Malgioglio’s sad return

Season 1989-90

Game 27, Serie A

Sunday, March 4, 1990

Stadio Flaminio, Rome

Lazio Inter 2-1

The Biancocelesti beat Inter on the day when Malgioglio returned to Rome, years after spitting on the Lazio jersey

Lazio were ninth, five points above the relegation zone and five points away from a potential UEFA Cup qualification.

Walter Zenga the week before the away game against Lazio, suffered an injury and Astutilio Malgioglio had to play against his former club. The former Biancoceleste keeper had been sacked in 1986 for spitting on his jersey.

The game was played at the Flaminio Stadium because the Olimpico was under restructuring for the World Cup. He thought it would be OK and decided to play. The Lazio fans were ready for him. Despite leaving a bunch of flowers under Curva Sud, he was, predictably, insulted throughout the entire game.

The match

Lazio started the game strongly and after a couple of minutes a Gabriele Pin-Ruben Sosa one-two gave the Biancoceleste captain the opportunity to shoot from outside the box, Malgioglio parried. But the substitute goalkeeper, probably nervous about returning to Rome after having spat on the Lazio jersey some years ago, gave away a penalty in the 14th minute. Pin passed a splendid ball to Ruben Sosa, Malgioglio came out of his goal way too energetically and stopped the Uruguayan with a foul. Ruben Sosa took the spot kick and put Lazio ahead.

Inter reacted with a Corrado Verdelli header off a corner kick that was comfortably saved by Nando Orsi. Lazio controlled the game but in the 43rd minute Inter equalised. A corner allowed Alessandro Bianchi to send a low cross in the box from the right, the ball went right across the area, the Biancoceleste defenders were completely immobile and Andrea Mandorlini volleyed the ball into the net. Lazio could have scored one minute later. Cross from the left by Ruben Sosa, Amarildo headed the ball towards the goal but Malgioglio saved.

In the 50th minute the Biancocelesti scored their second. Raffaele Sergio passed on the left to Ruben Sosa, cross to the middle for Amarildo, ball to Pin in the box and 2-1 for Lazio.

From then on it became the festival of missed opportunities for Lazio. Amarildo twice and then Ruben Sosa had splendid chances to score a third goal for the hosts but they wasted the opportunities. Amarildo also hit a crossbar with a header off a corner. In the 76th minute Sosa went off on the left, moved to the middle and just outside the box tried a shot, Malgioglio managed to save into corner. Towards the end of the game, Lothar Matthaus gave a splendid ball to Dario Morello but his shot was weak and Orsi saved.

Great win for Lazio. Inter’s quest for the scudetto was now probably over.

Who played for Lazio

Orsi, Nardecchia, Sergio, Pin, Gregucci, Soldà, Bertoni, Icardi (14’ Monti), Amarildo (78’ Troglio), Sclosa, Ruben Sosa