Shevchenko Scored a Hat Trick, But Verón Ran the Game

In October 1999, Lazio and Milan met in Rome in one of the most loaded fixtures in Serie A. Lazio were chasing the title with Nesta, Varane, Mihajlovic, Salas, Conceicao and Simeone. Milan arrived as the reigning champs with Maldini, Weah, Kostakurta and a new signing named Andriy Shevchenko. By full time, both teams had shown exactly why this version of Serie A still gets talked about today. Shevchenko was a new signing, full of energy and giving Milan serious mobility up front. We will see him drop deep on countless occasions to support his team. Keep your eyes on Juan Sebastian Beroni because he's going to cause Milan a headache today. Milan are managed by Alberto Zaccheroni and they're playing with three at the back with Maldini, Ayala and Kostakurta, supported by speedy wingbacks, especially Sergini. Lazio had their own dangerous players out wide with Conceicao marking his territory on the right. Alessandro Nesta and company have a lot to deal with today. It's not just Sheva they have to worry about but Ballon d'Or winner George Weah. Milan starts the game with a bias towards the left side, potentially making use of Maldini's ball playing ability and Serginio's speed and energy. Nesta was only 23 years old but already captain of Lazio, he looked and acted like a veteran. Alen Bocic finds Conceicao who delivers a good ball into the box. Roberto Ayala should be clearing that first time but he makes a mess of it and Veron fires a shot. A series of sloppy mistakes for Milan and Lazio are 1-0 up. Abbiati should be saving that but the Argentine does not care. Maldini takes care of Bocic, despite slipping initially. Weah and Shevchenko have not been able to find each other yet. Veron is basically playing a free roll but he is positioned to start on the left and cut inside. He blasts the ball into the crossbar. He was extremely close to a second goalie. It seems like part of Milan's plan is to have one of the strikers drop while the other stays up and runs into space. Out of seemingly nowhere, Sheva is through on goal but the goalkeeper makes the save. Weah slips past Nesta once but Conceicao comes in to support. The winger's work rate was insane. I love this camera angle. We don't really see that these days, huh? Bocic remains in Maldini's pocket. It's everyone's work rate really. Look at how Veron has tracked back to deal with Shevchenko. The Ukrainian receives deep, makes a great through ball to Serginio who delivers a ball to Weah and somehow it goes in. Even though the Liberian makes a mess of it. Quite fortunate or unfortunate depending on which team you support. Straight away, Lazio are on the offense again and come close but Abbiati is able to parry it for a corner. Corner taken by Mihailovic and it catches Abbiati off guard and goes in. Abbiati is having a stinker but also credit goes to the Serbian. It's super interesting that a centre back is taking the corner kicks. It just goes to show how brilliant he was at taking them. A theme throughout the whole video. A beautiful cross by Konsei Sao and a goal by Salas. He had so much time in the box to pick out his spot and he does it perfectly. A perfect cross and a perfect header. Konsei Sao is having an amazing game and making all the right decisions. It's interesting to watch him play because there are similarities between him and his son who these days plays for Juventus and they both represent the winger of their era. The father plays more as a true provider out wide while his son today cuts inside and creates danger from there. Konsei Sao switches the play to Veron and Veron cleanly brings it back across to the Portuguese winger. Nesta does well to keep the attack at bay. It's a nice dribble from Uglielmin Pietro who eventually finds Shevchenko and he is clinical with his finish this time. A great touch to set himself up, another one to dribble past the goalie and a final touch to score. There are flashes of R9 with that goal. It's taking several Lazio players to stop the Ukrainian. He's definitely in the mood today. Serginho was rapid but Nesta covers. Half time but don't worry the game is not going to calm down after the break. Lazio have realized that Veron is having a very complete game and he will have a lot of the ball in this half. He sends in a dangerous pass but Konsei Sao's shot is just off target. Oh that's an incredibly dangerous ball from the Argentine but Marcelo Salas just cannot reach it. Nice footwork from Maldini but then he loses it. Even if he's not having a spectacular game he can rely on Paolo Maldini to be solid defensively. Again Veron gets the ball and he sends in a beautiful beautiful pass to Salas. This time Abbiati makes a great save. Good to see him recover from the first half. Nice touch from Weah but he just cannot keep it under control and Veron sends a magnificent ball up the field to progress the team. Not every midfielder can play these passes consistently but look how useful it is to his team. Veron is everywhere. Through ball from Agostini to Weah and it's a penalty. I feel for the keeper as that looked a little bit soft to be honest. Shevchenko steps up and calmly slots him to the net. Interesting that he was higher than Weah in the penalty taking becking order. Despite Weah being more experienced and having been with the team for longer. 3-2 and Milan are just one goal from bringing the game level now. Back in the day defenders went in hard. Watching Veron switch the play is extremely satisfying. The Ukrainian is now convinced that he deserves a penalty but instead he receives a yellow card. What do you think? I think that would have been given today for sure. Initially it's a nice play from Ambrosini but then Veron intercepts the ball. Every time the Argentine has the ball something happens. Mihajlovic was the primary free kick taker of the team and he steps up but blasts it over. Leonardo now comes on the pitch and fresh with energy he drives through the middle. Now Weah has the ball and he finds Sheva with a beautiful pass. Left footed finish and goal. In a way this is the inverse of his first goal. Very similar finishes that demonstrate his comfort with either side. Diego Simeone is not happy to come off. Another dangerous corner for Mihajlovic but this time Barely. Excellent block from Ayala but Milan's defense is out of position and Veron finds his striker. Marcelo Salas scores again from close range with a great finish. Weah and Shevchenko is a partnership I did not know I needed to see. Now there's some beef developing as Milan's players don't like how Veron treated Serginho. The way Veron pauses to find Mancini is crazy talent. Look at him playing everywhere. Now the Argentine is tracking back to stop another Shevchenko attack. This is an incredible midfield performance. Watch Maldini at the top of your screen. Look how much energy he still has deep into the second half. A fellow named Gattuso is coming on now for the hat-trick here. And naturally he's already involved in an argument. Another corner and Abbiati keeps looking wobbly in these situations. Now Gattuso is yelling at Ayala. Dude move your head. More Gattuso anger somehow. Here's a collector's item. Maldini gets nutmegged and dribbled past. But his supporting crew is there to stop the danger. Any way possible. Veron is doing everything right. And in the last attack of the game Mihailovic tries to score an Olympic goal. Abbiati just about gets a touch and that was the last action of the match. This game had everything that made the late 90s Serie A special. World-class forwards. Brutal defending. Ridiculous technique. And just enough chaos to keep it alive until the final kick. Shevchenko walked away with the hat-trick and Veron played like the whole pitch belonged to him. And somehow 4-4 still feels fair. What a game. If you enjoyed this be sure to check out other videos on my channel. And let me know what else you would like to see.