Game 8, Serie A
Sunday, December 5, 1976
Stadio San Siro, Milan
Inter Lazio 1-1
Lazio only a few days after Tommaso Maestrelli's death earn a point in Milan with a Giordano equaliser
Three days earlier legendary Scudetto manager Tommaso Maestrelli had passed away after a long fight with illness. A great manager and wonderful human being who would never be forgotten at Lazio.
Inter were slight favourites today but Lazio were above in the table and playing well. A lot would depend on how the Lazio players would cope with the recent death of their beloved Tommaso.
The match
It was a sad day in Milan, for Italian football in general but especially for Lazio. A minute's silence was observed before the game and the Lazio players were in tears, Lazio also wore black armbands in memory of the "Maestro".
Lazio were still without Vincenzo D'Amico and Luciano Re Cecconi out injured and adapted Luigi "Gigi" Martini in midfield.
Inter started positively and first hit a post with a Pietro Anastasi header and then had a Claudio Merlo long range shot tipped over the bar by Felice Pulici.
Lazio gradually got over their emotions and had a Renzo Garlaschelli effort go over the bar from an Andrea Agostinelli low cross.
Then it was Anastasi versus Pulici again as "Felix" dived brilliantly to keep out a backward header by the Inter striker on a Sandro Mazzola assist.
The last chance of the first half was for Lazio but after a good run down the left Garlaschelli's shot was absorbed by a deflection and Ivano Bordon saved comfortably. Half time Inter 0 Lazio 0.
A balanced first half but Inter forcing more difficult saves from the Lazio keeper.
In the first twenty minutes of the second half neither side managed to get the upper hand and it looked like a classic goalless draw. The only thing that happened was a substitution for Inter with Mario Bertini replacing Merlo in the 60th minute.
Then out of the blue Inter scored. In the 66th minute. Franco Marini won a challenge at the edge of the box and with the ball bouncing up, hammered a superb shot into the top right corner, giving Pulici no chance. Inter 1 Lazio 0.
Lazio found themselves undeservedly behind but reacted well. They seemed physically fitter than Inter and attacked with continuity. In the 75th minute the Biancocelesti threw on a proper midfielder, Toto Lopez replacing Martini.
Lazio equalised three minutes later. From just over the halfway line a clever through ball by Lionello Manfredonia was run onto by Bruno Giordano who took it forward and beat Bordon coming off his line with a perfect low diagonal shot. Inter 1 Lazio 1.
The game did not have much more to say as Inter had no more energy to push for a winner and Lazio were content with an away draw at "La Scala del Calcio". Final score Inter 1 Lazio.
A positive result for Lazio who had held their own against Inter. Pulici, Pino Wilson, Manfredonia and Giordano had stood out but the whole team had played well.
Who played for Inter
Bordon, Canuti, Fedele, Oriali, Gasparini, Facchetti, Anastasi, Merlo (60' Bertini), Mazzola I, Marini, Muraro
Substitutes: Martina, Pavone
Manager: Chiappella
Who played for Lazio
Pulici, Pighin, Ammoniaci, Wilson, Manfredonia, Cordova, Garlaschelli, Agostinelli, Giordano, Martini (75' Lopez), Badiani
Manager: Vinicio
Referee: Bergamo
Goals: 66' Marini, 78' Giordano
Sources
Comments