Game 20, Serie B
Sunday, February 7, 1988
Stadio Riviera delle Palme, San Benedetto del Tronto
Sambenedettese Lazio 1-2
Lazio battle hard on Adriatic. Two goals up at halftime, they resist Sambenedettese attempted comeback and clinch important promotion points
At the end of the first half of the season, the Biancocelesti had won 5, drawn 11 and lost 3, so on 21 points. Lazio were joint 5th with Lecce and Catanzaro but only two points from 3rd place Cremonese. The last 7 games had all been draws (five nil-nil), the most recent 3-3 away at Taranto. Lazio needed to change pace if they wanted to keep up in the promotion race.
The match
A 10,000 crowd was present at the little Riviera delle Palme stadium (13.000 capacity).
Both sides started off cautiously. Lazio had more possession but the hosts defended well.
Without much warning a goal came in the 19th minute. Raimondo Marino found Paolo Beruatto on the right wing who crossed into the area where Paolo Monelli and Roberto Andreoli jumped up but the Lazio striker got the better and headed home. From the replay however, it appeared the defender had deflected it too. Anyway Sambenedettese 0 Lazio 1.
In the 35th minute Lazio doubled their lead. Ciro Muro took a crisp freekick from the vertex of the box, Monelli went for a touch and missed but the ball then ended up in the back of the net. Sambenedettese 0 Lazio 2.
The "Samb" could have pulled one back before halftime but Faccini missed the target when he had only Silvano Martina to beat. Halftime Sambenedettese 0 Lazio 2. A slightly flattering score line for Lazio but the Biancocelesti had taken their chances.
The hosts made a change during the break and brought on Massimo Cardelli for midfielder Ficcadenti. They also came back on a transformed team and attacked furiously. Lazio were pegged back in their own half and sometimes area. In the 47th minute Martina had to fly to stop a Paolo Mandelli shot and in the 48th minute Ugo Bronzini jiggled his way into the box and shot from the penalty spot but again Martina saved.
In the 53rd minute Lazio replaced Domenico Caso with a more defensive midfielder, Gabriele Savino.
Lazio realised they could not simply defend for the whole half and occasionally ventured into attack. In the 60th minute an Antonio Elia Acerbis shot from a favourable position was blocked by Andrea Galassi and then Muro failed to find the target on the rebound. Then a minute later a Giuseppe Galderisi diving header, from a Savino cross, was acrobatically saved by Ferron.
In the 70th minute Sambenedettese were awarded a penalty. It was Bronzini again who caused havoc in the Lazio area where Muro unbalanced him with an exaggerated movement of his hip and the referee pointed to the spot kick. Faccini gave Martina no chance. Sambenedettese 1 Lazio 2.
In the last twenty minutes Lazio had to dig deep. In the 75th minute they threw on 20-year-old youngster Federico Agostinelli for his debut (it would remain his one and only appearance ever for Lazio) replacing Muro.
The game became increasingly tense (six yellow cards) but Lazio managed, not without difficulty, to clinch the two points.
An important win for Lazio who moved up to 4th. They had been clinical and then resisted Samb's second half onslaught showing strong character and a determination to reach their final objective.
Who played for Sambenedettese
Ferron, Nobile, Andreoli, D. Ferrari, Bronzini, Ficcadenti (46' Cardelli), Mandelli, Galassi, Luperto, Sinigaglia, Faccini
Substitutes: Bonaiuti, Paciscopi, Vecchiola
Manager: Domenghini
Who played for Lazio
Martina, Marino, Beruatto, Esposito, Gregucci, Pin, Caso (53' Savino), Acerbis, Galderisi, Muro (75' F. Agostinelli), Monelli
Substitutes: Salafia, Biagioni, Nigro
Manager: Fascetti
Referee: Frigerio
Goals: 19' Monelli, 35' Muro, 70' Faccini (pen).
Sources
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