Game 30, Serie A
Sunday, May 16, 1976
Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Como
Como Lazio 2-2
Down 2-0 after 17 minutes, Lazio manage to equalise thanks to Giordano and Badiani and avoid relegation. A miracle.
With four games to the end of the season Lazio were third from bottom, one point behind Sampdoria and Ascoli. Three teams went down (two points for victory). The Biancocelesti had to play against Torino who were leading the Serie A. Lazio scored in the second half but an unfortunate own goal with 60 seconds to go gave Torino the equaliser. With three games left, Cagliari were doomed on 15 points, Como had 18, Lazio and Sampdoria 20, Ascoli 21 and Verona 22.
This was Giorgio Chinaglia’s last game for Lazio. On that evening he left to join New York Cosmos. His last goal was against Ascoli on March 21.
Lazio lost the next match 4-3 in Florence. So now Como and Lazio were on 20, Ascoli 21, Verona and Sampdoria 22. Lazio needed to beat AC Milan in the last game at home and they did. Not only, they literally destroyed Milan, scored four goals and they could have scored many more.
Como had 20 points, Lazio, Sampdoria and Ascoli 22, Verona 23. Last match at Como.
The match
Lazio needed to win to secure Serie A or draw and hope that Ascoli and Sampdoria did not win. The Biancocelesti had the advantage of a better goal difference which would have been decisive in the case of a tie.
The beginning of the game was hell. In the 6th minute a great shot by Doriano Pozzato beat Felice Pulici. Lazio collapsed and ten minutes later Pozzato again went close to scoring. The 2-0 however arrived in the 17th minute. Claudio Correnti received the ball from a corner outside the box and shot. Vincenzo D’Amico was able to block, but Correnti volleyed the ball into the Lazio goal. Como Lazio 2-0.
A terrible start but Lazio gradually woke up, they did not have much choice if they wanted to avoid relegation, and in the 20th minute a wonderful counter attack by Pino Wilson, Luciano Re Cecconi and Bruno Giordano handed the young Lazio centre forward a chance which he capitalised. 2-1.
Lazio attacked but did not create any chances. At the end of the first half the situation was Lazio and Como on 22 points, Ascoli, who were winning against Roma, on 24, Sampdoria, who were 1-0 up against Napoli, also on 24, as were Verona who were losing in Florence.
In the second half, the Biancocelesti took control of the match. In the 53rd minute Re Cecconi did a coast-to-coast and at the edge of Como's box passed the ball to Roberto Badiani. Great shot, 2-2.
Lazio also had the possibility to score the winner but Giordano and Re Cecconi missed some easy chances. The situation in the other matches improved for Lazio as Roma managed to equalise.
At the end of the season Lazio and Ascoli were on 23 points but the Biancocelesti had a better goal difference so it was Ascoli who joined Como and Cagliari in Serie B.
Great celebrations and tears at the end of the game.
Who played for Como
Rigamonti, Melgrati, Boldini, Garbarini, Fontolan, Guidetti M., Rossi R. (67' Rossi P.), Correnti, Scanziani, Martinelli, Pozzato
Substitutes: Tortora, Mutti
Manager: Bagnoli
Who played for Lazio
Pulici, Ammoniaci (76’ Ghedin), Martini, Wilson, Polentes, Badiani, Garlaschelli, Re Cecconi, Giordano, D’Amico, Lopez
Manager: Maestrelli
Referee: Agnolin
Goals: 6’ Pozzato, 17’ Correnti, 20’ Giordano, 53’ Badiani
Sources
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