Lazio earn match against Real Madrid

Dag Jenkins
Aug 10, 2023
3 min read

Season 1990-91

Ciudad de la Línea Trophy, Semi Final

Saturday, August 11, 1990

Estadio Municipal, La Línea de la Concepción

Cádiz Lazio 2-3

By defeating Cádiz the Biancocelesti reward themselves with a shot at the mighty Merengues

This was only Lazio's third pre-season game and first serious one. The previous two had been Bienne 12-0 and Trossingen 7-0. For today there was also a trophy involved, not a major one but it was still a step up from the games against amateurs and there was the prospect of a game against Real Madrid should they beat the Andalusians.

The match

There were obviously more Cadiz fans (the distance between old Gadir and today's venue is 115 kilometres) but there were a good number of Lazio fans too.

The reward would be a game with Real Madrid and Lazio fielded their strongest side possible.

Lazio took the initiative from the word go and pushed forward.

The first really dangerous opportunity however was for the Panaderos in the 19th minute when Valerio Fiori misjudged a Raúl Procopio cross but fortunately for him Pepe Mejas' header went wide.

In the 21st minute Lazio hit the post with a Ruben Sosa header. The "Limoneros" responded with a woodwork of their own when in the 24th minute José Manuel Mejas hit the crossbar with a long range effort.

The last twenty minutes of the half were all Lazio. In the 37th minute Karl-Heinz Riedle was pushed from behind and shot wide. A possible penalty but even the local press would later say the referee was blatantly Pro-Cadiz. Just before the break the Spanish keeper made three saves in quick succession, first on Riedle, then on Armando Madonna on the rebound and finally on the German striker again a couple of minutes later. Half time Cadiz 0 Lazio 0.

An entertaining game so far but strangely still goalless.

For the second half the Limoneros replaced midfielder José Quevedo with José Fernandez and forward José González with Paquito Aragon. Lazio remained unchanged.

Riedle went close again almost immediately, set up by Madonna and in the 51st minute Fiori was forced to save a Fernandez strike into corner.

Lazio continued to be on top and scored in the 57th minute with a superb goal. Raffaele Sergio crossed for Rubén Sosa who acrobatically latched onto it and volleyed it into the top hand corner with his left foot, 0-1.

Lazio doubled their lead six minutes later. In the 63rd minute Sergio was again the provider as he crossed for Gabriele Pin who volleyed in on the far post and beat Jozsef Szendrei, 0-2.

Cadiz reacted and Fiori had to be reactive on a close range Husillos effort. In the 69th minute the Limoneros pulled one back when Ángel Oliva poked home after Fiori had saved but not blocked a Mario Husillos shot, 1-2.

Zoff at this point took off Sergio Domini and threw on Andrea Icardi.

Lazio went on the attack again but three minutes later were caught on the break by Francisco Aragon who then teed up Husillos for an easy finish, 2-2.

Lazio made their second substitution in the 74th minute when Madonna went off and Alessandro Bertoni came on. Two minutes earlier the Andalusians had taken off José Barla and put on Ortega Marcelo.

Lazio had savoured a clash with the mighty Merengues and continued to push. They were rewarded eight minutes from time when Roberto Soldà blasted in a low and angled freekick from the edge of the box, 2-3.

The Spaniards were unable to threaten again and Lazio controlled the last minutes to set up a prestigious encounter with "Los blancos" from the Spanish capital. The final of the "Trofeo Città di de la Linea" would be the very next day.

Who played for Cadiz

Szendrei, Raul, Carmelo, Linares, Cortijo, Oliva, Quevedo (46' Fernandez), Husillos, Barla (72' Marcelo), Gonzalez (46' Aragon)

Manager: Viera

Who played for Lazio

Fiori, Bergodi, Sergio, Pin, Gregucci, Soldà, Madonna (74' Bertoni), Sclosa, Riedle, Domini (70' Icardi), Sosa