Lazio Osio close to winning debut
The Biancocelesti play well but are denied victory by 89th minute Osio header
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had finished 11th in Serie A under manager Dino Zoff.
Zoff had been confirmed but this new season was largely influenced by a player who would not even be involved, English star Paul Gascoigne. Lazio had made a deal with Tottenham for Gazza but the Geordie midfielder had ruptured his own cruciate ligaments in his right knee with his infamous tackle in the FA Cup Final. His official arrival at Lazio would therefore be for the successive 1992-1993 season.
In the meantime, Lazio had mitigated the setback by signing rated German midfielder Thomas Doll from Hamburger SV. In had also come defender Gigi Corino (Triestina), midfielder Giovanni Stroppa (Milan) and striker Berardino Capocchiano (TSV Havelse).
Leaving Lazio were midfielders Sergio Domini (Brescia) and Pedro Troglio (Ascoli). The Argentinian had to make space for Doll, as there was still a three foreign player limit. Striker Alessandro Bertoni also left after two years (back home to Reggiana).
Parma had finished 6th the previous season (UEFA qualification) under manager Nevio Scala. This season Scala had stayed on and the "Ducali" had a strong squad including; Claudio Taffarel, Luigi Apolloni, Antonio Benarrivo, Lorenzo Minotti, Marco Osio, captain Daniele Zoratto, Swede Tomas Brolin and Alessandro Melli to name a few.
The match: Sunday, September 1, 1991, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A 40,000 crowd showed up for Lazio's Serie A debut.
Lazio had no surprises in their starting line-up while Parma left both Osio and Melli on the bench.
Lazio started stronger and had an early chance with a Giovanni Stroppa shot over the bar while Rubén Sosa and Karl-Heinz Riedle were lively up front.
Parma sat back and controlled but gradually came out of their shell. A Stefano Cuoghi shot was saved into corner by Fernando Orsi, Minotti shaved the post from close range and a Massimo Agostini header went wide. The Ducali then pulled back again and left Lazio sterile possession. Half time Lazio 0 Parma 0.
For the second half Scala threw on Osio for Cuoghi to be more offensive while Lazio kept their initial eleven.
Parma were more aggressive now, with Osio, Brolin and Agostini pressing high. It was Lazio however who had the better chances. First Angelo Gregucci forced Taffarel into a good save and then Stroppa's cracking shot from the edge of the box went just over the bar. Riedle then had the biggest opportunity, teed up by Sosa, the German chested the ball down and his weak but angled volley trickled just wide.
In the 65th minute Lazio took the lead. Doll set up Stroppa whose powerful shot took a deflection off Stefano Nava before blasting past Minotti and Taffarel, who both unsuccessfully tried to stop the ball with their hands. Lazio 1 Parma 0.
At this point luck turned its back on Lazio. In five minutes, between the 64th and the 68th minutes, they lost both Claudio Sclosa and Stroppa to injury. They were replaced by Franco Marchegiani and Stefano Melchiori.
Lazio however continued to go forward, Taffarel saved from Sosa and Doll, after a dazzling run juggling the ball, then managed to miss the target with his volley.
In the 81st minute Alessandro Melli came on for Ivo Pulga and Lazio suddenly seemed anxious and fearful. Parma had a few corners and then equalised in the 89th minute. The move started on the left, where Lazio had been weakened by injuries and was finished off with an Osio header, giving Orsi no chance. Final score Lazio 1 Parma 1.
A pity for Lazio who went so close to winning and had more chances but the draw was not an unfair result. Lazio looked good going forward but vulnerable in defence. However, it was still early doors.
Who played for Lazio
Orsi, Bergodi, Bacci, Pin, Gregucci, Verga, Stroppa (68' Melchiori), Doll, Riedle, Sclosa (64' F. Marchegiani), Sosa
Manager: Zoff
Who played for Parma
Taffarel, Nava, Di Chiara, Minotti, Apolloni, Grun, Pulga (80' Melli), Zoratto, Agostini, Cuoghi (46' Osio), Brolin
Substitutes: Ballotta, Donati, Benarrivo
Manager: Scala
Referee: Sguizzato
Goals: 63' Nava (og), 89' Osio
What happened next
Lazio finished 10th. The Biancocelesti won 11, drew 12 and lost 11. They were too inconsistent to challenge for Europe and often threw away victories in the dying minutes (Parma were followed by Napoli, Ascoli, Juventus, Fiorentina). They drew both derbies 1-1, after leading on both occasions.
In the Coppa Italia Lazio went out in the last 16 to Torino 0-2 on aggregate. Top scorer was Sosa with 15 goals (13 in league).
Parma finished 7th, after 11 wins (including Lazio 1-0, Roma 3-1), 16 draws and 7 defeats. In the UEFA Cup they went out in the last 64 to CSKA Sofia on away goals.
They however triumphed in the Coppa Italia winning their first historic silverware. The Gialloblù eliminated Fiorentina (1-1 on away goals), Genoa (4-1 aggregate), Sampdoria (3-2 aggregate, after extra-time) and in the final Juventus (2-1 aggregate). Their top scorer was Sandro Melli with 11 goals (6 in league).
The Scudetto was won by Fabio Capello's Milan for their 12th title. Packing their bags for the unenviable trip to Serie B were Ascoli, Cremonese, Verona and Bari.
Lazio 1991-92
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals Scored |
Serie A | 34 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 43 |
Coppa Italia | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
Total | 38 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 48 |
Top Five appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Bacci | 37 | 33 | 4 |
Pin | 36 | 32 | 4 |
Doll | 35 | 31 | 4 |
Fiori | 35 | 32 | 3 |
Ruben Sosa | 35 | 31 | 4 |
Top Goal Scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Ruben Sosa | 15 | 13 | 2 |
Riedle | 13 | 13 | - |
Doll | 8 | 7 | 1 |
Stroppa | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Let’s talk about Franco Marchegiani
Franco Marchegiani was born in Citta Sant'Angelo (Pescara), on February 28, 1965.
He grew up in nearby Pescara's youth sector and joined the first team squad in 1983. He stayed two years in Serie B but only played one game.
In 1985 he was loaned to Frosinone in Serie D. He played 33 games with 1 goal for the "Ciocari" who finished 7th in their group.
In 1986 he was back with the Pescara "Delfini" in Serie B. The "Adriatici" won promotion under Giovanni Galeone. Marchegiani played 13 league games. He also played alongside a young Cristiano Bergodi.
The following season in Serie A Marchegiani played more, making 25 league appearances and 5 in Coppa Italia. The Biancazzurri finished 14th and stayed up.
In 1988-89 however Pescara were relegated (one of their few victories was 3-1 away to Roma). Marchegiani played 31 league games and 8 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (against Lazio in Coppa Italia).
Lazio were also his next team for two seasons. He played under Giuseppe Materazzi and then Dino Zoff between 1989 and 1991. In his first he played 16 league games with 1 goal (Ascoli) and 2 in Coppa Italia and Lazio finished 9th while in his second he played 14 league games with 2 goals (Sampdoria x2) and Lazio finished 10th.
In his third season he had made 5 league appearances and 1 in Coppa Italia before he was sold to Pisa in the autumn transfer window.
In Pisa he spent two years in serie B with 6th and 8th place finishes. He made 19 appearances under Luca Giannini, Ilario Castagner, Vincenzo Montefusco and Mauro Viviani.
His career then went downhill. In 1993 he went to Lecce in Serie A but never played and in January returned to Pescara in Serie B and played 12 games.
In January 1995 he went to Pontedera in C1 and played 10 but the Granata were relegated.
Then it was a year each with Avellino (B, 16 games), Nocerina (C1, 18 games and 2 goals), Ascoli (C1,18 games), Chieti (C2, 25 games). He then spent his last two years at amateur level with Morro d'oro (Teramo) and Notaresco (Teramo).
In 2002 at 37 he retired.
Marchegiani was a midfielder. The high point of his career was playing for Lazio in Serie A. He played a total of 38 games with 3 goals. He played under legend Dino Zoff and alongside the likes of Rubén Sosa, Thomas Doll and Karl-Heinz Riedle to name a few. His career then faded and he spent the majority of his playing days in the lower divisions. One of his biggest satisfactions would have been winning promotion and playing in Serie A with his local team Pescara.
Lazio Career
Season | Appearances (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
1989-90 | 18 (1) | 16 (1) | 2 |
1990-91 | 14 (2) | 14 (2) | - |
Jun-Oct 1991 | 6 | 5 | 1 |
Total | 38 (3) | 35 (3) | 3 |
Sources