December 1, 1991: Lazio-Napoli 3-3
- Dag Jenkins
- 14 hours ago
- 7 min read
Lazio throw away win
Despite being 3-1 up with ten minutes to go Lazio have to settle for a draw
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had finished 11th in Serie A under manager Dino Zoff. The Biancocelesti won 8, drew 17 and lost 7. Lazio’s best result was defeating Juventus 1-0 at home while both derbies were draws.
Zoff had been confirmed but this new season was largely influenced by a player who would not even be involved, English star Paul Gascoigne. Lazio had made a deal with Tottenham for Gazza but the Geordie midfielder had ruptured the cruciate ligaments in his right knee with his infamous tackle in the FA Cup Final. His official arrival at Lazio would therefore be for the successive 1992-1993 season.
In the meantime, Lazio had mitigated the setback by signing rated German midfielder Thomas Doll from Hamburger SV. In had also come defender Gigi Corino (Triestina), midfielder Giovanni Stroppa (Milan) and striker Berardino Capocchiano (TSV Havelse).
Leaving Lazio were midfielders Sergio Domini (Brescia) and Pedro Troglio (Ascoli). The Argentinian had to make space for Doll, as there was still a three foreign player limit. Striker Alessandro Bertoni also left after two years (back home to Reggiana).
So far Lazio had played 11 league games. They had won 4, drawn 6 (including the derby, Milan and Juventus, all 1-1) and lost 1, so a decent start. The Biancocelesti were 4th, on 14 points with Inter. A week earlier Lazio had drawn 1-1 away to Fiorentina.
In Coppa Italia Lazio had beaten Fidelis Andria 5-2 on aggregate in August /September but then lost to Torino 0-2 away in the first leg of the last 16. The return game in Rome would be on December 11.
Napoli had finished 8th the previous season, under former Lazio player Alberto Bigon. A disappointing position considering they were defending champions. It was negatively influenced by their star player, Diego Armando Maradona, being suspended for failing a doping test in March. They did however win the Supercoppa Italiana trouncing Juventus 5-1. The top scorer was Antonio Careca with 12 goals (9 in A).
This season was the first post-Maradona and the new manager was Claudio Ranieri. The main new players were: defenders Laurent Blanc (Montpellier), Vittorio Pusceddu (Verona), Massimo Tarantino (Barletta - back from loan), midfielder Stefano De Agostini (Reggiana) and forward Michele Padovano (Pisa).
Leaving were: goalkeeper Giuseppe Taglialatela (Palermo - on loan), defender Marco Baroni (Bologna), Alessandro Renica (Verona), Ivan Rizzardi (Bari), midfielder Luca Altomare (Reggiana), Giorgio Venturin (Torino - end of loan) plus forwards Giuseppe Incocciati (Bologna) and Maradona (doping suspension - he would join Seville in 1992.
Napoli were doing well so far. The Partenopei had won 5, drawn 5 (including Inter 0-0 away) and lost 1 (Juventus 0-1at home). They were 3rd on 15 points.
In the Coppa Italia they had eliminated Reggiana 1-0 on aggregate in August-September. In the last 16 they had lost the first leg 0-1 away to Roma and the return match would be on December 4.
A high-level game today between two sides who had started the season well. It was 3rd against 4th. Lazio however were winless at home and Napoli unbeaten away.
The match: Sunday, December 1, 1991, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A hazy day with pale sunshine saw just over 40,000 spectators in attendance.
Lazio were missing defenders Gigi Corino and Roberto Soldà while Napoli were without striker Andrea Silenzi.
In the first fifteen minutes the two teams sized each other up but then the game came alive.
In the 15th minute Gianfranco Zola put Alemão in front of goal but Valerio Fiori managed to save.
Ten minutes later Lazio took the lead. In the 25th minute Rubén Sosa went down the left and crossed into the middle where Karl-Heinz Riedle rose to the heavens, beating Giovanni Francini and heading past Giuseppe Galli, 1-0.
A few minutes later Riedle had another header but this time it was just over the bar.
Lazio then had a penalty appeal when Francini appeared to pull down Riedle in front of Galli but the referee gestured to play on.
In the 34th minute Lazio had a brilliant move by Thomas Doll and Rubén Sosa finished off by Riedle but Galli pulled off a brilliant save.
Napoli, slightly against the run of play, equalised in the 42nd minute. Alemao shot and Fiori couldn't hold onto it, in came Ciro Ferrara and it was 1-1.
In the second half Lazio took back the lead in the 58th minute. Doll did well to get a cross in despite being challenged and Riedle's diving header beat Galli, 2-1.
Ten minutes later the Biancocelesti made it three. In the 68th minute Riedle was fouled by Laurent Blanc in the area and Sosa put away the spot kick, 3-1.
In the 72nd minute Lazio took off the Uruguayan forward and put on midfielder Stefano Melchiori.
The replacement could have definitely closed the game in the 75th minute but after a Riedle shot was parried by Galli he fired the simplest of chances over the bar.
A minute later the visitors changed Brazilian Alemão with Vittorio Pusceddu.
In the 80th minute the Partenopei pulled one back. On a Pusceddu corner the ball was missed by several defenders and reached Blanc who poked it in, 3-2.
Lazio went into panic mode, Napoli pushed forward and in the last minute they equalised. At the edge of the area Michele Padovano jumped up, possibly holding Angelo Gregucci down, heading on to Zola whose precise touch beat Fiori, 3-3.
A disappointment for Lazio who had been two goals up with ten minutes to go and after having missed the killer blow. However defensive errors and an overly tense approach to the final minutes had cost them a point. The home win would have to wait.
Man of the match for Lazio was Doll while for Napoli Zola had played well.
Lazio were still 4th, on 15 points with Inter while Napoli were still 3rd on 16. The draw had kept things pretty much as they were.
Who played for Lazio
Substitute: Orsi, Vertova, Neri, Capocchiano
Manager: Zoff
Who played for Napoli
Galli, Ferrara, Francini, Crippa, Alemão (78' Pusceddu), Blanc, Corradini, De Napoli, Careca, Zola, Padovano
Substitutes: Sansonetti, Tarantino, Filardi, De Agostini
Manager: Ranieri
Referee: Cornieti
Goals: 25' Riedle, 43' Ferrara, 57' Riedle, 68' Sosa (pen), 79' Blanc, 90' Zola
What happened next
Lazio finished 10th, a slight improvement on the previous year. Lazio then won 7 (including a home win finally in January, Foggia 5-2), drew 5 (including the derby and Juventus away, both 1-1) and lost 10 (including Napoli 0-3). So, more defeats but also more victories and one extra point. Top scorer was Ruben Sosa with 15 (13 in A, as Karl-Heinz Riedle). The next year Gazza was on his way.
Napoli finished 4th. The Azzurri then won 10, drew 6 and lost 6. In Coppa Italia they beat Roma 3-2 but went out on away goals. The top scorer was Careca with 17 goals (15 in A).
The Scudetto was won by Milan for the 12th time. Serie B beckoned for Bari, Verona, Cremonese and Ascoli.
Let’s talk about Antonio Careca
Today in our opponents series we will talk about a great Brazilian centre-forward.
Antônio de Oliveira Filho known as Careca was born in Araraquara, on October 5, 1960.
He grew up in the Guarani youth sector and in 1978 joined the first team squad. He stayed four years, playing 254 games with 114 goals. In 1978 the "Bugre" won their first ever league title.
In 1983 he joined São Paolo where stayed until August 1987. With the Tricolor Paulista he played 179 games and scored 108 goals. They won the Paulista title in 1985 and 1986 and the Brazilian title in 1986.
In 1987 he came to Europe and joined Napoli where he paired up with Diego Maradona and Bruno Giordano (the MA-GI-CA). In his first season the Partenopei finished 2nd under Ottavio Bianchi. Careca scored 13 goals in Serie A and 5 in Coppa Italia.
In 1988-89 Napoli finished 2nd again in Serie A but won the UEFA Cup (Stuttgart 5-4 on aggregate with 2 Careca goals). He scored 19 league goals, 2 in Coppa Italia and 6 in the UEFA Cup.
In 1989-90, under Alberto Bigon, Napoli won their 2nd Scudetto. He scored 10 league goals and 2 in the UEFA Cup. He played slightly less due to injuries, Andrea Carnevale's form and the arrival of Gianfranco Zola.
In 1990-91 Napoli finished 8th but won the Supercoppa (Juventus 5-1 with Careca brace). The season was affected by Maradona being suspended for doping in March. Careca scored 9 league goals, 1 in Coppa Italia plus the 2 in the Supercoppa.
In 1991-92 Napoli finished 4th under Claudio Ranieri. Careca scored 17 goals (15 in A).
The 1992-93 season was his last with Napoli. The Azzurri started with Ranieri (1-10) and finished with Bianchi and ended up 11th. Careca despite further injuries scored 7 league goals and 3 in Coppa Italia.
His career then continued with Kashiwa Reysol in Japan for three years. He played 74 games and scored 40 goals.
In 1997 he returned to Brazil and played for Santos, Campinas, São José-RS and Campinas again. He then retired in 1999 although he did turn out for Campinas again in 2004.
With Brazil he won 60 caps and scored 29 goals. He took part in two World Cups and two editions of the Copa America (runner-up in 1983).
Since retiring he has worked as a talent scout, TV pundit and as a player agent.
Careca was a centre-forward. He was 1.82 and 76 kilos and was a complete attacker. He was extremely quick, strong and skilful. He could use both feet and was also good in the air. He had a natural sense of position and his speciality was a low, precise cross goal shot. He scored 362 times in his career.
At Napoli he is a legend. He played in the Maradona years, some of the best in their history. The Ma-Gi-Ca is considered one of the best attacking trios ever in Italian football. He played 221 games for Napoli with 96 goals (9th in Napoli history).
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