Lightning start for decent draw
Second Group Stage, Game 2, Coppa Italia
Wednesday, September 21, 1988
Stadio Flaminio, Rome
Lazio - Inter 1-1
Lazio score after one minute and then take a point to keep nose in front in table
Lazio’s objective this season was to enjoy their new elite status and hopefully not have to suffer excessively to maintain it.
Lazio's Serie A campaign would start on October 9 at Cesena.
In Coppa Italia, in August and early September, Lazio had qualified for the second round group phase. In the first group stage Lazio had won 3 (Licata 3-0, Campobasso 2-0 and Messina 4-3) and lost 2 (Pescara 1-2 and Milan 1-2).
In the first game of the second round group stage, Lazio had surprisingly beaten Fiorentina 1-0 at home. Now came an even sterner test against Inter (Udinese completed the group).
Inter would start Serie A against Ascoli away while they had already started their UEFA Cup campaign defeating Swedes Brage 2-1 at home in the first leg of the round of 64. The return game in Sweden would be on October 5.
In today's competition Inter had passed the first round with 3 wins (Parma 2-1 away, Monopoli 1-0 and Reggina 3-0 at home), 1 draw (Ascoli 0-0 away) and 1 defeat (Brescia 0-2 away). In the second round so far they had drawn 1-1 at Udinese.
A tough game for Lazio this evening but a good chance to put a foot in the quarterfinals.
The match
A warm evening and 8.45 kick-off saw a full house at the Flaminio with many fans not being able to get in. Giorgio Chinaglia was present in the Grandstand.
Lazio were missing Uruguayan defender Nelson Gutierrez while Inter were without forward Aldo Serena.
Lazio's start could not have been any better. In the 1st minute Andrea Icardi hit a long high ball forward which Gustavo Abel Dezotti domesticated with his head, ran forward a few metres and hit a wonderful strike into the top hand corner, 1-0. A superb goal.
A minute later Ruben Sosa tried a similar shot but it flew high.
In the 6th minute Lazio were brought back to reality. Alessandro Bianchi dribbled his way to the left edge of the area and hit a cross which went over Silvano Martina, who was slightly off his line, and into the net, 1-1.
After the equaliser it was Inter who continued pushing but Lazio were dangerous on the break. Walter Zenga blocked a Dezotti close range effort and then Beppe Bergomi prevented the Argentine from shooting a few minutes later.
Inter then had a Lothar Matthäus long range shot go just wide. In the 14th minute the Nerazzurri had a big potential chance as Ramon Diaz had only one defender to beat but he wasted the opportunity.
In the 18th minute defender Marco Monti tried his luck from the distance but it went over the bar.
The game then became scrappy and dirty with several rough fouls especially on Sosa.
Just before half time Sosa rushed forward from the left but Zenga came out and saved with his foot and in the 43rd minute the keeper saved low on a Ciro Muro free kick. 0-0 at the break.
The second half continued in the same mould, a lot of heavy challenges and tackles and not much space for elaborated moves.
In the 53rd minute Inter made their first change, bringing on Dario Morello for a subdued Diaz.
In the 55th minute Sosa teed up Muro on the counter attack but the Neapolitan failed to spot unmarked Claudio Sclosa behind him and instead put a ball across the goal mouth that nobody could get to.
In the 59th minute Lazio lost Monti to a recurrent knee injury and he was replaced by Paolo Beruatto and two minutes later took off Muro and introduced Giancarlo Camolese.
In the 64th minute Inter threatened with an Andreas Brehme free kick but it sailed wide of the post.
In the 68th minute the Nerazzurri substituted Beppe Baresi with Salvatore Nobile.
In the 72nd minute Inter scored with a Massimo Ciocci header from a Nicola Berti cross but it was disallowed for offside.
Three minutes later Ciocci was taken off and replaced by Gianfranco Matteoli.
The Sardinian midfielder was immediately dangerous with a perfect cross for Berti who however headed wide.
In the 78th minute Lazio tried to put on some fresh legs in attack by throwing on young Antonio Rizzolo for goalscorer Dezotti.
The last ten minutes were a battle with sturdy and burly clashes on every ball. The scoreline did not change. Final result: Lazio 1 Inter 1.
A decent performance by Lazio who showed they could hold their own against an elite Serie A side.
With one game to go Lazio kept a slight advantage in the table; Lazio 3 (+1), Fiorentina 2 (+2), Inter 2 (0), Udinese 1 (-3).
Next up were Udinese vs Lazio and Inter vs Fiorentina. It was all still very open.
Who played for Lazio
Martina, Monti (59' Beruatto), Piscedda, Pin, Gregucci, Marino, Dezotti (78' Rizzolo), Icardi, Muro (61' Camolese), Sclosa, Sosa
Manager: Materazzi
Who played for Inter
Zenga, Bergomi, G.Baresi (68' Nobile), Brehme, Ferri, Mandorlini, Bianchi, Berti, Diaz (53' Morello), Matthäus, Ciocci (75' Matteoli)
Substitutes: Malgioglio, Verdelli
Manager: Trapattoni
Referee: Agnolin
Goals: 1' Dezotti, 6' Bianchi
Sources
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