Pre Season Friendly
Monday, August 17, 1992
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Atlético Mineiro 2-0
Two goals by new Signori give fans hope for upcoming season
Lazio had already played three competitive friendlies; Bayer Leverkusen 1-2, Schalke 04 3-1 and Ternana 4-0. This was the first in front of their home crowd. The league would not start until September 6.
Atlético Mineiro are from Belo Horizonte in Brazil. The "Galo" had won 2 Brazilian titles (1937 and 1971). The previous season the Alvinegro (Black and Whites) had won the Mineiro League and then finished 3rd at national level.
The match
A 20,000 crowd turned up at the Olimpico. Rome was empty in this period as it was only two days after "ferragosto" the national summer festivity.
Lazio put out a strong team and Paul Gascoigne was present in the stands awaiting his return to full fitness.
The Biancocelesti started well with free-flowing attacks inspired by an already fit Aron Winter.
In the 18th minute the Romans took the lead. Winter won back possession in the Brazilians' area and fed Diego Fuser whose low cross was tapped in by Beppe Signori, with the complicity of a slow and hesitant Claudio.
In the 22nd minute a Karl-Heinz Riedle speciality of the house, a towering header, went just wide.
Lazio continued to dominate and the "Galo" were merely passive sparring partners. In the 37th minute Thomas Doll was forced off the field with a hopefully light injury and replaced by Dario Marcolin. Halftime Lazio 1 Atletico Mineiro 0.
A promising home debut so far with Aron Winter, Fuser, Beppe Favalli, Roberto Bacci and Signori all particularly sharp already.
For the second period the South-American visitors replaced the keeper Claudio with Fred and forward Vanderley with Wiver.
The following 45 minutes were less intense by Lazio and the Brazilians even came out of their shell slightly but the Eagles' defence led by Roberto Cravero was solid.
Lazio made two more substitutions: Armando Madonna for Fuser on the hour and Giovanni Stroppa for Aron Winter with twenty minutes to go. The Alvinegro too made two more changes in the last quarter: Carlos for an injured Angelo and Leandro for Agamenon.
Lazio controlled the game without pushing excessively and went close with another Riedle header.
Lazio and Signori made it two with five minutes to go. It was a goal the fans would see often in the coming years, a low left foot by Signori drilled into the corner. Lazio 2 Atlético Mineiro 0. The sadness at the departure of Rubén Sosa was already fading, the fans had a new idol "Beppe-gol".
A positive test for Lazio who were applauded by their fans. The Brazilians visitors had not been the sternest of opponents but the Biancocelesti had linked up well, with speed and precision. They had also discovered a new goal machine and had Gascoigne still to come.
Who played for Lazio
Fiori, Bonomi, Favalli, Bacci, Gregucci, Cravero, Fuser (59' Madonna), Doll (37' Marcolin), Riedle, Winter (71' Stroppa), Signori
Manager: Zoff
Who played for Atlético Mineiro
Claudio (46' Fred), Paulo Sergio, Anderson, Nael, Altivo, Helio, Agamenon (78' Leandro), Moacir, Angelo (73' Carlos), Ical, Vanderley (46' Wiver)
Manager: Milito
Referee: Quartuccio
Goals: 18' Signori, 85' Signori
Sources
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