Game 18, Serie A
Sunday, February 22, 1976
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Perugia 1-0
A Chinaglia penalty gives Lazio a vital win
At the end of the first half of the season Lazio were 12th, in the relegation zone, but together with Sampdoria and Verona and one point behind Ascoli.
After the first two games of the second half the situation had not changed. A win today would be vital.
The match
Lazio in great difficulty were well aware that this was a match that they had to win. Giorgio Chinaglia had stated that he was going to score and he did everything humanly possible to do so. After five minutes he whacked a missile on a free kick but Roberto Marconcini parried and Paolo Ammoniaci missed the simple tap in. He then tried to help Renzo Garlaschelli score but to no avail. The Biancocelesti however were too generous and keen to go forward thus opening terrible gaps in midfield where Francesco Brignani and Toto Lopez had to help a defence which, if it were not for Pino Wilson, gave the feeling that they could capitulate at any moment.
But in the 31st minute came the game changer. Garlaschelli was fouled in the box by Pierluigi Frosio after a good assist from Chinaglia and the referee, Gino Menicucci, who six years later would become (in)famous for the Lazio supporters, perhaps too generously, indicated that it was a penalty. Chinaglia whacked the spot kick centrally giving Lazio the lead.
The Biancocelesti could have scored a second a few minutes later. Chinaglia sent a great cross into the box but neither Garlaschelli nor Vincenzo D’Amico could capitalise the chance. Towards the end of the first half, Walter Novellino crossed into the Lazio area, Brignani missed the ball completely, it arrived to Scarpa who dangerously stretched his leg out and beat Felice Pulici. The referee disallowed it.
In the second half Perugia had a couple of chances to score but Pulici managed to save a Renato Curi header and then the crossbar saved Lazio on an Aldo Agroppi shot.
A fundamental win for the Biancocelesti, there was light at the end of the tunnel now.
Who played for Lazio
Pulici, Ammoniaci, Martini, Wilson, Ghedin, Badiani, Garlaschelli (46’ Manfredonia), Brignani, Chinaglia, D’Amico, Lopez
Substitutes: Moriggi, G. C. Ferrari
Manager: Maestrelli
Who played for Perugia
Marconcini R., Raffaeli, Baiardo, Frosio, Berni, Agroppi, Scarpa M., Curi, Novellino, Vannini, Sollier (69' Pellizzaro S.)
Substitutes: Malizia, Amenta
Manager: Castagner
Referee: Menicucci
Goal: 31’ Chinaglia (pen)
Sources
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