Game 5, Serie A
Sunday, October 29, 1978
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Vicenza 4-3
Lazio win thriller and two strikers confirm to be best of their generation
In August and September, Lazio had got through the first group stage of Coppa Italia. The Biancocelesti had won 2 (Bari 1-0 away and today's opposition Vicenza 1-0 at home) and drawn 2 (Pistoiese 0-0 at home and Bologna 1-1 away). They would play Palermo in the quarterfinals in April.
In Serie A Lazio had drawn 2-2 at home with Juventus in their first game. They had then beaten Avellino 3-1 away and drawn 1-1 at home to Atalanta. A week before today's clash however Lazio had been well-beaten 0-3 away to Fiorentina. Lazio therefore had four points in the table.
Vicenza had so far won 1 (Catanzaro 2-0), drawn 1 (Napoli 0-0 at home) and lost 2 (Perugia 0-2 away on the opener and Bologna 2-5 away). The Biancorossi were on three points.
So today was a clash between two teams trying to find form and consistency. It was also seen as a battle between two of the best strikers in the country, Bruno Giordano and Paolo Rossi. So far, Bruno-gol was on three while the future Pablito was yet to score.
The match
It was a hot late October day in Rome and there were 40,000 spectators attending.
The game came alive after only three minutes when Lazio took the lead. Antonio Lopez with a low cross teed up Bruno Giordano who, taking advantage of loose marking, attacked the front post and beat Ernesto Galli from close range. Lazio 1 Vicenza 0.
The game was open without excessive tactical rigour. Lazio almost doubled in the 15th minute when the Vicenza defence failed to intercept a cross but Giordano was too surprised to react in time.
In the 18th minute the "Lane" drew level. They were awarded a penalty when Mario Guidetti burst into the area centrally and was clearly tripped by Lionello Manfredonia. Rossi scored with a low shot into the right corner despite Massimo Cacciatori going the right way. Lazio 1 Vicenza 1.
In the 20th minute the visitors lost Massimo Briaschi to injury and he was replaced by Paolo Rosi.
In the 21st minute Lazio went in front again. Vincenzo D'Amico from the halfway line sent a long ball to Giordano on the left just inside the area, the local Trasteverino let the ball bounce twice and then put a low left footed half volley in the opposite corner. Lazio 2 Vicenza 1.
Lazio again went close to a double advantage when Ciccio Cordova forced Galli to make a brilliant save and always looked threatening against Vicenza's hesitant defence.
The lead however only lasted until the 40th minute. Rossi danced past a few opponents in midfield and passed to Valeriano Prestanti put in a cross from the left where Guidetti completely unmarked headed the ball downwards and past Cacciatori. Lazio 2 Vicenza 2.
A minute later Vicenza scored again. Franco Cerilli beat his man Lopez on the left near the corner flag, cut in and sent a low cross into the middle. What followed was a classic Paolo Rossi goal, between two defenders he stretched out and got his toes to the ball and put it behind Cacciatori, who touched it but couldn't stop it. Lazio 2 Vicenza 3. A sudden turnaround in an entertaining first half, a very unusual Serie A game, with distracted defences and lots of goals.
The second half started in similar style and in the 47th minute Lazio equalised. In a crowded area D'Amico found Renzo Garlaschelli who beat the keeper coming off his line. Lazio 3 Vicenza 3.
The game remained lively and could have gone either way. In the 55th minute however, Vicenza were reduced to ten men. Cerilli was given his marching orders for some unfriendly words against the man in black.
At this point Lazio took control and attacked continuously. They had two probable penalty appeals waved away and forced Vicenza to defend desperately. In the 75th minute the Biancocelesti replaced a tired D'Amico with Stefano Ferretti).
In the 87th minute Lazio's pressure was rewarded. On the umpteenth corner Pino Wilson was pushed by Felice Secondini as he was about to go for a header. The referee was close by and pointed to the penalty spot. A clear foul or compensation for the previous two? Who knows? The fact is Giordano stepped up and scored with a powerful low strike which went in off the post. Lazio 4 Vicenza 3 (and Giordano 2 Rossi 2).
Lazio easily played out the last few minutes to clinch a memorable win. I was at the stadium that day and it felt incredible to have seen so many goals. In Italian football in those days, it was very rare to have such high scoring games. An entertaining afternoon, Lazio winning and Giordano holding his own against Rossi, a day to remember.
Who played for Lazio
Cacciatori, Ammoniaci, Martini, Wilson, Manfredonia, Cordova, Garlaschelli, Agostinelli, Giordano, A. Lopez, D'Amico (75' Ferretti)
Substitutes: Fantini, Ghedin
Manager: Lovati
Who played for Vicenza
E. Galli, Secondini, Callioni, Guidetti, Prestanti, Miani, Cerilli, Salvi, Rossi, Faloppa, Briaschi (20' Rosi)
Substitutes: Bianchi, Simionato
Manager: G.B Fabbri
Referee: Prati
Goals: 3' Giordano, 18' Rossi (pen), 21' Giordano, 40' Guidetti, 41' Rossi, 47' Garlaschelli, 87' Giordano (pen)
Sources
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