LAZIO 3-1 BENFICA
Lazio will take a 3-1 first leg lead to Portugal in their bid for Champions' League football.
The Stadio Olimpico was almost full despite the searing hot weather to witness the first leg of this preliminary round tie.
Roberto Mancini was able to field Dejan Stankovic despite fitness worries, while the midfielder and Jaap Stam are now cup-tied and therefore off the market.
The Coach opted for a 4-4-2 system with Claudio Lopez to the left of Bernardo Corradi and Luciano Zauri covering the left flank.
Benfica were one of the giants of European football during the 1960’s, but this was their first continental appearance in three seasons.
The Portuguese outfit started in confident fashion, but it was Lazio who broke through when Corradi took advantage of a disastrous defensive error.
Both Argel and Rocha left the ball, but did not spot the striker running through to anticipate goalkeeper Moreira in the six-yard box.
It was Corradi’s first European goal for Lazio, as last season he was cup-tied by four minutes of a preliminary round tie with Inter.
Benfica fought back with Sokota and Zahovic deflected efforts, but Claudio Lopez failed to score with only the ‘keeper to beat.
Angelo Peruzzi was kept on his toes and made a fantastic one-handed reaction save on Sokota’s close-range effort.
Some desperate defending was also required on Aguilar’s deflected drive, while Corradi’s looping header just failed to dip under the bar.
The Biancocelesti doubled their lead at the dawn of the second half with a well-worked team move.
Lopez threaded through for Luciano Zauri, the defence cleared it back to the Argentine and he found Stefano Fiore to sweep home from ten yards.
Fiore almost netted a spectacular second when his fierce drive from distance skimmed the far post.
However, just moments later Benfica earned a lucky away goal through a deflection. Ex-Barcelona man Simao Sabrosa’s half-volley took a decisive touch off Massimo Oddo to leave Peruzzi stranded.
Giuseppe Favalli and Corradi threatened to restore the two-goal cushion as Lazio reacted to Benfica’s goal.
Sergio Conceicao and Fabio Liverani came on for the final push, replacing Albertini and Favalli.
Within seconds of his entrance, the Portuguese winger almost scored when Moreira flapped his cross-cum-shot over the bar.
Peruzzi also performed another reaction save on Sokota’s volley, with Zauri bravely preventing Geovanni’s tap-in.
It was one of Lazio’s veterans who decided this match with one of his trademark free kicks 10 minutes from time.
The Serb curled in an unstoppable set-piece from 20 metres, leaving the goalkeeper completely stranded.
The danger was still not passed, and Peruzzi was once again called to block a powerful Miguel effort.
Mancini’s men take this 3-1 first leg lead to Oporto for the decisive match in a fortnight.
Lazio 3-1 Benfica
Scorers: Corradi 16 (L), Fiore 52 (L), Simao 63 (B), Mihajlovic 80 (L)
Lazio: Peruzzi; Oddo, Stam, Mihajlovic, Favalli (Liverani 73); Fiore, Albertini (Conceicao 73), Stankovic, Zauri; Corradi, Lopez (Giannichedda 85)
Benfica: Moreira; Miguel, Argel, Riccardo Rocha, Cristiano; Aguiar (Andersson 55), Petit; Zahovic (Roger 55), Geovanni (Feher 85), Simao; Sokota
Ref: Fendel (Ger)