Good point with a pinch of regret
Lazio get the point they wanted but Juventus equalise in injury time
Also on this day:
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had finished 11th in Serie A under manager Dino Zoff. The Biancocelesti won 8, drew 17 and lost 7. Lazio’s best result was defeating Juventus 1-0 at home while both derbies were draws.
Zoff had been confirmed but this new season was largely influenced by a player who would not even be involved, English star Paul Gascoigne. Lazio had made a deal with Tottenham for Gazza but the Geordie midfielder had ruptured his own cruciate ligaments in his right knee with his infamous tackle in the FA Cup Final. His official arrival at Lazio would therefore be for the successive 1992-1993 season.
In the meantime, Lazio had mitigated the setback by signing rated German midfielder Thomas Doll from Hamburger SV. In had also come defender Gigi Corino (Triestina), midfielder Giovanni Stroppa (Milan) and striker Berardino Capocchiano (TSV Havelse).
Leaving Lazio were midfielders Sergio Domini (Brescia) and Pedro Troglio (Ascoli). The Argentinian had to make space for Doll, as there was still a three foreign player limit. Striker Alessandro Bertoni also left after two years (back home to Reggiana).
So far Lazio had played 25 league games and were joint 9th with Genoa. They had won 8, drawn 10 (including both derbies, Milan and Juventus, all 1-1) and lost 7, so had 26 points. A similar pattern to the previous campaign. A week earlier Lazio had defeated Verona 2-0 away.
In Coppa Italia Lazio had beaten Fidelis Andria 5-2 on aggregate in August and September but then lost to Torino 0-2 on aggregate in October and December.
Juventus had finished 7th the previous season. The Luigi Maifredi "champagne football" had failed and the Bianconeri were out of Europe after 28 years. They did get to that year's Cup Winners Cup semi-final but lost to Barcelona 2-3 on aggregate. Top scorer was Roberto Baggio with 27 goals (14 in A).
This season Giovanni Trapattoni was back. He had already been Juve manager between 1976 and 1986, winning 6 league titles, a European Cup and more. The main new signings were: keeper Angelo Peruzzi (Roma), defenders Massimo Carrera (Bari), Jürgen Kohler (Bayern Munich) and midfielder Antonio Conte (Lecce).
Leaving the "Old Lady" were: defenders Dario Bonetti (Sampdoria), Marco De Marchi (Roma - on loan) plus midfielders Daniele Fortunato (Bari) and Thomas Häßler (Roma).
In Serie A, Juventus were currently 2nd, four points behind leaders Milan. The Bianconeri had won 16 (including derby 1-0), drawn 6 (including Lazio 1-1 and Milan 1-1 twice) and lost 3.
In Coppa Italia, Juventus had qualified for the semi-final against Milan to be played on March 31 and April 14. The Bianconeri had eliminated Udinese 3-0, Atalanta 3-1 and Inter 3-1 (a.e.t) all on aggregate.
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: Sunday, March 29, 1992, Stadio Delle Alpi, Turin
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
What happened next
Lazio did not get into Europe and finished joint 10th, on 34 points, a slight improvement on the previous year. Lazio beat Bari 3-1 a week later but then drew 1-1 with Fiorentina. In the last 6 games Lazio then won 2 and lost 4. So, compared to 1990-91 more defeats but also more victories and one extra point. Top scorer was Ruben Sosa with 15 (13 in A, as Karl-Heinz Riedle).
During the season Sergio Cragnotti had bought Lazio from Gianmarco Calleri. In fact, today's game saw his first presence at the stadium. Better times were on the way and Gazza.
Juventus finished 2nd, on 48 points and 8 behind Milan. A week later they lost the derby 0-2. In the following 7 games they won 2 and drew 5. Top scorer was Roberto Baggio with 22 goals (18 in A).
In Coppa Italia they got the better of Milan 1-0 on aggregate but then lost the final to Parma (1-0 win at home and 0-2 defeat away).
The Scudetto was won by Milan for the 12th time. Serie B beckoned for Bari, Cremonese, Ascoli and Verona.
Let’s talk about Salvatore "Totò" Schillaci
Salvatore "Totò" Schillaci was born in Palermo on December 1, 1964.
His first local club was AMAT Palermo but when he was 18 he moved to Messina in Serie C2 (4th tier).
He stayed seven seasons with the Giallorossi. In his first the Peloritani were promoted to C1 and in his fourth to Serie B. He played a total of 256 games and scored 77 goals. His managers included: Alfredo Ballarò (promotion to C1), Giovanni Seghedoni (former Lazio player), Franco Scoglio (promotion to B) for four seasons and Zdeněk Zeman. His teammates included former Lazio, Stefano Di Chiara (1973-76) and Schillaci's cousin, Antonio Maurizio (Lazio 1986-87). In his last season, under Zeman, Totò Schillaci was top Serie B scorer with 23 league goals and this earned him a call by Juventus.
He stayed with the Bianconeri for three seasons. The first was his best and he scored 15 league goals under Dino Zoff and Juve won the UEFA Cup and the Coppa Italia. In his second, after Italia '90 and under Gigi Maifredi, he only scored 5 league goals and in his third, under Giovanni Trapattoni six league goals. Juventus finished 4th, 7th and 2nd. Schillaci played a total of 132 games with 36 goals. His teammates included Lazio connections Gigi Casiraghi (1993-98), Paolo Di Canio (1987-1990, 2004-06) and Angelo Peruzzi (2000-07).
In 1992 Juventus signed Gianluca Vialli and Schillaci left for Inter. The Nerazzurri finished 2nd under Osvaldo Bagnoli and Schillaci scored 6 league goals in 21 games. His second season was problematic for himself and Inter. After 23 matches Bagnoli was replaced by Giampiero Marini and Inter finished 13th. Schillaci only played 9 league games with 5 goals and left in April. Inter then won the UEFA Cup. He played alongside Lazio connections Rubén Sosa (1988-92) and Francesco Dell'Anno (1984-86).
In April 1994 he moved to Japan and signed a lucrative contract for Júbilo Iwata. He stayed three seasons before an injury forced him to retire. He played a total of 93 games with 65 goals and won a Japanese league title in 1997.
Schillaci officially retired at 34 but he had never really recovered from the injury he suffered at 32.
He won 16 caps for Italy with 7 goals. It was for the Italia 1990 World Cup that he will always be best remembered for. He started as reserve but came on as sub in the first game and went on to score 6 goals and was top scorer. Italy were knocked out in the semi-final on penalties by Argentina but Schillaci became a national hero. He became forever associated with the so-called "notti magiche" (magic nights) when Italy dreamt of lifting the trophy on home soil. His exploits also earned him a runner-up placing in the prestigious "Ballon d'Or" (won by Lothar Matthäus).
After retiring he opened a football academy in Palermo and was also the owner of youth football club U.S Palermo.
He also worked in show business on various television shows such as "L'isola dei famosi" and "Pechino Express" amongst others. He also had bit parts in TV series and films.
He had a spell in politics too. In 1997 he was elected as a local councillor for Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia party but resigned after two years.
Schillaci was a striker. At 1.73 and 70 kilos he was not physical but based his game on speed and opportunism. He played 120 games in Serie A with 37 goals and 105 games in B with 39 goals.
It is with the national team he is mainly identified. His spirited, almost possessed eyes when scoring his goals in Italia '90 have become legendary.
Totò Schillaci died on September 18, 2024 in Palermo from a cancer relapse.
Sources
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