Salas Announces Himself as Lazio Edge Out Real Madrid on Penalties
- Simon Basten
- Aug 12, 2023
- 6 min read
Pre Season Friendly
Wednesday, August 12, 1998
Stadio Riazor, La Coruña
Real Madrid Lazio 2-2 (7-8 pens)
Salas scores on his Lazio debut before the Biancocelesti draw 2-2 and prevail 8-7 on penalties against nine-man Real Madrid
Lazio had been at Vigo di Fassa in Trentino from mid to end July for their preseason training and were now travelling around Europe playing friendlies. The had played the Carlsberg Trophy in Ireland drawing with Leeds United and beating St. Patrick’s Athletic and had lost 4-0 with Benfica. Today was the semi-final of the Teresa Herrera Trophy and Lazio were up against the mighty Real Madrid.
The match
Lazio reached the final of the Trofeo Teresa Herrera with a dramatic penalty-shootout victory over Real Madrid at the Riazor Stadium in La Coruña. After an entertaining 2-2 draw in normal time, the Biancocelesti eventually prevailed 8-7 on penalties, with Luca Marchegiani emerging as the hero by saving two spot-kicks.
The match was also the first appearance in a Lazio shirt for Marcelo Salas. The Chilean striker needed only 40 minutes to announce his arrival, scoring a superb goal after combining with Ivan de la Peña and giving Lazio supporters an early glimpse of the attacking partnership that had been so eagerly anticipated.
Eriksson fielded a strong side, with Marchegiani in goal and a defence of Paolo Negro, Fernando Couto, Sinisa Mihajlovic and Giuseppe Favalli. Sergio Conceição, Dejan Stankovic, Pavel Nedved and De la Peña formed the midfield, while Salas made his debut alongside Roberto Mancini.
Lazio started brightly.
Inside the opening five minutes, the visitors created two excellent chances. Salas immediately showed his ability to link with his new teammates, setting up Nedved for a powerful effort that Bodo Illgner did well to save. Conceição then had an opportunity from the rebound but was unable to find the target.
Moments later, Nedved delivered a precise cross towards Mancini, whose header lacked the power to trouble Illgner.
Despite Lazio's promising start, it was Real Madrid who took the lead in the 14th minute.
Fernando Hierro delivered a dangerous free-kick into the penalty area, and Fernando Morientes was allowed too much freedom to meet it with a header. Marchegiani was beaten, and Lazio suddenly found themselves behind.
The situation became even more complicated for Real Madrid shortly afterwards.
In the 15th minute, Fernando Sanz Rojas was shown a straight red card for a late challenge from behind on De la Peña. The Spanish side were reduced to ten men, but rather than collapsing, the European champions responded with determination.
Lazio struggled to make their numerical advantage count.
Real Madrid continued to press in midfield and found space on the flanks through the pace of Víctor and Savio. Lazio's defensive line was repeatedly tested, while Salas found himself isolated for long periods against the experienced partnership of Hierro and Manuel Sanchís.
De la Peña, however, continued to provide moments of inspiration.
The Spanish midfielder, who had been jeered by sections of the home crowd because of his Barcelona connections, responded with a series of elegant touches and intelligent passes. Playing from a relatively deep position, he was often the player responsible for providing Lazio with their most dangerous attacking ideas.
Lazio eventually found their equaliser in the 35th minute.
A loose ball fell to Nedved on the edge of the penalty area, and the Czech midfielder struck a fierce first-time shot into the corner of the net. Illgner had no chance.
The goal gave Lazio renewed confidence.
And then, five minutes later, came the moment that Lazio supporters had been waiting for.
De la Peña picked up possession in midfield and immediately spotted Salas making a run behind the Real Madrid defence. His pass was perfectly weighted, splitting Hierro and Sanchís and sending the Chilean through on goal.
Salas showed impressive composure.
He raced beyond the defenders, anticipated Illgner's advance and finished with his left foot before shifting the ball onto his right and calmly tapping it into the unguarded net.
The celebration that followed was unforgettable.
Salas ran towards the corner, performed his trademark "Matador" celebration and then made a gesture resembling a cradle, dedicating his first Lazio goal to the child he and his partner Carolina were expecting.
The goal put Lazio 2-1 ahead and appeared to complete a remarkable first half for the new signing.
The partnership between De la Peña and Salas had immediately produced results. The Spaniard's vision and passing complemented the Chilean's movement and instinct inside the penalty area, offering Lazio a glimpse of the attacking potential that had prompted the club to invest heavily in the two players.
Real Madrid, however, were not prepared to surrender.
During the interval, Guus Hiddink introduced Roberto Carlos, Clarence Seedorf and Predrag Mijatović, bringing three major players into the match.
The changes had an immediate effect.
Real Madrid emerged for the second half with greater intensity, and Lazio began to struggle physically. The Biancocelesti were unable to take full advantage of their numerical superiority, while Real Madrid's movement and pace continued to cause problems.
Lazio's situation became more complicated when Conceição was forced to leave the field with a muscular problem replaced by Giorgio Venturin. Eriksson responded by moving Stankovic into a defensive role to deal with Roberto Carlos, but the tactical adjustment disrupted Lazio's balance.
Four minutes into the second half, Real Madrid equalised.
Savio, who had already been one of the most dangerous players on the pitch, found space in a crowded penalty area and managed to squeeze the ball through a mass of players and into the net.
At 2-2, the match had been completely transformed.
Real Madrid were now down to nine men.
Jaime was sent off shortly afterwards for a second serious challenge from behind, this time on Salas. With two players dismissed, Lazio had an extraordinary numerical advantage, but the Biancocelesti were unable to exploit it.
Instead, Real Madrid continued to look dangerous.
Mijatović immediately brought greater pace and movement to the Spanish attack, while Savio remained a constant threat. Lazio, meanwhile, were beginning to tire, and the match became increasingly open.
Eriksson made further changes in an attempt to restore balance. Negro was replaced by Guerino Gottardi, allowing Stankovic to return to midfield, while the Lazio coach later introduced Igor Protti, Roberto Rambaudi and Giuseppe Lopez.
Despite playing against nine men, Real Madrid arguably created the better chances during the final stages.
One effort from Seedorf almost produced an extraordinary own goal when Lopez was unfortunate to see the ball deflect dangerously towards his own net. The Spanish side continued to attack with remarkable energy, while Lazio struggled to produce the decisive opportunity that their numerical advantage should have provided.
The match therefore went to penalties.
It was the fourth time during the early stages of the season that Lazio had been involved in a shootout, but this time the Biancocelesti held their nerve.
The first round saw Hierro score for Real Madrid and Protti convert for Lazio. Mijatović then saw his penalty saved, while Salas confidently scored his first shootout attempt for his new club.
Savio and De la Peña exchanged successful penalties, followed by Roberto Carlos and Mihajlovic.
The tension increased when Venturin missed for Lazio, but Marchegiani produced another crucial save from Seedorf.
The shootout continued deep into sudden death.
Fernando Redondo converted for Real Madrid, while Lopez kept Lazio alive. When Seedorf's earlier miss was followed by Rambaudi's successful penalty, Lazio finally secured an extraordinary 8-7 victory.
Marchegiani was the hero, saving two penalties and sending Lazio into the final of the Trofeo Teresa Herrera.
The victory was ultimately more complicated than Eriksson would have wanted. But there were also plenty of encouraging signs.
The Matador had scored his first Lazio goal, De la Peña had supplied the assist, and together the pair had offered a tantalising glimpse of what could come.
Who played for Real Madrid
Illgner, Panucci (46' Roberto Carlos), Sanchis, Hierro, Rojas; Victor (46' Seedorf), Jaime, Redondo, Savio; Raul (80' Campo), Morientes (46' Mijatovic) Substitutes: Contreras, Sanz, Pacheco Manager: Hiddink
Who played for Lazio
Marchegiani, Negro (61' Gottardi), Couto (72' G.Lopez), Mihajlovic, Favalli, Conceicao (44' Venturin), Stankovic (78' Protti), De la Peña, Nedved; Salas, Mancini (86' Rambaudi) Substitutes: Ballotta, Marcolin Manager: Eriksson
Referee: Iturralde Gonzales
Goals: 14’ Morientes, 35’ Nedved, 40’ Salas, 49’ Savio
Penalty shootout: Hierro goal, Protti goal, Mijatovic saved, Salas goal, Savio goal, De la Peña goal, Roberto Carlos goal, Mihajlovic goal, Campo goal, Venturin wide, Redondo goal, G.Lopez goal, Seedorf saved, Rambaudi goal
Sources
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