top of page

October 3, 1999: Lazio Milan 4-4

Writer's picture: Dag JenkinsDag Jenkins

Updated: Nov 8, 2024

Epic draw


A spectacular eight goal draw to go down in the history books




Source Lazio Wiki

The season so far


The previous season Lazio had come agonizingly close to winning the title. They were only overtaken by eventual champions Milan in the penultimate game of the season and in controversial circumstances. Lazio were held to a 1-1 draw in Florence with some extremely dubious refereeing decisions by Fiorenzo Treossi, including the denial of a clear penalty on Marcelo Salas.


This season there had been some important changes to the squad. Three more Argentinians were signed; defender Nestor Sensini (Parma), midfielders Diego "El Cholo" Simeone (Inter) and Juan Sebastian Veron "La Brujita" (Parma). Another midfielder Dario Marcolin was back from a loan spell (Blackburn) and strikers Simone Inzaghi (Piacenza) and big Swedish forward Kennet Andersson (Bologna) were added.


Lazio had lost an important player in striker Christian Vieri who was sold to Inter for a then world record transfer fee of 90 billion Lire (approx 45 million Euros). Spanish midfielder Ivan de la Peña had gone to Olympique Marseille after a disappointing spell at Lazio and Roberto Baronio went to Reggina on loan.


Lazio’s season had started in a triumphant way on August 27 in Montecarlo when they had beaten Manchester United 1-0 with a Marcelo Salas goal to lift the European Super Cup.

 

In Serie A so far Lazio had played four games and won 3 (Cagliari 2-1, Torino 3-0 at home and Parma 2-1 away) and drawn 1 (Bari 0-0 away). Lazio were currently joint top of the table with Inter on 10 points.

 

In the Champions League, Lazio had played three games and won 2 (Dynamo Kyiv 2-1 and Maribor 4-0 at home) and drawn 1 (Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 away on debut).

 

Milan were reigning champions. The Rossoneri had confirmed manager Alberto Zaccheroni and further strengthened the squad with midfielders Gennaro Gattuso (Salernitana), Serginho (Săo Paulo) but above all forward Andriy Shevchenko (Dynamo Kyiv).

 

Leaving were keeper Massimo Taibi, defender Francesco Coco (Torino-on loan), Christian Ziege (Middlesbrough), midfielders Roberto Donadoni (Al-Ittihād) and Domenico Morfeo (Fiorentina- end of loan).

 

Milan had started their season on August 21 in the Italian Supercoppa. The Rossoneri had lost 1-2 at home to Parma.

 

In Serie A Milan were in 2nd place on 8 points. The Rossoneri had won 2 (Perugia 3-1 and Bologna 4-0 at home) and drawn 2 (Lecce 2-2 and Bari 1-1 away).

 

In the Champions League the "Diavolo" had won 1 (Galatasaray 2-1 at home) and drawn 2 (Chelsea 0-0 away and Hertha Berlin 1-1 at home).

 

This evening was the continuation of the previous season's rivalry. Lazio were desperate for revenge.


The match: Sunday, October 3, Stadio Olimpico, Rome


A crowd of almost 60,000 were present for this much awaited clash. It was still warm in Rome as it often is in early October.

 

Lazio were without Pavel Nedved while Milan had Paolo Maldini, Zvonimir Boban and Leonardo out and surprisingly left Thomas Helveg and Oliver Bierhoff on the bench.

 

Lazio started at lightning speed looking for a consolation to the previous year's huge disappointment. After only one minute a venomous Sinisa Mihajlovic corner had to be punched away on the front post by Christian Abbiati. A minute later Alen Boksic burst into the Milan area but Abbiati rushed off his line, dived low and blocked.

 

Milan popped up in the 8th and 10th minute with shots by Massimo Ambrosini and Federico Giunti which went wide.

 

In the 18th minute Lazio took the lead. Roberto Ayala messed up the control of the ball inside the area and it rolled to Sebastian Veron who hit a first-time half volley and beat Abbiati on the near post. Lazio 1 Milan 0.

 

Lazio almost doubled in the 21st minute when a thundering, long range Veron shot came off the crossbar.

 

Milan responded with Andrij Shevchenko who beat Alessandro Nesta for speed and hit a low cross goal shot but Luca Marchegiani dived to his left and palmed away. This was a warning for Lazio, Shevchenko was alive, kicking and fast.

 

In the 34th minute Lazio lost Paolo Negro to injury and on came Beppe Pancaro.

 

A minute later Milan equalised. Serginho crossed from the left and George Weah went for a back heel that didn't really come off but it then fortuitously hit Mihajlovic's head and went in. Lazio 1 Milan 1. A lucky goal, continuing from the previous year when Milan had the knack of scoring "unorthodox" goals hence the proverbial "Cul de Zac" (Cul being backside).

 

Lazio however reacted well and a minute later Boksic, through on goal, blasted a shot which Abbiati double fisted over the bar. On Mihajlovic's successive corner Diego Simeone and Abbiati got in each other's way and the ball came off the keeper on the front post and into the net. Lazio 2 Milan 1.

 

Milan were groggy and two minutes later Lazio scored again. A perfect cross by Sergio Conceição was headed in by Marcelo Salas. Lazio 3 Milan 1. Lazio fans were in heaven.

 

Unfortunately for the Biancocelesti the "Devil" was not finished yet. Just before halftime, in the 43rd minute, Massimo Giunti teed up Shevchenko who anticipated a hesitant Beppe Favalli, raced towards goal, went round Marchegiani and put the ball under the crossbar. All at lightning speed. Lazio 3 Milan 2.

 

A highly entertaining first half came to an end with Lazio ahead but with Milan suddenly back in it.

 

The second period started with Lazio on the attack. In the 46th minute a Conceição curler went just over the bar. In the 47th Veron teed up Salas but the Chilean arrived just short. In the 62nd Abbiati saved superbly from a Salas header which bounced in front of the line and looked like a winner but the young keeper somehow got a hand to it.

 

In the 63rd minute Milan were awarded a penalty. The Rossoneri struck on the break and Weah went round and then into Marchegiani and collapsed theatrically (as most strikers do in fairness). Shevchenko stepped up and scored with a low shot to Marchegiani's right. Lazio 3 Milan 3.

 

Lazio had the chances to close it but now it was suddenly all square again.

 

Lazio threw themselves forward desperate for the win. Conceição tried his luck but Abbiati got down and caught the Portuguese's effort.

 

In the 67th minute came another twist in the story and Milan went ahead. It was Shevchenko again who, after a Weah assist, beat Pancaro and then Marchegiani with a low, left footer on the far post. Lazio 3 Milan 4. An incredible turnaround in just four minutes.

 

Lazio were undeservedly trailing now and pushed forward again. In the 71st minute Abbiati brilliantly saved a Mancini header on the goal line from a curling Mihajlovic corner.

 

A minute later Lazio drew level. Veron squared the ball in low from the right and "El Matador" Salas, who was lurking near the penalty spot, drilled a left footer past four defenders and the keeper to equalise. Lazio 4 Milan 4.

 

Lazio were not satisfied and wanted the win at all costs. The Biancocelesti had several chances in the last fifteen minutes. Abbiati however had other ideas and saved well from Roberto Mancini, Veron, in the 90th minute a diving Salas header and finally another venomous Mihajlovic corner. Final score Lazio 4 Milan 4.

 

Lazio were disappointed but it had been a superb game. Both teams were applauded off the pitch after a game which would go down in history.

 

Lazio dropped down to joint 2nd place with Roma, two points behind now solitary leaders Inter. Milan meanwhile fell to 5th place, overtaken by Juventus too.

 

Who played for Lazio


Manager: Eriksson

 

Who played for Milan


Abbiati, Costacurta, Ayala, Guglielminpietro, Albertini, Serginho (76' N'Gotty), Giunti (61' Leonardo), Shevchenko (86' Gattuso), Weah

Substitutes: Rossi, Sala, Helveg, Bierhoff

Manager: Zaccheroni

 

Referee: Bazzoli


Goals: 18' Veron, 35' Mihajlovic (og), 36' Abbiati (og), 38' Salas, 43' Shevchenko, 63' Shevchenko (pen), 68' Shevchenko, 72' Salas



 What happened next


Lazio went on to have an epic season. They made an incredible recovery on Juventus. With eight matches to go the Biancocelesti were nine points adrift but then seven wins (including derby and Juventus away) brought Lazio within two points of the Bianconeri coming into the final game.

 

The Biancocelesti then won the Scudetto on a dramatic last day of the season. Lazio had to wait an hour, after beating Reggina 3-0, for Juventus' game to finish at Perugia, as it had been interrupted due to rain. The Bianconeri eventually fell to a shock 0-1 defeat and so Lazio finally won the league again, 26 years after the heroes of 1974. Top scorer was Inzaghi with 19 while only in Serie A it was Salas with 12.

 

A few days later Lazio won the Coppa Italia too, drawing the second leg 0-0 away to Inter (first leg 2-1).

 

In the Champions League they were defeated in the quarter finals, 3-5 by "high" flying Valencia.

 

It was however a triumphant season for Lazio, the best in their history.

 

Milan finished 3rd. They were also knocked out of the Champions League in the group phase as they then lost to both Hertha Berlin 0-1 and Galatasaray 2-3 away and drew 1-1 at home to Chelsea. In Coppa Italia they went out to Inter in the quarters 3-4 on aggregate.  A disappointing season for the Diavolo. Top scorer was Shevchenko with 29 (24 in A).

 

With Lazio "Campioni d'Italia" the other verdicts were relegation for Piacenza, Cagliari, Venezia and Torino.


Lazio 1999-2000

Competition

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goals scored

Serie A

34

21

9

4

64

Coppa Italia

8

4

3

1

18

Champions League

14

6

6

2

26

UEFA Super Cup

1

1

-

-

1

Total

57

32

18

7

109

Top five appearances (complete player statistics)

Players

Total

Serie A

Coppa Italia

Champions League

UEFA Super Cup

47

28

6

12

1

47

28

7

11

1

47

31

4

11

1

46

26

7

12

1

Giuseppe Pancaro

45

28

5

11

1

Top five goal scorers (complete player statistics)

Players

Total

Serie A

Coppa Italia

Champions League

UEFA Super Cup

19

7

3

9

-

Marcelo Salas

17

12

-

4

1

Sinisa Mihajlovic

13

6

4

3

-

Juan Sebastian Veron

10

8

-

2

-

8

4

3

1

-

Let's talk about Andriy Shevchenko


Source Wikipedia

Andrij Mykolajovyč Ševčenko, known in Europe as Andriy Shevchenko, was born in Dvirkivščyna on September 29, 1976. When he was three his family moved to Kyiv. In 1986 due to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, he was temporarily evacuated from the city. At an early age he was also a competitive boxer but he then chose football.

 

He began his career at Dynamo Kyiv. He started with Dynamo Kyiv 2 for four years. In 1994 he then moved up to the first team where he won five league titles in a row. He played 166 league games and scored 94 goals (60 in league). He caught Europe's eye with a hat-trick over two legs against Real Madrid.

Source Wikipedia

In 1999 he joined A.C Milan for a then record fee of $25 million. He stayed seven seasons and was a great success. With the Rossoneri he won one Scudetto (2004), one Champions league (2003), one UEFA Super Cup (2003), one Coppa Italia (2003) and one Italian Supercoppa (2004). He was top Serie A scorer twice (2000, 2004) and won the Ballon d'Or in 2004. He played 296 games for Milan and scored 173 goals (127 in A). His managers were Alberto Zaccheroni, Mauro Tassotti, Fatih Terim and Carlo Ancelotti for almost five seasons. His teammates included Lazio connections José Antonio Chamot (1994-98), Demetrio Albertini (2003-04), Valerio Fiori (1986-93), Alessandro Nesta (1985-2002), Giuseppe Pancaro (1997-2003), Cristian Brocchi (2008-13), Hernan Crespo (2000-02) and Jaap Stam (2001-04).

 

In 2006 he signed for Chelsea. The manager was José Mourinho and the Blues finished 2nd in the Premier League but won the FA Cup (Manchester United 1-0), the League Cup (Arsenal 2-1) and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League (lost to Liverpool on penalties). Shevchenko played 51 games and scored 14 goals (4 in league). In 2007-08 Mourinho was sacked after six games and replaced by Avraham Grant. Chelsea finished 2nd again in the league and lost three cup finals, Champions League (Manchester United on penalties), League Cup (Tottenham 1-2) and the Charity/Community Shield (Manchester United on penalties). Shevchenko played less and was often left out, he played 25 games and scored 8 goals (5 in league). He was not a great success in London and left.

 

In 2008-09 he spent a season back at Milan on loan. Ancelotti was still the manager but Shevchenko did not return to the levels of his first stint. He played 18 league games with no goals, 1 game in Coppa Italia with 1 goal and 7 games in the Champions League with 1 goal). Milan finished 3rd in Serie A. His teammates included former Lazio captain Beppe Favalli (1992-2004) plus international stars Ronaldinho and David Beckham.

 

In August 2009 he returned to Chelsea but after only one league game, despite the new manager being Ancelotti, he returned to Dynamo Kyiv. Chelsea then won the double, league and FA Cup.

 

Back in Ukraine he played another three seasons. He made another 83 appearances with 30 goals. He won a Ukrainian Super Cup in 2011.

 

He then retired at almost 36.

 

Shevchenko won 111 caps for Ukraine (59 as captain) and scored 48 goals. He took part in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, his country's first historic major tournament and then the 2012 Euros.


Source Wikipedia

After retiring he started collaborating with Ukrainian national manager Mykhaylo Fomenko in February 2016. He then replaced Fomenko in July 2016. He managed to qualify for the 2020 Euros (played in 2021) reaching the quarter finals but losing 0-4 to England. He then resigned.

 

On November 7 2021 he became Genoa manager replacing Davide Ballardini. He signed a three-year contract but was sacked on January 15 after 1 win, 3 draws and 7 defeats.

 

He is now president of the Ukrainian Football Federation.

 

Shevchenko or "Sheva" as he was nicknamed was a forward. He was extremely fast, mobile, dynamic and technical which made him a superb striker. He possessed a good shot with both feet, he could score with headers and was cool and precise when in front of goal, including freekicks and penalties. He was a prolific goal scorer but could also set up his fellow strikers and used his athleticism to roam from the centre of the attack to the wings and vice-versa. He was also appreciated for his willingness to sacrifice himself for the team, dropping back to cover and tackle. He will above all however be remembered as a fantastic forward. An absolute legend at Milan and obviously in Ukraine.

 

Lazio were one of his favourite victims having scored 13 goals against the Biancocelesti in his years in Milan.


Sources


Kommentarer


bottom of page