Game 27, Serie B
Sunday, March 27, 1983
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Bari 1-0
Lazio end Olimpico drought with late Surro winner and revive promotion hopes
After a slow start (3 draws) Lazio had started to show their superior quality and after seven consecutive wins were top for a lengthy period.
Since January, however, Lazio had slowed down. They had several draws and lost at Monza and Campobasso. They had not won at home since January 9 (Arezzo 2-0). They were still in the promotion positions but needed to change gear if they were to remain there. Today against lowly Bari the two points were a must.
The match
A mild, sunny, spring day brought a crowd of 35,000 to the Olimpico.
Lazio started strongly and almost scored immediately. With only one minute played, Enrico Vella's shot from outside the area went just wide. Bari came up to Rome with a very defensive mindset, determined to leave with a point. The Pugliesi did have the occasional foray into Lazio's half however, and after eight minutes had a Danilo Ronzani shot saved by Fernando Orsi and then a Michele Armenise effort again blocked by the Roman keeper. For Lazio, Bruno Giordano saw his shot shave the post. So the first half ended 0-0. Lazio attacked more but the chances were evenly balanced. Giordano was lively and threatening but he was given little support by Stefano Chiodi.
The second half was predominantly in the same pattern, Lazio constantly with the initiative and Bari occasionally dangerous on the break. The substitution of Chiodi with Vincenzo D'Amico gave the home side some more creativity up front. In the 53rd minute Giordano set up Leonardo Surro but his close range shot failed to hit the target. In the 74th minute Bari almost stole the game on the counter attack but Giovanni Loseto's shot was deflected into corner by a defender.
In the last fifteen minutes Lazio really piled on the pressure and Bari were forced into their own area. First Lionello Manfredonia went close and then Lazio scored in the dying minutes. A D'Amico freekick reached Giordano who burst down the right side of the box and put in a perfect cross which Surro headed in. When Lazio had almost lost hope the goal had finally come and it was almost inevitably set up by the player with the most class on the field, Bruno Giordano. Lazio 1 Bari 0.
A fundamental win for Lazio. They confirmed to be going through a period of difficulty but had found a way through an extremely defensive and gritty Bari outfit. Promotion was still on the cards but would be a struggle on current form. Lazio had a world class striker in Giordano but were not supplying him enough ammunition.
Bari had defended well, fought hard and were well organized but fell at the last hurdle. Their hopes of avoiding relegation were fading fast.
Who played for Lazio
Orsi, Podavini, Spinozzi, Vella, Miele, Manfredonia, Chiodi (46' D'Amico), Tavola (72' Perrone), Giordano, Surro, Sciarpa
Manager: Clagluna
Who played for Bari
Fantini, G. Loseto II, Armenise, Ronzani (64' De Martino), Caricola, De Trizio, C.Bagnato, Lucchi, De Tommasi (64' Acerbis), L.De Rosa, O.Loseto
Substitutes: Caffaro, Del Zotti, Baldini
Manager: Radice
Referee: Menicucci
Goals: 88' Surro
Sources
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