May 7, 2006: Ascoli-Lazio 1-4

Lazio Stories
May 7
9 min read

Lazio replicate home win

Another 4-1 victory over the Woodpeckers solidifies 6th place

Also on this day:

May 7, 1995, Juventus Lazio 0-3. Juventus totally dominated for 70 minutes but could not beat an inspired Marchegiani and were made to pay by Di Matteo plus two injury time goals.
May 7, 2000, Bologna Lazio 2-3. The Biancocelesti get the win but go into the last game still two points behind Juventus. A disallowed Cannavaro goal in Turin will be the talk of the week.

The season so far

The previous season Lazio had flirted with relegation but had managed to escape and ended up 13th. They had then even qualified for the Intertoto Cup, due to Livorno and Messina dropping out for various reasons.

This year saw the arrival of new manager Delio Rossi, who took derby and relegation battle hero Giuseppe Papadopulo's place.

The main players coming in were: defenders Manuel Belleri (Udinese), Guglielmo Stendardo (Perugia) and Emilson Cribari (Udinese on loan), midfielders Valon Behrami (Genoa), Gaby Mudingayi (Torino) and Fabio Firmani (Catania) plus forward Igli Tare (Bologna).

Over twenty players were leaving Lazio, but those worthy of note were Scudetto heroes Fernando Couto (Parma) and Paolo Negro (Siena) plus the Filippini twins (both to Palermo and then Treviso), Giuliano Giannichedda (Juventus) and Roberto Muzzi (Torino).

The atmosphere surrounding the club was heavy with the fan base unsatisfied with the owner Claudio Lotito's lack of ambition and investment in the transfer market. In January midfielders Stefano Mauri (Udinese - on loan) and Massimo Bonanni (Palermo - on loan) were added while César left for Inter and Roberto Baronio was loaned to Udinese.

Lazio's season had started in July in the Intertoto Cup (to get into the UEFA Cup). The Biancocelesti had beaten Tampere United 4-1 on aggregate but then been eliminated by Olympique Marseille 1-4 on aggregate.

In Serie A Lazio however were doing surprisingly well. The Biancocelesti were in 6th position on 56 points and occupied a UEFA Cup slot (three above Chievo). Lazio had won 14 (including Ascoli 4-1), drawn 14 (including derby 1-1) and lost 8 (including second derby 0-2). Top scorer so far was Tommaso Rocchi with 14 league goals.

In the Coppa Italia Lazio had been knocked out by Inter 1-2 on aggregate in the quarterfinals. In the previous round Lazio had beaten Cittadella 2-0 on aggregate.

Ascoli were newly promoted. The previous season the Bianconeri had finished 6th in Serie B but due to other clubs’ misfortunes incredibly went up. League winners Genoa were relegated to C1 for corruption, Torino who won the playoffs were forced to stay down for financial issues as were Perugia who had lost the playoff final. Ascoli therefore from 6th became 3rd and went up with Empoli (2nd on field) and Treviso (5th). The manager was Massimo Silva and top scorer Cristian Bucchi with 18 goals (17 in B).

This season Silva was still in charge. The main new players were defenders Cristiano Del Grosso (Giulianova), Gianluca Comotto (Torino - on loan), Massimo Paci (Genoa - on loan), Maurizio Domizzi (Sampdoria - on loan via Brescia) midfielders Nicolás Cordova (Livorno - on loan), Alfredo Cariello (Frosinone), Francesco Carbone (Torino - on loan), Roberto Guana (Brescia), Pasquale Foggia (Empoli - via Crotone on loan), Andrea Parola (Triestina) plus forwards Saša Bjelanovic (Genoa via Lecce) and Fabio Quagliarella (Torino - on loan). In the winter session the Ascolani had added midfielders Domenico Giampà (Messina), Giampietro Perrulli (Sambenedettese) and forward Igor Budan (Atalanta - on loan). Almost a whole new squad.

Leaving were goalkeeper Roberto Maurantonio (Lanciano), defenders Massimo Demartis (Torres), Carlo Sassarini (Andria), Riccardo Corallo (Cremonese - on loan), Oscar Brevi (Torino), Luigi Martinelli (Torino), midfielders Francesco Modesto (Palermo - on loan), Luca Belingheri (Albinoleffe - on loan), Adolfo Speranza (Pescara), Filippo Agomeri (Chievo) plus forwards Roberto Colacone (Modena), Simone Motta (Rimini), Cristian Bucchi (Modena) and Isah Eliakwu (Inter - end of loan then Triestina).

Ascoli were currently joint 13th in Serie A, on 40 points with Udinese and Sampdoria. They were already safe, their real objective. The Picchio (Woodpecker) had won 8 (including Roma 3-2 at home), drawn 16 (including Milan 1-1 at home) and lost 12 (including Lazio 1-4).

In Coppa Italia Ascoli had beaten Acireale 2-0 at home but then been eliminated by Bari 1-2 away.

Lazio and Ascoli had both already reached their season's objectives, Europe for the Biancocelesti and survival for the Bianconeri. Lazio were obviously the more talented team however it was Ascoli's last home game, and they would like to win for the fans.

The match: Sunday, May 7, 2006, Stadio Del Duca, Ascoli

A hot and sunny day in the attractive town of Ascoli Piceno gathered about 15,000 spectators, at least 3,000 from Rome. It is only 184 kilometres from Rome, straight up the Via Salaria.

Lazio were without keeper Angelo Peruzzi, defender Sebastiano Siviglia and midfielders Gaby Mudingayi and Ousmane Dabo.

Ascoli had midfielders Andrea Parola and Pasquale Foggia unavailable. The Bianconeri curiously had three former Lazio youth players in their line-up: Francesco Carbone, Maurizio Domizzi, Domenico Cristiano and one on the bench, Alessandro Boccolini.

Lazio immediately looked more interested and after seven minutes were already in front. On a Massimo Oddo freekick, Guglielmo Stendardo scored with a diving header. It was the defender's first ever goal in Serie A and he ran the whole length of the pitch to celebrate with the Lazio fans. Ascoli 0 Lazio 1.

In the 11th minute the Biancocelesti were awarded a penalty for a Cristiano Del Grosso handball. Oddo coolly placed it low to Ferdinando Coppola's right. Ascoli 0 Lazio 2.

In the 20th minute Goran Pandev made it three. The Macedonian set up by Oddo went round the keeper and slotted it in, a great goal. Ascoli 0 Lazio 3.

In the 26th minute the hosts were awarded a penalty too for a foul by Stendardo on Fabio Quagliarella. Marco Ferrante stepped up, but 42-year-old Marco Ballotta saved his low and central shot.

Ferrante then redeemed himself four minutes later with a superb shot which went in near the right post. Ascoli 1 Lazio 3. Halftime came with Lazio well in control.

For the second half the hosts took off Carbone and put on Massimo Paci. Lazio waited until the 52nd minute to replace Pandev with Paolo Di Canio while Ascoli then changed Roberto Guana for Alessandro Moro in the 55th.

The game was definitely closed two minutes later when Lazio scored again. In the 57th minute Oddo put in a low cross from the right to the front post where Tommaso Rocchi pounced, stretched and hooked the ball in. Ascoli 1 Lazio 4.

Ascoli put on another forward in the 69th minute, Saša Bjelanovic for midfielder Alfredo Carriello while a few minutes earlier, in the 64th, Lazio had changed defender Emilson Cribari for Felice Piccolo.

Ascoli tried to give their fans something to shout about before the summer break, but Ballotta saved on Ferrante and Domizzi headers.

The scoreline and the heat then made the game lose intensity. Lazio made one more substitution, in the 82nd minute Andrea Giallombardo came on for Oddo. Final score: Ascoli 1 Lazio 4.

A good away win for Lazio with exactly the same score as they had beaten the Marchigiani in Rome in January. Standout players were Ballotta, Oddo and Pandev. In the end the incentives for Lazio to maintain their 6th place plus their superior quality had proved too much for an already satisfied Ascoli. In fact, both sets of fans celebrated at the end.

Lazio consolidated their 6th place while Ascoli partied with their fans looking forward to another season in the big time.

Who played for Ascoli

Coppola, Carbone (46' Paci), Cudini, Domizzi, Del Grosso, Cariello (69' Bjelanovic), Guana (55' Moro), Cristiano, Fini, Ferrante, Quagliarella

Substitutes: Boccolini, Giampà, Budan, Lauro

Manager: Silva

Who played for Lazio

Ballotta, Oddo (82' Giallombardo), Stendardo, Cribari (64' Piccolo), Belleri, Behrami, Liverani, Zauri, Mauri, Pandev (52' Di Canio), Rocchi

Substitutes: Handanovic, Bonanni, Tare, Manfredini

Manager: D. Rossi

Referee: Marelli

Goals: 7' Stendardo, 11' Oddo (pen), 20' Pandev, 30' Ferrante, 57' Rocchi

What happened next

Lazio finished well, at least on the pitch. In the last game the Biancocelesti beat Parma 1-0 at home. So, in the end they won 16, drew 14 and lost 8. They would have come 6th and qualified for the UEFA Cup had it not been for off field issues. Top scorer was Tommaso Rocchi with 17 goals (16 in A).

Lazio were accused of being involved in the "Calciopoli" scandal and docked 30 points (initially the sentence was relegation), so ended up 16th. The scandal was basically alleged lobbying by certain clubs on the choice of referees.

A pity as Lazio had performed well and had a surprisingly good season in Serie A. They would also start the next season with a docking of 11 points, then reduced to 8 and finally to 3 but would then qualify for the Champions League.

Ascoli finished 10th on 43 points (after Calciopoli). In the last game they won 2-1 away at Empoli. Top scorer was Marco Ferrante with 8 league goals.

Juventus won the league but were stripped of the Scudetto and relegated for their involvement in Calciopoli. The title was given to second placed Inter. Juventus went down to unfamiliar B territory with Lecce and Treviso (the Trevigiani have never been back while Juventus obviously bounced straight up again).

Lets talk about Domenico Cristiano

Domenico Cristiano is first from right second row

Domenico Cristiano was born in Ravenna, on March 29, 1976.

He came through the Lazio academy and joined the first team squad in 1993 while continuing to play for the Primavera (U19s)

The manager was Dino Zoff and Lazio finished 4th while Cristiano made one league appearance.

In 1994-95 Zdeněk Zeman arrived as manager and Lazio finished 2nd. Cristiano made no first team appearances but won the Primavera Scudetto.

In 1995 he was sold to Venezia in Serie B where he made 5 league appearances and the Lagunari finished 11th. One of his teammates was former Lazio, Flavio Roma (youth academy, 1991-93 and 1994-95).

In 1996 Cristiano joined Castel di Sangro in Serie B. He stayed two seasons with 15th and 20th places (relegation). These were the years of the "miracle of Castel di Sangro" as in the famous book by Joe McGinnis. The town has a population of 6,000 inhabitants so being in Serie B was a major feat. Cristiano played 46 league games with 3 goals.

In 1998-99 he spent a season at Monza in Serie B. The Brianzoli finished 15th under Pierluigi Frosio. Cristiano played 26 league games with 3 goals. His teammates included Lazio connections; Massimo Oddo (2002-07), Fabio Vignaroli (2007-08) and briefly Federico Crovari (1998-99).

In 1999-2000 he played for Salernitana in Serie B. The manager was Adriano Cadregari then Luigi Cagni, Cadregari again and finally Cagni finished the season. The Granata finished 7th and Cristiano played 8 league games before leaving in January.

He joined Fermana on loan in Serie B. The manager was first Ivo Iaconi from his Castel di Sangro days, then former Lazio player Stefano Di Chiara and finally Iaconi again. The Canarini were relegated and Cristiano played 10 league games.

In 2000-01 he was back at Salernitana and played more regularly, making 20 league appearances with 1 goal (Genoa in 2-1 away win). The manager was first Francesco Oddo, then Nedo Sonetti and then Oddo again. The Granata finished 15th.

In 2001 he joined Napoli. The Partenopei were in Serie B and he stayed two seasons, finishing 5th and 16th. In the first season the manager was Luigi Di Canio while in the second Franco Colomba and Franco Scoglio alternated. His teammates included Lazio connections Mauro Bonomi (1992-95), Francesco Mancini (1995-96) and Dario Marcolin (1992-93,1995-99, 1999-2000). Cristiano played 17 league games for the Azzurri.

In 2003 he signed for Ascoli and stayed three seasons. The first two in Serie B (11th and 5th but then promoted due to Genoa, Perugia and Torino's problems) and the third in A (10th). His managers include Marco Giampaolo and Massimo Silva. Cristiano played 77 league games with 4 goals (all in B).

In 2006 he joined Rimini in Serie B for two seasons. The Biancorossi finished 5th (including 0-0 away draw to Juventus) and 7th. His manager for both seasons was Leonardo Arcori. His teammates included Samir Handanovic (Lazio 2006) and Alessandro Matri (Lazio 2015-16). Cristiano played 47 league games with 1 goal (Treviso).

In 2008 he signed for Pro Patria in Lega Pro (3rd tier). He stayed three seasons finishing 2nd, 16th (relegated) and 4th in Lego Pro 2. He played 53 league games with 1 goal.

In 2011-12 he spent a season at Viterbese in Serie D. He played 30 league games with 4 goals and the Tusci finished 9th.

He then moved down to amateur level both playing and doing some coaching at Offida (Ascoli) and then at Borgo Solestà (Ascoli) where however he made no playing appearances.

He then retired at 40.

Since retiring he has had one coaching experience, at Castel di Sangro in 2019-20 in the 6th tier. The Giallorossi won promotion to Eccellenza.

Cristiano was a midfielder who could play in several roles due to his adaptability. He won a promotion to Serie A with Ascoli and also played for Napoli but in Serie B.

At Lazio he was very young, making his debut at 18 but then was released to play at lower levels.