Bum Bum Amarildo

Dag Jenkins
Sep 16, 2023
3 min read

Season 1989-90

Game 5, Serie A

Sunday, September 17, 1989

Stadio Flaminio, Rome

Lazio-Lecce 3-0

The Brazilian scores two and Gregucci gets a third as Lazio cruise to first home victory

So far in Serie A Lazio had played 4 games; won 1 (Milan 1-0 away), drawn 1 (Cremonese 1-1 at home and lost 2 (Sampdoria 0-2 at home on debut and most recently 0-1 away at Fiorentina). Not a great start and Lazio's only win, albeit precious, had come courtesy of a freakish Paolo Maldini own goal.

In Serie A so far Lecce had 4 points after 2 wins (Atalanta and Cesena both 2-1 at home) and 2 defeats (Genoa 0-1 away on debut and Inter 1-2 away).

A difficult game to predict today between two similar level teams. Lazio had to start winning these types of games at home if they did not want to be bogged down in the lower half of the table.

The match

A still hot and summery day brought just under 20,000 to the Flaminio.

Lazio were without midfielder Pedro Troglio and Uruguayan striker Ruben Sosa. Lecce too had absences: defender Antonio Carannante, midfielder Francesco Moriero and striker Juan Barbas (unforgotten Lazio fans' hero of Roma v Lecce 1986 when his brace virtually lost the Giallorossi the Scudetto).

Lazio already threatened in the first minute when Cristiano Bergodi fired just over the bar following a scramble in the area.

The game soon fell into a favourable mode for Lazio as they scored after only four minutes. Raffaele Sergio put in a good cross from the left and Amarildo rose above his marker Roberto Miggiano, perhaps distracted by thoughts of his new bible (a gift from Amarildo) and headed past a frozen Giuliano Terraneo, 1-0.

Lecce had a free kick in the 11th minute but Valerio Fiori comfortably saved Hungarian forward István Vincze's effort.

Ten minutes later and Lazio were already two nil up. In the 21st minute Bergodi gave Amarildo the easiest of scoring chances and from close range the Brazilian did not miss, 2-0.

In the 26th minute things went from bad to worse for the Salentini visitors. On yet another Sergio cross Angelo Gregucci dived and headed in one of his trademark flying headers, 3-0. Not even half an hour gone and the game was practically over.

Two minutes later Miggiano was sent to read his new book and was replaced by Luceri.

Lazio slowed down and controlled the game. Halftime Lazio 3 Lecce 0.

For the second half Mazzone tried the old fox Pietro Paolo Virdis card who came on for midfielder Antonio Conte.

The veteran striker however did not change much. It was teammate Pedro Pablo Pasculli who was the only one to cause Lazio any problems. In the 67th minute he got the better of Roberto Soldà and only had Fiori to beat but his strike came back off the post.

Lazio made two substitutions; in the 70th minute Massimiliano Nardecchia came on for Gregucci and ten minutes later Franco Marchegiani replaced Claudio Sclosa.

For Lazio Paolo Di Canio was sometimes selfish in his search for his first goal of the season.

Lecce plodded on looking for some glory and almost found it three minutes from time when former Lazio, Raimondo Marino's header was saved onto the post by Fiori who then also blocked Paolo Benedetti's final attempt from the rebound. Final score; Lazio 3 Lecce 0.

A comfortable win for the Romans. Three goals in 26 minutes would have finished off most teams let alone today's lame Lecce outfit.

Lazio were up to 9th in midtable on 5 points while Lecce were joint 10th on 4 points with other six teams (including Cesena in last relegation slot). It was early days though.

Who played for Lazio

Fiori, Bergodi, Sergio, Pin, Gregucci (80' Nardecchia), Soldà, Di Canio, Icardi, Amarildo, Sclosa (70' F.Marchegiani), Bertoni