Lazio-Perugia 1-0

Season 1981-82

Game 26, Serie B

Sunday, March 21, 1982

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio-Perugia 1-0

A good goal by the Tuscan midfielder rekindles slim promotion hopes

The Biancocelesti were currently joint 10th on 25 points. The A zone however was still only six points away but the C zone was only four the other way.

Perugia were currently in joint 5th place, on 29 points with Palermo. The Grifoni were only two points behind 3rd placed Verona. Perugia had won 11, drawn 7 and lost 7. A week earlier they had beaten SPAL 1-0 at home and were unbeaten since January 24.

A difficult game for Lazio against high flying Perugia but it was also one of their last chances to try and get back in the promotion race. Lazio however had not won at home since January 3.

The match: Sunday, March 21, 1982, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Ticket owned by Dag Jenkins, photo by Dag Jenkins

A lovely and warm spring day saw about 25,000 spectators turn up at the Olimpico.

Lazio were missing defender Dario Pighin and midfielder Fernando Viola. Manager Roberto Clagluna gave 20-year old Leonardo Surro his debut maybe already planning for the following year.

Perugia had to without midfielder Paolo Dal Fiume and forward Giovanni Pagliari.

The game started perfectly for Lazio as they took the lead after only three minutes. Alberto Bigon found Claudio Vagheggi who ran forward before squaring to Roberto Badiani, the blond midfielder won a tackle, surged into the area past Celeste Pin and Pierluigi Frosio and beat Nello Malizia with a low cross goal shot. Lazio 1 Perugia 0. Badiani continued his run and celebrated wildly under the Curva Nord.

Lazio could have made it two only a couple of minutes later. In the 5th minute Roberto De Nadai put in a high cross which Bigon volleyed and hit the top part of the crossbar.

The visitors showed their faces in Lazio's area in the 20th minute when a Frosio freekick went wide.

A minute later it was Lazio again who went close when a Bigon effort shaved the crossbar.

In the 25th minute the Perugini lost defender Antonio Ceccarini through injury and he was replaced by future Lazio, Domenico Caso.

The last chance of the half was for the visitors but Ezio Cavagnetti fired over the bar from a favourable position.

For the second 45 minutes Lazio replaced defender Arcadio Spinozzi with youngster Vincenzo Mirra.

The half started with a Claudio Ambu effort off target but then it was Lazio on top again. In the 51st minute Surro jiggled past two defenders but his shot was just wide. In the 60th minute a give and go between Vagheggi and Badiani set up Bigon but the Paduan midfielder missed the chance from only about two metres from goal.

In the 68th minute the Umbri made their second replacement, bringing on defender Claudio Ottoni for Michele Nappi.

The last twenty minutes saw the visitors constantly forward but they only created one real danger when a Cavagnetto header from an Ambu cross whistled just wide of the post.

Lazio held on for a good win. Final score Lazio 1 Perugia 0.

Lazio had shown that if they were concentrated and disciplined they could compete with the better teams. The Biancocelesti were now joint 9th with Cavese on 27 points. The Biancocelesti were still six points from the last promotion slot but now five from the drop zone.

Perugia dropped to 7th on 29 points, now four points behind 3rd placed Varese.

Who played for Lazio

Marigo, Spinozzi (46' Mirra), Chiarenza, Mastropasqua, Pochesci, Sanguin, Vagheggi, Bigon, Surro, De Nadai, Badiani