A rare but dominant away win for Materazzi's Lazio
Two goals in the last fifteen minutes give Lazio deserved on the road win
Also on this day: December 17, 1995, Lazio Sampdoria 6-3. Lazio win never in doubt in high scoring game. Player of the day: Pierluigi Casiraghi
The season so far
The previous season in their first year back in Serie A, after three seasons in B, Lazio had finished 11th under Giuseppe Materazzi. The main joy had been winning the derby 1-0 with a Paolo Di Canio goal.
This year Materazzi was still manager. Lazio made quite a few changes in the transfer market. The most important players coming in were keeper Fernando Orsi back after a few years (Arezzo), defenders Cristiano Bergodi (Pescara), Raffaele Sergio (Mantova), Roberto Soldà, midfielders Franco Marchegiani (Pescara), Pedro Troglio (Verona), forwards Amarildo (Celta Vigo) and Alessandro Bertoni (Avellino).
Leaving were some of the promotion heroes: keeper Silvano Martina (Torino), defender Raimondo Marino (Lecce), midfielders Antonio Elia Acerbis (Verona) and Ciro Muro (Cosenza) plus forward Antonio Rizzolo (Pescara). Also saying goodbye were defender Nelson Gutiérrez (Verona) and forward Gustavo Dezotti (Cremonese). One later regret would be letting a young Luigi Di Biagio go as he would go on to play 114 league games for Roma, 117 for Inter and win 31 Italy caps.
So, Lazio did not appear to have particularly improved the squad but were hoping to better the previous year's eleventh place.
So far in Serie A Lazio had played 15 games; won 3, drawn 8 and lost 4. Their best results were beating Milan away 1-0 (it would not be repeated for 30 years in the league), holding Juventus to a 1-1 draw in Rome and drawing the derby. Lazio’s last three games had all been draws. Lazio were currently on 14 points.
In Coppa Italia, in August, Lazio had beaten Ancona 2-0 but then lost 1-2 at home to Bologna after extra-time (goals by two former players Bruno Giordano and Lorenzo Marronaro) and were eliminated.
Udinese had finished 3rd in Serie B the previous season and were promoted. The manager was Nedo Sonetti and top scorer Antonio De Vitis with 23 goals (16).
This season the manager was former Lazio player, Bruno Mazzia and the Friulani had made some interesting signings. In came defenders Emidio Oddi (Roma), Néstor Sensini (Newell's Old Boys), Rodolfo Vanoli (Lecce), midfielder Ricardo Gallego (Real Madrid) plus forward Abel Balbo (River Plate).
Leaving were defender Aldo Firicano (Cagliari), former Lazio Massimo Storgato (Cosenza), Massimo Susic (Parma), midfielders Daniele Pasa (Padova), Andrea Manzo (Avellino) and former Lazio forward, Claudio Vagheggi (Sambenedettese).
So far in Serie A Udinese had won 3, drawn 6 (including Roma and Juventus at home) and lost 6. The "Zebrette" had 12 points, 2 less than Lazio.
In Coppa Italia Udinese were already out having lost to Taranto on penalties in August.
A game open to any result today between two lower mid-table teams.
The match: Sunday, December 17, 1989, Stadio Fruili, Udine
A grey, winter day only attracted about 15,000 fans to the modern but ugly Friuli stadium.
From the word go it was Lazio who controlled the match. The Biancocelesti were constantly forward and had almost total ball and territorial possession. Lazio had at least three chances to score. First an Amarildo header led to a scramble leading to a Cristiano Bergodi shot cleared before the line by a defender. Then Claudio Garella dived low to just anticipate Amarildo and Bergodi had a powerful long-range shot saved into corner by former "Garella Paperella" now known as a more complimentary "Garellik". Half time Udinese 0 Lazio 0 but only one team on the field so far.
In the second half, things continued pretty much the same. Rubén Sosa had a freekick deflected into corner by the wall and Di Canio had a long range deflected shot saved into corner by Garella. Then Udinese finally stirred and almost scored when, from a Luca Mattei freekick, a Nestor Sensini header went incredibly close to the post. Udinese tried to take advantage of their new-found energy and in the 56th minute put on some more attacking minded players, Angelo Orlando and Antonio De Vitis for Agostino Iacobelli and Marco Branca. Lazio responded replacing Rubén Sosa with Alessandro Bertoni and four minutes later throwing on Gabriele Pin for Pedro Troglio.
Lazio gradually got the upper hand again, dominating in midfield where Claudio Sclosa was outclassing former Real Madrid player Ricardo Gallego. Amarildo had two headers, the first forced Garella to make a brilliant save while the second did not find the target. Lazio insisted and Bertoni had a huge chance, unmarked in the area, his low left foot was blocked by a classic Garella save with his feet. Some minutes later Bergodi fired over the bar from just inside the area.
Lazio finally scored in the 76th minute. It was thoroughly deserved but slightly fortuitous. From a Sclosa corner from the right Rodolfo Vanoli, in an attempt to clear before Bertoni could strike, kicked the ball into his own net. Udinese 0 Lazio 1. A fair score line going into the last fifteen minutes.
Udinese reacted but apart from a shot well over the bar never really threatened. It was Lazio who continued to go closer. In the 85th minute Sergio, set up by Di Canio, blasted a clear opportunity into Garella's body. Then in the 86th minute Lazio definitely sealed their superiority. Di Canio took a corner from the left and the ball was headed clear by a defender but only as far as Pin, a few metres outside the box, who without thinking twice took it on the volley, hammering a medium height shot which landed just over the line. A great goal, Udinese 0 Lazio 2 and final score.
A good away win for Lazio. A convincing performance by the Biancocelesti who had been by far the better team for the whole 90 minutes. An extremely rare and satisfying away win (Lazio had won none the previous season and would only win two this season, Milan and today).
Who played for Udinese
Garella, Paganin, Vanoli, Bruniera, Sensini, Lucci, Mattei, Iacobelli (56' Orlando), Branca (56' De Vitis), Gallego, Balbo
Substitutes: Abate, Galparoli, E.Oddi
Manager: Mazzia
Who played for Lazio
Orsi, Bergodi, Sergio, Icardi, Gregucci, Soldà, Di Canio, Troglio (60' Pin), Amarildo, Sclosa, Sosa (56' Bertoni)
Substitutes: Sassanelli, Nardecchia, Beruatto
Manager: Materazzi
Referee: Beschin
Goals:76' Vanoli (og), 86' Pin
What happened next
Lazio finished 9th, a slight improvement on the previous year. The Biancocelesti won 8, drew 15 and lost 11 (including Roma 0-1). Their best result was thrashing Maradona's Napoli 3-0 at the Flaminio; the Partenopei would then win the Scudetto in May. Lazio’s top scorer was Amarildo with 9 goals (8 in A, as Rubén Sosa). So, a similar season to '88-'89 and time for a change. Enter Dino Zoff.
Udinese got relegated. The Bianconeri changed manager after 16 games and brought in another former Lazio player, Rino Marchesi but to no avail. The Friulani finished 15th, after 6 wins, 15 draws (including Lazio 0-0) and 13 defeats. Their top scorer was Abel Balbo with 11 league goals. Udinese would be back in Serie A two years later.
The Scudetto was won by Napoli for the 2nd time in their history. Udinese's travelling companions with destination Serie B were Verona, Cremonese and Ascoli.
Lazio 1989-90
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 34 | 8 | 15 | 11 | 34 |
Coppa Italia | 2 | 1 | - | 1 | 2 |
Total | 36 | 9 | 15 | 12 | 36 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Soldà | 35 | 33 | 2 |
Bergodi | 34 | 32 | 2 |
Pin | 33 | 31 | 2 |
Amarildo | 31 | 29 | 2 |
Sclosa | 31 | 29 | 2 |
Sergio | 31 | 31 | - |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Amarildo | 9 | 8 | 1 |
Ruben Sosa | 8 | 8 | - |
Pin | 6 | 6 | - |
Di Canio | 4 | 3 | 1 |
Bertoni | 2 | 2 | - |
Let’s talk about Andrea Icardi
Andrea Icardi was born in Milan, on June 14, 1963.
He was formed as a footballer in the A.C Milan's youth sector. He then made his debut for the first team in 1980.
The Rossoneri were in Serie B following being punished for some of their players involvement in the Totonero match fixing scandal (Lazio had suffered the same fate). Milan were then promoted under former Lazio player Massimo Giacomini (until the penultimate match after which he resigned) and then for the last match, another Lazio connection, Italo Galbiati. Icardi played 5 league games. His teammates included former Lazio, Mauro Tassotti.
In 1981-82 back in Serie A, first under Gigi Radice (1-15) and then Galbiati again (16-30) Milan were surprisingly relegated again. Icardi played 20 league games and 3 in Coppa Italia.
In 1982-83 Milan were promoted again, this time with Lazio too. The "Diavolo's" manager was former Lazio, Ilario Castagner and Icardi played 30 league games with 2 goals (Lecce, Reggiana) and 8 games in Coppa Italia.
In 1983-84 Castagner stayed on until the 25th fixture when he was replaced by Galbiati. Milan finished 8th and Icardi played 24 league games with 1 goal (Fiorentina, 90th minute equaliser) and 8 games in Coppa Italia.
In 1984-85 the manager was Nils Liedholm and Milan finished 5th (UEFA Cup) and were runners-up in Coppa Italia (Sampdoria 1-3 on aggregate). Icardi played 17 league games and 9 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Inter).
The 1985-86 season was his last with Milan. The manager was Liedholm again and Icardi played 21 league games with 2 goals (Bari, Como) plus 7 games In Coppa Italia. Milan finished 7th in Serie A. His teammates included future Lazio keeper, Giuliano Terraneo.
In 1986 he moved to nearby Bergamo and joined Atalanta. The Orobici were relegated to Serie B under Nedo Sonetti. Icardi played 24 league games and 11 in Coppa Italia. The Bergamaschi did well in the domestic cup reaching the final but losing 0-4 on aggregate to Maradona's Napoli. The Nerazzurri however qualified for the Cup Winners Cup as the Partenopei also won the Scudetto.
The following year Emiliano Mondonico arrived as manager and Atalanta were promoted in 4th place. Icardi played 32 league games and 5 in the Cup Winners Cup. They did well in Europe reaching the semi-final (eliminating Welsh Merthyr Tydfil, Greek OFI Crete, Portuguese Sporting Lisbon) but lost 2-4 on aggregate to eventual surprise winners, Belgian Malines.
In 1988 Icardi joined newly promoted Lazio. The manager was new too as Giuseppe Materazzi took over from Eugenio Fascetti. It was a season of draws, 19, only 5 victories and 10 defeats. Lazio finished 11th. The highlight was beating Roma 1-0 in January with a Paolo Di Canio goal. It was the first derby win in ten years. Icardi played that game and a total of 25 league games plus 9 in Coppa Italia (Lazio reached the quarterfinals, Atalanta 3-4 on aggregate).
In the 1989-90 season he stayed in Rome and Lazio finished 9th. Icardi played 28 league games and 1 in Coppa Italia. The highlights of the season were beating Milan 1-0 away, eventual champions Napoli 3-0 at home and Inter 2-1 at home.
In 1990 Icardi returned up north and joined Verona in Serie B. The manager was Eugenio Fascetti and the Gialloblù were promoted in 2nd place. His teammates included former Lazio, Ernesto Calisti, Silvano Martina and Antonio Elia Acerbis.
The following year Verona were relegated, first under Fascetti and then Nils Liedholm. Icardi played 31 league games and 4 in Coppa Italia with 2 goals (Lecce x2).
Back in Serie B in 1992-93, under future Lazio Edy Reja, the Scaligeri finished 12th. In his three years in Verona he played a total of 78 league games.
He then went for an Australian experience and in 1993 joined the Marconi Stallions from Sydney. He only played 6 league games but scored 3 goals.
He then retired at 31. In his career he also played 9 times for Italy U21's.
He started a manager career immediately with the Marconi Stallions. In 1995 he returned to Europe and worked in the Milan youth academy for three years. In 1998-99 he was with the Monza youth sector and from 2001 to 2003 the Alessandria Juniores team. In 2003-04 he was in charge of Derthona's first team in Eccellenza (5th tier) finishing 2nd (losing playoffs). In 2004-05 he was manager of Voghera in Serie D, finishing 3rd.
He is currently back in Australia. He is married to an Australian and runs the Milan Academy there.
Icardi was a solid midfielder. He is 1.71 and 72 kilos and made athleticism and dynamism his main asset. His strengths were his tackling and ball winning abilities. A no frills but hardworking, tireless midfielder, always popular with managers.
At Lazio he stayed two years and was a regular choice in midfield alongside Claudio Sclosa, Gabriele Pin and Pedro Troglio. He was part of the transition between the difficult years and the glory years, the Sosa-Amarildo-Troglio phase, as the popular chant goes, a carefree and positive period. He played a total of 63 games for the Biancocelesti.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
1988-89 | 34 | 25 | 9 |
1989-90 | 29 | 28 | 1 |
Total | 63 | 53 | 10 |
Source
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