More dark than sweet but a good point
Lazio dig deep, defend, have a couple of chances themselves, defend again and hold on for precious draw
Also on this day: February 3, 1974, Lazio Vicenza 3-0. A 3-0 which does not tell the full extent of Lazio’s superiority. Lazio Hero of the day: Renzo Garlaschelli
The season so far
Lazio had finished a respectable 8th the previous season, under Roberto "Bob" Lovati. Bruno Giordano had been top Serie A scorer with 19 league goals and 21 in total.
This year Lovati had kept his place. There were some changes to the squad. The main new signings were defender Filippo Citterio (Palermo), midfielders Maurizio Montesi (Avellino- back from loan), Vincenzo Zucchini (Pescara) and young forward Enrico Todesco (Como).
The players leaving were defenders Paolo Ammoniaci (Palermo), Pietro Ghedin (Pescara-on loan), Scudetto legend Gigi Martini (Chicago Sting), Andrea Agostinelli (Napoli-on loan), midfielders Roberto Badiani (Napoli-on loan), Franco Cordova (Avellino), Massimo De Stefanis (Palermo) and forward Aldo Cantarutti (Pisa).
On paper it looked as if Lazio had not come out strengthened by the transfer market, far from it.
So far, Lazio had played 17 league games and had won 4 (including Juventus 1-0 at home), drawn 9 (including derby 1-1) and lost 4. Lazio were in 9th position, on 18 points (with 5 other teams) in mid-table. Top scorer was Giordano with 10 goals (8 in A).
In August and September, the Biancocelesti got through the first Coppa Italia group phase against Matera 5-0, Brescia 2-0, Pistoiese 2-1 and Udinese 0-0. They then played Torino away in November and drew 0-0 and the return game in January also ended up 0-0 and Lazio lost on penalties.
Lazio’s season however had been marked by a terrible tragedy. On October 28 a Lazio fan, Vincenzo Paparelli, was killed inside the stadium before a local derby. A nautical flare was fired from the Roma end and, after having crossed the entire pitch, entered the Curva Nord tragically hitting 33-year-old, and father of two, Paparelli in the eye. He died on the way to hospital. I came into the Curva soon after the event and hearing of the incident and sensing the inevitably sombre, tense atmosphere my father decided to take my brother and I home. The game went ahead to avoid further crowd trouble and ended in a 1-1 of convenience. There is now a plaque in memory of poor Vincenzo Paparelli near the entrance to the Curva Nord.
Perugia had finished an incredible 2nd the previous season under Ilario Castagner. The Umbri had gone unbeaten all season in the league and were called "Il Perugia dei miracoli" (The Perugia of miracles).
This year Castagner was still manager and there had been few changes to the squad but one major one. Perugia had signed striker Paolo Rossi from Vicenza on loan. The Italian striker had scored 60 goals in 94 league games over the last three seasons. Leaving the Grifone were midfielder Franco Vannini (retiring) and forward Walter Speggiorin (Napoli).
This season Perugia were not repeating the miracle but were doing well. After 17 games the Biancorossi were in 4th position, on 20 points. They had won 5 (including Juventus 1-0 at home), drawn 9 (including Lazio 1-1) and lost 3. Rossi had scored 13 league goals so far.
In Coppa Italia in August/ September they had been eliminated after 1 win (Sampdoria 1-0 at home), 2 draws (Bari and Ascoli both 0-0 away) and lost 1 (Roma 0-1 at home).
In the UEFA Cup they had got through the round of 64 (Dinamo Zagabria 1-0 on aggregate) but then lost 1-4 on aggregate to Aris Thessaloniki.
Perugia were favourites today but were only two points above the Biancocelesti in the table. Both sides had drawn 9 out of their 17 games so a draw would not be a shock either.
Lazio had a negative tradition in Perugia in recent years, losing four consecutive times without even managing to score one goal. Would this change today?
The match: Sunday, February 3, 1980, Stadio Renato Curi, Perugia
A fresh but sunny day in the Umbrian capital. The small stadium in the valley below Perugia attracted a good crowd. There was a strong away support too as the venue is reasonably close.
Perugia were missing midfielder Salvatore Bagni while Lazio had to do without midfielder Totò Lopez.
Perugia started strongly while Lazio were content to sit back, defend and wait for their moment. The most dangerous was Mario Goretti who twice forced Massimo Cacciatori into saves, first with a low central long range freekick and then with a more dangerous closer range effort which was well saved into corner. Perugia attacked and Goretti again had a shot go just wide.
Lazio absorbed the pressure reasonably well and gradually came out of their shell. Vincenzo Zucchini chipped a pass over the home defence and found Bruno Giordano on the left in front of goal but he went for it with his right foot instead of his left and did not find the power to beat Franco Mancini.
The game was by no means spectacular but it was lively, tense and hard. In the 34th minute Lazio manager Bob Lovati was sent off for excessive protests with the referee.
Giordano then tried to go solo, weaving his way through the Perugia midfield and at the edge of the box letting off a powerful but central strike. Half time Perugia 0 Lazio.
Perugia had attacked more, especially initially but Lazio had defended well and then grown into the game. Perugia so far had not found a way to activate their goal scorer Paolo Rossi.
The second half started in the same way as the first. Perugia pushed forward but Lazio stood firm. In the 57th minute the Grifone had a penalty appeal. From a Gianfranco Casarsa corner from the right, Paolo Dal Fiume on the far post headed back into the heart of the area where the locals claimed Lionello Manfredonia pulled down Rossi before he could jump. The referee however gestured to get on with it.
In the 65th minute Perugia took over their most threatening player so far, Goretti, and put on Daniele Tacconi.
As in the first half, after a period of difficulty Lazio showed their faces in the opposing half more often. Filippo Citterio went down the right and put a cross into the far post where Giordano let it bounce and then blasted a shot which Mancini did well to block and hold onto.
There followed more scrambles in Lazio's area, lots of fouls, minor scuffles and Lazio clearly starting to try and run down the clock.
In the 88th minute Vincenzo D'Amico replaced Renzo Garlaschelli probably as part of the time-wasting plan.
During the few minutes of injury time Pino Wilson got a second yellow card and was sent off. Whether it was for too blatant time wasting, dissent or both is unclear. The game was practically over anyway. Perugia 0 Lazio 0.
A good point for Lazio. The Biancocelesti had conceded little to the hosts and nothing to Rossi. Lazio had come to Perugia for a point and by fair or foul had achieved it. They still could not score in the city of chocolate but a point was sweet enough today.
More disappointing for Perugia who had rarely been dangerous and been frustrated by Lazio's defence and tactics.
Who played for Perugia
Mancini, Nappi, Ceccarini, Frosio, Della Martira, Dal Fiume, Goretti (65' Tacconi), Butti, Rossi, Casarsa, De Gradi
Substitutes: Malizia, Calloni
Manager: Castagner
Who played for Lazio
Cacciatori, Tassotti, Citterio, Wilson, Manfredonia, Manzoni, Garlaschelli (88' D'Amico), Montesi, Giordano, Zucchini, Viola
Substitutes: Avagliano, Pighin
Manager: Lovati
Referee: Ballerini
What happened next
A good away point and mid-table relative tranquillity but over the next four matches Lazio only earned two points and then their world was blown apart. Lazio's season already tainted by the Paparelli tragedy then ended in relegation.
On March 23, four Lazio players were arrested after a 0-2 defeat at Pescara. The players were Giordano, Manfredonia, Wilson and Cacciatori and they were accused of being involved in the "Totonero" (betting scandal). On the field Lazio managed to avoid relegation by one point thanks to Vincenzo D'Amico leading a team full of youth players to victory over Catanzaro but then Lazio were punished for their players' alleged involvement in the scandal and relegated anyway, along with Milan. Lazio won 5, drew 15 and lost 10.
Giordano and Manfredonia would not play again until 1982 and only because of the World Cup winning armistice. Lazio would spend three years in the purgatory of Serie B and only get promoted in 1982-83 (with the help of Giordano and Manfredonia).
Perugia too were involved in the scandal. Paolo Rossi was suspended for two years, he came back just in time to become Pablito, and Perugia were docked five points from the following season (Perugia had three players involved).
On the field the Umbri ended up 10th, on 30 points (they were 6th before March 23.
The Scudetto was won by Inter for the 12th time. Going down were Lazio and Milan both punished for the "Totonero" and Pescara who had finished bottom. The clubs who escaped the drop due to the scandal were Udinese and Catanzaro.
Lazio 1979-80
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals Scored |
Serie A | 30 | 5 | 15 | 10 | 21 |
Coppa Italia | 6 | 3 | 3 | - | 9 |
Total | 36 | 8 | 18 | 10 | 30 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Citterio | 36 | 30 | 6 |
D'Amico | 33 | 28 | 5 |
Viola | 33 | 28 | 5 |
Tassotti | 32 | 27 | 5 |
Zucchini | 30 | 25 | 5 |
Cacciatori | 30 | 24 | 6 |
Top goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Giordano | 12 | 9 | 3 |
D'Amico | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Garlaschelli | 5 | 2 | 3 |
Zucchini | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Let's talk about Mauro Manzoni
Mauro Manzoni was born in Rome, on March 24, 1958.
He started playing football with his local Roman club San Basilio and in 1973 joined the Lazio youth set up before being sent on loan to Cerretese (Florence) in C2 in 1978-79. He played 34 league games for the Tuscans and they finished 3rd.
In 1979 he returned to Lazio. The manager was Bob Lovati and it was a difficult year. In October a Lazio fan, Vincenzo Paparelli, was killed by a flare shot from the Roma sector before the derby. A terrible tragedy. Then in March four Lazio players were arrested for their involvement in the "Totonero" match-fixing scandal. Lazio stayed up on the pitch but were then penalised with relegation for their players' alleged behaviour. Manzoni himself played 14 league games and 1 in Coppa Italia. He made his league debut on October 14, in an away draw at Ascoli.
The following year he stayed on in Serie B under Ilario Castagner. Lazio narrowly missed out on promotion finishing 4th, not helped by a Stefano Chiodi missed penalty in the penultimate game against Vicenza. Manzoni again played 14 league games and 4 in Coppa Italia.
In 1981 he joined Benevento in Serie C1. The manager was Gastone Bean and the Sanniti finished 5th. Manzoni played his usual 14 league games.
In 1982 he moved to Umbria and Foligno in Interregionale (5th tier). The Biancazzurri won the league and promotion to C2. The following year the "Falchetti" (The Hawks) then came 2nd under Alberto Mari and won back-to-back promotions. In total Manzoni only played 12 league games in his two seasons with Foligno.
That was the end of his professional career due to physical problems.
He then went into coaching. He started at grassroots level with youngsters. In 2012 he coached the Vigor Mellis U21's. In 2019 he had an experience in Albania with Futboll Club Dinamo Tirana but he was replaced by fellow Italian, Fabrizio Cammarata (another old Lazio acquaintance/friend...).
As a player Manzoni was a midfielder. He is 1.84 for 80 kilos so a strong physical player. The peak of his career was undoubtedly for Lazio. He played 33 times for his hometown team and debuted in Serie A. The continuation of his career was not lucky however and he did not leave much of a mark after Lazio.
Lazio Career
Season | Total Appearances | Serie A | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
1979-80 | 15 | 14 | - | 1 |
1980-81 | 18 | - | 14 | 4 |
Total | 33 | 14 | 14 | 5 |
Sources
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