Rizzitelli's Day: When the striker scored at both ends against Udinese

Ahead of Saturday's game at Udinese, we take a look back at one notable game from the fixture's recent past - when striker Ruggiero Rizzitelli scored all the goals in a narrow win...

“Don’t get on my nerves, Thomas – I’m taking it.”

It was with his trademark fiery nature that Ruggiero Rizzitelli forced Thomas Haessler to cede freekick-taking duties before thumping the ball into the back of the net, away at Udinese on 24 January 1993.

There are few other matches where a Roma player has played such a starring role - as both hero and villain - as when Rizzitelli managed to redeem the unfortunate sin of scoring an own goal by bagging two at the right end.

The 1992-93 season was not a particularly glittering one for the Giallorossi. Vujadin Boskov’s side turned in performances of fluctuating quality and there were few real highs in the Serie A campaign.

With the distance of time, the big positive of the season was clearly the debut – on 28 March 1993 against Brescia – of a youngster by the name of Francesco Totti.

Things were brighter in the Coppa Italia, however, at least until the second leg of the final against Torino; despite winning the match 5-2, the Granata lifted the trophy having won the tie on away goals, following their 3-0 victory in the first leg.

As this indifferent campaign unfolded, however, there was one special match that stuck out – Roma’s Serie A trip to Udinese. In the 3-5-2 formation fielded by Boskov, Roma’s attack featured Claudio Caniggia alongside Rizzitelli. The two linked up to give the Giallorossi the lead on 19 minutes, with the Argentinian finding his strike partner in the box – ‘Rizzigol’ then shook off his marker before firing beyond the Udinese keeper Paolo Di Sarno.

Five minutes later, Rizzitelli remarkably made a decisive contribution at the other end of the field. After an Udinese corner was swung in from the left, Roma keeper Giovanni Cervone tried to force the ball clear of his goal with his feet, only to see the ball rebound fatally off Rizzitelli and into the net. It was Udinese 1-1 Roma – Rizzitelli with both the goals.

It was at this juncture that Rizzitelli’s personality came to the fore – a centre forward who won the hearts of the Giallorossi fans for his heart and dedication to the Roma cause, more so than for the goals he scored.

Seven minutes after the absurd own goal, Roma were given a freekick on the edge of the area. Rizzitelli has since told us what happened at this point: “Haessler wanted to take it, but I told him not to get on my nerves. ‘But how, but how?’ he objected, before surrendering.”

Rizzitelli was by no means a freekick specialist – he did not usually take them, whereas that was usually exactly what Haessler was there for.

“It's true, but I felt I was going to score. He was forced to give me the ball. It's a good thing I did score, because otherwise...,” he said.

Rizzitelli’s freekick found the back of the net and put Roma back in the lead.

However, before the conclusion of the match, Rizzitelli found himself in the spotlight one more time. With Udinese on the attack, he inadvertently played Abel Balbo – who was still wearing white and black at the time – onside, as the opposition forward headed in to make it 2-2.

However, the linesman raised his flag - meaning referee Alfredo Trentalange could only rule the goal out.

Roma were able to see the game out and earned their first win away from home since May 1992.

Udinese 1-2 Roma

Scorers: Rizzitelli, Rizzitelli (OG), Rizzitelli.

A distanza di 27 anni, Rizzigo' ricorda ancora con tenerezza la mano che guidava quella Roma, quella di Boskov. "Vujadin era un personaggio divertente, positivo. Non giocavamo bene, ma lui ci esaltava: Dài, ché vinciamo il campionato". Voleva che calciassimo da qualsiasi distanza, anche da 70 metri. Credeva nelle coincidenze, nelle deviazioni fortuite. Diceva: Se voi non calciate palla, palla non entra. Oppure: Se voi non tirate, il portiere come fa a sapere se para? Aveva ragione lui".