Pinball wizard conjures up two goals to beat Torino

Season 1990-91

Game 18, Serie A

Sunday, January 27, 1991

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Torino 2-1

A brace by Gabriele Pin gives Lazio well deserved win

So far, Lazio had something called "pareggite" (an addiction to draws). The Biancocelesti had played 17 games and shared the points 13 times, 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.

Torino had 19 points, 2 more than Lazio and were in 6th position.

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

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.

Manager Emiliano 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

Fiori, Bergodi, Sergio, Pin, Gregucci, Soldà, Bacci, Sclosa, Riedle, Domini, Sosa