First win of season

Season 1990-91

Game 5, Serie A

Sunday, October 7, 1990

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Bologna 3-1

Lazio win 3-1 but it was not pretty.

In Serie A Lazio had started slowly with 3 draws (Torino 0-0 away on debut, Parma 0-0 and Milan 1-1, both at home) and 1 defeat (Lecce 0-1 away). Lazio were currently 13th on 3 points. It was time for a win and some goals.

The match

Not a big crowd today, less than 30,000, to watch two teams in difficulty.

Lazio had no absences while the visitors were without talented Hungarian Lajos Détári.

Lazio took the lead early on. In the 8th minute the Bologna keeper completely miscalculated a Raffaele Sergio cross and it was an easy task for Armando Madonna to slot the ball in. Lazio 1 Bologna 0.

Lazio then sat back and the Rossoblu had a timid reaction. It culminated in the 35th minute when they had their biggest chance. Herbert Waas, their most lively player, set up Emiliano Verga whose dangerous shot however was deflected into corner by Raffaele Sergio. In the 38th minute Gabriele Pin had a long-range shot go just wide but boredom was the general feeling in the stands. A lacklustre first half ended with Lazio 1 Bologna 0.

The second half started like the first, with a Lazio goal. In the 50th minute Angelo Gregucci teed up Karl-Heinz Riedle who beat the offside trap and charged into the area, went round the keeper and scored, all at lightning speed, a great goal. Lazio 2 Bologna 0.

In the 53rd minute Lazio hero Fabio Poli came on to raucous applause and replaced Verga. The Lazio saviour almost scored immediately but finished a golden opportunity poorly, shooting straight into Valerio Fiori's arms.

Lazio took off a feeble Sergio Domini and put on a more muscular Franco Marchegiani in the 67th minute and took control of the game.

In the 77th minute the Biancocelesti were awarded a penalty for a foul on Ruben Sosa. The German striker Riedle stepped up and scored but was then ordered to take it again for some sort of infringement and this time Cusin saved with his foot.

In the 87th minute Bologna were given a penalty that only the referee saw for a Gregucci touch on Iliev. The Bulgarian too had to take it twice but scored both times. Lazio 2 Bologna 1. A tense last few minutes for Lazio? No.

A minute later Lazio closed the game. Sosa tried his luck from the long range and Nello Cusin judging the ball to being going wide did not even attempt to dive, the ball hit the post and went in. Lazio 3 Bologna 1 and final score.

Finally, a win for Lazio. The score line nevertheless should not deceive, the game had been poor and unspectacular. Bologna's defence had been responsible for two goals and the referee for one but Lazio were not complaining. The first win of the season and going above Roma in the table were enough to overlook the technical and tactical analysis of the game.

Lazio were up to joint 4th place on 5 points with Genoa, Fiorentina, Torino, Pisa and Parma while Bologna were rock bottom on 2 points.

Who played for Lazio

Fiori, Bergodi, Sergio, Pin, Gregucci, Soldà, Madonna, Sclosa, Riedle, Domini (67' F. Marchegiani), Sosa