Game 11, Serie A
Sunday, January 4, 1976
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Cesena 2-2
A free kick six minutes from time denies Lazio a deserved win
The Biancocelesti were 11th in the company of Fiorentina and Sampdoria. They had won only two games and really needed the two points today in a difficult match against Cesena who were 4th.
The match
Lazio hoped that they would be able to win like they had done against Cagliari but Cesena were in a good moment of form helped by past Biancoceleste heroes Mario Frustalupi and Giancarlo Oddi.
In the 12th minute Vincenzo D’Amico from the right crossed low in the box and Renzo Garlaschelli with a marvellous back heel put Lazio ahead.
The lead did not last long. A spectacular volley from Sergio Zuccheri from outside the box fell right where no goalkeeper could ever manage a save and it was 1-1. The Biancocelesti were in shock and Cesena almost scored with Giovanni Urban who, in front of Felice Pulici tried a shot which was parried by the keeper and then his attempted tap in was saved into corner by Luigi Polentes. In the 24th minute Pulici managed to close the angle on a Giorgio Mariani shot inside the box.
Towards the end of the first half Lazio pulled themselves together and in the 44th minute a Garlaschelli shot was well saved by Lamberto Boranga into corner.
In the second 45 minutes the Biancocelesti put their foot on the accelerator and first Giorgio Chinaglia with a spectacular bicycle kick in the 55th minute shaved the crossbar. In the 63rd Roberto Badiani in front of Boranga kicked the ball straight into the keeper's face. In the 73rd minute a spectacular goal from Gigi Martini with a shot from outside the box found the net but the referee disallowed it for a dubious offside. No problem. Two minutes later Lazio got their deserved lead. Luciano Re Cecconi from the by-line sent in a high ball which Chinaglia headed into the goal.
In the 84th minute there was a free kick for Cesena just outside the box. Frustalupi touched the ball for Giorgio Rognoni who with a clinical shot beat Pulici.
A cold shower for Lazio who had dominated in the second half. Mind you, if the referee had given at least one of the two blatant penalties – in the 49th minute for a Zuccheri foul on Pino Wilson and in the 89th for a Luigi Danova handball – the two points would have been theirs.
Who played for Lazio
Pulici, Polentes, Martini, Wilson, Ghedin, Badiani, Garlaschelli (75’ Giordano), Re Cecconi, Chinaglia, D’Amico, Lopez
Manager: Maestrelli
Who played for Cesena
Boranga, Zuccheri, Oddi, Festa (65' Ceccarelli), Danova, Cera, Bittolo, Frustalupi, Urban, Rognoni, G.Mariani
Substitutes: Bardin, Petrini S
Manager: Marchioro
Referee: Panzino
Goals: 12’ Garlaschelli, 19’ Zuccheri, 75’ Chinaglia, 84’ Rognoni
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