Sosa's Double Masks Another Unconvincing Lazio Performance Against Licata

Simon Basten

Aug 24, 2022

4 min read

Season 1988-89

Game 2, First Group Stage, Coppa Italia

Wednesday, August 24, 1988

Stadio Flaminio, Rome

Lazio Licata 3-0

Licata frustrated Lazio for over an hour before Ruben Sosa's first goals for the club and Rizzolo's late strike secured a victory that was far less comfortable than the scoreline suggested.

Serie A was due to start late due to the Seoul Olympic Games, so in order to fill up the calendar there were two Coppa Italia group stages. Lazio were paired with Milan, Pescara, Messina, Campobasso and Licata.

In the first match they had lost 2-1 at Pescara.

The match

Ruben Sosa scored his first brace for Lazio as the Biancocelesti defeated Licata 3-0 in the Coppa Italia, but the final scoreline did little to disguise another disjointed display from Giuseppe Materazzi's side.

Coming just days after an uninspiring performance in Pescara, Lazio were expected to produce an emphatic response against modest Serie B opposition at the Stadio Flaminio. Instead, they laboured for more than an hour before finally breaking the deadlock from the penalty spot, with Antonio Rizzolo and Sosa eventually adding late goals that gave the result a flattering appearance.

For long spells, Licata were every bit the better organised team.

Materazzi made several changes following the disappointing outing in Pescara. Paolo Beruatto and Andrea Icardi were initially left out, while the injured Gustavo Dezotti remained unavailable. Massimo Piscedda came into the side at full-back, Antonio Acerbis was handed a starting role, and Rizzolo replaced the Argentine striker in attack.

On paper, the alterations promised fresh energy.

Initially, they appeared to have the desired effect.

After only three minutes, Lazio came within inches of taking the lead when Ciro Muro struck the post from close range after a well-worked move. Moments later, the home side were handed a glorious opportunity to open the scoring.

Referee Gianluca Nicchi spotted an improbable foul by Giuseppe Accardi on Rizzolo inside the penalty area and immediately pointed to the spot. Claudio Sclosa stepped up confidently, but his penalty crashed against the post.

The miss summed up Lazio's evening.

Although they enjoyed the majority of possession, the Biancocelesti found themselves repeatedly frustrated by Licata's disciplined zonal defending. The Sicilians, despite possessing far fewer individual talents, remained compact, organised and tactically intelligent, denying Lazio both space and rhythm.

Rizzolo worked tirelessly across the front line, Muro searched constantly for openings and Sosa attempted to create opportunities whenever possible, but the attacking play lacked cohesion.

Behind them, Lazio looked equally uncertain.

Whenever Licata ventured forward on the counter-attack, the defensive frailties displayed in Pescara resurfaced. Nelson Gutiérrez, in particular, struggled to convince, committing several avoidable errors that suggested he was still short of full match fitness.

If the first half had disappointed, the second initially offered little improvement.

Remarkably, it took Lazio 52 minutes to fashion their first genuine scoring opportunity from open play. Sosa threaded an excellent pass into the path of Muro, leaving the striker completely unmarked inside the penalty area. With only goalkeeper Emilio Zangara to beat, Muro somehow fired wide from point-blank range.

The anxiety inside the stadium grew with every passing minute.

Materazzi attempted to alter the course of the game by introducing Icardi in place of Acerbis, but the substitution quickly backfired. Just five minutes after entering the pitch, Icardi reacted to an opponent's challenge and was shown a straight red card, reducing Lazio to ten men.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, the breakthrough finally arrived.

In the 65th minute, Zangara brought down the lively Rizzolo as the forward raced onto another through ball. Referee Nicchi had little hesitation in awarding a second penalty.

This time Ruben Sosa took responsibility.

The Uruguayan calmly converted the spot-kick, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to register his first official goal for Lazio and finally relieve the mounting tension around the Flaminio.

Once behind, Licata's resistance gradually faded.

The visitors had defended heroically for more than an hour, but chasing the game opened spaces they had previously denied Lazio. Seven minutes from time, Rizzolo finally received the reward his energetic performance deserved. Latching onto a splendid Sosa assist just outside the penalty area, the young forward finished confidently to double Lazio's advantage.

There was still time for one final flourish.

With the game entering its closing moments, Sosa produced the finest moment of the evening. Collecting possession outside the area, the Uruguayan skipped past his marker before curling a superb finish beyond Zangara to complete his first brace in Biancoceleste colours.

It was a goal worthy of winning any match, even if it arrived after the contest had already been settled.

The 3-0 scoreline suggested a comfortable evening for Lazio, but appearances were deceptive.

The result kept Lazio's Coppa Italia campaign alive, but the performance suggested there was still considerable work to be done before stronger opponents arrived.

Who played for Lazio

Martina, Monti, Piscedda, Pin (55’ Beruatto), Marino, Gutierrez, Rizzolo, Acerbis (46’ Icardi), Muro, Sclosa, Sosa (85’ Di Canio)