Game 16, Serie B
Sunday, January 3, 1982
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Verona 2-0
After a dire first half the replacement striker wins a free kick for first goal, hits a crossbar and scores Lazio’s second.
Lazio had got off to a sluggish start with 1 point in the first 3 games but then picked up slightly. Lazio had won 6, drawn 4 and lost 5, so on 16 points in joint 6th position with four other teams.
So far, Verona had won 6, drawn 6 and lost 3. They were on 18 points, in 2nd position and two points above Lazio.
Yoday was a promotion clash of uncertain outcome. Verona possibly slight favourites but Lazio were unpredictable, playing at home and were not without some talented players.
The match
A grey early January day brought about 20,000 spectators to the Olimpico.
During the first half most of them probably wished they had stayed at home. Lazio were slow, timid and lacking in ideas. Verona were on top for the whole first period but were guilty of not transforming their clear superiority into chances. Despite their dominance the Gialloblu only had one really big goal scoring opportunity with Carlo Odorizzi. The first half fizzled out on Lazio 0 Verona 0, to whistles pouring down on the Laziali.
The second half saw Roberto Badiani come on for a subdued Dario Sanguin. Lazio started to show some signs of life but it was not until the 55th minute that things really changed. A limping Walter Speggiorin was replaced by a more energetic Claudio Vagheggi and nothing was ever the same again.
Vagheggi ran on and transformed the game. He immediately caused havoc in the visitor’s defence and won a free kick in an attacking position. It was then floated into the area by Stefano Ferretti and headed in by Vincenzo D'Amico who, despite being no giant, outjumped a defender (the others were just watching), Lazio 1 Verona 0.
Vagheggi then continued his impressive impact on the game by hitting a crossbar and then scored Lazio's second. In the 81st minute he won a 50-50 ball and ran into the box, beating Claudio Garella with a low angled shot. Lazio 2 Verona 0. The whistles were long gone but now there was convinced applause from the Lazio faithful.
Verona tried to get back in the game but Felice Pulici saved well from a dangerous Domenico Penzo freekick. Final score Lazio 2 Verona 0.
An awful first half followed by a far more comforting second. Speggiorin's injury had been a blessing in disguise as Vagheggi had literally turned the game on its head. Lazio up to 4th in the table and looking forward with renewed optimism.
Verona had looked good in the first half but without the necessary urgency. They possibly thought Lazio were so bad that they would not be much threat, they had not calculated the Vagheggi factor and to be fair a general improvement of Lazio's attitude.
Who played for Lazio
Pulici, Spinozzi, Chiarenza, Mastropasqua, Pighin, De Nadai, Viola, Sanguin (46' Badiani), D'Amico, Ferretti, Speggiorin (55' Vagheggi)
Substitutes: Marigo, Pochesci, Garlaschelli
Manager: Castagner
Who played for Verona
Garella, Cavasin, E. Oddi (72' Fedele), Di Gennaro, Lelj, Tricella, Manueli (72' Fattori), Guidolin, Gibellini, Odorizzi, Penzo
Substitutes: Vannoli, Guidotti, Marmaglio
Manager: Bagnoli
Referee: Lanese
Goals: 55' D'Amico, 81' Vagheggi
Sources
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