Lazio Resist and Strike
- Dag Jenkins
- Feb 7, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 14
Game 19, Serie A
Sunday, February 7, 1993
Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence
Fiorentina Lazio 0-2
With the help of keeper Orsi and wasteful Viola the Biancocelesti survive first half onslaught and then pounce in second for important win
The season had started with four consecutive draws (including Fiorentina 2-2). Since then Lazio had won 7, drawn 3 (including Juventus 1-1 at home) and lost 4. There had been a last gasp derby draw with a Gascoigne header and a good 3-1 win over Inter at the Olimpico. The Biancocelesti's most recent game had been a 2-1 home win against Sampdoria. Lazio were joint 3rd with Juventus and Atalanta on 21 points and things seemed to be looking up.
The Florentines were currently joint 10th with Foggia on 17 points. They were however only two points above the last relegation slots, Napoli and Udinese on 15.
So, the two sides came into this game in different moods. Lazio were starting to look to the higher positions while Fiorentina, winless since December 6, were starting to look over their shoulders.
The match
A sunny day attracted about 35,000 to the Florentine stadium in the Campo di Marte area of town. There were 3,000 Lazio fans too as Florence is the nearest on the road venue from Rome, a mere 272 kilometres.
Lazio were without defenders Mauro Bonomi, Beppe Favalli, Roberto Cravero and, at the last minute, Gigi Corino.
Fiorentina were only missing defender Stefano Pioli.
The game took time to take off as in the first half hour both sides were very cautious. When either team had the ball the other pulled eleven players back into the last third of the field.
The first real action came in the 27th minute when Stefano Carobbi crossed into the middle where Gabriel Batistuta headed what looked like a winner under the crossbar but Nando Orsi produced a superb save to deny the Argentine.
Then suddenly the Viola chances came flowing but Batistuta was off target in the 37th, 38th and 47th minutes. A minute earlier, in the 46th minute, Orsi had pulled off another brilliant save on a close range Ciccio Baiano header. Half time Fiorentina 0 Lazio 0.
After a slow start the home side should have been leading but Orsi and poor finishing had kept the game goalless.
In the second half Lazio finally took more initiative and the game became more open.
In the 59th minute Lazio scored. Angelo Gregucci pushed forward and after a one-two with Aron Winter, set up Beppe Signori whose powerful left footed strike took a slight deflection off Mario Faccenda and beat Alessandro Mannini, 0-1.
There was still plenty of time for the home side to remedy the situation but they went flat and made no changes either. The end of the first half frenzy without results seemed to have drained them of energy.
La Viola held onto the ball too much while Lazio were far more direct
Only towards the end did the Gigliati stir. In the 86th and 90th minute Orsi was safe on efforts by Brian Laudrup and Batistuta.
Lazio were far more efficient and seconds later showed the hosts how it was done. In the 90th minute Paul Gascoigne was the assist man and Diego Fuser the executioner. The Geordie, surrounded by three defenders, cleverly squared the ball across to the unmarked Piedmontese who blasted the ball past the hapless Mannini, 0-2 and end of the show.
A cynical win by Lazio. The Biancocelesti had survived the brief but intense Fiorentina onslaught, also thanks to Orsi, and then struck on their few chances after the break. It had been fifteen years since Lazio had won in Florence, a great satisfaction. The stand out performers were Orsi and Winter, who was here, there and everywhere.
Lazio were still 3rd, on 23 points but now only with Atalanta who had defeated Juventus 2-1 at home.
Fiorentina were 11th, on 17 points with Udinese, Napoli and Foggia. The relegation zone was now only one point further down, Brescia and Genoa on 16 (Ancona and Pescara were already gonners). Worrying times in the Tuscan capital.
Who played for Fiorentina
Mannini, Carnasciali, Carobbi, Di Mauro, Faccenda, Luppi, Effenberg, Laudrup, Batistuta, Orlando, Baiano
Substitutes: Mareggini, D'Anna, Iachini, Vascotto, Beltrammi
Manager: Agroppi
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Zoff
Referee: Cesari
Goals: 59' Signori, 90' Fuser
Sources
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