Aron Winter's superb strike edges Samp

Dag Jenkins
May 21, 2024
4 min read

Updated: May 29

Season 1994-95

Game 32, Serie A

Sunday, May 21, 1995

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio-Sampdoria 1-0

A brilliant goal ten minutes from time by fan favourite Dutchman gives Lazio three points

In Serie A Lazio had so far played 31 games with 16 wins (including Torino 3-0, Napoli and Padova 5-1, Foggia 7-1, Fiorentina 8-2, Milan 4-0 at home, Inter 4-1 at home and 2-0 away, Juventus 3-0 away plus the return derby 2-0), 6 draws (including Fiorentina 1-1 away with a 94th minute Cristiano Bergodi equaliser) and lost 9 (including the derby). Lazio had 54 points and were in 4th place. Some great wins but also some bad defeats (e.g Cremonese, Padova, Bari).

In Serie A Sampdoria were currently joint 7th, on 46 points with Cagliari. The Blucerchiati had won 12 (including Lazio 3-1 and derby 3-2), drawn 10 and lost 9 (including derby 1-2).

A difficult game for Lazio against a good side full of talent. Lazio had more motivation however as they still had Europe to play for.

The match

A rainy Roman day brought about 45,000 to the Olimpico.

Lazio were without defender Roberto Cravero and long-term injury Paul Gascoigne.

Sampdoria were missing defender Sinisa Mihajlovic and midfielder Alberico Evani.

Lazio immediately had a penalty appeal. In the 2nd minute Diego Fuser sent a through ball to Roberto Rambaudi who seemed to be tripped by Michele Serena but not according to Racalbuto.

Lazio continued to attack and in the 20th and 30th minutes Alen Boksic had two good chances but he first pulled a shot wide and then fired over the bar from scoring positions.

In between, Beppe Signori had also squandered an opportunity by heading over the bar from close range.

In the 40th minute Sampdoria had a potential chance but Attilio Lombardo could not get his head to an inviting Roberto Mancini cross.

In the 43rd minute Moreno Mannini almost scored a spectacular own goal but his miskicked up and under was tipped over the bar by Walter Zenga.

Two minutes later the Blucerchiato number 10 tried an ambitious long-range lob but it went miles over the bar. Halftime Lazio 0 Sampdoria 0 but Lazio had missed several chances.

The visitors started the second half better. In the 46th minute they scored with Roman Claudio Bellucci but it was ruled offside.

In the 47th minute David Platt beat the offside trap but messed up his volley attempt in front of Luca Marchegiani after a clever chip into the area.

The visitors insisted and three minutes later Pietro Vierchowod's header went just wide from a Mannini cross.

Lazio stirred but in the 51st minute Boksic again misfired in front of goal following a defensive blunder.

At the other end Lombardo hit the side netting instead of crossing.

In the 57th minute the visitors brought on the great Ruud Gullit and took off Bellucci.

On the hour mark Lazio had a Signori volley which had the power but not the precision and flew towards the Curva Nord.

In the 68th minute Boksic dribbled past the whole defence but remembering his previous attempts did not shoot and lost the moment.

In the 69th minute Gigi Casiraghi replaced Beppe Signori.

For Sampdoria Lombardo confirmed his off day in shooting accuracy when he sliced his effort from the right side of the area.

Boksic had another chance but this time he was not at fault as Zenga rushed off his line and deflected the Croat's attempted chip from a difficult angle.

In the 74th minute Lazio made a second substitution when Mauro Bonomi came on for Beppe Favalli.

Gullit then powered his way into the area but when he reached the by-line near the goal he was faced by Marchegiani and the ball ricocheted out not far from the right post.

In the 81st minute Lazio scored. Rambaudi cut in sideways from the left along the white line of the area and, surrounded by defenders, when he approached the middle he tapped the ball back to Aron Winter who let off a superb strike with the outside of his right foot which turned and flew into the top right-hand corner. A wonderful goal and Lazio 1 Sampdoria 0.

A minute later Samp replaced Giovanni Invernizzi with dynamic little Fausto Salsano. They tried to equalise until the end especially with Gullit initiatives but Lazio held on and clinched an important win. Final score Lazio 1 Sampdoria 0.

All in all, a deserved win for Lazio who had Boksic not missed at least three clear chances could have scored more. The hero of the day was Winter and his name was chanted by the whole stadium at the final whistle.

Lazio were now joint 3rd with Milan on 57 points and only three points from 2nd placed Parma. Milan had lost 0-1 in Naples and Parma trounced 4-0 by now champions Juventus.

Sampdoria were now 9th on 46 points. They had been overtaken by Fiorentina who had defeated Torino 6-3 while Cagliari had pulled away by winning 2-1 away at Inter.

Who played for Lazio

Marchegiani, Negro, Favalli (74' Bonomi), Di Matteo, Bergodi Chamot, Rambaudi, Fuser, Boksic, Winter, Signori (69' Casiraghi)