May 22, 1988: Lazio Udinese 2-0
- Simon Basten
- 9 hours ago
- 5 min read
All very quick
With two goals in the first twenty minutes Lazio close the game early
Also on this day:
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had managed to avoid relegation to Serie C in a playoff with Campobasso and Taranto. They had been given an unjust 9-point docking, a very heavy burden with only two points for a victory, due to an alleged involvement in match fixing. Lazio did so well at the beginning that by early 1987 they were closer to promotion than relegation. Then the stress took its toll and the team collapsed physically and mentally. Before the last game of the season, Lazio were second from bottom on 31 points together with Taranto, on 32 there were Campobasso, Vicenza, Sambenedettese and Catania, with Modena on 33. With Cagliari already relegated, there were three places left. The last game was Lazio-Vicenza on June 21. With seven minutes to go, it was still 0-0. Gabriele Podavini got the ball and shot. It was more out of desperation than an actual goal scoring attempt. He miskicked it but the ball reached Giuliano Fiorini who turned on himself and scored.
Final verdict: Lazio, Campobasso and Taranto needed a playoff to determine who would join Cagliari, Catania and Vicenza in Serie C. In Naples on June 27 Lazio played their first game against Taranto and lost due to a goal in blatant offside. Then Taranto and Campobasso drew 1-1 on July 1. This meant that Lazio had to beat Campobasso to stay in Serie B. They did thanks to a Fabio Poli goal. The Biancocelesti were safe.
The new Presidency of the Calleri brothers with Renato Bocchi were obviously aiming for a return to Serie A in the 1987-88 season and certainly had this in mind when it came down to the summer transfer window. There was a revolution. Lazio said goodbye to goalkeepers Mario Ielpo and Giuliano Terraneo, defenders Ernesto Calisti and Daniele Filisetti, but in particular to Lazio legends Podavini, Fiorini and Poli. The new signings were experienced goalkeeper Silvano Martina and defender Paolo Beruatto both from Torino, Diego Maradona’s reserve Ciro Muro from Napoli, Gabriele Savino from Vicenza, Paolo Monelli from Fiorentina and Giuseppe Galderisi on loan from Milan. Only a year earlier Galderisi had played for Italy in the 1986 World Cup.
There was a lot of expectation, especially because the slots for promotion were increased to four as Serie A was going to expand the number of teams from 16 to 18, but Lazio started slowly. After the first 10 games Lazio were 12th, not too far away from the promotion zone, but still not in a good position. A couple of wins pushed them back up but then four consecutive draws, three of which goalless, did not give them the boost that was needed.
Then came the game at Taranto. Lazio were losing 3-1 after 35 minutes but goals from Savino and Muro in the second half allowed the Biancocelesti to draw. This was the turning point for the Biancocelesti. They started to climb up the table. They were currently fourth one point behind Lecce, third, and four points behind Atalanta. The previous weekend they had managed to avoid defeat at Catanzaro, one point behind, thanks to a Monelli equaliser in injury time, a fundamental game. Today was a must win for the Biancocelesti.
The match: Sunday, May 22, 1988, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
After just two minutes Lazio had an incredible chance but both Paolo Beruatto and Paolo Monelli missed the ball all alone in the box. No problem. Goal number one arrived in the 9th minute when Ciro Muro entered the box, dribbled past a player and crossed low into the middle where Antonio Rizzolo had no problem in scoring his first professional goal. In the 21st minute Raimondo Marino headed the ball towards Mimmo Caso in the box, Beniamino Abate came out of his goal, Caso moved past him and was fouled by the keeper. Penalty for the Biancocelesti and Monelli made no mistake. Game over.
Game over because Udinese were completely absent from the match and did little or nothing. Only in the 64th minute did they have a chance with Vittorio Pusceddu but he shot straight at Silvano Martina from a favourable position.
A quick and easy win for Lazio who were now fourth, one point behind Lecce and two from Atalanta, but they still had just one point more than Catanzaro and Cremonese. Four games to go and as manager Eugenio Fascetti pointed out at the end of the game “we need to win all of them”.
Who played for Lazio
Martina, Marino, Beruatto, Pin, Gregucci, Piscedda, Esposito, Caso (85’ Foschi), Acerbis, Rizzolo, Muro (75’ Biagioni), Monelli
Substitutes: Salafia, F. Agostinelli, Galderisi
Manager: Fascetti
Who played for Udinese
Abate, Galparoli, F. Rossi, Righetti, R. Bruno, Tagliaferri (46' Pusceddu), Caffarelli, Firicano, Vagheggi, A.Manzo, Fontolan II (55' Chierico)
Substitutes: Brini, Dal Fiume, Russo
Manager: Sonetti
Referee: Amendolia
Goals: 9’ Rizzolo, 21’ Monelli (pen)
What happened next
With four games to go there were six teams involved in the fight for promotion: Bologna, top with 47 points, Atalanta on 43, Lecce 42, Lazio 41, Cremonese and Catanzaro 40. In the next game the Calabrians caught up as the Biancocelesti were held to a draw in Bari and Catanzaro beat Modena. With two games to the end Lazio had a two-point lead over the Giallorossi since the latter had lost at Lecce and Lazio beat Brescia.
Lazio-Taranto was the last game of the season. Bologna and Lecce were already promoted, Lazio and Atalanta had a one-point lead over Catanzaro. The other two matches of interest were Atalanta v Messina and Piacenza v Catanzaro. The Biancocelesti won 3-1 and secured promotion to Serie A. Finally.
Paolo Monelli was the player with most appearances this season (42) and the most goals (14).
Let’s talk about Federico Agostinelli
Federico Agostinelli was born in Rome, on May 1 1967.
He began his career in the Lazio youth teams and won the Primavera Scudetto in 1986-87.
He debuted in Serie B on February 7, 1988, in the game the Biancocelesti won at San Benedetto del Tronto. It would be his only appearance for the club.
At the end of the season he signed with Monopoli in Serie C1 where he made ten appearances. He played alongside four other Lazio connections, Francesco Fonte, Mauro Meluso, Oberdan Biagioni and Eugenio Sgarbossa.
He stayed on in Monopoli when he prematurely gave up football and manages a few activities together with Francesco Fonte.
Lazio Career
Season | Serie B Appearances |
1987-88 | 1 |
Sources