Riedle scores on home debut
Goals by Riedle and Madonna give Lazio decent draw against fitter Germans
Also on this day: August 19, 1994, Lazio Deportivo La Coruña 3-1. A good win against strong opposition give Lazio hope for forthcoming season. Player of the day: Ivan Della Morte
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had finished a decent 9th in their second year back in Serie A. The highlights had been beating Milan 1-0 away and eventual champions Napoli 3-0 at home. Top scorer was Amarildo with 9 goals (8 in A, with Sosa).
This year manager Giuseppe Materazzi had been replaced by living legend Dino Zoff, who had perhaps a little unfairly been released by Juventus.
The summer market had brought a few novelties to the squad. In defence Lazio welcomed Roberto Bacci (Mantova) while in midfield Sergio Domini had been added (Cesena). It was in attack however that the main changes occurred; Armando Madonna was signed (Atalanta) and more excitingly, German striker Karl-Heinz Riedle was to wear the Lazio jersey (Werder Bremen) and the main reason for this pre-season friendly.
The main sacrifice, for economic reasons, was local lad and derby hero Paolo Di Canio (Juventus). Forward Amarildo (Cesena) and three defenders, Paolo Beruatto (Mantova), Marco Monti (Atalanta) and Massimo Piscedda (Avellino) had also left.
Lazio had already played four friendlies: Bienne 12-0 and Trossingen 7-0, and then the more competitive La Linea Trophy in Spain where they had beaten Cadiz 3-2 and Real Madrid 6-4 on penalties, after a 1-1 draw. This evening was Lazio’s first game in front of their home fans. The league would start on September 9 while the Coppa Italia debut would be a few days earlier on September 5.
Werder Bremen had finished 7th the previous season in the Bundesliga, reached the final of German Cup (Kaiserslautern 2-3) and semi-finals of the UEFA Cup (Fiorentina on away goals). The manager was Otto Rehhagel and top scorer was New Zealander Wynton Rufer with 19 goals (10 in league) while Riedle got 15 (7 in league).
This season Rehhagel was still in charge and the squad was pretty much unchanged. The only novelty was forward Klaus Allofs (Bordeaux) while Karl-Heinz Riedle had joined Lazio.
The Bundesliga had already started on August 11. The "Grün-Weißen" (Green and Whites) had surprisingly lost 0-2 away to newly promoted Wattenscheid from Bochum and then beaten Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-0 at home (Rufer x2, Neubarth). They would play Cologne next on August 25.
This evening's game was obviously a friendly thrown into the agreement in the Riedle deal.
The match: Sunday, August 19, 1990, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A hot and sticky summer evening brought about 25,000 to the Olimpico.
Both sides had a few absences. Lazio were without defender Cristiano Bergodi and midfielder Sergio Domini while the Germans were missing keeper Oliver Reck, defender Rune Brathseth and midfielder Günter Hermann while forward Frank Neubarth was on the bench.
The Germans looked more match fit and organised while Lazio's main threat was the speed and agility of Ruben Sosa and Karl-Heinz Riedle.
The German was playing against his former teammates. He showed no mercy however and scored after twelve minutes. Sosa set up Raffaele Sergio down the wing and his perfect cross was met by Riedle, whose majestic header went in near the post. Lazio 1 Werder Bremen 0.
Riedle had introduced himself to his new fans with the speciality of the house, a towering header. The German striker had the incredible ability to stay in the air that fraction longer to beat even the tallest defenders.
The visitors reacted immediately and went close to equalising, first with a powerful Dieter Eilts shot saved by Valerio Fiori into corner and then on a venomous Klaus Allofs corner, again blocked by Fiori.
Lazio too had chances. Angelo Gregucci had an attempt saved off the line by Thomas Wolter and then a few minutes later Sosa fired over the bar from a favourable position.
In the 35th minute "Die Grün-Weißen" (Green and Whites) equalised. Wynton Rufer crossed in from the left, Fiori flew off his line but only palmed it as far as Allofs who was lurking and drilled the ball in. A classic Allofs goal and Lazio 1 Werder Bremen 1.
For the second half "Die Werderaner" replaced Uwe Harttgen with Marco Bode. Lazio took back the lead almost immediately. In the 47th minute Uli Borowka pulled down Riedle about twenty metres out. The freekick was taken superbly by Armando Madonna who put the ball into the top hand corner. Lazio 2 Werder Bremen 1.
In the 51st minute the game lost one of its protagonists when Riedle was forced off after clashing with the keeper.
The game died down a bit with further substitutions: Massimiliano Nardecchia for Franco Marchegiani and Neubarth for Wolter.
The Germans however, clearly did not want to lose and pushed forward. In the 75th minute it was the German replacement Neubarth who equalised. On an assist by Bode he took advantage of a hesitant and badly positioned defence to beat Fiori, 2-2.
Both sides seemed satisfied with the result and run around and the game ended in a draw.
A decent practice game for Lazio against fitter opponents. The positives were the way Riedle and Sosa combined and Madonna's gem while the defence still had to sort out a few uncertain movements.
Who played for Lazio
Fiori, Lampugnani, Sergio, Pin, Gregucci, Soldà, Madonna, F. Marchegiani (69' Nardecchia), Riedle (51' Saurini), Sclosa, Sosa
Manager: Zoff
Who played for Werder Bremen
Rollmann, Schaaf, Otten, Wolter (68' Neubarth), Sauer, Borowka, Ellis, Votava, Rufer, Harttgen (46' Bode), K. Allofs
Manager: Rehhagel
Referee: Coppetelli
Goals: 12' Riedle, 34 K. Allofs, 47' Madonna, 75' Neubarth
What happened next
Lazio drew their first two matches 0-0, Torino away and Parma at home, then lost 1-0 at Lecce followed by a 1-1 home draw with Milan (the "Diavolo" equalised in the dying minutes). So not a great start for Lazio but their first win came in the 5th fixture, 3-1 at home to Bologna.
It was a season of many draws, few wins and few defeats. Lazio drew both derbies 1-1 coming from behind and their best win of the season was defeating Juventus 1-0 in Rome with a Riedle winner. They finished 11th after 8 wins, 19 draws and 7 defeats. So, despite the change of managers Lazio could not rid themselves of their addiction to draws.
In the Coppa Italia they were eliminated immediately by Serie B opposition Modena 1-3 on aggregate. Top scorer was Rubén Sosa with 12 goals (11 in league) while Riedle got 9 (all in A).
Werder Bremen finished 3rd in Bundesliga and won the German Cup (Cologne 4-3 on penalties after 1-1 draw). Top scorer was Rufer again with 19 (15 in league).
The manager Rehhagel fourteen years later would become a Greek God when the Hellenics shocked Europe by winning the 2004 Euros in Portugal.
Lazio 1990-91
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 34 | 8 | 19 | 7 | 33 |
Coppa Italia | 2 | - | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Total | 36 | 8 | 20 | 8 | 34 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Fiori | 36 | 34 | 2 |
Sergio | 36 | 34 | 2 |
Riedle | 35 | 33 | 2 |
Ruben Sosa | 35 | 33 | 2 |
Bergodi | 34 | 33 | 1 |
Pin | 34 | 32 | 2 |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Ruben Sosa | 12 | 11 | 1 |
Riedle | 9 | 9 | - |
Pin | 2 | 2 | - |
Gregucci | 2 | 2 | - |
Madonna | 2 | 2 | - |
F. Marchegiani | 2 | 2 | - |
Let's talk about Massimiliano Nardecchia
Massimiliano Nardecchia was born in Turin on August 29, 1965.
He was formed in the Torino academy and in 1984-85 won the Primavera (U19's) league title (beating Lazio in final).
In 1985 he was sold to Piacenza in C1 where he stayed three years. The Papaveri (Poppies) finished 3rd, 1st (promoted to B) and 14th. In 1986 Piacenza also won the Anglo-Italian Cup. His manager was Battista Rota and he played 78 league games with 1 goal.
In 1988-89 he spent a season with Monza in Serie B. The Brianzoli finished 15th under Pierluigi Frosio and he played 14 league games.
In 1989-90 he played for Lazio in Serie A. He arrived in the deal that took Gigi Di Biagio to Monza. The manager was Giuseppe Materazzi and the Biancocelesti finished 9th. It was a year of draws, 15 and the highlight was defeating future champions Napoli 3-0. Nardecchia played 6 league games. The regular choices in defence were Cristiano Bergodi, Roberto Soldà, Raffaele Sergio and Angelo Gregucci.
In 1990 after a few summer friendlies with Lazio he joined Mantova in C1. The Virgiliani got through three managers and ended up relegated. Nardecchia played 14 league games and alongside his former Lazio teammate Paolo Beruatto (1987-90).
In 1991-92 Nardecchia moved to Chieti in C1. The Neroverdi finished 12th and he played 12 league games under manager Ezio Volpi.
In 1992 he joined Spezia in Serie C1 and stayed two years. The Bianconeri finished 15th and 17th (relegated after playout but then brought back up so survived). He played 41 league games for the Aquilotti.
In 1994 he joined Viterbese in the 5th tier and stayed five seasons. The Tusci finished 1st (promoted to C2), 4th, 6th, 6th and 1st (promoted to C1). He played 138 league games with 4 goals.
He then retired and became an athletic trainer for Viterbese, Sora and Sanremese. While training the Sanremese players he also played 20 league games with 1 goal in 2002-03. He then returned to his fitness job with Spezia for three years.
He was then assistant manager at Viterbese (2008-09) and Cassino (2009-10). He then returned to be athletic trainer at Portogruaro and Gorica.
In 2015-16 he was manager of Orvietana at amateur regional level and then the Viterbese youth sector followed by assistant manager.
In 2018-19 he was assistant manager to Luigi Appolloni at Modena in Serie D until January when they were sacked.
In 2022-23 he was assistant manager to Franco Lerda at Crotone in Serie C but they were sacked in February.
In 2023-24 he was manager of Favl Cimini Viterbo in the 5th tier.
Nardecchia was a defender. He usually played as a centre-back. After a promising start his career never really took off. However, he won 3 leagues (C1 Piacenza 1987, C2 Viterbese 1999 and Serie D Viterbese 1995) plus an Anglo-Italian Cup (Piacenza 1986). He played 221 professional league games with 6 goals.
He was at Lazio only one season and did not leave much trace. He played 6 league games plus a few summer friendlies.
Lazio Career
Season | Total Serie A Appearances |
1989-90 | 6 |
Sources
Comments