Game 2 Serie A
Sunday, September 3, 1989
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan
Milan Lazio 0-1
A strenuous defensive performance and a rare Maldini blunder give Lazio away win against European Champions
.In the first game of the season Lazio lost 0-2 at home to Sampdoria and Milan had won 3-0 away at Cesena.
The match
There were 55,000 spectators at the former San Siro for Milan's league debut on a hot day in the Lombard capital.
Milan had two important absences in Ruud Gullit and Marco Van Basten. Lazio meanwhile had been through a turbulent week with fan protests and talk of Giuseppe Materazzi's job being on the line. The Biancocelesti too were missing their star forward Rubén Sosa.
Milan attacked from the start and closed Lazio in their own half for long periods. Early on two headers by Paolo Maldini and Daniele Massaro went close. Lazio however were extremely compact and Milan had difficulty finding openings up front.
Milan continued their seige but a Borgonovo lunging volley went well wide and another Maldini header from a Roberto Donadoni freekick shaved the post.
Lazio relieved the pressure briefly with a Gabriele Pin lob from inside the area on the right but his chipped effort went high. Then it was Milan again with a Rijkaard dipping header tipped over the bar by Valerio Fiori.
In the 41st minute came the unexpected. From a goal kick by Fiori, Amarildo headed on to Paolo Di Canio but he was anticipated by Maldini who went for the back pass to goalkeeper Giovanni Galli. What happened next was a comedy of errors, Maldini hit it too hard and lobbed the keeper who himself was way too far out. Result an incredible own goal and Milan 0 Lazio 1.
Milan pushed forward again before halftime but were never dangerous so at the break Lazio led 1-0.
For the second half Sacchi made a change bringing on a more attacking Alberico Evani for Angelo Colombo. Lazio were satisfied with their resistance so far and kept the same line-up.
Milan continued where they left off but were imprecise and predictable. A lot of crosses into the area for Stefano Borgonovo's head and a weak Donadoni left foot which went wide.
Despite dominating ball and territorial possession Milan were sterile and even risked to concede again were it not for a Franco Baresi last ditch tackle on Bertoni going towards goal.
In the 66th minute another substitution for Milan as Marco Simone came on for Massaro while Lazio had already replaced Andrea Icardi with Franco Marchegiani in the 60th and Angelo Gregucci with Marco Monti in the 65th.
Milan were slowly losing confidence and risked further blunders at tbe back. They continued to push forward but lacked convinction. Ancelotti had a chance but his powerful volley after chesting it up after the bounce went wide of the post.
The game followed the same pattern until the end but it was one of those days that the defence wins over the attack, especially a predictable and repetitive one as Milan's today. Throw into the mix a freakish own goal and you have Lazio defeating the European champions on their own turf. Final score Milan 0 Lazio 1.
So after eleven years Lazio finally got the better of the "Diavolo" in Milan. An excellent defensive performance by the Biancocelesti who took advantage of an off day by the hosts and an unusual mistake by Maldini to clinch a precious and prestigious victory. Milan had attacked for almost the whole game but Fiori had not had to perform any miracles to keep a clean sheet.
Who played for Milan
G.Galli, Tassotti, Maldini, Colombo (46' Evani), F. Galli, F. Baresi, Donadoni, Ancelotti, Borgonovo, Rijkaard, Massaro (66' Simone)
Substitutes: Pazzagli, Costacurta, Stroppa
Manager: Sacchi
Who played for Lazio
Fiori, Bergodi, Beruatto, G.Pin, Gregucci (65' Monti), Soldà, Di Canio, Icardi (60' F. Marchegiani), Amarildo, Sclosa, Bertoni
Manager: Materazzi
Referee: Sguizzato
Goals: 41' Maldini (og)
Sources
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