San Poli conquers San Paolo and Lazio live on

Season 1986-87

Game 2, Serie B Relegation Play Offs

Sunday, July 5, 1987

Stadio San Paolo, Naples

Lazio Campobasso 1-0

A Fabio Poli header enables Lazio to win the playoff and survive, in all senses.

On June 21, 1987, came possibly the most dramatic match in Lazio's history. On the last game of the season nothing but a win would avoid relegation to Serie C. A record crowd of 70,000 witnessed Lazio beat Vicenza 1-0 with a Giuliano Fiorini goal seven minutes from time.

Lazio had avoided relegation ... for now. Next up was a three-team playoff in Naples to decide the last unlucky loser. The other two teams were Taranto and Campobasso.

On June 27, Lazio lost 0-1 to Taranto with a goal, possibly in offside, by Antonio De Vitis. 25,000 Lazio fans came back disappointed but there was one last chance, Lazio had to beat Campobasso. The table read Taranto 3 (safe), Campobasso 1, Lazio 0 (Taranto and Campobasso had drawn).

Campobasso could afford another draw while Lazio had no other choice but to win.

The match: Sunday, July 5, 1987, Stadio San Paolo, Naples

So, in a period of the year more suitable for beach trips and holidays, 25,000 Lazio fans set off for Naples again. It has been called an "exodus".

Lazio went with three up front, Fabio Poli-Giuliano Fiorini-Paolo Mandelli while the Molisani had former Lazio Claudio Vagheggi, back after two months, instead of Francesco Boito in attack.

Lazio had to win and placed themselves in the Rossoblu's half from the start. The Molisani were content to defend and hope for the occasional counter foot. An open game would surely favour Lazio's superior and more talented side.

So Lazio went forward, time and time again but the "Lupi" predictably were hard to break down.

In the 12th minute Mandelli found Fiorini in the heart of the area but with his back to the goal, the Modenese flicked the ball up and went for an acrobatic bicycle kick but it went just over the bar.

In the 20th minute Antonio Acerbis went on a brilliant run down the left, cut inside and put a low cross into the small area where Fiorini pounced but, challenged by a defender, shot past the post.

In the 24th minute Captain Gabriele Pin hammered high from an inviting position.

There followed lots of crosses and total territorial domination but not the desperately needed goal. In the 39th minute an injured Giorgio Magnocavallo was replaced by Massimo Piscedda while for Campobasso a clearly unfit Vagheggi went off for Francesco Boito in the 43rd minute. Half time Lazio 0 Campobasso 0. Lazio were 45 minutes away from Serie C, in the best case scenario…

In the second half, Lazio continued to attack, but unlike in the first half the Molisani managed to orchestrate a counter foot and what a chance it was. In the 51st minute Carlo Perrone (no connection with former Lazio player) went down the right and crossed for an unmarked Boito in front of goal. The striker from Veneto had the time to chest it down and fire from close range but instead opted for a header which, Lazio fans are thankful to this day, went straight into Giuliano Terraneo's arms. The striker had the whole goal to aim for but hit the keeper who had stayed put.

In the 53rd minute, immediately after, Lazio scored. A long move from left, to right, to left again, involving several players, saw Piscedda finally put a high cross in with the outside of his foot, it reached the small area where diminutive Fabio Poli incredibly towered above two defenders and headed the ball in. He then ran the whole length of the field, along the athletics track, to celebrate in front of the “Curva Nord” which had physically moved in block to Naples. Lazio 1 Campobasso 0.

The tactical pattern of the game now changed completely. Lazio however were galvanized and played on the wings of enthusiasm, they were the better team and winning.

Campobasso now came forward but Lazio controlled well and were dangerous on the break. In the 61st minute Fiorini went past a few defenders but ran out of steam and shot wide. In the 67th minute a low cross by Piscedda was met by Poli just inside the area but his cracking shot shaved the crossbar. In the 76th minute Fiorini was pushed just outside the area and referee Casarin awarded the Biancocelesti a freekick. Piscedda, one of the few local boys in the squad, took it but his thundering left foot flew just over the bar.

Campobasso never threatened Terraneo even if all Laziali held their breaths every time they crossed the halfway line. Thirty seconds from the end Paolo Mollica beat a defender on the left and crossed but the Lazio defence cleared. The referee whistled the end of the match and a never-ending season. Lazio 1 Campobasso 0.

Lazio could celebrate a win and survival in Serie B but possibly their very existence as a club. Eugenio Fascetti and the "minus nine" boys had done it!

Who played for Lazio

Terraneo, Acerbis, Magnocavallo (39' Piscedda), Camolese, Gregucci, Marino, Poli, Caso, Fiorini (74' Brunetti), Pin, Mandelli