Game 22, Serie A
Sunday, February 6, 1994
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan
Inter Lazio 1-2
Lazio went from one down to 2-1 up in three minutes as Signori and Di Matteo turned the game around in the dying moments
After a hesitant start Lazio were in good position in Serie A, behind the greats but not that far. However the Christmas break broke the momentum and the Biancocelesti came back from the holidays with a draw against Sampdoria (and a Beppe Signori injury) and a 4-1 loss at Foggia. Without Signori, Lazio lost a lot of potential. They managed to beat Reggiana but then lost again at Parma.
Finally, with Beppe back from injury one could see light at the end of the tunnel and Lazio played exceptionally well against Cremonese the week before this match.
Inter were not having a great season, Lazio were waking up. Time for an upset?
The match
Dino Zoff, sensing that Lazio were finally getting into the groove, went for the big three up front: Beppe Signori, Gigi Casiraghi, Alen Boksic. But unfortunately, Casiraghi lasted only a quarter of an hour and had to be replaced by Fabrizio Di Mauro. Lazio had started well and the Inter defence had been in trouble having to face the big three, but they gained a bit of courage once Casiraghi had to go off.
In the 27th minute Inter scored. Lovely ball in the box for Ruben Sosa and the former Lazio player scored a superb acrobatic goal. Lazio had a blackout and Inter could have made it two with Dennis Bergkamp, who had two chances in the 28th and 33rd minute and especially Beppe Bergomi, who hit the woodwork with a header off a Ruben Sosa free kick in the 40th minute.
Everything changed in the second half. Inter literally stopped playing, allowing Lazio to move forward. Slowly but surely, Lazio started manoeuvring and playing a lot better and Boksic was at times unstoppable. Di Mauro hit the crossbar in the 82nd minute but instead of depressing the Biancocelesti, it gave them even more energy. With three minutes to go Sergio Battistini brought down Boksic in the box. Penalty. Signori made no mistake, 1-1.
Miracle coming? That’s what some Lazio fans were hoping for. C’mon Lazio you can do it, Inter are on their knees. Roberto Di Matteo was listening to the fans’ plea and three minutes later picked up the ball and shot from 30 meters out. The ball bounced right in front of Walter Zenga and it was 2-1 for Lazio.
A marvellous win for Lazio and a fatal loss for Inter manager Osvaldo Bagnoli who would be sacked in the evening and never manage a team again.
Who played for Inter
Zenga, Bergomi, Paganin I, Jonk, Ferri, Battistini, Orlando, Manicone, Fontolan, Bergkamp, Sosa
Substitutes: Abate, Rossi, Bianchi, Dell'Anno, Marazzina
Manager: Bagnoli
Who played for Lazio
Marchegiani, Bacci, Favalli, Di Matteo, Negro, Cravero, Fuser, Winter, Casiraghi (15’ Di Mauro), Boksic, Signori
Manager: Zoff
Referee: Luci
Goals: 26’ Ruben Sosa, 87’ Signori (pen), 90’ Di Matteo
Sources
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