Epic victory

Dag Jenkins
Mar 5, 2023
3 min read

Season 2002-03

UEFA Cup, Round of 16, Second Leg

Wednesday, March 5, 2003

CTS Stadium, Kraków

Wisła Kraków-Lazio 1-2

Lazio fall behind early on shocking pitch but fight back to win and qualify

In the UEFA Cup Lazio had got through the first three rounds (Skoda Xanthi 4-0, Red Star Belgrade 2-1, Sturm Graz 3-2 on aggregate). In the first leg of the Round of 16 Lazio had drawn 3-3 at home to Polish club Wisla Kraków. This evening's game had originally been scheduled for February 27 but had been postponed due to an icy pitch.

To get to this stage the Poles had eliminated Primorje (Slovenia) 8-1, Parma 5-3 and Schalke 04 5-2. Two big scalps to prove they were no pushovers.

A difficult trip for Lazio who needed to win considering the three away goals conceded at the Olimpico.

The match

A freezing night in Krakow with a pitch in terrible conditions attracted about 15,000 spectators.

The hosts fielded the same eleven as in Rome two weeks earlier.

Lazio had several injuries: goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi, defenders Sinisa Mihajlovic and Dino Baggio plus forward Bernardo Corradi but otherwise, despite the upcoming derby, played the best team available.

The pitch was awful, soft and muddy and judging by the smell also mixed with other natural ingredients, possibly cow manure.

Lazio got off to the worst possible start and fell behind after four minutes. Nigerian Kalu Uche played through Marcin Kuzba centrally and the Polish forward hit a low cross goal strike that beat Luca Marchegiani, 1-0.

Lazio immediately had the chance to equalise but Stefano Fiore wasted it.

The Poles then almost doubled their lead but Paolo Negro cleared Uche's shot off the goal line.

In the 15th minute, considering the playing field, a not totally unexpected event occurred as the referee Dougal was forced off with a twisted ankle and replaced by compatriot Clark.

Lazio gradually gained territory and a Claudio Lopez effort went just wide. In the 21st minute the Biancocelesti equalised as Fernando Couto headed in from an Enrico Chiesa corner, 1-1.

The game now became end to end despite the potato field. Marchegiani saved on Ulche while Angelo Hugues albeit a little clumsily saved twice on Lopez and then Argentine Mauro Cantoro denied Couto scoring with another header. In added time Diego Simeone appealed for a penalty but the referee probably thought it was the terrain. Halftime Wisla Krakow 1 Lazio 1.

A hard fought first 45 minutes with the Cracovians still qualified at this point.

The second half started with a bang too as, from a Kamil Kosovski freekick, Uche hit the crossbar with a header.

In the 55th minute Lazio scored a crucial goal. On a short defensive clearance Chiesa volleyed past Hugues, 1-2.

Lazio were now in control and the Poles faded. The substitutions started in the 65th minute, one each, with Miroslaw Szymkowiak for Pawel Strąk and Nikola Lazetić for César.

The game remained a physical battle but Lazio managed to limit the risks.

The hosts tried changing forwards; in the 72nd minute Daniel Dubicki for Kuzba and in the 79th Grzegorz Pater for Zurawski. Meanwhile in the 77th minute Lazio buttoned up bringing on holding midfielder Giuliano Gianichedda for Chiesa.

The "Biala gwiazda" continued to fight looking for the all-important equaliser but their energies gradually deserted them. The awful pitch had taken a lot out of both sides and now the diminished strength and lucidity played in favour of the defending side.

In the 90th minute, partly to let the clock tick away and partly to try and hold onto the ball, Lazio brought on Fabio Liverani for Dejan Stankovic.

After four minutes of additional time the replacement referee blew up. Lazio celebrated what seemed like an epic feat. The injuries, the cold, the pitch, the nightmare start had all been brushed aside and the Biancocelesti marched on to the UEFA quarter-finals.

Who played for Wisła Kraków

Hugues, Baszczyński, Głowacki, Jop, Stolarczyk, Uche, Strąk (65' Szymkowiak), Cantoro, Kosowski, Kuzba (72' Dubicki), Żurawski (79' Pater)

Substitutes: Piekutowski, Paszulewicz, Moskal, Frankowski

Manager: Kasperczak

Who played for Lazio

Marchegiani, Stam, Negro, F.Couto, Favalli, Fiore, Simeone, Stankovic (90' Liverani), César (65' Lazetic), C.Lopez, Chiesa (77' Giannichedda)