Lazio Impress in Entertaining Season Opener

Simon Basten
Jul 19, 2023
2 min read

Season 2004-05

Pre Season Friendly

Monday, July 19, 2004

Yertec Stadium Sendai, Sendai

Vegalta Lazio 2-2

A lively attacking display and goals from Manfredini and Delgado offered plenty of positives as Lazio were held 2-2 by Vegalta in their opening friendly

On July 19, 2004 Claudio Lotito became President. He inherited a team with no manager and just a few players. The team was temporarily given to Mimmo Caso, the primavera manager and hero of the -9 season, for the pre-season training in Japan. Lazio had to fulfil a contract so off they went. He only had 13 players from the first team so a lot of space was given to the Primavera. Today was the first pre season friendly.

The match

Good football, plenty of goalscoring opportunities and smooth passing play were the first positive signs from Lazio's opening pre-season friendly, which ended in a 2-2 draw against Vegalta Sendai, a side recently relegated to Japan's J2 League.

The standout performer for the Biancocelesti was César, whose lively display and skilful runs earned warm applause from the crowd, although he also missed a number of straightforward chances. There were encouraging performances too from Fabio Liverani, Dino Baggio and Goran Pandev, with the North Macedonian forward being named Man of the Match.

Lazio took the lead after 10 minutes when Christian Manfredini scored with a shot from the edge of the penalty area. Alfonso Delgado doubled the advantage 18 minutes later, heading home to make it 2-0.

After the break, however, Vegalta came into the game, benefiting from superior fitness. The Japanese side reduced the deficit in the 70th minute through Sato, before Ryan struck one minute from full time to secure a 2-2 draw.

Who played for Vegalta

Kobari, Kobara, Sedloski, Nebiki, Sivinho (46' Nishitani), Kumagai (46' Ishii), Zaizen (46' Ryan), Murakzmi, Oshiba (75' Nishi), Sato, Fabio Nunes (46' Nakahara)

Substitutes: Nagihara

Manager: Verdenik

Who played for Lazio

Sereni (46' Casazza), Oddo, Negro (70' Sannibale), Baggio, Zauri, Manfredini (60' Melara), Liverani (46' Giannichedda), Dabo (55' Corsi), Cesar (46' Angeletti), Delgado, Pandev