March 31, 1996: Lazio-Vicenza 3-0
- Lazio Stories
- Mar 31
- 8 min read
Updated: Apr 5
Referee mistake and Signori hat-trick condemn Vicenza
A non-existent penalty paves way for Biancoceleste win
The season so far
It was Zdenek Zeman's second year in charge after the previous year's second place (although way behind champions Juventus). They had also reached the UEFA Cup quarter-final (unlucky exit to former Lazio Karl Heinz Riedle's Borussia Dortmund) and the semi-final of Italian Cup. So, they were trying to build on a positive year.
The summer market had brought defenders Guerino Gottardi (Neuchatel Xamax) and Alessandro Grandoni (Ternana) plus midfielder Massimiliano Esposito (Reggiana). The main changes were the players leaving. It was with great sadness that Lazio said goodbye to beloved Paul Gascoigne (Rangers for 4.3 million pounds) after three eventful years in Rome. Also leaving were defenders Roberto Cravero (Torino), Roberto Bacci (Torino) and midfielder Giorgio Venturin (Cagliari - loan).
Sergio Cragnotti had tried to sell Beppe Signori to Parma but the fans had literally taken to the streets in thousands in protest and "convinced" the owner to keep the striker.
So, all in all, a more sober transfer market than Cragnotti's previous ones.
In Serie A Lazio were currently 6th, with Parma on 39 points. The Biancocelesti had won 11 (including Juventus 4-0, Sampdoria 6-3, Atalanta 5-1, Cagliari 4-0), drawn 6 (including derby, Inter and Milan away, all 0-0) and lost 9. Their most recent game was a bad 1-2 defeat at Cremonese. They were more inconsistent this season but still fighting for a place in the following year's UEFA Cup.
In Coppa Italia Lazio had scraped through on penalties against Chievo away, then beat Udinese 1-0 in the last 16 but in the quarter-finals lost 1-2 on aggregate to Inter.
In the UEFA Cup Lazio had knocked out Cypriots Omonia 7-1 on aggregate. Next up came Olympique Lyonnais and Lazio were beaten 1-4 over the two legs.
Vicenza were newly promoted. The Biancorossi had finished 3rd in Serie B under Francesco Guidolin. The top scorer was Roberto Murgita with 19 league goals.
This season Guidolin was still in charge. The main new signings were goalkeeper Luca Mondini (Inter), defenders Davide Belotti (Nola), Joachim Björklund (IFK Göteborg), Gabriele Rossi (Napoli) and Gustavo Mendez (Nacional Montevideo), midfielders Daniele Amerini (Fiorentina), Giampiero Maini (Roma) and Gabriele Ambrosetti (Brescia in winter market) plus forward Marcelo Otero (Peñarol).
Leaving were goalkeeper Giorgio Sterchele (Roma), defenders Alessandro Dal Canto (Torino) and Antonino Praticò (Venezia) plus midfielder Francesco Cozza (Lucchese).
So far, the Lane were in 8th place, on 38 points. A decent performance for a newly promoted side. The Vicentini had won 10 (including Lazio 1-0 and Juventus 2-1 at home), drawn 8 (including Roma 1-1 away, Milan and Inter both 1-1 at home) and lost 8. Their most recent game was a 3-0 home win against Napoli.
In the Coppa Italia they had defeated Padova 4-2 in a derby but then lost 0-1 in Palermo and were eliminated.
A game this afternoon between two teams only separated by one point. The difference was Lazio were not doing as well as expected and came from a bad defeat while Vicenza were doing better than expected and came from a good win. Today however was a new day and fixture.
The match: Sunday, March 31, 1996, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
About 40,000 turned up on a sunny end of March afternoon.
Lazio were without forward Gigi Casiraghi while Vicenza were missing future Lazio defender Giovanni Lopez.
Lazio had huge difficulties in the first half in constructing anything remotely threatening to the well organised visiting team. Vicenza pressed efficiently, consistently closed Lazio down and had Marcelo Otero up front as the lone striker.
In the 27th minute the Biancocelesti were forced to replace an injured Cristiano Bergodi with a young Alessandro Nesta. Ten minutes later Zdenek Zeman also took off Roberto Rambaudi but this time by choice and introduced another youngster Alessandro Iannuzzi.
Just as it seemed the first half would end without incident an extremely controversial episode occurred. The referee Farina, who had denied Lazio two blatant penalties in the away match in Vicenza, awarded Lazio a highly doubtful one. In the 45th minute Paolo Negro on the right side of the area kicked the ball towards Gustavo Méndez and it ricocheted up onto the Uruguayan's arm. It was clearly fortuitous and unintentional but the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Vicenza were understandably furious and manager Francesco Guidolin got himself sent off for dissent. The decision however was made and Beppe Signori made no mistake, 1-0 at the break.
Five minutes into the second half the Biancorossi decided to make their first change and brought on forward Roberto Murgita in place of midfielder Gabriele Ambrosetti. The midfield made up of Ambrosetti-Di Carlo-Amerini-Viviani had played very well but more weight was needed in attack.
The game which had already swayed in Lazio's favour with the unexpected gift from the referee, now definitely turned.
In the 54th minute the home side doubled their lead. The Vicenza defence was doddery and hesitated to clear a ball from the area so Signori turned and sent a low right-footed shot to Luca Mondini's right, 2-0.
Vicenza's heads dropped and five minutes later the game was definitely over. Lazio were awarded another penalty, this time a legitimate one, when Luigi Sartor touched Aron Winter while at full throttle towards goal. Signori again put an impeccable spot kick past Mondini, 3-0.
The game had nothing more to say. Both sides made one more substitution each; in the 65th minute Massimo Lombardini for Daniele Rossi and in the 84th Guerino Gottardi for Diego Fuser.
A flattering score line for Lazio. The game had two stories, one before the controversial penalty and another after. Prior to the generous offering by the referee, Lazio had struggled and Vicenza had defended well. After the breakthrough Vicenza had changed tactical setup and been psychologically demoralised.
Despite the controversy they were three good points for Lazio. The Biancocelesti were still 6th, with Roma on 42 points, but now only one behind Parma (defeated 0-1 by Juventus away) and two Inter (defeated by Fiorentina 1-2 at home).
One had to feel for Vicenza. They had obviously been damaged by the referee's mistake and never recovered. The Biancorossi were still 8th, but now with Sampdoria (Udinese 4-2 away) on 38 points.
Who played for Lazio
Marchegiani, Negro, Favalli, Di Matteo, Bergodi (27' Nesta), Chamot, Rambaudi (37' Iannuzzi), Fuser (84' Gottardi), Boksic, Winter, Signori
Manager: Zeman
Who played for Vicenza
Mondini, Sartor, Björklund, Belotti, Méndez, Rossi (65' Lombardini), Di Carlo, Amerini, Viviani, Ambrosetti (50' Murgita), Otero
Substitutes: Brivio, D'Ignazio, Grossi
Manager: Guidolin
Referee: Farina
Goals: 45' Signori (pen), 54' Signori, 59' Signori (pen)
Red Card: 45' Guidolin
What happened next
Lazio then ended strongly, winning 5 (including Fiorentina 4-0 at home), drawing 2 (including Milan 0-0 away) and finishing a positive joint 3rd (Fiorentina), so qualifying for the UEFA Cup. A good season in the end with numerous great wins but also too much inconsistency and too many unexpected defeats to challenge for the Champions League positions. The top scorer was Beppe Signori with 26 goals (24 in A).
Vicenza finished a satisfactory 9th, on 49 points. In the remaining games the Berici won 3 (the next 3, including Roma 2-1 at home), drew 2 and lost 2. The top scorer was Marcelo Otero with 12 league goals. The following year would be even better with an 8th place but especially with a historic Coppa Italia triumph.
The Scudetto was won by Milan for the 15th time. The four teams going down were Bari, Cremonese, Torino and Padova (the latter have never been back in Serie A but are now at least back in Serie B, as are Bari).
Let's talk about Luca Mondini
Luca Mondini was born in Parma, on February 25, 1970.
He grew up in the Inter youth sector. In 1989-90 he joined the first team but never made his debut behind Gianluca Pagliuca.
In 1990 he was loaned to Spezia in Serie C1 and stayed two seasons. The Bianconeri finished 6th and 8th and Mondini played 67 league games.
In 1992-93 he played for Como in C1. The Lariani finished 6th and Mondini played 32 league games.
In 1993-94 he joined Fidelis Andria on loan in Serie B. The Leoni Azzurri finished 16th and Mondini played 38 league games.
In 1994-95 he went back to Inter but again never played and the following season he joined Vicenza.
He stayed with the "Lane" for two seasons. The Biancorossi were in Serie A and finished 9th and 8th. In 1997 they won a historic Coppa Italia. The manager was Francesco Guidolin and Mondini played 64 league games and 1 in Coppa Italia. His teammates included Lazio connections; Giovanni Lopez (1997-98) and Alessandro Iannuzzi (1995-96, 1998-99).
In 1997-98 Mondini spent a season with Treviso in Serie B. The manager was Gianfranco Bellotto and the Biancocelesti finished 8th. Mondini played 27 league games.
In 1998-99 he played for Napoli in Serie B. The manager was first Renzo Ulivieri (1-35) and then Vincenzo Montefusco (36-38) and the Partenopei finished 9th. Mondini played 21 league games. His teammates included Lazio connections Raffaele Sergio (1989-92), Giovanni Lopez again (1997-98) and Massimiliano Esposito (1995-96).
In 1999-2000 he spent a season with Lazio on loan and became Italian champion. The Biancocelesti, under Sven-Goran Eriksson, won the Scudetto and Coppa Italia. Mondini was third keeper behind Luca Marchegiani and Marco Ballotta and made no appearances.
In 2000-01 he returned to Napoli who were now back in Serie A. The Azzurri however were relegated again, first under Zdeněk Zeman (1-6) and then Emiliano Mondonico (7-34). Mondini played 3 league games. His teammates included Lazio connections Francelino Matuzalém (2008-13) and keeper Franco Mancini (1995-96).
In 2001-02 he played for Sampdoria in Serie B. The Blucerchiati finished 10th under Luigi Cagni (1-4) and Gianfranco Bellotto (5-38). Mondini played 33 league games. He played alongside former Lazio, Dario Marcolin (1992-93, 1995-99, 1999-2000), Alessandro Grandoni (1995-98) and Attilio Lombardo (1999-2001).
In 2002 he joined Reggiana in Serie B and stayed two seasons. In the first the Granata won the league and promotion under Giuseppe Marchioro and in the second finished 13th in Serie A. Mondini played 45 league games.
He then moved to Cremona for two and a half seasons with Cremonese. The Violini were in C1. They won promotion but were relegated immediately, then 10th and 2nd (losing the playoff final). Mondini played 44 league games.
In January 2007 he moved to Spezia in Serie B and he played 2 league games with the Spezzini finishing 19th (safe after playoff).
In 2007-08 he joined Padova in Serie C1. The Patavini finished 7th and Mondini played 3 league games.
In 2008-09 he moved south to Benevento in Lega Pro Prima Divisione (3rd tier). The Giallorossi finished 2nd but lost the playoff final (Crotone). Mondini played 12 league games.
His last club was Crociati Noceto (Noceto - Parma) in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione (4th tier). The Gialloblu finished 9th and Mondini played 23 league games.
At 40, after a long career, Mondini retired.
Since retiring he has become a goalkeeper coach with Parma youth academy (2010-18), Pro Piacenza (2018-19) and Sassuolo U18s (2018-19).
Mondini had a decent career. His peak was with Vicenza where he won a Coppa Italia. He also won promotions with Reggiana and Cremonese.
At Lazio he only stayed one year on loan as third keeper but it was a triumphant season for the Biancocelesti as they won the double, Scudetto and Coppa Italia.
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