The 1990s were a golden age of Italian top flight football Serie A, showcasing world-class strikers like Marco van Basten, Roberto Baggio, Ronaldo, George Weah, Jurgen Klinsmann Alessandro del Piero and Andriy Shevchenko whose skills and goals remain legendary today. However there were also many lesser-known moments and goals from them that are worth remembering today.
Sandro Melli (Fiorentina 2-3 Parma, 1990)
In Parma’s first-ever top-flight season, Sandro Melli announced himself with a breathtaking goal against Fiorentina. Enzo Gambaro’s hopeful ball was chested up by Melli, who executed a jaw-dropping 360-degree turn before volleying past the Fiorentina goalkeeper, leaving the Artemio Franchi stadium in awe.
Rudi Völler (Roma 4-0 Fiorentina, 1990)
Fresh from winning the World Cup with West Germany, Rudi Völler showcased his brilliance for Roma with a sumptuous volley against Fiorentina. Controlling Stefano Desideri’s pass, Völler lashed an unstoppable shot into the net, reminiscent of David Platt’s memorable goal for England in Italia ’90.
Enzo Francescoli (Cagliari 3-2 Sampdoria, 1991)
Sampdoria’s visit to Sardinia saw Enzo Francescoli steal the show. The Uruguayan superstar nutmegged the defender before curling a delightful right-footed shot into the top corner, earning praise from Zinedine Zidane himself.
Francesco Baiano (Foggia 2-8 Milan, 1992)
Despite Foggia’s heavy defeat against Milan, Francesco Baiano’s goal was a moment of brilliance. Controlling the ball with his shoulder and knee, Baiano beat the defender before lobbing the goalkeeper, giving Foggia a momentary lead against the legendary Milan side.
Michelangelo Rampulla (Atalanta 1-1 Cremonese, 1992)
Goalkeepers rarely score, but Michelangelo Rampulla broke the trend for Cremonese. Steaming into the six-yard box from a free-kick, he headed the ball past the opposition goalkeeper, etching his name in Serie A history as the first goalkeeper to score from open play.
Ruud Gullit (Sampdoria 3-2 Milan, 1993)
Ruud Gullit engineered Sampdoria’s comeback against his former team with an exquisite cross that gave Sampdoria equalizer before unleashing powerful drives to seal victory and show that Gullit was still an elite world player. It was yet another reminder of Gullit’s greatness as an accomplished footballer.
Roberto Onorati (Genoa 3-1 Reggiana, 1994)
Roberto Onorati’s audacious volley from a tight angle against Reggiana showcased the talent that permeated Serie A. Despite not reaching the heights of Marco Van Basten’s iconic volley, Onorati’s strike was a reminder of the league’s rich pool of talent.
Faustino Asprilla (Parma 2-0 Lazio, 1995)
With a sublime left-footed volley, Faustino Asprilla left fans in awe during Parma’s match against Lazio. His impeccable technique and instinctive play resulted in a goal that even TV cameras struggled to keep up with.
Oliver Bierhoff (Udinese v Brescia, 1997)
Known for his aerial prowess, Oliver Bierhoff surprised everyone with a spectacular right-footed strike against Brescia. Bierhoff controlled the ball with his right foot before unleashing an impressive dipping shot that found the top corner – showing his versatility as a striker.
Serie A was in its prime during the 90s, witnessing extraordinary goals being scored week-after-week and serving as reminders of its glory days and all of the exceptional players that graced Italian football during that era.
