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Simon Basten
Feb 6, 2023
2 min read

Season 1999-00

Game 20, Serie A

Sunday, February 6, 2000

Stadio delle Alpi, Turin

Torino Lazio 2-4

Lazio win and regain the solitary lead

Lazio had been in the top places of Serie A right from the beginning and were even solitary leaders three weeks earlier. But two goalless draws, with a lot to say about the referees, had placed them second, three points behind Juventus. That gap had just been reduced to one as the Biancocelesti had beaten Bari at home and Juve had surprisingly drawn in Turin with Cagliari. The Bianconeri they day before this match had drawn again. A win would take Lazio back to solitary top place.

The match

The Biancocelesti took to the field already aware of Juventus’ result, held to a draw by Udinese the previous day. Lazio immediately went on the offensive and took the lead as early as the 8th minute, when Néstor Sensini rose to head home a cross from Sinisa Mihajlović. Lazio pushed to double their advantage straight away, but their moves lacked fluency and the first half drifted to a close amid boredom.

The second half, however, burst into life. In the 53rd minute it was Mihajlović who made it 2–0, converting a penalty awarded for a foul by Luca Pastine on Simone Inzaghi. Fifteen minutes later Fabrizio Ravanelli added the third goal with a spectacular header on a Dejan Stankovic cross. The match appeared settled, but in the 80th minute Lazio were reduced to ten men when Mihajlović was sent off for an elbow in the penalty area. The resulting spot kick was calmly converted by Marco Ferrante.

The Granata surged forward, putting Lazio under severe pressure, and struck again in the 89th minute when Fabio Galante collected the ball in the box and finished. Fortunately for Lazio, two minutes later Marcelo Salas — set up by Ravanelli — scored the decisive goal to seal the win. A victory that had remained in doubt until the final moments, it allowed Lazio to return to the top of the table on 42 points, one ahead of Juventus, with Milan and Roma following on 38.

Who played for Torino

Pastine, Bonomi, Grandoni, Galante, Jurcic, Brambilla, Pecchia (72' Maltagliati), Lentini, Sommese, Ferrante, Scarlato (46' Ivic)

Substitutes: Nista, Minotti, Ficcadenti, Coco, Tricarico

Manager: Mondonico

Who played for Lazio

Marchegiani, Negro, Nesta, Mihajlovic, Pancaro, Stankovic, Sensini (77’ Almeyda), Simeone, Nedved (73’ Mancini), Inzaghi (58’ Ravanelli), Salas