One half each, one goal each

Simon Basten
Jan 2, 2023
2 min read

Season 1993-94

Game 17, Serie A

Sunday, January 2, 1994

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Sampdoria 1-1

Lazio dominate the first half, Sampdoria the second, a draw was the natural consequence

In Serie A the Biancocelesti were not doing too badly. They were fifth in the company of Inter, but just three points off the leaders Milan. Today’s opponents, Sampdoria, were second, two points away.

The match

Sampdoria immediately started with a bang, courtesy of Luca Marchegiani. In the 6th minute there was a corner for the Genoese. Alberico Evani took it, Marchegiani went for the punch but was anticipated by Ruud Gullit who headed the ball in. An uphill start for the Biancocelesti.

At this point enter Alen Boksic who started his show in the 10th minute when he dribbled past a few players and tried a shot from outside the box, palmed away into corner by Gianluca Pagliuca. In the 15th minute massive whack on a free kick from Beppe Signori, the ball just slightly too high. In the 25th, Paul Gascoigne dribbled himself towards the box, crossed, Boksic tried a header which was only just high. Two minutes later Diego Fuser from the right crossed into the area, Boksic tried to anticipate Pagliuca but the ball went wide.

Sampdoria did not stay put. In the 35th minute great ball from Evani to Roberto Mancini who all alone in front of Marchegiani tried a volley which shaved the post. Two minutes later, ball in the box, the Genoese defenders tried to clear but Roberto Di Matteo had a chance, Mancini stopped him with a foul and the ref indicated penalty. Signori scored from the spot kick.

In the second half, Lazio stopped playing and handed over the reins to their opponents. In the 55th minute Gullit all alone in front of Marchegiani but the Biancoceleste keeper managed to save. In the 65th minute, Gullit crossed towards the centre of the box, David Platt headed towards Vladimir Jugovic who tried a volley, but Marchegiani was ready for it. Platt tried another volley ten minutes later, but the ball went wide. The last opportunity came in the 82nd minute with Boksic who again received the ball and went off dribbling past a number of players, but went too close to the byline so when he did try a shot it was from an impossible angle and Pagliuca saved.

Lazio dominated the first half, Sampdoria the second. All in all, a fair result.

Who played for Lazio

Marchegiani, Bergodi, Bacci, Di Matteo, Bonomi, Cravero, Fuser, Winter, Boksic, Gascoigne (48’ Di Mauro), Signori (71’ Casiraghi)