Lazio – Roma Throwback: A Veron Free Kick That Was Worth a Scudetto

Every Lazio – Roma derby has a story to tell but, when there is a Scudetto at stake, the story almost becomes a legend. It doesn’t happen very often, of course. But for a short time, across the turning of the Century, both sides from the Italian capital could be seen battling for the Serie A title.

Since the Belpaese is the land of suspects and conspiracy theories, some found it suspicious that both Lazio and Roma managed to win a Scudetto right in the years when Rome was preparing to host the 2000 Jubilee. But the fact is, in those years both the Biancocelesti and the Giallorossi could feature a roster that had nothing to envy to the traditional powerhouses from the North – Juventus, Inter and Milan.

In the 1999/2000 season, Lazio were the first to break a nine-year domination from Milan and Juventus, prevailing over the Bianconeri to win their first Scudetto since 1973/74 and their second ever. They did so after recovering from a nine-point gap versus Juventus and thanks to a fundamental win in the Derby della Capitale against their archrival Roma. What else could a Lazio fan ask for?  

The Biancocelesti’s grip on the Serie A was short-lasting but unforgettable. Coached by Swedish magician Sven Goran Eriksson, who knew the Italian top-flight like the back of his hand, Lazio had achieved the feat of winning the last, historical edition of the Cup Winners’ Cup the previous season but had atrociously lost the Italian title in a thrilling head-to-head battle with Milan.

With the solid Luca Marchegiani minding the posts, the defense was led by home-grown talent Alessandro Nesta and by the experienced Sinisa Mihajlovic. Their midfield was a rock-solid, yet creative package where shone the likes of Juan Sebastian Veron, Matias Almeyda, Diego Simeone and Pavel Nedved.

The front-line was no less impressive, with Lazio future coach Simone Inzaghi and the lethal Marcelo Salas featuring alongside the aged – but still dangerous – Roberto Mancini, Fabrizio Ravanelli and Alen Boksic. [insert sample, nostalgic comment about how good the Serie A used to be back in the 1990s here]

The 1999/2000 seemed the right season for Lazio, if only because the Biancocelesti were celebrating their 100^th birthday. And indeed, Lazio had a spectacular campaign start. After beating no less than Manchester United to conquer the European Supercup, Lazio won six out of their first nine Serie A games and tied the remaining three.

But then, the first Derby di Roma was a brutal wake up call for Sven Goran Eriksson’s band. The December stracittadina ended in a bloodbath for Lazio, with Fabio Capello’s Roma scoring four times in the initial 30 minutes and collecting a sensational 4-1 win.

It was an authentic setback that shook Lazio’s confidence and indeed the Eagles lost their top spot in the table and progressively lost contact with Juventus.

So, when the pair meet again on March 25, 2000, the Biancocelesti had one more reason not to fail their approach to the derby. It looked like the very last chance for Lazio to mount a challenge for the Scudetto. Just one week earlier, they had fell to Verona and seen their gap from the top of the table extend to nine points.

But right on the day before the derby, Milan gave a big hand to the Biancocelesti as they beat Juventus 2-0 in the Saturday night match. There was still some hope.

Eriksson lined up his side in a 4-5-1 formation where Simone Inzaghi spearheaded the attack. But the Swedish gaffer had his share of problems to solve at the back as Nesta and Mihajlovic were injured. Against a Roma side that boasted an aggressive three-man front line in Francesco Totti, Vincenzo Montella and Marco Delvecchio, that was not exactly an ideal situation.

Indeed, it took just three minutes for the Giallorossi to draw first blood with Montella. From a Totti cross to the near post, the Aeroplanino was faster than Marchegiani and pierced him right where a goalkeeper should never concede a goal. Montella again! The former Sampdoria man had already scored twice in the disastrous reverse fixture of the derby. It was a recurring nightmare.

But this time, Lazio did react. The Biancocelesti had their equalizer on 25 minutes, courtesy of a Zago slight deflection from a Pavel Nedved conclusion that left no chance to Roma’s debutant goalkeeper Cristiano Lupatelli (starter Francesco Antonioli was injured).

Then, three minutes later, Juan Sebastian Veron was knocked down some 30 meters far from Roma’s goal. It seemed a bit too far to try a direct shot at the goal unless you had an absolute free kick specialist available. Which Lazio did happen to have in Sinisa Mihajlovic.

Oh but, wait…Mihajlovic was not playing, the Lazio fans grumbled and sighed. A perfect goal scoring chance in the most sensitive moment of the season, and the best free kick taker in the world was not there to convert it…

And yet, the Mihajlovic spirit somehow decided to descend on Veron on that day. As the whole Olimpico Stadium caught their breath, La Brujita positioned the ball. A clinical, soft touch and the ball was magically teleported to the top right corner of goal, where neither Lupatelli nor any other goalkeeper in the world could have reached it.   

In the sweetest three minutes of their whole season, Lazio had managed to turn the tables. But the struggle was far from over. On 43 minutes, Marchegiani fell on his head after a contact in the box and remained unconscious. He had to be carried away on a stretcher and was replaced by Nonno Marco Ballotta, a veteran 36-year-old backup who would play for Lazio until 44 (!).  

Good for Lazio that Roma also lost two key pieces during the game as defenders Cafu and Vincent Candela also had to leave the pitch before full time. The rest of the Derby della Capitale thus turned into an intense, cagey affair where neither goalkeeper was seriously tested again. After 96 minutes of stalemate, Lazio could avenge their loss and collect three fundamental points.

In retrospect, their win in the derby was the real turning point of their campaign.

The rest of the 1999/2000 season would make for a good thriller novel. The next week, Lazio beat Juventus 1-0 in a real title-decider and reduced the gap to three points only. The Bianconeri squandered their remaining three-point cushion and were incredibly passed on the last lap as they lost to Perugia under a pouring rain in the final matchday.

They had made it. Lazio had won the Scudetto in the year of their Centenario. What’s more, they had shown that, right at the dawn of an age when football would become a matter for a few elected clubs, it was still possible to give battle to the Italian striped teams from Milan or Turin.   

 

MATCH SCORECARD

March 25, 2000 – Serie A 1999-2000 Round 27
LAZIO – ROMA 2-1

SCORERS: 3′ Montella (R), 25′ Nedved (L), 28′ Veron (L)

REFEREE: Mr. Messina from Bergamo
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Nedved, Ballotta, Simeone, Almeyda (L), Candela, Di Francesco, Montella, Assunçao, Tommasi (R); Added Time: 1st Half 6′, 2nd Half 6′