Work still needed
Lazio beat Andria in Coppa Italia but need to improve
The season so far
The season was determined by a player who would not play a single minute of the 1991-92 season. In the summer of 1991 Lazio bought Paul Gascoigne. A massive deal for Dino Zoff’s side, but unfortunately Gazza’s dangerous tackle in his final match for Tottenham inflicted a very serious injury to the English player that would keep him out of the game for over a year.
Lazio had to therefore change their plans and in came Thomas Doll, a German midfielder with similar characteristics who was believed to be able to combine well with Lazio’s forwards Karl-Heinz Riedle and Ruben Sosa. Other signings were defenders Luigi Corino (Triestina) and Rufo Emiliano Verga (Bologna), midfielders Stefano Melchiori (Reggina) and Giovanni Stroppa (Milan) plus forwards Maurizio Neri (Pisa) and Bernardino Capocchiano (TSV Havelse). Leaving Lazio were Sergio Domini (Brescia), Pedro Troglio (Ascoli), Alessandro Bertoni (Reggiana), Franco Marchegiani (Pisa) and Giampaolo Saurini (Brescia).
In the first official game of the season, the Coppa Italia round of 32, the Biancocelesti had beaten Fidelis Andria away 2-0 (goals by Doll and Stroppa). Then they faced Parma in the first Serie A match drawing 1-1.
Today was the return match of Coppa Italia.
The match: Wednesday, September 4, 1991, Stadio Olimpico Rome
Lazio were half asleep in the first half and Fidelis Andria took the initiative for the entire 45 minutes with the Biancocelesti on the back foot, also influenced by the 2-0 lead that they held from the first leg. In the 45th minute penalty for Andria due to a Franco Marchegiani foul on Gianluca Petrachi. Fabrizio Mastini had no problem scoring. The Apulians deservedly in front.
In the second half the Biancocelesti were forced to wake up and start to play. After Roberto Bacci hit the post, in the 52nd minute they equalised. Marchegiani dispossessed an Apulian player, ball to Ruben Sosa who with a clinical left shot beat Luigi Imparato. Seven minutes later there was a free kick for the Biancocelesti, at least 30 metres out. Magnificent shot from Sosa and Lazio in the lead.
Andria tried a comeback and managed to equalise with Fabio Ercoli who took advantage of a loose ball, dribbled past Valerio Fiori and scored.
So, Lazio were forced to attack again and in the 81st minute scored. Bacci on the left crossed a high ball in the box, Maurizio Neri headed the ball down to the centre of the box, enter Stefano Melchiori who with a big whack gave the Biancocelesti the win.
Nevertheless, lots of work needed for Lazio.
Who played for Lazio
Substitutes: Orsi, Lampugnani, Vertova, Madonna
Manager: Zoff
Who played for Fidelis Andria
Imparato, E. Leoni, Carlone, Monari, Ripa, Ercoli, Tavolieri (56' Cicchetti), Petrachi, Lomonaco (64' Argentieri), Mastini, Insanguine
Substitutes: Marcon, Perugini, Luceri
Manager: Russo
Referee: Rodomonti
Goals: 45’ Mastini (pen), 52’ Sosa, 59’ Sosa, 73’ Ercoli, 81’ Melchiori
What happened next
Lazio’s main issue for the 1991-1992 campionato was the difficulty in winning at home. Not only. They conceded too many goals in the dying stages of games. It was a psychological problem that was not solved. For seven times this season Lazio threw away a win in the final 10 minutes.
In the end the Biancocelesti arrived 10th, one place better than the previous season, but with one point less. Let’s face it, the problems had been clear right from the beginning. Only six wins at home were certainly not enough to have any hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Cup.
The main event of the year was however the acquisition of the club by Sergio Cragnotti, who would buy Lazio from Gian Marco Calleri on March 12, 1992. Lazio then gradually became a financial superpower over the next decade and achieve the best results in their history.
Roberto Bacci was the player with most appearances in the 1991-92 season (37) and Ruben Sosa scored the most goals (15).
Lazio 1991-92
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals Scored |
Serie A | 34 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 43 |
Coppa Italia | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
Total | 38 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 48 |
Top Five appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Bacci | 37 | 33 | 4 |
Pin | 36 | 32 | 4 |
Doll | 35 | 31 | 4 |
Fiori | 35 | 32 | 3 |
Ruben Sosa | 35 | 31 | 4 |
Top Goal Scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Ruben Sosa | 15 | 13 | 2 |
Riedle | 13 | 13 | - |
Doll | 8 | 7 | 1 |
Stroppa | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Let’s talk about Stefano Melchiori
Stefano Melchiori was born in Genoa on September 24, 1965. He started playing for Varazze in the fifth tier in 1984 and a year later signed for Casale again in the Italian fifth tier. In his five years there, Casale were promoted to C2 in 1985 and then to C1 in 1988. After a year in the third tier, in 1990 he signed for Reggiana in Serie B and made 37 league appearances with 9 goals.
In 1991 he joined Lazio as a backup midfielder. He made 22 appearances with one goal in Coppa Italia and in 1992 was sold to Lecce. In his first year they were promoted to Serie A but stayed for just one season. After his third year in Apulia, he joined Modena in Serie C1 in 1995.
In 1996 he went back to Casale for four years playing in the fifth tier. In 2000 he joined Valenzana, achieving another promotion, followed by Trino for a season. In 2002 he returned to Casale again in Serie D and stayed for another three seasons, in the second of which Casale were promoted to Serie C2.
Once he stopped playing, he became a manager, mainly for clubs in the Piedmont region and in lower tiers: Novese, Casale, Derthona, Alessandria youth teams, Tortona VillaIvernia.
He had a long career in the minor leagues and at Lazio he did not do too badly, but it was a transition period and once Sergio Cragnotti became owner, he could not compete with the incoming higher quality players.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
1991-92 | 22 | 20 | 2 |
Sources
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