Date:
Venue: Stadio Olimpico,
Competition: ECL, 2nd Stage Group D: Match 2.
Score: SS Lazio 0
Scorers: SS
Lazio: Nil.
Attendance: 26,503.
Teams:
SS Lazio: Peruzzi; Pancaro, Nesta, Couto,
Favalli; Nedved, Simeone, Veron (Ravanelli), Lombardo (Gottardi); Salas,
Crespo. Unused Subs: Negro, Mihajlovic, Pesaresi, Colonnese, Marchegiani.
Referee: Claude Colombo (
United’s bare-bones squad had been outclassed by Real Madrid and well beaten 2-0, but they were able to travel to Lazio with something resembling a first-team squad and record a famous victory courtesy of an Alan Smith goal after a sublime Mark Viduka back-heel had set him up. 6,000 United fans had made the trip and they returned home delirious at the result, which left Lazio in bottom place and pointless.
Alan Smith scored a glorious match-winner ten
minutes from time to break a barren spell of twelve goalless games, just when
his side needed it most. Once again United raised their game to new heights in
European competition, delivering what could ultimately amount to a knock-out
blow to a team who originally figured among the favourites to take out the ECL
trophy. With new signing Rio Ferdinand still not eligible to play in
United were desperate to avoid defeat after
the first game set back to Real Madrid in the phase opener and Mark Viduka was
yellow carded as early as the second minute for an elbow on Alessandro Nesta as
Lee Bowyer’s right wing cross came over. It was an untidy opening and, after
Marcelo Salas had overrun the ball, Alan Smith first failed to control a Jason
Wilcox through ball and then couldn’t get a touch to Lee Bowyer’s inviting
cross. Atttilio Lombardo, foraging down the right, should have done better with
two fine opportunities, while at the other end the effervescent Lee Bowyer was
well wide with a shot from distance. Mark Viduka won a sixteenth minute corner and
Eirik Bakke’s goal-bound header from Lee Bowyer’s corner was hacked off the
line by Attilio Lombardo. Marcelo Salas was not far off the target with an
angled lob and then he won a corner on the left from which Guiseppe Pancaro
rose at the far post and rattled an upright with his close-range header.
Pavel Nedved did not get the runs he wanted
from the strike duo and promptly admonished them, while Mark Viduka almost got
Alan Smith through and play swung from end to end. Attilio Lombardo was felled
by Dominic Matteo in a dangerous position after thirty-three minutes, but Alan
Smith relieved the pressure with a big kick downfield before Lee Bowyer was
pulled up for a foul on Pavel Nedved and then a Juan Sebastian Veron effort was
far too high. Veron was booked for making remarks to the referee, and then
United had a lucky escape when Marcelo Salas beat Paul Robinson with a far-post
header from Juan Sebastian Veron’s cross, only for Jonathan Woodgate, who was
having a blinder, to head clear from the line. Mark Viduka showed an array of
tricks on the left just before the interval to present Lee Bowyer with a chance
at the far post, but the midfielder could not get the required angle.
Alessandro Nesta left the pitch at half-time complaining bitterly to the referee
about the antics of Alan Smith in particular elbowing and shirt pulling and the
young striker was obviously leaving an impression on the big-name defender.
There was an air of impatience about Pavel
Nedved’s wide shot at the start of the second half and after Marcelo Salas had
won a corner on the right Paul Robinson cleared untroubled. Juan Sebastian
Veron next got Pavel Nedved through but he shot into the side netting and
United countered with a terrific dipping shot from twenty yards by Olivier
Dacourt caused Angelo Peruzzi some anxious moments. Pavel Nedved was equally
close sending in a screamer just wide of the mark at the other end and it was
truly amazing that the game was still goalless. Mark Viduka was the next to try
his luck with a low shot which was not on target and the diving Simeone rattled
the advertising boards with a header. Alan Smith’s excellent cross from the
right was almost bundled in by Mark Viduka but Angelo Peruzzi twisted
acrobatically to keep it out and then Jonathan Woodgate found himself with a
glorious shooting chance from ten yards but scuffed it wide.
Angelo Peruzzi saved bravely at Alan Smith’s
feet after Mark Viduka had steered him through and with fourteen minutes left
United, sensing that victory was there for the taking, sent on Harry Kewell in
place of Jason Wilcox. Paul Robinson did exceptionally well to keep out Hernan
Crespo’s close-range lob and United finally broke the deadlock after eighty
minutes. A brilliant move saw Harry Kewell turn the ball inside to Alan Smith
and then on to Mark Viduka, who back-heeled it for Smith to take it in his
stride and coolly slot home a shot into the far corner to send the travelling
fans wild with delight. Simeone shot wide and Jonathan Woodgate pulled off a
brilliant last-ditch tackle to stop Pavel Nedved in his tracks as Lazio went
for the final push, but United stood firm for a victory which ranked with their
finest.
Match Action:
Alan Smith scores the only goal watched by Mark
Viduka, Jason Wilcox and a grounded Giuseppe Pancaro
Alan Smith beats the outstretched glove of
Angelo Peruzzi to slot the winner
Alan Smith salutes the fans after the game
Mark Viduka is tackled by Guiseppe Favelli as Alessandro
Nesta waits
Lee Bowyer is denied by the superb Angelo
Peruzzi
Olivier Dacourt brushes aside Alessandro
Nesta
Alessandro Nesta beats Alan Smith in
the air
A tangle of arms and legs as Jason Wilcox and
Mark Viduka Mark Viduka holds his head Alan Smith salutes fans
battle with Giuseppe Pancaro and Attilio
Lombardo
United fans behind Paul Robinson’s goal Paul
Robinson and Lucas Radebe, Jason Wilcox and Alan Smith celebrate as Peter
Ridsdale
shows his delight
Alan Smith, Paul Robinson and Jonathan
Woodgate, Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate, Peter Ridsdale and Mark Viduka all
celebrate victory
Alan Smith salutes the fans David
O’Leary hugs Lee Bowyer Lee Bowyer, Gary Kelly and Jonathan Woodgate
salute
watched by Eirik Bakke the fans
Teams:
Back Row: Eirik Bakke, Dominic Matteo, Mark
Viduka, Jason Wilcox, Alan Smith, Paul Robinson.
Front Row: Olivier Dacourt, Lee Bowyer, Lucas
Radebe, Gary Kelly. Jonathan Woodgate.
S. S. Lazio 2000-01
Players:
Alan Smith scored the winner Jonathan Woodgate partnered Lucas Radebe
in central defence Gary Kelly was right-back
Dominic Matteo was at left-back in preference
to Ian Harte
Mark Viduka’s sublime back-heel set up Eirik Bakke took his place in midfield
with Jason Wilcox also starting with the almost-fit
the goal
Harry Kewell on the bench
Lee Bowyer and Olivier Dacourt were outstanding
in midfield
Paul Robinson was
relatively untroubled
 Angelo Peruzzi was superb in goal |
  Giuseppe Pancaro and Giuseppe Favalli were the full-backs |
  Alessandro Nesta and Fernando Couto were the central defence |
Pavel Nedved, Diego Simeone, Juan Sebastian
Veron and Attilio Lombardo were in the Lazio midfield
Marcelo Salas and Hernan Crespo were the Lazio
strikers Fabrizio Ravenelli and Guerino Gottardi
were the substitutes used