Lazio throw away win

Dag Jenkins
Dec 1, 2023
3 min read

Updated: Dec 10

Season 1991-92

Game 12, Serie A

Sunday, December 1, 1991

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio-Napoli 3-3

Despite being 3-1 up with ten minutes to go Lazio have to settle for a draw

So far Lazio had played 11 league games. They had won 4, drawn 6 (including the derby, Milan and Juventus, all 1-1) and lost 1, so a decent start. The Biancocelesti were 4th, on 14 points with Inter. A week earlier Lazio had drawn 1-1 away to Fiorentina.

Napoli were doing well so far. The Partenopei had won 5, drawn 5 (including Inter 0-0 away) and lost 1 (Juventus 0-1at home). They were 3rd on 15 points.

A high-level game today between two sides who had started the season well. It was 3rd against 4th. Lazio however were winless at home and Napoli unbeaten away.

The match

A hazy day with pale sunshine saw just over 40,000 spectators in attendance.

Lazio were missing defenders Gigi Corino and Roberto Soldà while Napoli were without striker Andrea Silenzi.

In the first fifteen minutes the two teams sized each other up but then the game came alive.

In the 15th minute Gianfranco Zola put Alemão in front of goal but Valerio Fiori managed to save.

Ten minutes later Lazio took the lead. In the 25th minute Rubén Sosa went down the left and crossed into the middle where Karl-Heinz Riedle rose to the heavens, beating Giovanni Francini and heading past Giuseppe Galli, 1-0.

A few minutes later Riedle had another header but this time it was just over the bar.

Lazio then had a penalty appeal when Francini appeared to pull down Riedle in front of Galli but the referee gestured to play on.

In the 34th minute Lazio had a brilliant move by Thomas Doll and Rubén Sosa finished off by Riedle but Galli pulled off a brilliant save.

Napoli, slightly against the run of play, equalised in the 42nd minute. Alemao shot and Fiori couldn't hold onto it, in came Ciro Ferrara and it was 1-1.

In the second half Lazio took back the lead in the 58th minute. Doll did well to get a cross in despite being challenged and Riedle's diving header beat Galli, 2-1.

Ten minutes later the Biancocelesti made it three. In the 68th minute Riedle was fouled by Laurent Blanc in the area and Sosa put away the spot kick, 3-1.

In the 72nd minute Lazio took off the Uruguayan forward and put on midfielder Stefano Melchiori.

The replacement could have definitely closed the game in the 75th minute but after a Riedle shot was parried by Galli he fired the simplest of chances over the bar.

A minute later the visitors changed Brazilian Alemão with Vittorio Pusceddu.

In the 80th minute the Partenopei pulled one back. On a Pusceddu corner the ball was missed by several defenders and reached Blanc who poked it in, 3-2.

Lazio went into panic mode, Napoli pushed forward and in the last minute they equalised. At the edge of the area Michele Padovano jumped up, possibly holding Angelo Gregucci down, heading on to Zola whose precise touch beat Fiori, 3-3.

A disappointment for Lazio who had been two goals up with ten minutes to go and after having missed the killer blow. However defensive errors and an overly tense approach to the final minutes had cost them a point. The home win would have to wait.

Man of the match for Lazio was Doll while for Napoli Zola had played well.

Lazio were still 4th, on 15 points with Inter while Napoli were still 3rd on 16. The draw had kept things pretty much as they were.

Who played for Lazio

Fiori, Bergodi, Sergio, Pin, Gregucci, Bacci, Stroppa, Doll, Riedle, Sclosa, Sosa (72' Melchiori)