Lazio edge Catania in boiling cauldron and see Serie A
In inhumane conditions Lazio beat the Sicilians thanks to former player Mastropasqua's own goal
Also on this day: June 5, 1949, Novara Lazio 2-2. Heat and lack of motivation affect the game that however ends up 2-2. Player of the day: Marco Brandolin
The season so far
Lazio in their third consecutive year in Serie B, after the betting scandal and relegation of 1979-80, had renewed ambitions this year. The previous season had been a depressingly mediocre 11th place but with the return of striker Bruno Giordano and midfielder Lionello Manfredonia (after the world Cup win armistice) they could finally see some light at the end of the tunnel.
The main players who had joined Lazio were keeper Fernando Orsi (Parma), defenders Renato Miele (Catania), Gabriele Podavini (Brescia) and Marco Saltarelli (Lodigiani), midfielders Enrico Vella (Catania) and Roberto Tavola (Juventus) plus forward Claudio Ambu (Perugia).
Players to leave were the scudetto legends of 1974, keeper Felice Pulici and attacking winger Renzo Garlaschelli plus defenders Giorgio Mastropasqua (Catania), Dario Pighin (Taranto), midfielders Alberto Bigon (Vicenza), Dario Sanguin (Perugia), Fernando Viola (Genoa) and forwards Lorenzo Marronaro (Monza) and Walter Speggiorin (Massese).
This reshuffling of the squad plus the return of clearly superior level players such as Giordano and Manfredonia, added to the talent of fan favourite Vincenzo D'Amico, gave the whole Lazio environment renewed enthusiasm and optimism.
Roberto Clagluna, who had taken over from Ilario Castagner half way through the previous season, had been confirmed. After a slow start (3 draws) Lazio had started winning games (7 consecutive between 7th and 13th fixture). After the first half of the season, they were top of the table.
The second part of the fixture list saw Lazio slow down. From January 30 to May 8th, Lazio only won twice (Cremonese, Bari), with 8 draws and 4 defeats (Campobasso, Monza, Pistoiese, Varese). After the 3-3 home draw against Reggiana on May 8, Clagluna was sacked and in came former player Giancarlo "El Gaucho" Morrone.
His first match was a 5-1 away defeat to Milan. To make things worse Roma the same day won the Scudetto and the town was painted red and yellow.
Then luckily Lazio picked up and in a crucial game beat Atalanta 2-1 at home. A week before today's promotion clash, Lazio had earned a point at Arezzo with a 0-0 draw.
Coming into this afternoon's decisive game the league table read; Milan 51, Lazio 43, Catania 43, Cremonese 42, Como 41, Cavese 39. The match was almost like a final, whoever won would have a foot and a half in serie A.
Catania had finished 8th the previous season but this year were faring a lot better. Under manager Gianni Di Marzio the "Etnei" had won 13, drawn 17 (including Lazio 1-1, with a controversial 90th minute Catania penalty) and lost 6.
They had some decent players especially in striker Angelo Crialesi and midfielder Ennio Mastalli. The Rossoblu had a few Roman connections too, from both sides of the barricade. They had former Lazio Aldo Cantarutti and Giorgio Mastropasqua but also former Roma players Giacomo Chinellato and now world-famous Claudio Ranieri (manager of Leicester's "miracle" title in 2016).
So, as mentioned, this match today was a big one. Lazio had to win as their last match was a difficult away fixture against Cavese while Catania could even take a draw and then rely on their last home game against mid-table Perugia.
The match: Sunday, June 5, 1983, Stadio Olimpico, Roma
A June afternoon is never an ideal time to play a game of football in Rome but today the conditions were worse than average. There were 37 degrees and a high level of humidity. The fans had filled the stadium by midday for a three o'clock kick-off. This was before the stadium was covered for Italia '90, so many spectators had to be hosed down by the fire brigade to avoid frying in the heat.
There was a full house today, 65,000, with 15,000 being Catanesi.
The early stages were tense and scrappy. The heat and the importance of the game sapping lucidity out of both teams. There was more excitement in the stands than on the field until the 12th minute. Claudio Ambu flew out of a double challenge by Mastropasqua and Ranieri and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Giordano struck a powerful central shot to put Lazio in front. Lazio 1 Catania 0.
Catania responded well and pegged Lazio in defence. They equalised in the 27th minute. D'Amico was dispossessed by Mastalli, the ball went to Cantarutti who back-heeled it to Mastalli again, his assist reached Crialesi who took it forward and beat Orsi coming off his line. All square, Lazio 1 Catania 1.
In the 33rd minute Lazio were forced to replace an injured Marco Saltarelli with Renato Miele.
The game was balanced although Catania were more harmonious as a team while Lazio were more technical. It was stop-start with a lot of fouls, the bad blood after the controversial away game in Catania not helping (some journalists at the time compared it to a rugby match). Just before halftime the visitors went close to taking the lead when a Pier Giuseppe Mosti header was blocked by Enrico Vella. Half time 1-1.
In the second half the oppressive heat and tension still reigned. Catania however went extremely close again in the 55th minute when a Mosti header hit the crossbar. Lazio then replaced Lionello Manfredonia with the fresher legs of young Giancarlo Marini.
Catania seemed to be on top but in the 65th minute came the lucky break and it fell to Lazio. Gabriele Podavini won a fifty-fifty ball and tried his luck from outside the area, his low shot took a deflection off former teammate Mastropasqua and beat Roberto Sorrentino. Lazio 2 Catania 1. Curiously it was not Mastropasqua's first own goal in Lazio's favour. Ten years earlier while playing for Ternana he had put the ball in his own net giving Lazio an away 1-0 win in Umbria.
The pandemonium that broke out among the Lazio fans combined with the horrific heat meant many fans had to be assisted by medical staff.
The game went on and Catania, maybe used to volcanic heat, had more energy. In the 71st minute the Sicilians struck the crossbar again and in the 87th minute Orsi saved a venomous Cantarutti free kick into corner. Lazio were groggy and on the ropes, desperately holding on by any means possible (yes also by blatantly wasting time, we are in Italy after all). Finally, Menicucci blew up and Lazio could celebrate with the little energy left, players and fans alike.
The bad blood between the players continued on the pitch (Paolo Pochesci was sent off after the final whistle for fighting with Cantarutti) and apparently in the tunnel leading to the changing rooms.
There were clashes between the fan groups after the match too, the heat and tension had got to everyone.
An absolutely crucial win for Lazio. It had not been easy, far from it, but now the Biancocelesti needed just one more point at Cava de' Tirreni in a week's time. More good news was that Cavese had lost today, so were out of the promotion race.
The table read Milan 53 (promoted), Lazio 45, Cremonese 44, Catania 43, Como 43. The week's mantra was one point, one point, one point...repeat.
Who played for Lazio
Orsi, Podavini, Saltarelli (33' Miele), Vella, Pochesci, Spinozzi, Ambu, Manfredonia (55' Marini), Giordano, D'Amico, Badiani
Manager: Morrone
Who played for Catania
Sorrentino, Ranieri, Mosti, Giovanelli, Chinellato (67' Barozzi), Mastropasqua, Morra II, Mastalli, Cantarutti, Crusco, Crialesi
Substitutes: Onorati, Ciampoli, Marino, Gamberini
Manager: Di Marzio
Referee: Menicucci
Goals: 13' Giordano (pen), 27' Crialesi, 65' Mastropasqua (o.g)
What happened next
Lazio got the point. A week later they drew 2-2 against Cavese (Miele, Marini). They had a scare when Cavese equalised with a penalty four minutes from time but luckily the "Metelliani Blufoncé (The Dark- Blue) did not go on to spoil Lazio's party.
After three difficult years in Serie B Lazio were back in the big time. The Biancocelesti side of town took to the streets of Rome to celebrate and gathered at Piazza del Popolo. It was not a Scudetto but it almost felt like it. Top scorer was Bruno Giordano with 21 goals (18 in league).
It had not been an easy ride and Lazio's second part of the season was not as positive as the first but they had enough talent to get them over the line and win promotion with a 2nd place finish on 46 points, behind Milan but one point more than a trio on 45.
Despite Roma's triumph things were looking up especially with the confirmed return of "Long John" Chinaglia from the States as new President, but that's another story.
Catania won their last game 2-1 against Perugia. The "Elefanti" ended up joint third with Cremonese and Como on 45 points. A three-team playoff was then necessary and was played at the Olimpico. The Etnei beat Como 1-0 and then drew 0-0 with Cremonese (35,000 Catanesi were in Rome) to win the mini tournament. After 17 years Catania were back in Serie A. Top scorer was Aldo Cantarutti with 12 goals (11 in league).
Lazio 1982-83
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie B | 38 | 14 | 18 | 6 | 44 |
Coppa Italia | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
Total | 43 | 16 | 19 | 8 | 52 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
Giordano | 43 | 38 | 5 |
Vella | 42 | 38 | 4 |
Podavini | 39 | 34 | 5 |
D'Amico | 38 | 34 | 4 |
Manfredonia | 38 | 36 | 2 |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
Giordano | 21 | 18 | 3 |
Vella | 5 | 5 | - |
D'Amico | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Manfredonia | 4 | 4 | - |
Ambu | 4 | 3 | 1 |
Let's talk about Giancarlo Marini
Giancarlo Marini was born in Rome, on September 16, 1964.
He joined Lazio at 10 years old and went through the whole youth sector.
In the 1982-83 season he made his debut for the first team. Lazio were in Serie B and desperately trying for promotion after two years in the "purgatory", boosted by the return of Giordano and Manfredonia (after the betting scandal). Marini played 4 games and contributed with a decisive goal in the last match, a 2-2 draw away with Cavese which gave Lazio promotion.
The following year he made his Serie A debut. There was great enthusiasm with the return of "Long John" Chinaglia as President. Lazio however had a difficult season but managed to stay up in a dramatic last game at Pisa. Marini had a good season despite Lazio's problems. He made 19 league appearances.
The 1984-85 season was a nightmare for Lazio. They changed manager twice; from Paolo Carosi (first 2 games) to the disastrous choice of Juan Carlos Lorenzo (3-20) and finally to Giancarlo Oddi/Bob Lovati (21-30) when it was already too late. Lazio got relegated. Marini made another 12 league appearances and 5 in Coppa Italia.
With Lazio relegated Marini was sold to Genoa in Serie B. He played 15 league games under Tarcisio Burgnich (legendary Inter and Italy defender). The "Grifone" finished 7th.
In 1986 he moved down a league to Campania Puteolana in C1. He played 25 games with 4 goals.
In 1987 he joined Catania, by now back in C1. He played 91 games for the "Etnei" over three seasons and scored 9 goals.
In 1990 he moved to Empoli in C1. He played 31 games with 1 goal.
In 1991 he was in Umbria with Gubbio in C2. He played 13 games with 1 goal but the Rossoblu were relegated.
In 1992 he was back in Sicily with Catania in C1. He played 16 league games. The "Elephants" were his last big team, in all senses.
His next seven years were spent with minor teams; Monterotondo near Rome (78 games-19 goals), L'Aquila (17-1), Terracina (34-7), Fano (24-1), Terracina again (1-0), Cassino (2-0) and finally Guidonia (9-1).
At 36 he retired and went into coaching. He started off as Bruno Giordano's assistant at Reggina in Serie C1 in 2004-05. He was then manager of Monterotondo for two years and Guidonia for one, both at regional level. In 2008-09 he was assistant to Eusebio Di Francesco at Lanciano in Lega Pro (old C1). In 2010-11 he collaborated with Parma as a technical advisor. In 2011-12 he was assistant coach at Fondi at regional level. In 2012 he teamed up with Di Francesco again in his technical staff and followed him to Roma, Sampdoria, Cagliari and Verona, all in Serie A.
Marini as a player was a left-footed midfielder. He is 1.74 tall but with 68 kilos he was not a very physical player. He was more of an offensive player with good technique. At the beginning of his career, he was considered to have good potential and expected to have a high-level career. It did not really materialize and after Lazio his career went downhill.
At Lazio he is remembered well as he was there for eleven years. He did not fulfil his potential but played a key role in Lazio's promotion in 1983. He scored the momentary 2-1 goal in the decisive 2-2 draw at Cavese so has his name in the Lazio history books. It's a pity his career did not go as well as everyone hoped. On the positive side he won a promotion and played in Serie A for the team he supports and had joined as a ten- year- old boy.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie A | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
1982-83 | 4 (1) | - | 4 (1) | - |
1983-84 | 20 | 19 | - | 1 |
1984-85 | 17 | 12 | - | 5 |
Total | 41 (1) | 31 | 4 (1) | 6 |
Sources
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