First point with the return of Lorenzo

Season 1984-85

Game 3, Serie A

Sunday, September 30, 1984

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Inter 1-1

Juan Carlo Lorenzo returns and Lazio finally get their first point

The season started in August with the Coppa Italia. Lazio had not done too badly and 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 given 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. His temper did not improve after Lazio lost the first Serie A game against Fiorentina and most certainly not after losing 5-0 against Zico’s Udinese. He blamed Paolo Carosi for being too soft with the players and sacked him. Juan Carlos Lorenzo was called in his place.

Juan Carlos Lorenzo had been Lazio manager when Chinaglia joined in the 60's and he was very fond of him. But the new manager had arrived just two days prior to the game, not enough to make an impact.

The match

It was pouring with rain but this did not stop Chinaglia from going into Curva Nord to watch part of the match. Before the start of the game some ball boys unrolled a banner in which Chinaglia had had written “Siete impagabili”, you are invaluable. Everybody was cheering him, with the exception of a few people who were still mad at him for having sacked Carosi.

Lazio started well despite the very wet pitch but could not really create anything dangerous. But the only chance came for Inter in the 16th minute when Alessandro Altobelli, after a one-two with Giancarlo Pasinato, controlled the ball, sombrero and volley which ended up in the stands.

In the 27th minute Lazio surprisingly went ahead. Vincenzo D’Amico put a low cross into the box, Massimo Storgato missed the ball which reached Bruno Giordano. His volley was saved by Walter Zenga. Well almost. The keeper fumbled and the ball went into the back of the net.

The lead did not last long. In the 33rd minute Pasinato to Karl-Heinz Rummenigge on the right, low cross in the box and Altobelli anticipated the defenders and scored.

Not a lot happened after these two goals with the exception of a Rumenigge opportunity in the second half. In the 59th minute one-two with Antonio Sabato and the German striker was face to face with Nando Orsi who managed to anticipate him.

An awful game but at least Lazio got their first point.

Who played for Lazio

Orsi, Storgato, Filisetti, Vianello, Batista, Podavini, D’Amico (76’ Garlini), Vinazzani (61’ Torrisi), Giordano, Laudrup, Manfredonia