Garlini not enough
An early strike by Lazio’s top scorer is levelled by a "Condor" Agostini goal
Also on this day: April 13, 1969, Spal Lazio 1-2. Lazio win despite referee and conditions to conquer solitary second place. Player of the day: Piero Cucchi
The season so far
Lazio's new dawn under Giorgio Chinaglia had failed and they were back in Serie B. Despite changing manager twice (Paolo Carosi to Juan Carlos Lorenzo and finally to Bob Lovati/Giancarlo Oddi) Lazio came second bottom and made the drop. Chinaglia's financial partners had never materialised and he was in huge difficulty. Turbulent times on and off the pitch.
This year the new manager was much respected Gigi Simoni. Lazio had been obliged to sell their star players; Bruno Giordano (Napoli), Lionello Manfredonia (Juventus) plus Michael Laudrup had gone (Juventus - end of 2-year loan). Also leaving were keepers Massimo Cacciatori (Gubbio) and Fernando Orsi (Arezzo), defender Renato Miele (Triestina) and midfielders Giancarlo Marini (Genoa) and Joao Batista (Avellino).
Lazio had brought in some players more suitable to the new financial and sporting situation. A rare deal with Roma was made and in came goalkeeper Astutillo Malgioglio, three defenders arrived: Fabio Calcaterra (Inter-loan), Roberto Galbiati (Torino) and Giorgio Magnocavallo (Atalanta), a midfielder Domenico Caso (Torino) and two forwards, Giuliano Fiorini (Genoa) and Fabio Poli (Cagliari). The two forwards would later prove to be history changers for Lazio.
The season had started with the Coppa Italia in August. Lazio had been eliminated despite 2 wins (Catania 1-0 and Monopoli 2-0 at home) and 3 draws (Atalanta 2-2 and Sampdoria 0-0 at home and Taranto 0-0 away).
In the league, after a decent start (4 wins, a draw and a defeat in the first 6 games), things were not going well. The team were suffering from the uncertainty at club level and were just below mid table, but much nearer relegation than promotion. So far, the Biancocelesti had won 9, drawn 9 and lost 11, disappointing but also worrying as they were only two points above the relegation zone. They had lost the last match 2-3 away at Ascoli and were currently joint 9th with five other teams. One positive note was the in-form striker Oliviero Garlini who had already scored 16 league goals.
Cesena had finished 9th the previous season, under manager Adriano Buffoni. This year Buffoni was still in charge but there had been a few changes to the squad.
The main new players were keeper Fausto Borin (Cremonese), defenders Franco Pancheri (Cremonese), Antonio Bogdoni (Ascoli) forwards Pasquale Trani (Taranto), Mauro Gibellini (Perugia).
Leaving were keepers Michelangelo Rampulla (Cremonese), defender Luciano Spinosi (retiring), Giampiero Ceccarelli (club legend, retiring after 591 games for Cesena), midfielders Antonio Genzano (Casertana), Augusto Gabriele (Parma) plus forwards Vittorio Cozzella (Catanzaro) and Roberto Russo (Campobasso).
The Bianconeri were currently in 7th place, five points off 3rd place and promotion. The Romagnoli had won 10 (including Lazio 3-1), drawn 12 and lost 7. They came from 3 consecutive draws but had not won since February 9. Gibellini had scored 11 league goals.
In Coppa Italia they too were already out after 1 win (Ancona 2-1 away), 3 draws (Empoli 1-1 and Inter 0-0 at home and Avellino 0-0 away) and 1 defeat (Brescia 0-2 at home).
A difficult game to predict today. Cesena were five points ahead but came from mediocre results while Lazio were in the heat of the relegation battle.
The match: Sunday, April 13, 1986, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
An overcast day and not a big crowd for this game, about 15,000 spectators.
Lazio had Ernesto Calisti and Domenico Caso back from injury but were without defenders Giorgio Magnocavallo, Giorgio Calcaterra, Roberto Galbiati and Gabriele Podavini plus Giuliano Fiorini and Francesco Dell'Anno up front. The defensive defections meant a debut for youth player Raffaele Perna.
Cesena, on the other hand, had absences in midfielders Giuseppe Angelini and Gianluca Leoni. The Bianconeri had two former Lazio players in the starting line-up, Dario Sanguin (1980-82) and youth player Fabrizio Perotti.
The game started perfectly for Lazio. In the 3rd minute Fortunato Torrisi had a long range central freekick parried by Borin, Toti tried again on the rebound but the keeper saved up into the air where Oliviero Garlini jumped and headed in. Lazio 1 Cesena 0.
The game then went flat with Lazio trying to control and Cesena unable to threaten.
In the 35th minute however, the visitors equalised. Pancheri crossed from the left to Bianchi whose shot was saved but reached the "Condor", he pounced, turned and put a low left footed strike past Mario Ielpo. Lazio 1 Cesena 1. That was the halftime score too.
There were no changes for the second period and not much entertainment for the crowd either. The game remained blocked without goal scoring chances.
In the 61st minute the Biancocelesti tried to liven things up a bit by replacing Fabio Poli and a tiring Domenico Caso with Vincenzo D'Amico and Claudio Vinazzani.
The Golden Boy from Latina in particular was hoped to bring some extra creativity to Lazio's performance.
He did have one moment of quality when he put in a perfectly dosed cross for a Garlini header but Borin pulled off a brilliant save.
In the 85th minute the Romagnoli threw on striker Mauro Gibellini for Perotti and the Bianconeri almost stole it near the end. From a freekick Arcadio Spinozzi cleared badly with a header gifting the ball straight to Alessandro Bianchi whose first time shot came back off the left post. A huge let off for Lazio. Final score Lazio 1 Cesena 1.
Lazio had hoped to get the two points today but did not do much about it. The disappointment was balanced by the fact that they could easily have lost in the dying minutes.
Lazio with the point slipped to joint 11th on 28 points but still with two miserly points on the four teams in joint third bottom place. The table read Monza 19, Catanzaro 25, Catania 26, Cagliari 26, Arezzo 26, Pescara 26, Campobasso 27, Perugia 28, Lazio 28, Sambenedettese 28… with four relegations there was more than some cause for concern. Cesena meanwhile moved up to joint 5th, as both Genoa and Triestina had lost, but now six points off an unlikely promotion.
Who played for Lazio
Ielpo, Perna, Calisti, Spinozzi, Filisetti, Corti, Torrisi, Toti, Poli (61' D'Amico), Caso (61' Vinazzani), Garlini
Substitutes: Salafia, Zaccagna, Fonte
Manager: Simoni
Who played for Cesena
Borin, Cuttone, Cotroneo, Sala, Pancheri, Perrotti (85' Gibellini), Agostini, Sanguin, Traini, Bianchi, Barozzi
Substitutes: Dadina, Martini, Meazza, Minotti
Manager: Buffoni
Referee: Lamorgese
Goals: 3' Garlini, 35' Agostini
What happened next
The following week Lazio fell to a terrible 0-1 home defeat to bottom of the table Monza. Then in the following 5 games, lost 1 and drew 4. They were seriously risking relegation before a decisive 3-2 away victory at Catanzaro. They then beat already promoted Brescia 4-2 and finished joint 11th, only 3 points above the last relegated team. An anonymous season ended with 11 wins, 14 draws and 13 defeats. The only positive note, apart from avoiding a shock relegation, was having Oliviero Garlini as top Serie B scorer with 18 goals.
In the summer unfortunately, things got worse. Lazio’s midfielder Claudio Vinazzani was accused of being involved in the Calcio scommesse (Betting scandal). The football authorities original punishment request was direct relegation to C1, but luckily it was then softened to a nine-point docking in the following year's Serie B. With only two points per victory however this was still a heavy burden. A new coach arrived, Eugenio Fascetti, and so the famous -9 season started ... but that's another story.
Cesena finished 8th. In the next eight games the "Cavalluccio marino" (The Seahorse) won 2, drew 2 and lost 4. Top scorers were Massimo "Condor" Agostini and Mauro Gibellini with 13 league goals each.
The three teams going up to Serie A were Ascoli, Brescia and Empoli. At the other end Monza, Catanzaro and Palermo (bankrupt) headed for C1 while Perugia, already relegated, were then demoted to C2 for their involvement in the Totonero match fixing affair.
Lazio 1985-86
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie B | 38 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 38 |
Coppa Italia | 5 | 2 | 3 | - | 5 |
Total | 43 | 13 | 17 | 13 | 43 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
Garlini | 43 | 38 | 5 |
Podavini | 39 | 34 | 5 |
Calcaterra | 37 | 33 | 4 |
Galbiati | 35 | 30 | 5 |
Vinazzani | 35 | 30 | 5 |
Top goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
Garlini | 18 | 18 | - |
Caso | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Fiorini | 5 | 3 | 2 |
Podavini | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Let’s talk about Fortunato Torrisi
Fortunato Torrisi was born in Melito di Porto Salvo (Reggio Calabria), on October 23, 1955.
He started his football with Borgata Augusta but his first professional club was Siracusa. He made his debut for the Sicilians in 1973 in Serie C. He stayed two seasons with the "Leoni" finishing 6th and 4th. He played 45 league games and scored 2 goals.
In 1975 he joined Como in Serie A. The Lariani were relegated, the manager was first Beniamino Cancian (1-12) and then Osvaldo Bagnoli (13-30). Torrisi played 5 league games. His teammates included, Lazio connections, Oliviero Garlini (1984-86) and Renzo Rossi (1976-77) plus a young Paolo Rossi.
In 1976 he moved back to Siracusa in Serie C. The Aratusei finished 6th and he played 36 league games with 3 goals.
In 1977-78 he spent a season with Chieti in Serie C. The Teatini finished 9th and qualified for the new Serie C1 to be set up the following year. Torrisi played 35 league games and scored 6 goals.
In 1978-79 he played for Pistoiese in Serie B. The manager was Enzo Riccomini and he played 29 league games with 1 goal. He played with Lazio connections Maurizio Moscatelli (1980-83), Sergio Borgo (1973-74, 1975-76) and the great Mario Frustalupi (1972-75).
In 1979 he moved to Le Marche and joined Ascoli in Serie A. He stayed three seasons with the Bianconeri. The first was fantastic and they finished 4th under manager Giovan Battista Fabbri. Torrisi played 29 league games with 4 goals (Torino, Udinese, Cagliari, Inter). Ascoli won 11 matches (including Juventus and Inter away). One of his teammates was legendary Lazio keeper Felice Pulici (1972-77, 1981-82).
The following year Battista started but was replaced by Carlo Mazzone after 12 games. Ascoli finished 11th and Torrisi played all 30 league games with 3 goals (Napoli x2, Brescia).
In his last year in Ascoli the "Picchio" (The Woodpecker) finished an excellent 6th and beat Juventus again. He played all 30 league games again, with 4 goals (Udinese, Catanzaro, Como, Bologna) plus 3 games in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Bari). His teammates included former Lazio Giuseppe Greco (1980-81).
In 1982 Torrisi joined Torino in Serie A for one season. The manager was Eugenio Bersellini and the Granata finished 8th. The highlight came on March 27 in the derby against Juventus. With 20 minutes to go Toro were trailing 0-2 but, in the space of three minutes, between the 71st and 74th, turned it around and won 3-2. Torrisi scored the winning goal to go down in Torino history. Over the season he played 21 league games with 4 goals (Inter, Cagliari x2 and derby winner) plus 4 games in Coppa Italia. His teammates included Lazio connections Giuliano Terraneo (1986-87), Paolo Beruatto (1987-90) and Roberto Galbiati (1985-86).
In 1983-84 he was back in Sicily with Catania in Serie A. The manager was first Gianni Di Marzio until December and then Giovan Battista Fabbri, from his first year in Ascoli. The Etnei only won one match and were relegated. Torrisi played 25 league games with 1 goal (Roma in 2-2 draw) plus 2 games in Coppa Italia. He played with Lazio connections Aldo Cantarutti (1978-79), Giorgio Mastropasqua (1980-82) as well as future manager Sir Claudio Ranieri.
In 1984 he signed for Lazio in Serie A. It was a difficult year which ended up in relegation. Paolo Carosi started as manager but in September was replaced by an already past it Juan Carlos Lorenzo and finally, in March, Bob Lovati and Giancarlo Oddi took over. Torrisi played 21 league games.
In 1985-86 he stayed in the capital. The manager was promotion specialist Gigi Simoni but this time it did not happen. The club was in chaos with uncertainty, unfulfilled promises and late or unpaid wages. Lazio finished 11th but at one point seriously risked relegation to Serie C. Torrisi played 16 league games with 2 goals (Cesena, Ascoli).
He then went up the road to Terni in Umbria and joined Ternana in Serie C2. He stayed two seasons and the Rossoverdi finished 3rd and 14th. In the first year the manager was, former Lazio player and Scudetto winner, Mario Facco. In the second year Facco was replaced during the season by Corrado Viciani. Torrisi played 35 league games with 2 goals. His teammates included Lazio legends Vincenzo D’Amico (1970-80, 1981-86) and Paolo Di Canio (1984-86, 1987-90, 2004-06).
Torrisi then returned to Chieti for one last season, in 1988-89. The Neroverdi were in C2 and finished 3rd, under manager Antonio Gianmarinaro. Torrisi played 25 league games with 1 goal.
At 34 he then retired.
In 1993 he started his coaching career with the Lazio academy. In 1998-99 he was in charge of the Primavera (U19's). In 1999 he then worked for the Lodigiani youth sector.
Meanwhile in 1997 he won a league title with Lazio Master Calcio 5-a-side team.
He then coached some first teams in the lower tiers. In 1999-2000 he was with Catanzaro in C2, 2001 Acireale (sacked and replaced by Walter Mazzarri), 2003 Gladiator (Caserta) in C2 for 7 games, 2004 Castel di Sangro briefly in C2, 2005-06 Latina briefly in C2, 2007-2009 two stints with Gaeta in Eccellenza (winning promotion) and Serie D and finally 2010 Flaminio C.C in Serie D (where he resigned). He now runs a football academy in Rome.
Torrisi was a midfielder. He was physically strong at 1.83 and 79 kilos. He could play in various midfield roles and had good athleticism. He had a good club career, playing 162 games in Serie A and scoring 16 goals. His best years were with Ascoli and the highlight of his career was surely scoring the winning goal for Torino in the Turin derby.
At Lazio he arrived at the wrong time with the team going through a terrible year, ending up in relegation and then another bad year in Serie B with chaos at administrative level. Torrisi actually played decently but sank with the general situation. He played 37 games for the Biancocelesti with two goals.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances | Serie A | Serie B |
1984-85 | 21 | 21 | - |
1985-86 | 16 (2) | 16 (2) | |
Total | 37 (2) | 21 | 16 (2) |
Sources
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