Game 16, Serie A
Sunday, December 17, 1989
Stadio Fruili, Udine
Udinese Lazio 0-2
Two goals in the last fifteen minutes give Lazio deserved on the road win
So far in Serie A Lazio had played 15 games; won 3, drawn 8 and lost 4. Their last three games had all been draws. Lazio were currently on 14 points.
Udinese had won 3, drawn 6 (including Roma and Juventus at home) and lost 6. The "Zebrette" had 12 points, 2 less than Lazio.
A game open to any result today between two lower mid-table teams.
The match
A grey, winter day only attracted about 15,000 fans to the modern but ugly Friuli stadium.
From the word go it was Lazio who controlled the match. The Biancocelesti were constantly forward and had almost total ball and territorial possession. Lazio had at least three chances to score. First an Amarildo header led to a scramble leading to a Cristiano Bergodi shot cleared before the line by a defender. Then Claudio Garella dived low to just anticipate Amarildo and Bergodi had a powerful long-range shot saved into corner by former "Garella Paperella" now known as a more complimentary "Garellik". Half time Udinese 0 Lazio 0 but only one team on the field so far.
In the second half, things continued pretty much the same. Rubén Sosa had a freekick deflected into corner by the wall and Paolo Di Canio had a long range deflected shot saved into corner by Garella. Then Udinese finally stirred and almost scored when, from a Luca Mattei freekick, a Nestor Sensini header went incredibly close to the post. Udinese tried to take advantage of their new-found energy and in the 56th minute put on some more attacking minded players, Angelo Orlando and Antonio De Vitis for Agostino Iacobelli and Marco Branca. Lazio responded replacing Rubén Sosa with Alessandro Bertoni and four minutes later throwing on Gabriele Pin for Pedro Troglio.
Lazio gradually got the upper hand again, dominating in midfield where Claudio Sclosa was outclassing former Real Madrid player Ricardo Gallego. Amarildo had two headers, the first forced Garella to make a brilliant save while the second did not find the target. Lazio insisted and Bertoni had a huge chance, unmarked in the area, his low left foot was blocked by a classic Garella save with his feet. Some minutes later Bergodi fired over the bar from just inside the area.
Lazio finally scored in the 76th minute. It was thoroughly deserved but slightly fortuitous. From a Sclosa corner from the right Rodolfo Vanoli, in an attempt to clear before Bertoni could strike, kicked the ball into his own net. Udinese 0 Lazio 1. A fair score line going into the last fifteen minutes.
Udinese reacted but apart from a shot well over the bar never really threatened. It was Lazio who continued to go closer. In the 85th minute Raffaele Sergio, set up by Di Canio, blasted a clear opportunity into Garella's body. Then in the 86th minute Lazio definitely sealed their superiority. Di Canio took a corner from the left and the ball was headed clear by a defender but only as far as Pin, a few metres outside the box, who without thinking twice took it on the volley, hammering a medium height shot which landed just over the line. A great goal, Udinese 0 Lazio 2 and final score.
A good away win for Lazio. A convincing performance by the Biancocelesti who had been by far the better team for the whole 90 minutes. An extremely rare and satisfying away win (Lazio had won none the previous season and would only win two this season, Milan and today).
Who played for Udinese
Garella, Paganin, Vanoli, Bruniera, Sensini, Lucci, Mattei, Iacobelli (56' Orlando), Branca (56' De Vitis), Gallego, Balbo
Substitutes: Abate, Galparoli, E.Oddi
Manager: Mazzia
Who played for Lazio
Orsi, Bergodi, Sergio, Icardi, Gregucci, Soldà, Di Canio, Troglio (60' Pin), Amarildo, Sclosa, Sosa (56' Bertoni)
Substitutes: Sassanelli, Nardecchia, Beruatto
Manager: Materazzi
Referee: Beschin
Goals:76' Vanoli (og), 86' Pin
Source
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