Game 14, Serie A
Sunday, December 30, 1979
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Torino 2-1
Despite falling behind after just 22 seconds, Lazio manage to overturn the result thanks to D'Amico and Citterio
The Biancocelesti started relatively well and in the first 9 games lost only one against Inter and even beat Juventus. This game came after a derby that nobody had wanted to play.
On October 28 Rome was ready for the first derby of the season. An hour before the match, Vincenzo Paparelli was sitting in Curva Nord having a sandwich. From the Curva Sud Giovanni Fiorillo fired two flares towards the Lazio Curva. They zig zagged over the top. For the third attempt, the Roma supporter lowered his aim. The flare hit Vincenzo Paparelli in the eye and killed him. He was 33 years of age and had two children.
What happened then was complete chaos. The Lazio fans did not want the game to go on but the police decided that it was best to play for security reasons. In a climate of warfare with few Lazio supporters left in the stands, the game was played. Every time the ball went into the stands with Lazio supporters, the fans did not give the ball back. Captain Pino Wilson and Bruno Giordano were forced to go under the Curva Nord in an attempt to calm down the Laziali. The game was a farce and finished 1-1. In the last minutes there was a clear penalty for Lazio but the ref decided that there was no way he was going to make matters worse. A game and day nobody will forget.
In the next two games the Biancocelesti beat Juventus and Pescara but then they lost two and drew two. They were currently 7th with four other teams, including Roma, but not far off third place which was only three points away, held by Cagliari and today’s opponent Torino.
The match
The last time Lazio had beaten Torino at the Olimpico was on Sunday February 14 1971, almost 9 years before. And it certainly looked as if the curse was not going to be lifted as after just 22 seconds the Granata scored. Ciccio Graziani went off on the left and passed to Mariani, ball back to the future World Champion in the box who tried a shot, Massimo Cacciatori managed to parry but in came Pietro Mariani and it was 1-0 for Torino.
An ideal situation for the Granata as Lazio were now forced to attack so they could easily manage the game and go for a second goal on the counter attack. And this is exactly what happened in the first half. In the 23rd minute Lionello Manfredonia anticipated Graziani after a free kick taken by Claudio Sala from the right. One can presume his intention was to head the ball into corner but instead it hit the woodwork. Lazio attacked but confusedly and were hardly ever dangerous.
Everything changed in the second half. Torino started to tire and the Biancocelesti became more precise in their passing. In the 50th minute Manfredonia sent a long ball into the box, Bruno Giordano headed it towards the goalkeeper, Vincenzo D’Amico managed to get it before Giuliano Terraneo and equalise.
Torino reacted and could have scored with Andrea Mandorlini who in front of Cacciatori kicked the ball out. The Granata attacked, wanting the win, but it was Lazio who scored. Filippo Citterio in the 68th minute passed to D’Amico on the left, the Lazio Golden Boy raced down the wing and then passed back to the upcoming left back who with a clinical shot towards the front post made it 2-1 for the Biancocelesti.
The Granata continued to push but to no effect.
Good win for Lazio, now third in the company of Torino, Perugia, Cagliari and that other team from Rome.
Who played for Lazio
Cacciatori, Tassotti, Citterio, Wilson, Manfredonia, Manzoni, Garlaschelli (82’ Lopez), Montesi, Giordano, D’Amico, Viola
Manager: Lovati
Who played for Torino
Terraneo, Volpati, Mandorlini, P.Sala, Danova, Masi, C. Sala, Pecci, Graziani, Zaccarelli, Mariani (68' Sclosa)
Substitutes: Copparoni, Paganelli
Manager: Radice
Referee: Barbaresco
Goals: 1’ Mariani, 50’ D’Amico, 68’ Citterio
Sources
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