April 25, 1993: Lazio-Pescara 2-1
- Dag Jenkins
- 7 hours ago
- 9 min read
Signori penalty saves Lazio's blushes
A last-minute penalty gives Lazio useful two points after poor performance
Also on this day:
The season so far
Lazio had finished 10th the previous season under Dino Zoff. Lazio's new President Sergio Cragnotti's first summer transfer market had been an ambitious one. In had come 3 promising young players from Cremonese: Giuseppe Favalli, Mauro Bonomi and Dario Marcolin plus the likes of defender Roberto Cravero (Torino) midfielders Diego Fuser (Milan) and Aron Winter (Ajax) plus forward Beppe Signori (Foggia).
The main talking point however was the arrival of Paul Gascoigne from Tottenham. One of the most exciting players of his generation, he arrived with great expectations, despite a recent serious injury. Lazio had lost fan favourite Rubén Sosa who had not renewed his contract and left for Inter and had also let go Raffaele Sergio (Torino) and Gabriele Pin (Parma). In the autumn Armando Madonna (SPAL) and Roberto Soldà (Monza) had also left.
So far, Lazio had played 28 league games. The Biancocelesti were in joint 3rd position, with Parma and Juventus 32 on points. Lazio had won 10 (including Inter 3-1 at home and Pescara 3-2 away), drawn 12 (Roma 1-1) and lost 6. A week earlier Lazio had shared the points with Roma in a goalless derby. Gazza was performing reasonably well and had equalised in the first derby with an 86th minute header and scored a superb solo goal away at Pescara.
In Coppa Italia, Lazio got through the first two rounds (Ascoli 5-0 and Cesena 4-2, both on aggregate) but went out to Torino in the quarter finals 4-5 on aggregate (after giving up a two-goal advantage in the first home leg and drawing 2-2).
Pescara were newly promoted. The "Delfini" had finished 2nd under Giovanni Galeone. Top scorer was Edi Bivi with 12 league goals.
This season "Il Profeta" had been confirmed as manager but then replaced from the 25th fixture onwards by former Lazio player Vincenzo Zucchini. The main signings were Danish defender John Sivebæk (Monaco), Senegalese defender Roger Mendy (Monaco), Brazilian midfielder and future world champion Dunga (Fiorentina) plus forward Stefano Borgonovo (Fiorentina).
The main players leaving were captain Andrea Camplone (Perugia), midfielder Michele Gelsi (Perugia) plus forwards Rocco Pagano (Perugia) and Orazio Sorbello (Acireale).
Some interesting players in the squad were, former Lazio Stefano Ferretti and Paolo Monelli, former Roma Scudetto winner Ubaldo Righetti, future World Champion Carlos Dunga and future top manager Massimiliano Allegri.
So far, the Adriatici were struggling despite a fantastic debut. The Biancazzurri had beaten Roma 1-0 away in the first match of the season but since had only won 3, drawn 4 (including Roma 1-1) and lost 20 (including Milan 4-5 and Lazio 2-3 at home). The Pescaresi only had 12 points, were bottom of the table (12 points from safety) and came from 6 consecutive defeats. Things were not looking good for the Dolphins, to put it mildly.
In Coppa Italia Pescara had been eliminated by Bari 5-6 on aggregate in late summer.
So, Lazio were overwhelming favourites today to continue their push for a place in Europe. Nothing more than a win could prolong Pescara's agony and even that might not be enough.
The match: Sunday, April 25, 1993, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A grey day in the capital attracted about 40,000 spectators to see Lazio play bottom of the table opposition.
Lazio had some important absences in Paul Gascoigne, Aron Winter and Thomas Doll. Pescara were without defenders Salvatore Alfieri, Ubaldo Righetti and forward Frederic Massara.
The game followed the expected pattern with Lazio forward and managing to create chances to take the lead. Beppe Signori was hypnotised by the keeper and Karl-Heinz Riedle was off balance on the rebound. Dario Marcolin then had a go from outside the box but he pulled his low left foot wide. Nothing special but Lazio were in control.
The Biancocelesti went in front in the 24th minute. A poor clearance by the Pescara defence fell to Beppe Favalli who scored from the edge of the box. Lazio 1 Pescara 0.
Lazio then inexplicably disappeared from the game, maybe thinking they had done enough to win with the minimum effort.
Pescara and especially Carlos Dunga had other ideas. Just after the half hour mark the Brazilian tried his luck from a distance and Fernando Orsi saved with some difficulty. A few minutes later the Lazio keeper had to repeat himself on Emiliano De Juliis.
In the 42nd minute the Adriatici equalised. A sturdy but not dirty challenge by Luca Luzardi on De Juliis was punished with a spot kick. Massimiliano Allegri put it away, Lazio 1 Pescara 1 at half time.
For the second half the visitors replaced defender Salvator Nobile with the same role player Gianluca Rosone.
Lazio did not improve and Pescara played with increasing confidence. The Biancazzurri from Abruzzo were superior in midfield and created several chances. Fortunately for Lazio, Stefano Borgonovo was late on a couple of Allegri assists. Allegri himself went close with a freekick but Orsi saved.
Lazio had a chance with a good Riedle header but Fabio Marchioro slapped it away from the right post.
In the 67th minute Lazio strengthened the midfield by putting on Claudio Sclosa and taking off Favalli.
Dunga then had a powerful low free kick but Orsi parried and on the rebound Giuseppe Compagno laid it back for an Ottavio Palladini effort but the Roman keeper blocked.
Things went better in the last 20 minutes but Lazio still had huge problems creating anything remotely dangerous.
They did manage to score in the 77th minute when Signori blasted in a left foot on the near post but it was disallowed for a dubious offside.
In the 85th minute Pescara took off their best player of the afternoon, Allegri, replacing him with Massimo Epifani.
Just when it seemed Lazio had thrown away an expected win they were awarded a penalty. In the 90th minute Giovanni Stroppa, fed by Marcolin, found space in the area but was pulled down by former Lazio Stefano Ferretti before he could shoot and referee Racalbuto had no doubts. Signori took his usual penalty with no run-up, almost standing over the ball, hammering it to Marchioro's right. Lazio 2 Pescara 1 and final score.
A scrappy win for Lazio who had not played well at all. They had missed Winter, Gascoigne and Doll more than expected and were fortunate to clinch the win. The two points were the only decent thing to take away from today's performance.
Pescara had battled hard and for prolonged periods had been the better team. They went home with nothing though, just a travel voucher for Serie B.
Lazio were still joint 3rd with Parma (Roma 3-1) and Juventus (Fiorentina 3-1), all on 34 points, with Sampdoria on 33 (Atalanta 2-1 away).
Pescara were still obviously bottom but now 13 points from safety with 6 games to go. This meant the Dolphins were officially relegated.
Who played for Lazio
Orsi, Bergodi, Favalli (67' Sclosa), Bacci, Luzardi, Cravero, Fuser, Marcolin, Riedle, Stroppa, Signori
Manager: Zoff
Who played for Pescara
Marchioro, Sivebæk, Ferretti, Dunga, Dicara, Nobile (46' Rosone), De Juliis, Palladini, Borgonovo, Allegri (85' Epifani), Compagno
Substitutes: Savorani, Martorella, Bivi
Manager: Zucchini
Referee: Racalbuto
Goals: 24' Favalli, 42' Allegri, 90' Signori (pen)
What happened next
Lazio had a good season and improved on the previous campaign finishing 5th (only many years later would top 4 finish give Champions league places). In the last 5 games they won 2 and lost 3 but it was enough. So, after 15 years they were back in Europe qualifying for the UEFA Cup. This was welcomed by big celebrations in the last home game against Napoli (a highly entertaining 4-3 win).
Lazio won 13, drew 12 and lost 9, so finished on 38 points. Giuseppe Signori would win the first of his top Serie A scorer awards with 26 goals (32 in total).
Already down, in the last 5 games the Biancazzurri won 2 (including a shock 5-1 home win over Juventus), drew 1 and lost 2. They finished 18th and bottom on 17 points. Top scorer was Massimiliano Allegri with 12 league goals. Pescara would not be back in Serie A until 2012-13.
The Scudetto winners were Milan for their 13th title. Serie B awaited Fiorentina, Brescia, Ancona and of course Pescara.
Let's talk about Fernando Orsi
Fernando Orsi, known as Nando, was born in Rome, on 12 September, 1959. His father was a Lazio fan while his mother supported Roma, a so-called "mixed marriage".
He started his career in the A.S. Roma youth sector and in 1977/78 won the Primavera scudetto (under 19s). However, despite being considered a bright prospect, he never made his full debut with the “Giallorossi”. In 1978, with the arrival of charismatic Swede Nils Liedholm, he was sold to Siena in C2.
He performed well in Tuscany and a season later was rewarded with a move to Parma in Serie B. The Gialloblu were relegated but by 1981-82 he was the undisputed first choice keeper. He played 51 league games.
In 1982-83 he got the call of a lifetime from the team he supported as a child, Lazio. Orsi immediately played a big part in Lazio's promotion back to Serie A and then played another two seasons in the capital. This first spell at Lazio unfortunately ended with relegation under the Presidency of Giorgio Chinaglia. His final season would also be remembered for the goals he conceded in Naples where Maradona lobbed him from outside the box and then scored directly from a corner completing a famous hat-trick. Unfortunately for Nando when the “Pibe de oro” passed away these goals were shown time and time again worldwide.
With Lazio relegated, Orsi was sold to Arezzo where he played for four seasons making 125 league appearances. The Amaranto played three seasons in Serie B and one in C1.
In 1989 Lazio were back in the big time and needed an experienced number 12 to help the young Valerio Fiori in his professional growth. The choice fell on “good old” Nando who gave up higher wages and guaranteed first team football to return to his beloved Lazio.
He stayed at Lazio for another nine years, under Giuseppe Materazzi, Dino Zoff, Zdenek Zeman and Sven-Goran Eriksson. He did get some playing time over the years especially in the 1992-93 season. With the arrival of Luca Marchegiani from Torino the following year he then settled into a reliable reserve role. He retired in 1998 at 38 years old having played 134 times for Lazio, 87 and 47 respectively in his two spells at the club.
At 1.82 metres tall Orsi was not an imposing keeper but was strong, agile and above all reliable. He was appreciated and respected by his coaches and teammates for his professionalism. He was always ready when needed and never made a fuss when he was left out.
At International level he won 2 Caps for Italy Under 21s.
When he finished playing he coached Lazio's keepers for two years and was then Roberto Mancini's deputy first at Lazio (2002-2004) and then at Inter (2004-2006).
He then tried his own luck as manager. First at Livorno, on and off for two years. He took over in March 2007 and avoided relegation, was sacked the following season after seven games, recalled in April but sacked again after three defeats. He then had two spells at Ternana in Lega Pro (3rd tier) 2010-11 but was ultimately fired and replaced by his old Lazio buddy Bruno Giordano. A coaching experience with mixed fortunes therefore.
Orsi then moved into punditry. He is often a guest on the local Roman radio stations but also works on TV, formerly with Mediaset and from 2020 with SKY. He is a respected commentator and can often be heard on big Champions League nights.
At Lazio Orsi is remembered fondly. A local lad who played for his childhood club both as first keeper and then as a reliable back up.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances | Serie A | Serie B | Coppa Italia | UEFA Cup |
1982-83 | - | 35 | - | - | |
1983-84 | 17 | 17 | - | - | - |
1984-85 | 35 | 30 | - | 5 | - |
1989-90 | 8 | 8 | - | - | - |
1991-92 | 4 | 3 | - | 1 | - |
1992-93 | 25 | 23 | - | 2 | - |
1994-95 | 2 | 1 | - | 1 | - |
1995-96 | 7 | 5 | - | - | 2 |
1996-97 | 3 | 3 | - | - | - |
Total | 136 | 90 | 35 | 9 | 2 |
Sources
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