Casteddu take deserved point back to island

Updated: Nov 4

1979-80 Season

Game 6, Serie A

Sunday, October 21, 1979

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Cagliari 1-1

Superb Giordano and impressive Cagliari result in a fair draw

Ticket owned by Dag Jenkins, photo by Dag Jenkins

So far, Lazio had played five league games and had won one (Fiorentina 2-0 at home), drawn three (Avellino 0-0 away, Perugia 1-1 at home and Ascoli 1-1 away) and lost one (Inter 1-2 away). Lazio were on 5 points.

The match

A crowd of 40,000 came to the Olimpico on a pleasant October afternoon.

Lazio were without Vincenzo D'Amico injured while the Sardinians had no absences.

Cagliari curiously played in Lazio's second red kit, as their white shirts were considered too similar to the home side's light blue.

The early stages were very balanced with neither side on top. Cagliari had a Franco Selvaggi shot saved by Massimo Cacciatori while Lazio had several dangerous crosses.

Lazio however gradually grew into the game and scored in the 30th minute. A brilliant through ball by Nando Viola from inside his own half was ran onto by Bruno Giordano who anticipated the keeper and then slotted the ball into the empty goal with his left foot. Lazio 1 Cagliari 0.

A few minutes later a defensive error by Cagliari left Giordano unmarked just outside the area with only the keeper to beat, he was pulled down by his shirt by a defender but the referee incredibly gestured to play on.

Lionello Manfredonia then had a long range left-footed effort go just wide before Cagliari had a period of prevalence but always messed up the last pass or touch. Halftime score line Lazio 1 Cagliari 0.

A reasonably balanced first half but Giordano's superior quality making the difference so far.

At the beginning of the second half Manfredonia threatened again but his shot from the right side of the area flew over the bar. Then in the 48th minute Cagliari equalised. Selvaggi domesticated the ball about 30 metres out and gave it to Alberto Marchetti who stormed past two defenders, ran into the area and beat Cacciatori with a low left-footed finish, an excellent goal. Lazio 1 Cagliari 1.

From then on Cagliari showed why they had gone unbeaten so far. With a solid defence and well-organized midfield, they limited Lazio's chances to a couple of long range freekicks and a Maurizio Montesi shot which went wide from a favourable position.

It was in fact the Sardinians who almost stole it in the 89th minute on the break when Carlo Osellame, who had replaced Selvaggi, was put through by Piras and was one-on-one with Cacciatori but the Lazio keeper saved well with his left hand. Final score Lazio 1 Cagliari 1.

Lazio fans were disappointed and some whistles of disapproval could be heard from the stands. Apart from top class Giordano and good performances by Viola and Montesi, Lazio were poor and lacking in ideas and inventiveness. Hopefully the return of Vincenzo D'Amico in a couple of weeks would resolve some of their problems. Next up however was the derby.

Meanwhile, Cagliari had given an excellent impression. Well balanced, solid and dangerous on the break the Sardinians were a competitive side. Midfielders Casagrande and Marchetti in particular had stood out.

Who played for Lazio

Cacciatori, Tassotti, Citterio, Wilson, Manfredonia, Zucchini, Garlaschelli, Montesi, Giordano, Labonia, Viola