Game 13, Serie A
Sunday, December 15, 1996
Stadio Renato Curi, Perugia
Perugia Lazio 1-2
Rambaudi and a Signori penalty finally bring Lazio Umbrian joy
The Serie A campaign had started very badly with two defeats (Bologna 0-1 away and Udinese 0-1 at home). Since then, the Biancocelesti had won 4, drawn 4 (including the recent derby 0-0) and lost 2. They were currently in joint 9th place with Sampdoria, Piacenza and today's opposition Perugia on 16 points.
The match
A crowd of 20,000 turned up at the small ground named after the Perugia player who had tragically collapsed and died on this field in 1977.
Perugia had to do without midfielder Massimiliano Allegri plus their main goal scorer Marco Negri while Lazio were missing defender Paolo Negro, midfielder Pavel Nedved and forward Gigi Casiraghi.
The first half was evenly balanced. Lazio were too fancy in their build up, trying to walk the ball in with too many passes while Perugia were always off target from long range.
Lazio suffered a blow on the half hour mark when defender Alessandro Nesta was forced off injured and replaced by Guerino Gottardi.
Lazio had a couple of good chances to take the lead especially with Beppe Signori but the biggest of all fell to Perugia in the 38th minute when they were awarded a penalty. Lazio defender Alessandro Grandoni appeared to get the ball on a challenge with Fausto Pizzi but the referee had other ideas. Fortunately for Lazio, Federico Giunti sent his low penalty wide to Luca Marchegiani's left.
The second half was similar. In the 57th minute Marchegiani pulled off an excellent save to deny Milan Rapaić and Lazio responded by hitting a post with Diego Fuser.
The deadlock was broken in the 71st minute. On a Signori cross Roberto Rambaudi found himself unmarked in the heart of the area and with an acrobatic scissor kick volley beat Aleksandar Kocić on the far post. A great goal and Perugia 0 Lazio 1.
The Biancoceleste lead only lasted eight minutes as in the 79th minute Perugia equalised. Rapaić caused havoc in the Lazio area, cutting out the whole defence including Marchegiani and Carmine Gautieri had an easy task to slot the ball in. Perugia 1 Lazio 1.
Both sides seemed reasonably satisfied with the draw but only two minutes later the Romans were awarded a penalty. Salvatore Matrecano pulled down Signori and the referee had no doubts and pointed to the penalty spot. The blond striker had no problem beating Kocic who had only arrived an hour before the match from international duty with Yugoslavia. Perugia 1 Lazio 2.
All that followed was a series of substitutions, two each, and Lazio managed to see out the last minutes before the final whistle. Perugia 1 Lazio 2.
An important win for Lazio. It was not a vintage performance but Perugia was historically a difficult place to come so the Biancocelesti were more than pleased to just take the three points.
Lazio were now up to joint 8th with Sampdoria on 19 points while Perugia slipped down to joint 12th with Piacenza on 16, now only two points above the drop zone.
Who played for Perugia
Kocic, Castellini, Matrecano, Dicara, Di Chiara (87' Rocco), Goretti, Giunti, Kreek, Gautieri, Pizzi, Rapaic (85' Pagano)
Substitutes: Spagnulo, Traversa, Cottini, Manicone, Gattuso
Manager: Galeone
Who played for Lazio
Marchegiani, Nesta (30' Gottardi), Grandoni, Chamot, Favalli (89' Venturin), Fuser, Okon, Marcolin (82' Piovanelli), Rambaudi, Protti, Signori
Substitutes: Orsi, Franceschini, Baronio, Buso
Manager: Zeman
Referee: Ceccarini
Goals: 71' Rambaudi, 79' Gautieri, 81' Signori (pen)
Sources
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