September 3, 1997: Fidelis Andria-Lazio 0-3
- Dag Jenkins
- 10 hours ago
- 9 min read
And so it all began
Lazio start their cup campaign with clear win in Apulia
The season so far
The previous season had seen Dino Zoff take over from Zdenek Zeman in January and earn a 4th place finish. Giuseppe Signori's 15 goals had helped Lazio conquer a UEFA Cup place and make it a positive season.
This year however, there had been a big change. Lazio had a new manager in Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson, who arrived in the summer from Sampdoria.
There had been other major changes to the squad too. In had come goalkeeper Marco Ballotta (Reggiana), full back Giuseppe Pancaro (Cagliari), midfielders Matias Almeyda (Sevilla) and Vladimir Jugovic (Juventus) plus forwards Alen Boksic (back from Juventus) and Roberto Mancini (Sampdoria).
The players who left were South-African defender Mark Fish (Bolton), Roberto Baronio (on loan to Vicenza), and Alessandro Iannuzzi (Lecce) plus forwards Marco Di Vaio (Salernitana) and Igor Protti (Napoli-on loan).
Lazio had debuted in Serie A on August 31 and beaten Napoli 2-0 at home (Mancini, Pancaro). Their next league game would be away to Milan on September 13.
In the UEFA Cup they would start against Vitória Guimarães on September 16.
Fidelis Andria were in Serie B. The previous season the Apulians had won the Serie C Group B and promotion. The top scorer was Mario Lemme with 16 league goals. The manager was former Lazio player Giuseppe Papadopulo (1969-72). There was a former Lazio player in the squad too, midfielder Oberdan Biagioni had come through the Lazio academy and made three first team appearances in 1987-88.
This season the manager was still Papadopulo. The main new additions to the squad were; defenders Gianluca Franchini (Ischia Isolaverde), Fabio Di Sauro (Cremonese), Alberto Nardi (Chievo) and Paolo Martelli (Torino), midfielders Alessandro Marzio (Saronno) and Alessandro Doga (Sampdoria -on loan via Prato) and Francesco Tudisco (Reggiana but in autumn) plus forwards Predrag Gajic (Loznica-Serbia) and Massimo Manca (Casarano).
Leaving were; goalkeeper Nicola Di Bitonto (Ascoli, but in the autumn), defenders Giuseppe Luceri (Ancona) and Pietro Mariani (Padova, in winter session), midfielders Pasquale Logiudice (Ischia Isolaverde) and Giuseppe Minaudo (Cremonese) plus forwards Vincenzo Santoruvo (Rutigliano-on loan in autumn).
Serie B had started on August 31 and Andria had been well beaten 1-4 at Perugia.
To get to this stage of the Coppa Italia the Blue Lions had beaten Padova 5-3 on aggregate.
Lazio were strong favourites but the newly promoted Biancoazzurri were keen to kick start their second ever Serie B period (first 1992-1996) with a big cup scalp.
The match: Wednesday, September 3, 1997, Stadio degli Ulivi, Andria
A hot evening attracted about 10,000 to the nicely named Stadio degli Ulivi. The name had been chosen in 1994-95 by a fan vote promoted by local sports newspaper "Il Fidelissimo". The other possible names were "della Pineta" and "Svevo" (from Frederick II of Swabia. The ground had previously less romantically been called "Stadio Comunale".
Lazio were missing defenders Beppe Pancaro and Giovanni Lopez, midfielders Pavel Nedved and Matias Almeyda and forward Alen Boksic while Roberto Mancini was on the bench.
The hosts main absence was midfielder Roberto Cappellacci.
Lazio initially played a waiting game and the hosts attacked, spurred on by the home crowd. Fidelis pushed well on the flanks with Giammarco Frezza on one side and Alessandro Sturba on the other.
The locals thought they had taken the lead when Oberdan Biagioni scored with a free kick but it was indirect and had not taken the deflection the former Lazio player had hoped for.
Lazio gradually settled and gained more control. In the 13th minute Beppe Signori uncharacteristically missed a sitter on a Vladimir Jugovic assist.
In the 19th minute Signori did everything right and beat Giorgio Frezzolini rushing out of goal but his shot was then cleared off the line by Andrea Citterio.
Lazio's pressure increased and in the 21st minute the goal came. Signori's free kick came back off the wall and was volleyed in by Roberto Rambaudi with a slight deflection by Valeriano Recchi, 0-1.
Andria reacted and three minutes later went close to equalising. In a crowded area Renato Olive went for a bicycle kick which touched the crossbar and flew over.
In the 29th minute Luca Marchegiani had to dive low on Frezza as Andria attacked.
It was Lazio however who had the biggest chance to score again. Jugovic brilliantly set up Signori in front of the keeper but the blonde striker incredibly put it wide. Half time 0-1.
For the second half replaced midfielder Sturba with forward Vincenzo Palombo.
Andria again started strongly and Palumbo immediately forced Marchegiani into a difficult low save.
After only three minutes however Signori redeemed himself. In the 48th minute Gigi Casiraghi hit the bar from the edge of the box and on the rebound Signori was there to score from close range, 0-2.
Two goals down the Apulians' energy faded and the match lost intensity. Both sides made substitutions from the 60th minute onwards; for Andria, Alberto Nardi replaced Alessandro Marzio and Massimo Manca came on for Mario Lemme while for Lazio off went Jugovic, Diego Fuser and Rambaudi and on came Dario Marcolin, Guerino Gottardi and Renato Buso.
In the 75th minute Casiraghi scored but the referee surprisingly disallowed it claiming the former Juventus forward had handballed in the build up. A double mistake by Cesari as if anything it had been Tonio Sarcinella who had touched the ball with a hand.
In the 78th minute Lazio definitely closed the contest. This time the referee saw a handball by Recchi in the box from a Buso cross. Signori slotted it in for his brace, 0-3.
A winning game plan by Lazio, to absorb Andria's initial pressing and enthusiasm and then strike with their superior quality.
The return match would not be until September 24 so Lazio could now turn their attention to the upcoming difficult game at San Siro against Milan.
Who played for Fidelis Andria
Frezzolini, Marzio (60' Nardi), Citterio, Recchi, Sarcinella, Sturba (46' Palombo), Olive, Diga, Frezza, Biagioni, Lemme (62' Manca)
Substitutes: Di Bitonto, Silvestri, Landi, Santoruvo
Manager: Papadopulo
Who played for Lazio
Marchegiani, Negro, Nesta, Grandoni, Favalli, Rambaudi (73' Buso), Fuser (67' Gottardi), Venturin, Jugovic (60' Marcolin), Casiraghi, Signori
Manager: Eriksson
Referee: Cesari
Goals: 21' Recchi (og), 48' Signori, 78' Signori (pen)
What happened next
Lazio drew 1-1 in Milan but, apart from an epic 3-1 derby win in ten men, their season was up and down until mid-December when they really hit top gear (12 wins and 4 draws). Lazio then challenged for the title until a precise date, April 5. They played leaders Juventus, got beaten 1-0 and never recovered. In the last 6 matches they only managed to muster one point and ended up in a disappointing 7th place. Top scorers were Pavel Nedvěd and Alen Boksic with 15 goals (Nedved 11 in A and Boksic 10). Alas previous years goal machine Beppe Signori had left in late November due to contrasts with Eriksson over lack of playing time.
Strange but true however it turned out to be a season to remember. They beat hated city rivals 4 times! Twice in the league (3-1 and 2-0) and twice in the Coppa Italia (4-1 and 2-1), a record which has yet to be rivaled.
They also had an excellent European campaign. They reached the UEFA Cup Final in Paris. On the way they eliminated Vitória Guimarães 6-1, Rotor (Russia, 3-0), Rapid Vienna (3-0), Auxerre (3-2) and Atlético Madrid (1-0). Then however a tired Lazio were well beaten 0-3 by Ronaldo's Inter.
It was today's competition, the Coppa Italia, that they lived their finest hour. They won the return game 3-2 against Andria and then knocked out Napoli (4-3 on aggregate with a slight scare, 4-0 at home and 0-3 away), Roma (4-1, 2-1) and in the semi-final Juventus (1-0, 2-2).
The final against Milan was also still played over two legs, home and away. The first went to Milan 1-0 with an 89th minute George Weah winner. The return match in Rome seemed to be heading in Milan's favour too when a Demetrio Albertini freekick put the Rossoneri 1-0 up just before half time. A stirring second half performance however turned the final around. Goals by Gottardi, Jugovic (pen) and captain Nesta gave Lazio a dramatic 3-1 victory and after 30 years gave the Biancocelesti long awaited silverware.
So, a European Final, 4 derby wins and a domestic cup after thirty years definitely made it a season to cherish.
Fidelis Andria finished a decent 12th in Serie B. The Biancoazzurri then won 11, drew 15 and lost 11 and ended up with a comfortable 7-point cushion on the relegation zone. The top scorer was Biagioni with 18 goals (15 in B).
Fidelis would be relegated the following season and have not been back in Serie B since. They are now in Serie D.
Today's manager Papadopulo would be Lazio manager from January 2005 until the end of the season. His debut was on January 6 with a memorable 3-1 derby win against Roma.
Let's talk about Oberdan Biagioni
Oberdan Biagioni was born in Rome, on October 17, 1969.
He started playing football with Romulea in Rome and then moved to the Lazio youth academy. He won a Primavera Scudetto in 1986-87 under manager Juan Carlos Morrone and with players such as Valerio Fiori, Giampaolo Saurini and Antonio Rizzolo.
In 1987-88 he was added to Lazio's first team squad. The manager was Eugenio Fascetti and Lazio won promotion back to Serie A. Biagioni played 3 league games.
In 1988 -89 he was loaned to Monopoli in Serie C1 and stayed two seasons. The Biancoverdi finished 14th and 11th and he played 51 league games with 6 goals. His managers were Aldo Sensibile, Nicola Chiricallo and then former Lazio player, Giuseppe Papadopulo (1969-72). His teammates included other Lazio connections, Mauro Meluso (1982-84) and Francesco Fonte (1983-86).
In 1990 he joined Cosenza and stayed two seasons. The Lupi were in Serie B and finished 16th and 5th. He played 60 league games with 9 goals. His managers were Gianni Di Marzio and future Lazio manager Edy Reja. The squads included former Lazio, Massimo Storgato (1984-85).
In 1992 he signed for Foggia in Serie A. The manager was Zdenêk Zeman and he played 24 league games with 5 goals (Parma, Atalanta, Lazio, Pescara and Sampdoria, all penalties). This was the "Foggia dei miracoli" and the Rossoneri finished 11th. He played alongside Lazio connections; Paolo Mandelli (1986-87), Luigi Di Biagio (1988-89), Francesco Mancini (1995-96).
In 1993-94 he played for Udinese. The Bianconeri finished 16th in A and relegated under Azeglio Vicini (1-6) and then Adriano Fedele (7-34). Biagioni played 17 games (14 in A) with 1 goal in Coppa Italia (Lecce). The squad included future Lazio, Nestor Sensini (1999-2000) and Lazio hero Alessandro Calori..
In 1994-95 Biagioni was back at Foggia. The manager was Enrico Catuzzi and Foggia finished 16th and relegated. He played 22 league games with 3 goals (Brescia, Cremonese, Napoli) and scored another 2 goals in Coppa Italia where Foggia reached the semifinals (Parma 2-4).
From November in 1995-96 he was at Pistoiese on loan. The Tuscans were in Serie B but were relegated under former Lazio, Roberto Clagluna (1-24) and then Giampiero Vitali (25-38). He played and scored 4 goals (Brescia, Salernitana home and away, Venezia). His teammates included former Lazio, Claudio sclosa (1988-94) and Luca Luzardi (1992-94).
In 1996 he went back to Foggia briefly. He played 8 league games in Serie B under Tarcisio Burgnich before leaving.
He joined Fidelis Andria in C1 where he was reunited with manager Giuseppe Papadopulo. The Blue Lions finished 1st and promoted. The following year they finished an honourable 12th in B and Biagioni scored 18 goals (15 in B). In his two years in Apulia he played 57 league games and scored 18 goals.
In 1998 he signed for Brescia in Serie B. The manager was Silvio Baldini and the Biancazzurri finished 7th. Biagioni played 23 league games with no goals. The squad included future Lazio connections, the Filippini twins, Antonio and Emanuele (2004-05).
In 1999 Biagioni returned to Cosenza in Serie B. The manager was Bortolo Mutti and the Rossoblu finished 12th. Biagioni played 20 league games with 2 goals (Sampdoria, Atalanta). One of his teammates was briefly Christian Manfredini (Lazio 2004-11).
In 2000-01 Biagioni spent a season with Crotone in Serie B. Tne managers were first Antonello Cuccureddu and then Papadopulo again. The Sharks finished 9th but Biagioni only played 3 league games. One of his teammates was future Lazio, Beppe Sculli (2011-12).
In 2001 he joined Giulianova in Serie C1 and stayed two seasons. The Giallorossi finished 6th and 15th and he played 40 league games with 2 goals. His managers were Adriano Buffoni, Paolo Bordoni, former Lazio player Giuseppe Galderisi and Fulvio D'Adderio.
Biagioni's last club were Tivoli in C2 in 2003-04. He played 18 league games and scored 1 goal and the Tiburtini finished 17th and relegated.
He then retired at 34 but stayed on at Tivoli as manager in Serie D.
His coaching career then took him to Terracina (5th tier) Ostiamare (D), Terracina again (5th tier), Andria BAT (D), Viterbese (D), Olbia (D), Potenza (D), Messina(D), Lanusei (D) Olbia again and San Marino (D).
Biagioni was an attacking midfielder. He was small at 1.70 but quick, talented and creative plus a free kick and penalty specialist. He had the satisfaction of playing for Lazio and although he did not make it with the Biancocelesti he played 63 games in Serie A and was part of the mythical "Zemanlandia" period at Foggia.
Lazio Career
Season | Total Serie B appearances |
1987-88 | 3 |
Sources
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