Pinball wizard conjures up two goals to beat Torino
A brace by Gabriele Pin gives Lazio well deserved win
Also on this day: January 27, 2007, Palermo Lazio 0-3. After a difficult first fifteen minutes Lazio dominate and comfortably win the Champions League clash against third placed Palermo. Lazio Hero of the day: Sebastiano Siviglia
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had finished 9th, just three points off a UEFA Cup qualification.
This year manager Giuseppe Materazzi had been replaced by living legend Dino Zoff, who had perhaps a little unfairly been released by Juventus.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 Giampaolo Saurini was back (Lodigiani - end of loan) but more excitingly, German striker Karl-Heinz Riedle was to wear the Lazio jersey (Werder Bremen). In the Autumn session Lazio had also added defender Claudio Vertova (Atalanta).
The main sacrifice, for economic reasons, was local lad and derby hero Paolo Di Canio (Juventus). Forward Amarildo (Cesena) and three defenders had left, Paolo Beruatto (Mantova), Marco Monti (Atalanta) and Massimo Piscedda (Avellino). In the Autumn, midfielder Andrea Icardi had also gone (Verona).
So far, Lazio had something called "pareggite" (an addiction to draws). The Biancocelesti had played 17 games and shared the points 13 times (including the derby 1-1), won 2 and lost 2, giving them 17 points. In fact, they came from 4 consecutive draws, the most recent being 1-1 away to Sampdoria. Lazio were currently in 8th position, 5 points from Europe but 2 points above Roma.
In Coppa Italia, Lazio had surprisingly been knocked out in September by Serie B opposition Modena 1-3 on aggregate.
Torino were newly promoted. The Granata had won Serie B under former Lazio manager, the legendary Eugenio Fascetti.
This season Toro had a new manager, Emiliano Mondonico. They had brought in some interesting players: defenders Enrico Annoni (Como), Pasquale Bruno (Juventus), midfielders Luca Fusi (Napoli), Rafael Martín Vázquez (Real Madrid), forwards Giorgio Bresciani (Atalanta - back from loan) and a young Christian Vieri (Prato).
The main players leaving were: former Lazio, keeper Silvano Martina (Verona), defender Ezio Rossi (Verona) plus forwards Benito Carbone (Reggina - on loan, he would be back 3 years later) and Marco Pacione (Genoa).
So far, after 17 games, Torino had 19 points, 2 more than Lazio and were in 6th position. The Granata had won 6 (including Inter 2-0, Roma 1-0, at home), drawn 7 (including Lazio 0-0, the derby 1-1 and Milan 1-1, all at home) and lost 4. A week earlier they had beaten Atalanta 1-0 away. So, a reasonable start for a newly promoted side.
In Coppa Italia, in September, they knocked out Verona 4-1 on aggregate and just four days before today's game had got the better of Inter on away goals. Torino would now play Sampdoria in the quarter finals in February.
This afternoon the game was expected to be balanced. Many in fact predicted a draw, especially seeing the two sides' record so far.
The match: Sunday, January 27, 1991, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A crowd of 30,000 turned up for this long-standing classic of Italian football.
Lazio were without Armando Madonna and had not won at home for over three months but Torino had bigger absences in Roberto Cravero, Pasquale Bruno, Gianluca Sordo and Martin Vazquez.
Mondonico reshuffled the side but Toro were in difficulty from the start. Lazio totally dominated the first half and had chance after chance.
Raffaele Sergio cut in from the left and had a low right-footed shot saved by Luca Marchegiani, Ruben Sosa shot wide, Riedle headed just wide from a Cristiano Bergodi cross, Marchegiani saved from a close-range effort by Gabriele Pin and Sosa and a few minutes later Pin was pushed over in the area but the referee gestured to play on. And Torino?
The Granata came out of their shell once with a hopeful very long range shot by Enrico Annoni which almost caught Valerio Fiori unawares.
Then it was one-way traffic again. Claudio Sclosa put a good ball through to Sergio cutting in from the left, the full-back crossed low but Riedle was anticipated by a defender and the ball reached Roberto Bacci on the penalty spot but he blasted it over the bar. Torino then messed up a back pass to the keeper with Benedetti, Sosa pounced but hit the post from a difficult angle.
Lazio attacked constantly with several more scrambles and shots off target. Torino relieved the pressure only once with Gianluca Lentini who tried to chip Fiori but it went just high.
In the 45th minute Lazio finally scored. Roberto Soldà fed Sergio on the left wing and he swung in a perfect cross which Pin ran onto and headed past Marchegiani. Lazio 1 Torino 0. The ball was probably for header specialist Riedle but Pin had surprised the Torino defence.
In the second half Torino went forward more than the first half but were rarely dangerous. It was Lazio who still had the main chances.
Sergio again caused havoc in Toro's backline cutting in from the left but then pulling his shot wide in front of Marchegiani. Then Sosa forced Marchegiani, the future Lazio keeper, into making a superb save on a close range left footed strike.
In the 64th minute Torino tried to change things by bringing on midfielder Giuseppe Carillo and forward Haris Skoro for Dino Baggio and a subdued Müller. Things changed but for the worse.
In the 69th minute Lazio doubled their lead. From a Sosa corner from the right it was Pin again who rose up and put an excellent header which touched the bar and flew past Marchegiani. Lazio 2 Torino 0.
Torino had a volley by Skoro saved and subsequently slapped away by Fiori but then in the 89th minute Toro pulled a goal back. A confused and insistent move saw Roberto Policano put the ball back into a crowded area where Lentini got his head to it and scored. Lazio 2 Torino 1.
It was too little too late for the visitors and Lazio conquered a thoroughly deserved win. The score line was in fact flattering for Torino who had been outplayed for most of the match.
Who played for Lazio
Substitutes: Orsi, Vertova, A. Bertoni, Troglio, Saurini
Manager: Zoff
Who played for Torino
Marchegiani, Annoni, Policano, Fusi, Benedetti, D. Baggio (64' Carillo), Mussi, Romano, Bresciani, Lentini, Müller (64' Skoro)
Substitutes: Tancredi, Delli Carri, Atzori
Manager: Mondonico
Referee: Amendolia
Goals: 45' Pin, 69' Pin, 89' Lentini
What happened next
Lazio never had to look for their passports as they struggled to win matches and finished 11th, although only three points off 6th place (Parma, last UEFA spot).
A week later the Biancocelesti drew 0-0 at Parma. Their attraction to draws would continue and they totalled 19 (including return derby 1-1) with only 8 victories and 7 defeats giving them 35 points. The highlight of the season was beating Juventus 1-0 at home on March 3. Top scorer was Ruben Sosa with 12 goals (11 in A) while Riedle got 9.
Lazio were competitive again but would have to become better at closing out matches if they wanted to get back into Europe.
Torino finished 5th and qualified for the UEFA Cup. The Granata won 12 (including derby 2-1), drew 14 and lost 8, so 38 points. Top scorer was Bresciani with 13 league goals. An excellent season for Torino but with the arrival of Brazilian Leo Junior even better times were on the way.
In Coppa Italia, Toro went out to Sampdoria on penalties in the quarter finals.
The Scudetto was won by Sampdoria for the first time. A great team led by Vujadin Boskov and including Gianluca Vialli and Roberto Mancini gave the Blucerchiati a historic triumph. At the opposite end four teams went down; Lecce, Pisa, Cesena and Bologna (the Pisani have not made it back up since).
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 Giampaolo Saurini
Giampaolo Saurini was born in Colleferro near Rome, on November 13 1968.
He first played in the youth sides of Colleferro and then joined Lazio.
At 19 he was loaned to Cagliari in Serie C1 for a year. The manager was first Enzo Robotti (1-9), then Mario Tiddia and the Rossoblu finished 11th. Saurini played 21 league games and scored 3 goals.
In 1988-89 he returned to Lazio but was then loaned first to Virescit Bergamo in C1 where he only played 4 league games. The Viola were relegated to C2.
In 1989-90 he was back in Rome with Lodigiani on loan in Serie C2. The Biancorossi finished 9th and Saurini played 26 league games with 9 goals.
In 1990-91 he came back to Lazio in Serie A. The manager was legendary Dino Zoff and Lazio finished 11th. The two main strikers were Rubén Sosa and Karl-Heinz Riedle but Saurini played 11 league games with 1 goal (the equaliser against Atalanta in a 2-2 home draw).
In 1991 he joined Brescia in Serie B. The manager was Adelio Moro (with Mircea Lucescu as T.D) and the "Rondinelle" (Little Swallows) won the league. Saurini played 36 league games with 10 goals (Lecce, Modena, Casertana, Pisa, Palermo, Bologna, Modena, Messina, Taranto, Cesena) and 4 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Palermo). His teammates included future Lazio, Luca De Paola, Luca Luzardi and former Lazio, Sergio Domini.
He stayed in Brescia one more year, in Serie A. The Biancazzurri were relegated after a playoff (Udinese 1-3). Saurini played 15 league games with 3 goals (Foggia, Roma x2). His teammates included former Lazio defender Luca Brunetti (1986-'88) and future Lazio Scudetto winner Paolo Negro (1993-2005).
He came back to Lazio briefly in 1993 and made four appearances before being sold to Atalanta in Serie A in November. The manager was first Francesco Guidolin (1-11) and then Cesare Prandelli (assisted by Andrea Valdinoci who had a manager license). The Orobici were relegated and Saurini played 14 league games with 3 goals (Roma, Foggia, Genoa) and 1 game in Coppa Italia.
He stayed on in Serie B and the Nerazzurri bounced straight back up to Serie A under Emiliano Mondonico. Saurini played 23 league games with 9 goals (Lecce, Ancona, Palermo, Cosenza, Chievo, Como, Pescara, Perugia, Fidelis Andria), 2 games in Coppa Italia and 2 games in the revived Anglo-Italian Cup with 2 goals.
In 1995-96 he returned to Brescia in Serie B. The "Leonessa" (The Lioness) finished 16th under Lucescu-Moro (1-24) and then Edy Reja (25-38). Saurini played 23 league games with 5 goals (Pescara, Fidelis Andria, Salernitana, Cosenza, Avellino). His teammates included former Lazio, Maurizio Neri (1991-'93), Luca Luzardi (1992-'94) plus future Lazio, the Filippini brothers (2004-‘05) and Roberto Baronio (on and off from 1996-2010).
In 1996-97 Saurini played for Palermo in Serie B. The Rosanero were relegated under Ignazio Arcoleo and then Giampiero Vitali. Saurini played 34 league games and scored an impressive 16 goals (Brescia, Castel di Sangro x2, Ravenna, Lecce, Reggina, Chievo, Empoli, Ravenna, Lucchese, Cremonese, Bari, Cosenza, Chievo x2, Genoa) plus a game in Coppa Italia with a goal (Ravenna).
In 1997 he joined Padova in Serie B. The Euganei were relegated under first Giuseppe Pillon and then Mario Colautti. Saurini played 20 games with 5 goals (Torino, Perugia, Chievo, Foggia x2). His teammates included, legendary Lazio defender, Cristiano Bergodi.
He stayed with the Patavini in C1 under Adriano Fedele but suffered another relegation. Saurini played 21 games with 7 goals. One of his teammates was current Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi.
In 1999-2000 he played a season in Umbria with Gualdo in Serie C1. It was however a fourth consecutive relegation experience for Saurini. The managers were Enrico Nicolini, Ignazio Arcoleo and finally former Lazio keeper, Massimo Cacciatori. Saurini played 26 league games with 6 goals.
His last club between 2000-2003 was US Oratorio Calcio (from Calcio- Bergamo) in Eccellenza (5th tier) one year and Serie D the following two.
At almost 35 he then retired.
He then started a coaching career. He was Brescia's Primavera's (U19's) manager for four years, between 2008-‘12. He then spent five years with Napoli's Primavera, 2012-‘17. In 2023 he collaborated with the coaching staff at Reggiana and currently has the same task at Vicenza.
From 2019-‘20 he has also been part of the commentary teams for the televised U19 league games.
Saurini was a forward. He was a classic old-style centre-forward. At 1.88 and 77 kilos he was a strong player and good in the air. He was also a reliable penalty taker. He played 40 games in Serie A with 7 goals and 136 in Serie B with 45 goals.
He only played for Lazio for one season. He played 15 games with 1 goal for his boyhood club. He later fulfilled every Laziale's dream by scoring three goals against Roma (a brace in a 3-2 away win for Brescia in 1992 and the equaliser in a 1-1 home draw for Atalanta in 1994).
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia | UEFA Cup |
1990-91 | 11 (1) | 11 (1) | - | - |
1993-94 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Total | 15 (1) | 12 (1) | 2 | 1 |
Sources
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