Games 6, Serie A
Sunday, November 20, 1988
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Verona 3-1
After five consecutive draws Lazio finally manage to win their first Serie A match since 1984.
In the first five games of the Campionato, Lazio drew all five, including good draws away to Milan and Napoli. They had yet to win their first game in Serie A. The last time they had won was almost exactly four years ago, against Como for 3-2 on November 25, 1984.
The match
Lazio started magnificently. After just 60 seconds, Ruben Sosa on the counter attack managed to pass a great ball to Antonio Rizzolo in complete solitude on the edge of the box. The young centre forward controlled the ball with difficulty but was able to dribble past Giovanni Cervone and score.
Verona reacted and in the 17th minute Mario Bortolazzi hit the crossbar from 25 metres with a powerful shot. The Gialloblu pressed the Biancocelesti who were in great difficulty and in the 31st minute equalised. Bortolazzi took a free kick on the right and Claudio Caniggia headed the ball in while the Lazio defenders were watching the events.
In the second half Lazio seemed to have found the right key to unlock the Verona defence. In the 52nd minute Gabriele Pin crossed a ball from the left and Rizzolo headed the ball in for Lazio’s second. Verona seemed tired and the Biancocelesti made it three in the 79th minute. Bertolazzi took a free kick from the right close to the corner kick, ball to Roberto Soldà outside the box but central, his shot was parried by the Lazio defenders and Ruben Sosa had an open field laid out in front of him. The Uruguayan raced towards the Verona penalty box, followed by Stefano Pioli who could not catch him; once inside, Sosa was fouled by the keeper but the ball reached Pin who avoided the penalty being given by tapping the ball in. Lazio 3, Verona 1, game over.
Who played for Lazio
Martina, Marino, Icardi, Pin, Gregucci, Gutierrez, Dezotti, Di Canio, Rizzolo (55’ Acerbis), Sclosa, Ruben Sosa (80’ Beruatto)
Manager: Materazzi
Who played for Verona
Cervone, Berthold, Volpecina, Soldà, Pioli, Iachini, Caniggia, Troglio, Galderisi, Bortolazzi, Pacione
Substitutes: Zuccher, Terracciano, Marangon II, Bonetti I, Gasparini
Manager: Bagnoli
Referee: Di Cola
Goals: 1’ Rizzolo, 31’ Caniggia, 52’ Rizzolo, 70’ Pin
Sources
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