Four goals in 17 minutes
Lazio score four in 17 minutes and close the match in the first half
Also on this day: January 28, 1940, Torino Lazio 0-1. A fantastic win for Lazio in a match that was more of a battle than a game of football. Player of the day: Silvestro Pisa
The season so far
The transfer window started with a bang: Beppe Signori sold to Parma for 25 billion lire plus Dino Baggio and Pippo Inzaghi.
Lazio needed money so when the Parma President Calisto Tanzi, looking to strengthen his team, made the offer, Sergio Cragnotti saw no reason to say no. The rest of the world did however say no. Firstly, the fans who organised a demonstration. 5,000 people took to the streets to show their discontent over the deal. Secondly, the banks said that they would cover if the deal did not go through. Thirdly President Dino Zoff underlined all the technical problems that would have occurred in case the deal went through. Lastly, Beppe Signori said no. So Signori stayed.
In hindsight, Cragnotti was probably right.
As a consequence, in the summer of 1995 Lazio did not sign anybody of particular interest with the exception of future legend Guerino Gottardi. On the other hand, many players waved goodbye: Roberto Cravero, Roberto Bacci, Mauro Bonomi and Paul Gascoigne, all players “chosen” during Dino Zoff’s stint as manager.
The season started very well with two consecutive wins. The highlight of the early part of was the 4-0 crushing of Juventus at the end of October. It was a demonstration of Lazio’s full potential and of just how lethal manager’s Zdenek Zeman’s teams could be. Two days later came the other side of the coin: Lazio were eliminated in the UEFA Cup by Olympique Lyonnais. This was an example of how the season panned out. Spectacular games (6-3 against Sampdoria for example) and dismal performances like losing to Vicenza and Piacenza. Lazio fans were used to it by now, but the question was: will we ever win anything with this inconsistency?
Lazio closed the first half of the season fifth on 26 points but seven days prior to today’s game they had lost at Piacenza 2-1. They were currently sixth.
The match: Sunday, January 28, 1996, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
The fans were furious after the umpteenth disappointment of the season. A prompt reply was needed in today’s game and Zeman proposed the trio of Alen Boksic, Pierluigi Casiraghi and Beppe Signori up front.
In the first 20 minutes Lazio could have scored three goals. First Signori in front of Valerio Fiori tried a clever left foot that went wide, then Cristiano Bergodi’s attempt following a corner was well saved by Fiori who could do very little on an almighty Boksic whack but was saved by the crossbar (which is probably still shaking today).
In the 28th minute there was a penalty for the Biancocelesti. Mauro Bressan fumbled just in front of the box, Alessandro Nesta appeared from nowhere and in an attempt to steal the ball was fouled in the area by the Cagliari defender. Signori from the spot kick gave Lazio their first goal.
Two minutes later Boksic went off on the left and then moved towards the middle. Near the edge of the box he stopped, looked up and passed a splendid ball to Casiraghi, stop and shot, 2-0 for Lazio.
Another four minutes and there was a freekick for Lazio on the left. Diego Fuser crossed the ball into the area and Casiraghi headed the ball in.
In the 45th minute, long ball from Boksic to Casiraghi who anticipated Fiori and scored his hat-trick.
Game over. In the second half the Biancocelesti slowed down and Cagliari had a couple of chances to reduce the deficit, first with Giorgio Venturin (post) and then with Luis Olivera (great Luca Marchegiani save).
Great game, great win. Roma lost so Lazio were now fifth.
Who played for Lazio
Marchegiani, Gottardi, Nesta, Di Matteo (63' Marcolin), Bergodi, Chamot, Boksic, Fuser, Casiraghi (79' Rambaudi), Winter (63' Piovanelli), Signori.
Substitutes: F. Mancini, Negro.
Manager: Zeman.
Who played for Cagliari
Fiori, Villa, Bonomi, Firicano, Pancaro, Bressan (65' Lantignotti), Sanna (46' Napoli), Venturin (79' Bitetti), Bisoli, Dario Silva, Oliveira.
Substitutes: Abate, Pusceddu.
Manager: Trapattoni.
Referee: Racalbuto
Goals: 28’ Signori (pen), 30’ Casiraghi, 34’ Casiraghi, 45’ Casiraghi
What happened next
The Biancocelesti’s inconsistent year continued until March 24 when they lost to Cremonese. At that point the season seemed over and was very disappointing. But the players found the strength to change things around and since then Lazio never lost. In the last eight games the Biancocelesti won six and drew two and managed not only a UEFA Cup qualification for the next season but also a good third place. Just like last year, the team was able to turn things around with a great finale and reach an important objective.
Signori was top scorer in Serie A, together with Igor Protti, for the third time in four years. He scored a total of 26 goals that season. Paolo Negro and Diego Fuser had the most appearances (39).
Lazio 1995-96
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals Scored |
Serie A | 34 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 66 |
Coppa Italia | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
UEFA Cup | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
Total | 42 | 20 | 10 | 12 | 77 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia | UEFA Cup |
Fuser | 39 | 32 | 4 | 3 |
Negro | 39 | 31 | 4 | 4 |
Di Matteo | 38 | 31 | 3 | 4 |
Signori | 38 | 31 | 4 | 3 |
Chamot | 37 | 32 | 4 | 1 |
Winter | 37 | 30 | 3 | 4 |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia | UEFA Cup |
Signori | 26 | 24 | 1 | 1 |
Casiraghi | 18 | 14 | - | 4 |
Winter | 7 | 6 | - | 1 |
Fuser | 6 | 6 | - | - |
Boksic | 4 | 4 | - | - |
Let's talk about Marco Piovanelli
Marco Piovanelli was born in Brescia on April 7 1974. He began his career with the Rondinelle and debuted in Serie A on November 8 1992 in the game against Ancona. Brescia were relegated but the following year got promoted again and Piovanelli made 30 league appearances. Back in Serie A, he suffered a severe injury which allowed him to play very little. At the end of the season and with Brescia back in Serie B, he signed for Lazio.
With the Biancocelesti he never managed to become a regular in the starting eleven. Under Zdeneck Zeman, he made 37 appearances in two years. In 1997 he signed for Piacenza but played very little. The next season he was at Genoa but after just six months he moved to Verona and with his 10 appearances contributed to the club’s promotion. But back in Serie A he never played and in the winter transfer window was sold to Cesena but the club was relegated to Serie C1. The next season he was at Cittadella on loan but played just 4 games. After a year at Pistoia in Serie B, he played in Serie C1 and C2 with Carrarese, Pro Patria and Monza. He finished his career playing at amateur level for a few years.
After he retired he went into coaching and was manager for some minor teams.
Piovanelli had a promising career ahead of him, as demonstrated by his one cap with Italy Under 21's and Zeman choosing him to play for Lazio, but did not fulfil expectations.
Lazio Career
Season | Total Appearances | Serie A | Coppa Italia | UEFA Cup |
1995-96 | 21 | 16 | 1 | 4 |
1996-97 | 16 | 11 | 2 | 3 |
Total | 37 | 27 | 3 | 7 |
Sources
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