Lazio edge Como and leave relegation zone

Dag Jenkins

Nov 25, 20234 min read

Season 1984-85

Game 10, Serie A

Sunday, November 25, 1984

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio - Como 3-2

Inspired performances by Laudrup and Manfredonia help Lazio clinch crucial win

Ticket owned by Dag Jenkins. Photo by Dag Jenkins

The season so far

Lazio's first games were in August in the Coppa Italia. Lazio had not done too badly and with a game to go were almost through to the second stage. The last game was against Roma. A point each would have meant that they would both go through. But a ridiculous penalty awarded to Roma and an Antonio Di Carlo goal gave Roma the win. Lazio could still have got to the round of 16 anyway on goal difference. Genoa had to beat Pistoiese 5-0 to overtake Lazio and unfortunately this is exactly what happened with three goals in the last 8 minutes. The Biancocelesti were out and President Giorgio Chinaglia was furious.

The beginning of the league did not improve "Long John's" mood. Lazio lost their first two games (Fiorentina 0-1 at home and Udinese 0-5 away). At this point Chinaglia made a controversial decision, he sacked Paolo Carosi and brought in Juan Carlos Lorenzo. The Argentine had coached Lazio in the early 1960's and again from 1968-71, winning two promotions to Serie A but was now considered past it and there were even doubts over his mental well-being.

The fact is "Toto" took over and had not done too badly. A 1-1 home draw to Inter, 0-0 at Ascoli, 1-1 at home to Napoli, a 0-1 defeat away at Torino, a 2-1 home win against Cremonese, a point in a 0-0 derby and finally a recent 0-1 away defeat to Atalanta.

Lazio were currently 14th on 6 points, in the last relegation slot but only one point behind Napoli and Udinese. Lazio desperately needed a win today.

The match: Sunday, November 24, 1984, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

A sunny and mild November day attracted about 50,000 spectators for this important game.

The visitors started cautiously and Lazio took advantage to attack. In the first five minutes Bruno Giordano set up Michael Laudrup but the Dane's goal was disallowed for a millimetric offside and then a Lionello Manfredonia low left-footed effort shaved the post.

In the 6th minute Lazio went in front. From a Vincenzo D'Amico corner Arturo Vianello out jumped the defenders and headed past Giuliano Giuliani. Lazio 1 Como 0.

Lazio continued to dominate after the goal and could easily have doubled their lead. D'Amico glided past three defenders but was denied by Giuliani and Laudrup had a shot go agonisingly close to the crossbar.

Then out of the blue Como equalised. On a seemingly harmless cross by Enrico Todesco, with the Lazio defenders well placed to control Moreno Morbiducci, Joāo Batista turned the ball into his own net. Lazio 1 Como 1.

Lazio were then denied a blatant penalty for a foul on Bruno Giordano but were then awarded a less clear one in the 38th minute for a Claudio Ottoni foul on Laudrup. Giordano stepped up and blasted a central shot onto the crossbar, it came down, came off the keeper's back and went in. Lazio 2 Como 1.

There would later be disputes over the paternity of the goal. Giordano would have liked to be given it but it officially went down as a Giuliani own goal. Halftime Lazio 2-1 up. A deserved lead so far.

For the second half Ottavio Bianchi reshuffled his team slightly. He brought on Giovanni Invernizzi for Antonio Favaro and moved Giancarlo Centi to mark Manfredonia.

It seemed to work as Como grew into the game. Luca Fusi and Giovanni Matteoli took control of the midfield and it took several Fernando Orsi saves on Renzo Gobbo, Fusi, Enrico Todesco and Pasquale Bruno to deny the visitors an equaliser.

Lazio were in difficulty despite a Giordano chance in the 67th minute when his low volley from a high cross was blocked by Giuliani. In the 69th minute Lazio took off a midfielder Fortunato Torrisi and put on a defender Massimo Storgato. Como had already replaced Massimo Albiero with Bruno on the hour mark.

Como continued to push forward but in the 76th minute it seemed as if Lazio had closed it. Giordano put a brilliant low pass forward to Laudrup who shrugged off a defender, skilfully sidestepped around the keeper and slotted the ball in. Lazio 3 Como 1. A quality goal by a player with a great future ahead of him.

With the game apparently under control Lazio then replaced striker Giordano with midfielder Francesco Dell'Anno.

Como however did not give up and in the 86th minute pulled a goal back with a long-range effort by Centi.

Four tense minutes plus injury time remained but fortunately Como had little more to give and Lazio saw out the last few minutes without running any serious risks. Final score Lazio 3 Como 2.

An important win for Lazio who moved out of the bottom three. They would have to improve however to win more matches. The Biancocelesti had several top-class players but were not a well-oiled team yet. Como on the other hand had mainly average and a few good players (Matteoli, Fusi and Invernizzi had impressed) but were well organised, compact and played as a team. After a difficult first half they had improved and could be optimistic on their chances of survival.

For today Lazio took the points and looked with less pessimism to the next fixture, away to Sampdoria.

Who played for Lazio

Orsi, Calisti, Vianello, Filisetti, Batista, Podavini, D'Amico, Torrisi (69' Storgato), Giordano (76' Dell'Anno), Laudrup, Manfredonia