A Draw Nobody Wanted

Simon Basten

Sep 23, 2023

4 min read

Season 1989-90

Game 6, Serie A

Sunday, September 24, 1989

Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi, Verona

Verona Lazio 1-1

Lazio escape from a dreadful afternoon at the Bentegodi as Sergio’s cross takes a decisive deflection to rescue a point against Verona

The Biancocelesti had played five games so far winning two, an incredible win in Milan and a 3-0 against Lecce, drawn 1, lost two, and were ninth.

The match

There were 6,376 paying spectators at the Bentegodi on 24 September 1989, and together they paid more than 102 million lire to watch Verona and Lazio. By the final whistle, there must have been more than a few wondering whether they should have been entitled to a refund.

The applause was largely replaced by relief when referee Fabio Baldas brought an end to one of the dreariest matches either side would play that season. There had been more yawns than whistles, more mistakes than moments of quality and, for long periods, very little to suggest that this was a Serie A encounter.

For Lazio, the contrast with the previous weekend was particularly striking. Seven days earlier, Giuseppe Materazzi's side had swept aside Lecce in an impressive display. At Verona, however, the Biancocelesti looked almost unrecognisable: passive, hesitant and short of ideas.

The absence of Rubén Sosa was a significant blow. Without the Uruguayan's pace and creativity, Lazio appeared to lack the player capable of turning possession into danger. Verona, themselves struggling badly after their great Scudetto-winning years, sensed an opportunity.

The opening half-hour belonged to the home side, even if calling it dominance would be generous. Verona were hardly convincing, but Lazio's apathy made them look considerably better than they actually were. Maurizio Iorio and Davide Pellegrini repeatedly found space, while Pietro Fanna's movement from midfield gave the hosts an additional attacking outlet.

Osvaldo Bagnoli had made an intriguing tactical adjustment, moving Fanna deeper and allowing Raffaele Sergio to operate further forward. The change helped Verona exploit the spaces in front of the Lazio defence, and the visitors spent much of the opening period looking strangely disjointed.

Eventually, Verona found their reward.

After 37 minutes, Pellegrini went down following a challenge from Claudio Sclosa and Baldas pointed to the penalty spot. A harsh decision. Iorio stepped forward and sent the ball beyond Valerio Fiori to give Verona a 1–0 lead.

For a brief period, the home side looked capable of taking control. Verona came close to exploiting Lazio's uncertainty again, but the opportunity to deliver the decisive blow passed them by. Iorio and Pellegrini worked tirelessly, yet the team lacked the quality to turn pressure into a second goal.

Lazio survived.

Materazzi made his first change at half-time, withdrawing Paolo Di Canio, who had spent the previous night unable to sleep after undergoing intensive treatment for toothache. Franco Marchegiani replaced him for the second half.

Lazio needed something to change. Instead, Verona changed the scoreline for them.

On 55 minutes, Sergio burst forward down the left and attempted to send a cross towards the centre. The ball took a decisive deflection off Gustavo Sotomayor and flew past substitute goalkeeper Gianfranco Bodini, who had replaced the injured Angelo Peruzzi. An unfortunate own goal had brought Lazio level.

It was scarcely a goal Lazio had created, but they were not about to complain.

The equaliser changed the complexion of the match. Verona lost what little confidence they had possessed, while Lazio became increasingly concerned with protecting the point. The visitors withdrew into a compact defensive shape around Fiori and concentrated on preventing Verona from finding the winner.

The spectacle deteriorated further.

The final quarter of an hour offered almost nothing in the way of attacking football. Verona lacked the imagination to break down Lazio's defensive wall, while the Biancocelesti appeared more than satisfied to leave the Bentegodi with a point.

Then, in the 87th minute, came the strangest episode of the afternoon.

Amarildo went down after a challenge and appeared to have injured his right ankle. The Lazio bench called for his replacement, with Marco Monti ready to come on. Amarildo pulled down his sock to inspect the injury and began making his way towards the touchline, limping visibly.

Baldas, however, believed the Brazilian was taking too long to leave the pitch and showed him a yellow card.

Amarildo responded by applauding the referee.

Baldas immediately produced a second yellow and sent him off.

It was a remarkable ending to an already miserable afternoon. Amarildo walked away in tears, while Lazio were forced to finish the match with ten men.

There was little time left for Verona to take advantage.

The final whistle eventually arrived as something of a mercy. Lazio had escaped with a 1–1 draw, but there was little satisfaction in the point. Verona had been poor; Lazio had been scarcely better. The two sides had managed to share the goals, the mistakes and, most importantly, the boredom.

Who played for Verona

Peruzzi (49' Bodini), Favero, Pusceddu (69' Gritti), Terracciano, Bertozzi, Sotomayor, Fanna, Acerbis, Iorio, Magrin, Pellegrini

Substitutes: Piubelli, Pagani, Mazzeo

Manager: Bagnoli

Who played for Lazio

Fiori, Bergodi, Sergio, G.Pin, Gregucci, Soldà, Di Canio (46' F.Marchegiani), Icardi, Amarildo, Sclosa, Bertoni