and with a superb low cross from the left he found "Bobo" in front of goal but his shot came back off the post and into Ivan's arms.
In the 63rd minute Delio Rossi tried to change things taking off Bolic and Vannucchi for Vittorio Tosto and Davide Di Michele while Lazio replaced Negro with Attilio Lombardo.
It was just a matter of time before another goal however as Lazio were now rampant. In the 69th minute Conceição surged down the right, cut in and put a perfectly dosed low ball into Salas, who only had to tap it in. Lazio 4 Salernitana 1.
At this point Eriksson took off vieri and put on a midfielder Roberto Baronio. Salernitana made their last substitution in the 78th minute replacing Marco Rossi with Giacomo Tedesco.
Lazio were all over the "Ippocampi" (Seahorses). In the 79th minute a sublime backheel by Mancini teed up Salas with only the keeper to beat but the Matador incredibly managed to miss the target from near the penalty spot.
In the 82nd minute Lazio scored again. Following a corner Baronio had a go from just outside the area, the ball hit Salvatore Fresi and spun up and over Ivan. A lucky goal, not that Lazio needed it at this stage. Lazio 5 Salernitana 1.
In the 84th minute the Biancocelesti made their last change, taking off Mancini for Guerino Gottardi.
There was still time for one more goal. On a Conceição corner from the left, Nesta headed in his first ever Serie A goal. Lazio 6 Salernitana 1.
A good win for the league leaders. After some initial difficulties they had swept away Salernitana with the quality of their attacking duo Vieri-Salas well supported by Conceição and Mancini.
Salernitana had played well for 45 minutes but had then worryingly collapsed.
Lazio were up to 51 points, still four points ahead of Fiorentina and with five on Milan.
Salernitana were still 17th and luckily for them all their rivals apart from Perugia had lost. Safety was still three points away.
Who played for Lazio
Marchegiani, Negro (63' Lombardo), Nesta, Mihajlovic, Pancaro, Conceição, Mancini (84' Gottardi), F.Couto, Nedved, Vieri (70' Baronio), Salas
Manager: Eriksson
Who played for Salernitana
Ivan, Bolic (63' Tosto), Fresi, Fusco, Del Grosso, Rossi (78' Tedesco), Breda, Gattuso, Kolousek, Vannucchi (63' Di Michele), Di Vaio
Substitutes: Balli, Monaco, Bernardini, Belmonte
Manager: Rossi
Referee: Bolognino
Goals: 31' Vannucchi, 44' Negro, 51' Vieri, 60' Salas, 69' Salas, 82' Fresi (og), 90' Nesta
What happened next
Lazio went very close to winning the Scudetto. They were top of the table until the penultimate game when they drew in Florence, being denied a blatant penalty and were undeservedly overtaken by Milan. In the last match Lazio beat Parma 2-1 at the Olimpico but Milan cruised 2-0 away to a passive Perugia and won the title.
Lazio finished 2nd in Serie A but triumphed in Europe winning the last ever Cup Winners Cup. The Biancocelesti won the return game 3-0 against the Greeks and then eliminated Lokomotiv Moscow on away goals. In the final Lazio beat Mallorca 2-1 at Villa Park in Birmingham with goals by Vieri and Nedved.
Top scorer was Marcelo Salas with 24 (15 in league) but Vieri had a good season too, when he finally returned in January, with 12 league goals.
In the next game Salernitana beat Sampdoria 2-0 but a week later lost 0-1 at Perugia and Delio Rossi was sacked. Francesco Oddo took over but Salernitana ended up 15th and relegated. In the next 8 games they won 4 (including Inter 2-0, Bologna 4-0 and Juve 1-0, all at home), drew 3 and lost 1 but it was not enough as they finished only one point behind Perugia. Top scorer was Di Vaio with 12 league goals.
With Milan champions for the 16th time it was Sampdoria, Vicenza and Empoli who accompanied Salernitana down.
Let's talk about Federico Crovari
Federico Crovari was born in Milan on April 20, 1975.
His first club as a kid was US Aldini Unes di Milano and he then joined Monza's youth setup.
He made his professional debut for Monza in the 1994-95 season. The Brianzoli were in Serie C1 and finished 4th. Crovari played 11 league games.
He then spent a year with Solbiatese (Varese) on loan in C2. He played 21 league games and the Nerazzurri finished 9th.
In 1996 he returned to Monza and stayed two seasons. In the first the Biancorossi were promoted to Serie B via the playoffs and then finished 16th. The promotion coach was Gigi Radice who had taken over from Giorgio Rumignani after 26 games. The second year he had Radice, Bruno Bolchi and then Pierluigi Frosio. In his two seasons Crovari played 85 games with 9 goals. His teammates included future Lazio Massimo Oddo (2002-07) plus keeper Christian Abbiati (future Milan and PSG) and Roberto D'Aversa (future Serie A coach).
In 1998 Crovari joined Lazio. The manager was Sven-Goran Eriksson and the Biancocelesti had numerous good midfielders (Stankovic, Venturin, Almeyda, Baronio, de la Peña, Nedved, Okon, Lombardo, Conceição, Mancini). Crovari only played one game, a Cup Winners Cup quarter final against Panionios. Lazio came 2nd in Serie A but won the Cup Winners Cup and the Italian Supercoppa.
In 1999 he joined Treviso in Serie B. The Biancocelesti finished 8th under Gianfranco Bellotto and Crovari played 35 games with 3 goals.
In 2000 he moved nearby and signed for Vicenza in Serie A. He stayed seven seasons with the "Lane". In the first they were relegated and then six in Serie B. Their best position was 8th place in 2003. Crovari played a total of 91 games with 3 goals. His teammates included Lazio connections Fabio Firmani (Lazio 2005-09, 2009-11), Ousmane Dabo (2003-06, 2008-10), Ivano Della Morte (1994, 1995), Paul Okon (1996-99), Massimo Bonanni (2006) and his managers included Edy Reja (2010-12, 2014), Eugenio Fascetti (1986-88), Giancarlo Camolese (Lazio player 1986-88) and Angelo Gregucci (Lazio player 1986-93).
Crovari's last club was still in Veneto, Padova from 2007- January 2009. The Patavini were in C1 and finished 6th and 4th but promoted via the playoffs. Crovari played 36 games for the Euganei. The promotion manager was Carlo Sabatini while one of his teammates was former Lazio player Roberto Muzzi (2003-05).
Crovari then retired at 34. During his second season at Padova he decided to stop playing due to back problems and work for the club as a scout.
Since then, in 2014 he worked for Ascoli as a scout, in 2015 started to work for Juventus' scouting team and in 2020 was put in charge of the Bianconeri's U20 Italy scouting setup.
Crovari was a midfielder. At 1.85 he was a physical player. He had a good Serie B career and played 269 professional games.
At Lazio he only stayed one season and the Biancocelesti had too many stars for him to get much playing time. He however won a European Cup Winners Cup, the last ever held.
Lazio career
Sources
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