Soccer Nostalgia: Soccer Memories-Part 46, Italian Serie A matches, May 5, 1991, Internazionale Milano 0-Sampdoria 2

Inter hosted Sampdoria on May 5^th, 1991, in a match that would virtually seal the title for one side, give the other some hope in case of a win.

A lot was riding on this match, Sampdoria were three points ahead of Inter (45 to 42) in this 31^st round of matches. After this there would only be three matches left in the Championship.

Vujadin Boskov’s unfancied Sampdoria had surprisingly led the League against the traditional giants of Juventus, AC Milan, Inter as well as Maradona’s Napoli.

AC Milan had been fading that season, while Juventus and Napoli would have disastrous seasons.

In this tail end of the season, Inter were the final realistic contenders to stop Sampdoria’s march to the Scudetto.

This match would not disappoint, and it would be one of the most memorable Serie A matches of the decade. This match had everything, sending-offs, penalty kicks, crowd trouble, goal line clearances, goals ruled out, etc.

Giovanni Trapattoni’s Inter were led by the 1990 World Cup winning German trio of Lothar Matthaus, Andreas Brehme and Jurgen Klinsmann.

Their Italian contingent included Italian Internationals Walter Zenga, Giuseppe Bergomi, Riccardo Ferri, Nicola Berti and Aldo Serena.

Sampdoria were led by the front-line duo of the rejuvenated Gianluca Vialli and Roberto Mancini.

In goal, Gianluca Pagliuca was starting to threaten Zenga for the number one spot for Italy.

Brazilian veteran Toninho Cerezo (36 years old) was enjoying a second youth and was one of the surprises of the season. Italian veterans Pietro Vierchowod and Giuseppe Dossena were also having a good season.

As hosts and needing a win, Inter started the match attacking relentlessly. Sampdoria had virtually no chances in this first half, as Inter assailed the Sampdoria goal.

Klinsmann scored a goal just before halftime, which was ruled out for offside.

Afterwards, Trapattoni stated, “A first goal that the referee did not see last week in Florence, and now a second refused for an imaginary offside, we cannot say the men in black did not present gifts’ (Note: Trapattoni was referring to the previous week’s scoreless tie with Fiorentina)

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2352, May 7, 1991

According to some observers, the goal may have been valid and could have changed the trajectory of the match.

The biggest drama of the first half, also took place just before halftime, the teams' respective Captains Giuseppe Bergomi and Roberto Mancini were both sent off after an altercation.

Sampdoria would take the lead in the 61^st minute against the run of play as Inter kept attacking.

On the left side, Vialli retrieved a ball and passed across to Dossena, who shot from a long-range shot from outside of the box.

In the 66^th minute, Inter had the chance to tie the match after they were awarded a penalty kick after Cerezo fouled Berti in the box. Pagliuca, who had already repelled all of Inter’s attacks, saved Matthaus’ attempt.

Sampdoria nearly scored again later when on the left, Lombardo’s shot from close range hit the post, he picked it up and passed across to Vialli, his shot was blocked on the line by Brehme.

Sampdoria would score their second goal in the 76^th minute. From the right side, on the middle of the field, Mannini sent a long cross on the left to Vialli, who controlled and went around Zenga to score.

This goal sealed the match and by extension the 1990-91 Serie A season as Sampdoria now had a four-point lead (now over AC Milan) with a few matches left.

Not only they had the points, but they had the momentum as they had relatively comfortable matches left.

The Inter fans protested in the stands as they knew their title hopes were gone. Zenga and Matthaus tried to calm the fans and after about five minutes order was restored.

Sampdoria were on their way to their first ever (and only to date) Scudetto. Inter’s consolation would be the UEFA Cup that they would win in matter of days against AS Roma.

This was the Golden Age of Calcio, and this match underlined that fact.

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 19 (845), May 8-14, 1991

(May 5, 1991, Internazionale Milano 0-Sampdoria 2)

League Standings before the match after the 30^th Matchday on April 21^st, 1991:

1-Sampdoria 45 points

2-Internazionale Milano 42 points

3-AC Milan 41 points

4-Genoa, Juventus, Parma, Torino 34 points

League Standings after the match after the 31^st Matchday on May 5^th, 1991:

1-Sampdoria 47 points

2-AC Milan 43 points

3-Internazionale Milano 42 points

4-Genoa, Parma, Torino 35 points

7-Juventus 34 points

Date: Sunday, May 5, 1991

Competition: Italian Serie A, 1990/91 Season-Matchday 31

Result: Internazionale Football Club- Milano 0- Unione Calcio Sampdoria-Genova 2

Venue: Milano -Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, San Siro

Attendance: 46,094

Referee: Pietro D’Elia (from Salerno)

Linesmen: -

Kick-off time: -

Goalscorers:

(Inter): None

(Sampdoria): Giuseppe Dossena 61, Gianluca Vialli 76

Summary of goals:

0:1 (61^st minute, Sampdoria): On the left side, Vialli retrieved a ball and passed across to Dossena, who shot from a long-range shot from outside of the box.

0:2 (76^th minute, Sampdoria): From the right side, on the middle of the field, Mannini sent a long cross on the left to Vialli, who controlled and went around Zenga to score.

Lineups:

Internazionale Milano:

1-Walter Zenga, 2-Giuseppe Bergomi, 3-Andreas Brehme (Germany), 5-Riccardo Ferri, 6-Antonio Paganin, 4- Paolo Stringara (15-Fausto Pizzi 69), 7-Alessandro Bianchi, 8-Nicola Berti, 9-Jurgen Klinnsman (Germany), 10-Lothar Matthäus (Germany), 11-Aldo Serena

Coach: Giovanni Trappatoni

Booked: Riccardo Ferri

Sent Off: Giuseppe Bergomi

Other Substitutes:

12-Astutillo Malgioglo, 13-Andrea Mandorlini, 14-Giuseppe Baresi, 16-Maurizio Iorio

Team Captain: Giuseppe Bergomi

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Uhlsport

Shirt Sponsor: Misura

Uniform Colors: Black/Blue Vertically Striped Shirts, Black Shorts, Black Socks

Sampdoria:

1-Gianluca Pagluica, 2- Moreno Mannini, 3- Giuseppe Invernizzi, 5-Pietro Vierchowod, 6-Luca Pellegrini, 4- Fausto Pari, 7-Attilio Lombardo, 8- Toninho Cerezo (Brazil), 9-Gianluca Vialli (Marco Lanna 90), 10-Roberto Mancini, 11-Giuseppe Dossena (Ivano Bonetti 87)

Coach: Vujadin Boskov (Yugoslavia)

Booked: Moreno Mannini, Giuseppe Invernizzi, Toninho Cerezo

Sent Off: Roberto Mancini

Other Substitutes:

12-Giullo Nuciari, 14-Alexei Mikhailichenko (USSR), 16-Marco Branca

Team Captain: Roberto Mancini

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Asics

Shirt Sponsor: ERG

Uniform Colors: White (two blue, one black and one Red Horizontal stripe in middle) Shirts, Blue Shorts, White Socks