Lazio Hold Firm in Perugia

Simon Basten
Dec 4, 2022
2 min read

Season 1999-00

Game 12, Serie A

Saturday December 4, 1999

Stadio Renato Curi, Perugia

Perugia Lazio 0-2

Salas and Conceição strike as the Biancocelesti weather late pressure to claim a valuable away win.

After six games in Serie A the Biancocelesti were first with Inter and Juventus one point behind. They had been able to widen the gap to +3 in the next game as Lazio won at home against Lecce, Inter lost the derby and Juve drew at Bari, but a surprise heavy defeat in the derby allowed Juventus to join the top. In the previous game the two top clubs faced each other at the Olimpico and it was a goalless draw so Roma, who won at Udine, had joined the Biancocelesti and Bianconeri at the top of the table.

The match

Without Beppe Pancaro, Beppe Favalli and Paolo Negro and forced to play with Fernando Couto as right back and Guerino Gottardi on the left, Lazio faced a tricky away test in Perugia but wasted no time asserting themselves. After just eleven minutes, Alen Bokšić burst into the box and went for goal rather than squaring to an unmarked Marcelo Salas. Andrea Mazzantini, however, stood firm and blocked the shot with his body. Moments later Lazio thought they had taken the lead when Dejan Stanković found the net, but the referee chalked it off for a dubious handball by Salas in the buildup.

Perugia attempted to push back, though their efforts produced little more than a tame header from Ibrahim Ba. Lazio, sharper and more clinical, finally broke through in the 37th minute: Bokšić powered down the flank and delivered a perfect cross for Salas, who tapped home from close range. Sergio Conceição nearly doubled the lead before halftime but fired over from a promising position.

The second half began with a scare for Lazio as Milan Rapajić forced a corner after a brilliant defensive intervention from Couto. Ten minutes later, the Perugia forward came even closer, smashing the crossbar in a one-on-one with Luca Marchegiani. Sensing danger, Lazio struck on the counter. Juan Sebastian Verón released Conceição, who sprinted forward and buried a right-footed shot to make it 2–0.

Perugia continued to rely on Rapajić for inspiration, and he nearly pulled one back, only for Marchegiani to tip his effort onto the bar with a superb save. Despite Perugia’s persistence, Lazio’s composure and clinical finishing proved decisive. Marchegiani produced another marvellous save in injury time on a Hidetoshi Nakata shot.

The Biancocelesti left with a deserved victory from a match that, while often tense, showcased their quality and resilience.

Who played for Perugia

Mazzantini, Hilario, Ripa, Calori, Milanese, Ba, Tedesco, Olive (71' Bisoli), Rapajic, Nakata, Amoruso (71' Melli)

Substitutes: Pagotto, Rivalta, Campolo, M.Esposito, Cappioli

Manager: Mazzone

Who played for Lazio

Marchegiani, Couto (56’ Lombardo), Nesta, Mihajlovic, Gottardi, Conceição (69’ Simeone), Stankovic, Sensini, Veron, Boksic (80’ Mancini), Salas