Lazio put Napoli into trouble

Simon Basten
May 12, 2024
3 min read

Season 2000-01

Game 30, Serie A

Saturday, May 12, 2001

Stadio San Paolo, Naples

Napoli Lazio 2-4

Too many mistakes from Napoli who despite going ahead twice, allow Lazio a comfortable win

After winning the Supercoppa against Inter in September, Lazio did not start too well in the campionato and by the end of the year were fourth with 21 points, way off Roma who were leading the Serie A eight points ahead. There had been a lot of problems. This first issue was that Sven-Goran Eriksson had signed a contract with the English FA to manage England starting from the summer of 2001. This meant that it was going to be his last year with Lazio. This created a negative psychological situation in the team, uncertain of what would happen in the future.

There was still optimism but in the first game of the new year Lazio lost at home and Eriksson, realising that he might be the problem, resigned. The Biancocelesti were 11 points away from Roma who led the table. The team was handed to Dino Zoff.

The Biancocelesti had improved considerably winning 12 of the next 16 games but they were still five points behind Roma, albeit in second place.

A win was needed today.

The match

Lazio started well and in the sixth minute a mighty whack from Karel Poborsky hit the woodwork. The Biancocelesti seemed to be in control but in the 25th minute Napoli scored with their first chance of the game. On the counter attack, Edmundo to Marek Jankulovski in the box on the left, his volley towards the middle found Nicola Amoruso who beat Angelo Peruzzi.

Immediately after Amoruso had a chance for 2-0 on an Edmundo assist but he passed to the keeper. Having let Lazio off once, Francesco Baldini helped the Biancocelesti again losing the ball close to his box to Juan Sebastian Veron. It was picked up by Hernan Crespo who dribbled past Alberto Fontana to make it 1-1.

Poborsky then found himself all alone in front of Fontana but he squandered the easy chance. Having missed the 2-1, it was Napoli to score in the 47th minute. Francelino Matuzalem took a corner and found Claudio Husain outside the box. His volley reached Amoruso who in complete solitude turned around and scored his brace.

But five minutes later Napoli yet again lost a dangerous ball to Poborsky who passed to Beppe Pancaro on the right. His cross was perfect for Crespo who made it 2-2.

In the 57th minute Veron was sent off for dissent and this could have been a match changer. In was not, partly thanks to Dino Zoff who immediately sent on Pavel Nedved in place of Claudio Lopez. The Czech in the 65th minute received a perfect ball centrally in the box from Diego Simeone, 3-2.

The Lazio defence made no more errors and in the 84th minute Nedved found Fabrizio Ravanelli, who had substituted Crespo in the 76th minute, in the box towards the left. The Lazio forward turned around and tried a shot towards the front post, Fontana fumbled, 4-2 for the Biancocelesti.

Lazio still second, still five points behind Roma, four games left.

Who played for Napoli

Fontana, Fresi, Quiroga, Baldini, Saber, Husain, Jankulovski (71' Tedesco), Matuzalem (66' Stellone), Baccin (76' Bocchetti), Amoruso, Edmundo

Substitutes: F.Mancini, Avolio, Magoni, Amauri

Manager: Mondonico

Who played for Lazio

Peruzzi, Pancaro, Nesta, Mihajlovic, Favalli, Poborsky (88' Stankovic), D.Baggio, Veron, Simeone, Crespo (76' Ravanelli), C.Lopez (58' Nedved)