November 28, 2013: Legia Warsaw Lazio 0-2
- Lazio Stories
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
Young guns show their value
Lazio’s youngsters demolish Legia but there is controversy over Polish police treatment of fans
The season so far
Optimism was high at the start of the 2013-14 season thanks to the great victory in Coppa Italia against Roma on May 26, 2013. The celebrations lasted the whole summer and fans were over the moon.
The summer transfer window was not exactly eye opening, but two important signings were made: Lucas Biglia, Argentinian midfielder from Anderlecht, and Felipe Anderson, Brazilian forward who Lazio believed could be one of the best players the Biancocelesti had ever signed. Other minor signings were Etrit Berisha, goalkeeper, Diego Novaretti, defender and Brayan Perea, forward.
However, the real focus of the summer transfers was the missed deal to sign the Turkish forward Burak Yilmaz from Galatasaray. Lazio had already tried in 2012 but the negotiations collapsed at the last minute because the Turkish club wanted a very high percentage on the future sale of the player. The talks re-opened in 2013 and all was agreed. Yilmaz was in Rome waiting to sign the contract. But at the last minute of the last hour of the mercato, his agent asked for a €2 million commission to be paid on the signing of the contract and not spread over its length, as done normally. President Claudio Lotito refused to be blackmailed and the deal fell through.
The fans were furious. The anti-Lotito sentiment, which had faded after the historic win against Roma, came back with all of its venom. It would mar the entire season.
2013-14 had not started too well anyway as Lazio were thrashed in the Supercoppa by Juventus 4-0 with three goals in four minutes. The defence had been one of the strong points of the team, now it was a liability. In Serie A they were currently 8th, a long way away from European qualification.
In the Europa League the Biancocelesti were in group J together with Trabzonspor, Legia Warsaw and Apollon Limasol. The Turks were on 10 points, Lazio on 8, Appolon 4, Legia 0. The Biancocelesti had to try to avoid arriving second because it would mean that they would have to play in the knock out stage with one of the teams coming down from the Champions League. A win today would be important.
The match: Thursday, November 28, 2013, Stadion Wojska Polskiego, Warsaw
The day before the match the Polish police arrested 149 Lazio supporters. Apparently, a group had been involved in clashes with the police, but there was no proof that any Lazio fans were involved. The authorities said the detentions followed alleged snarls of violence: for example, bottles and stones being thrown at police vans by some of the fans. Reports claim that among those detained were fathers, pensioners, women, and even people with disabilities — raising concerns about the proportionality of the police action. The vast majority were released after paying fines or within days, but 22 remained in custody for a longer period. Some detainees claimed they were asked to sign statements in Polish (which they didn’t understand) and were held without charge for extended periods. The Italian Prime Minister, Enrico Letta, appealed to the Polish government to accelerate legal proceedings for the detained fans, stressing many might have been innocent. Lazio disputed the scale of the violence and claimed many of their fans were held “for no reason” — that some had requested police escorts to the stadium and were instead detained.
The Biancocelesti began strongly and in the fifth minute Felipe Anderson had a chance but his shot from inside the penalty box went into the stands. In the 24th minute the Lazio scored. Lucas Biglia crossed into the box and Brayan Perea first headed the ball in the air and then, with the goalkeeper coming out of his goal, he tried a second header which lobbed over Dusan Kuciak for Lazio’s 1-0. Legia did nothing and Lazio could have scored with Keita Balde and Alvaro Gonzalez on a Stefan Radu cross.
In the second half, Felipe Anderson tried a shot in the 46th minute but it was well saved by the keeper. Hernanes should have made it two in the 50th minute when all alone in front of Kuciak he shot at the goalkeeper. In the 56th Lazio made it two. Splendid assist from the Brazilian to compatriot Felipe Anderson on the right who scored with a clinical shot. His first goal for the Biancocelesti.
The hosts could have reduced the deficit with Henrik Ojamaa but he missed a sitter on an Etrit Berisha mistake. Vladimir Petkovic then sent in Eddy Onazi, Sergio Floccari and Senad Lulic all of whom could have made it three. Towards the end a great defensive play from Biglia avoided an almost certain goal from Miroslav Radović.
Lazio through to the knock out phase, to be determined whether as group winner or in second place.
Who played for Legia Warsaw
Kuciak, Bereszynski, Rzezniczak, Jodlowiec, Wawrzyniak, Furman (64' Astiz), Vrdoljak, Helio Pinto (46' Ojamaa), Radovic, Brzyski, Dvalishvili (75' Mikita).
Substitutes: Skaba, Broz, Kopczynski
Manager: Urban
Who played for Lazio
Berisha, Cavanda, Ciani, Cana, Radu, A.Gonzalez (81’ Lulic), Biglia, Hernanes, Felipe Anderson (77’ Floccari), Perea, Keita (77’ Onazi)
Manager: Petkovic
Referee: Blom (Netherlands)
Goals: 24’ Perea, 56’ Felipe Anderson
What happened next
Lazio arrived second in their group, unable to beat Trabzonspor in the final game. They were later knocked out by Ludogorets Razgard 4-3 on aggregate. Lazio had also been kicked out of the Coppa Italia in the quarter-finals by Napoli.
At the end of the first half of the season Lazio were ninth. Manager Vladimir Pectovic was unable to steer the Lazio ship in the right direction. Not only. He signed a contract to be the new Head Trainer of the Swiss national team at the end of his deal with Lazio in 2014. Lotito took this opportunity to sack him before Christmas and call back Edy Reja to try to get Lazio back on course.
The change seemed to solve things. Lazio were back and in the first six games under Reja came 12 points which included beating Inter and drawing against Roma.
After the game against Sampdoria with six games to go, Lazio were just two points away from a European qualification. But two decisive draws, both 3-3, against Torino and Verona put an end to any hopes.
Too much celebration and too many players not performing as well as they should made any type of comeback impossible. The anti-Lotito climate certainly did not help matters.
Antonio Candreva was the player with most appearances (44) and with the most goals (12).
Let’s talk about Brayan Perea
Brayan Andrés Vargas Perea was born in Cali, Colombia, on February 25, 1993. He is nicknamed "El Coco" (Coconut) due to his hairstyle.
He started playing football with his local club, Deportivo Cali. He then made his first team debut in 2011. Between 2011 and 2013 he played 54 league games for "Los Verdiblancos" and scored 11 goals.
In 2013 he came to Europe and joined Lazio in Serie A. The manager was Vladimir Petkovic for the first 17 games and then Edy Reja. Lazio finished 9th. Perea played 19 league games with 1 goal (Atalanta), 2 games in Coppa with 2 goals (Parma x2) and 6 in the Europa League with 2 goals (Legia Warsaw, Ludogorec). On August 8 Lazio lost the Italian Supercoppa to Juventus 0-4.
In August 2014 Perea was sent on loan to Perugia in Serie B. The manager was Andrea Camplone and Perea played 16 league games with 1 goal (Virtus Lanciano).
In January 2015 however, he was called back to Lazio, as striker Filip Djordjevic had suffered a serious injury and would be out for 3 months. The manager was Stefano Pioli and the Biancocelesti had an excellent season finishing 3rd (UCL preliminary round) and were runners up in the Coppa Italia (Juventus 1-2, a.e.t). Perea played 5 league games and 1 game in Coppa Italia. In August Lazio then failed to get into the Champions League group phase after losing to Bayer Leverkusen 1-3 on aggregate. On August 8 Lazio lost the Italian Supercoppa to Juventus 0-2.
A few days later, on August 13, Perea went to Troyes in France on loan. He played 13 games and scored 1 goal but Troyes were relegated to Ligue 2.
In August 2016 he joined Lugo in the Spanish Segunda Division. He played 13 league games for the "Albivermellos" (Red and Whites) plus one in the Copa del Rey.
In 2017 he returned to Lazio. The manager was now Simone Inzaghi but Perea never played before ending his contract by mutual consent in December 2018.
In January 2019 he returned to Colombia and signed for Independiente Santa Fe in the top flight. He played 11 league games with 1 goal and 5 domestic cup games.
In January 2020 he joined Temperley in the Argentinan second tier. He only played 5 league games for the "Gasoleros".
In 2020 he played in the United States for the Palm Beach Stars, in the United Premier Soccer League.
In 2021 he came back to Europe and chose north-west Bulgaria. He signed for Botev Vraca in the top division (Părva Liga) and has a contract until 2025. The Red and Greens finished 13th both in 2021-22 and 2022-23. He made 80 appearances with 20 goals for Botev. In 2025 he joined Thai League 1 side Port.
Perea played 16 games for Colombia U20s and in 2013 won a South-America U20 Championship.
Perea is a striker. He is usually used on the right of the attacking line. At 1.89 and 77 kilos he is a physical player. He can use both feet and is good in the air. It is fair to say he has not had a great career. His peak was with Lazio in 2013-14 but then never played regularly at such levels again.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Europa League |
2013-14 | 27 (5) | 19 (1) | 2 (2) | 6 (2) |
2014-15 | 6 | 5 | 1 | - |
Total | 33 (5) | 24 (1) | 3 (2) | 6 (2) |
Sources
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