Good point with a pinch of regret
- Dag Jenkins
- Mar 29, 2024
- 4 min read
Game 26, Serie A
Sunday, March 29, 1992
Stadio Delle Alpi, Turin
Juventus- Lazio 1-1
Lazio get the point they wanted but Juventus equalise in injury time
So far Lazio had played 25 league games and were joint 9th with Genoa. A week earlier Lazio had defeated Verona 2-0 away.
Juventus came from three consecutive wins and needed a fourth to keep up the pressure on Milan who were away to Roma today. Lazio had no pressure but could still hope for a UEFA qualification (Parma and Torino 3 points ahead).
Juventus were favourites, they had only dropped one point at home so far.
The match
A sunny day in the Piedmontese capital brought about 40,000 to the Delle Alpi stadium, built for Italia '90.
Lazio were without German midfielder Thomas Doll while Juventus could not field defender Jürgen Kohler or midfielder Giancarlo Marocchi.
The stadium went quiet after only four minutes when it was informed Marco Simone had scored for Milan in Rome.
The first half however was almost all Juventus. The Bianconeri attacked more but only had a couple of real chances. A Totò Schillaci shot went over the bar from a favourable position and an Angelo Alessio effort from a narrow angle was saved into corner by Valerio Fiori.
Lazio had a dangerous Karl-Heinz Riedle header go wide from a Maurizio Neri cross from the left. Halftime Juventus 0 Lazio 0 and the Romans were more than pleased.
In the 54th minute the Bianconeri increased their attacking potential by putting on former Lazio Paolo Di Canio for Antonio Conte.
Juventus stepped up a gear but were imprecise in front of goal plus Schillaci hesitated before shooting, ending up being anticipated by defender Cristiano Bergodi and a Gigi Casiraghi header was nodded clear near the left post by Gabriele Pin.
Lazio combined well in midfield and had a few dangerous counterattacks. On one Riedle fired wide of the left post and then in the 65th minute came a controversial episode. Bianconero Brazilian defender Júlio Cesar pulled Riedle's shirt from behind causing the German to go down in the area before he could shoot. It was unclear whether it was on the edge or inside the box but the referee Collina opted for the former. Possibly the correct decision (although Riedle was adamant it was inside) but the Brazilian should have been booked anyway.
In the 67th minute Lazio replaced midfielder Claudio Sclosa with Stefano Melchiori. In the 72nd minute the hosts took off Alessio and put on Eugenio Corini.
In the last fifteen minutes the game really came alive. Juventus heard via the radios that Roma had equalised against Milan so they doubled their efforts to get a winner.
In the 78th minute after a series of rebounds Roberto Baggio found himself unmarked in front of Fiori but was unable to coordinate himself and slipped.
In the 81st minute Baggio flicked the ball into Casiraghi who perhaps unaware he was alone went for a header instead of bringing the ball down and it went wide.
Juventus were frenetic and became unbalanced. In the 83rd minute Massimo Carrera fouled Rubén Sosa outside the box. The Uruguayan striker took the freekick, a low seemingly innocuous shot which was however latched onto by Riedle who with his left foot redirected it towards goal where Stefano Tacconi got a touch but could not avoid it going in near the right post. Juventus 0 Lazio 1.
Doom and gloom for the "Old Lady" who from hoping to reduce the gap from the "Diavolo" to three points were now five points behind.
A minute later Baggio almost equalised immediately. His curling free kick over the wall was heading for the top left-hand corner but was superbly tipped over the bar by Fiori with his right hand.
In the 91st minute however the Juventus goal came. Corini crossed to Casiraghi who headed towards the far post where Schillaci got between Fiori and Angelo Gregucci and poked the ball in. Juventus 1 Lazio 1 and final score.
Despite conceding the goal in injury time it was Lazio who came away the more satisfied. The Biancocelesti had come for a point and had got it. Juventus on the other hand saw a huge opportunity to cut Milan's lead slip through their fingers.
A defensive but solid display by Lazio against title chasers.
Lazio were now joint 9th with Atalanta on 26 points but only two points from 5th place and Europe (Inter, Sampdoria and Parma on 29). Lazio also had two home games coming up so UEFA qualification did not seem impossible.
Juventus were still four points behind leaders Milan but with one game less to play and a difficult local derby against 4th placed Torino the following week.
Who played for Juventus
Tacconi, Reuter, De Agostini, Conte (54' Di Canio), Carrera, Julio Cesar, Alessio (72' Corini), Galia, Schillaci, Baggio, Casiraghi
Substitutes: Peruzzi, Luppi, Ragagnin
Manager: Trapattoni
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Zoff
Referee: Collina
Goals: 83' Riedle, 90' Schillaci
Sources
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