Game 11, Serie A
Sunday November 7, 1993
Stadio San Paolo, Naples
Napoli Lazio 1-2
A good win sees Lazio leapfrog Napoli and forget European disappointment
Lazio were currently 7th in the table in Serie A, on 11 points. The last two matches had been a 1-1 draw in the derby and a 2-1 home win against Udinese. The mood on the Biancoceleste side of Rome however was sombre as, only three days before today's game, Lazio had been knocked out of the UEFA Cup by Boavista. Lazio had won 1-0 at home but had then succumbed to two goals by a certain Ricky in Portugal. There was talk in the Roman media of Dino Zoff getting the chop.
Napoli were 6th in the table, on 12 points. The manager was Marcello Lippi, future world champion with Italy.
This afternoon's match was considered a clash for European places and Napoli slight favourites.
The match
A crowd of about 55,000 gathered on a muggy afternoon in the Fuorigrotta area of Naples.
Zoff chose Roberto Bacci over Cristiano Bergodi in defence and the only absence was Paul Gascoigne who was out through injury. To compensate they had recent buy Alen Boksic making his debut in attack.
Napoli played their usual XI with two former Roma players on the field, Sebastiano Nela and Daniel Fonseca.
In the first stages it was Napoli who attacked more with Paolo Di Canio particularly lively. The Lazio defence however was solid. Bacci marked Di Canio, Mauro Bonomi followed Fonseca while Roberto Di Matteo constantly got the better of Fabio Pecchia in midfield.
Boksic then had an opportunity in the 19th minute but, from a tricky angle, he sliced it well wide. In the 24th minute a Beppe Signori low, through ball was run onto by the Croat but Ciro Ferrara and Giuseppe Tagliatela averted the danger despite clashing .
The Lazio keeper, Luca Marchegiani, could have gone to visit Pompei until the 27th minute when he had to stop a Di Canio shot. In the 33rd minute a powerful low Fonseca freekick curled round the wall but "Il Conte" was ready on the far post and blocked.
Lazio absorbed Napoli's sterile pressure and then, in the last ten minutes, started to gain control and put the home side in some difficulty. The Azzurri were unlucky in the 42nd minute when their keeper Taglialatela was forced off injured and replaced by Raffaele Di Fusco.
In the 44th minute Thomas Doll passed to Signori just outside the box and the striker did not think twice and belted a curling low left-footed effort which literally shaved the post.
The Napoli reserve goal stopper was immediately called into action in the 46th minute when he had to save a Signori volley and he did so superbly. Halftime Napoli 0 Lazio 0.
Napoli had attacked but been confused and inprecise in their passing. Lazio had defended perfectly, looked sharper and ultimately been more dangerous.
In the second half Lazio the first attemp was for the hosts in the 52nd minute, with a Enzo Gambaro shot but it was comfortably saved by Marchegiani. Then Lazio took over, they played with more fluidity and confidence than their opponents and started to threaten with more frequency.
First, Di Matteo received the ball outside the area on the right and decided to go for it, he burst into the area and let loose a low shot which went just wide of the far post. Then a Boksic shot was saved by the keeper. A few minutes later Giuseppe Favalli went down towards the left byline and put in a cross to Boksic but his header was blocked by Di Fusco diving to his left.
In the 68th minute Lazio scored. Boksic disturbed a Napoli clearance from defence and was then tackled but the ball arrived to Doll who cleverly put a low vertical ball through the Napoli backline into the box, Favalli ran onto it and between two defenders put a crisp, low finish into the opposite corner. Napoli 0 Lazio 1.
The lead did not last long and in the 71st minute Napoli equalised. Di Canio ran down the right wing and squared a perfect low ball into the middle where this time Fonseca anticipated Bonomi and lunging put a close range touch past Marchegiani. Napoli 1 Lazio 1.
Lazio reacted well and went forward. In the 81st minute Signori put a long, curling cross into the middle, Boksic jumped but missed it and it was about to reach Doll on the far post when Francini put his arm out and put the ball into corner. A blatant handball with no discussions or complaints. Signori stepped up and with his usual no run-up approach put a powerful, medium height spotkick to Di Fusco's left. Napoli 1 Lazio 2.
Napoli already flagging now had no energy left to attempt a comeback. Final score Napoli 1 Lazio 2.
A deserved win for Lazio. The Biancocelesti had defended well and Boksic had impressed up front, teaming up well with the always threatening Signori. Zoff was safe for now and judging by today's performance itlooked as if the players were still with him.
Who played for Napoli
Taglialatela (42' Di Fusco), Ferrara, Francini, Gambaro, Cannavaro, Nela, Di Canio, Bordin, Fonseca, Policano (64' Buso), Pecchia
Substitutes: Corradini, Corini, Bresciani
Manager: Lippi
Who played for Lazio
Marchegiani, Bacci, Favalli, Di Matteo, Bonomi, Cravero (79' Bergodi), Winter, Doll, Boksic, Di Mauro, Signori
Manager: Zoff
Referee: Stafoggia
Goals: 68' Favalli, 70' Fonseca, 82' Signori (pen)
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