March 25, 1984: Lazio -Torino 1-0
- Dag Jenkins
- Mar 24
- 8 min read
San Vincenzino strikes again
As several times before in their history, Vincenzo D'Amico comes to Lazio's rescue for crucial win
Also on this day:
The season so far
Lazio were finally back in Serie A after three difficult years in the second division, the "purgatory" of Serie B.
The legendary Giorgio Chinaglia was back as president with promises of massive American partners investing in Lazio's bright future.
The summer market had seen major changes to the squad. The main arrivals were defenders Daniele Filisetti (Atalanta), Massimo Piscedda (back from loan-Sanremese), midfielders Joāo Batista (Palmeiras and Brazilian national), Angelo Cupini (Cavese), Rinaldo Piraccini (Pistoiese), Claudio Vinazzani (Napoli) plus forward Michael Laudrup (loan for 2 years- Juventus).
So, apart from a young Laudrup and the experience of Batista, not much to get excited about, but at this point the Laziali had blind faith in Long John Chinaglia. Giancarlo Morrone, who had substituted Roberto Clagluna towards the end of the previous season, had been confirmed.
Leaving Lazio were several Serie B faithful: keeper Maurizio Moscatelli (Cavese- he never really recovered from his serious injury), defenders Ernesto Calisti (loan-Cavese), Carlo Perrone and Paolo Pochesci (both to Ascoli), Marco Saltarelli (Monza), midfielders Roberto Badiani (Vigor Senigallia), Maurizio Montesi (retired), Roberto Tavola (end of loan-Juventus), forwards Claudio Ambu (Monza), Stefano Chiodi (Prato) and Leonardo Surro (Siena).
No great losses for various reasons: injuries (Moscatelli and Montesi), age (Badiani), unfulfilled potential (Pochesci, Perrone and Saltarelli) or lack of Serie A quality (Chiodi, Tavola and Surro). The one player Lazio fans were extremely sad to see leave was Enrico Vella when he left in the autumn for Atalanta.
Whatever opinion was given to the squad, Lazio came into the season with great enthusiasm and packed out the Olimpico in the early games. The long-awaited return to Serie A and even more so that of Chinaglia were enough to excite even the most laid-back fans.
In Coppa Italia, in August and early September, Lazio had been eliminated in a group with: Catanzaro 0-0, Perugia 2-0, Taranto 0-1, Bari 0-0 and Juventus 1-1.
So far, the season in Serie A had, as expected, been difficult. Lazio lost the first but then surprisingly crushed Inter 3-0 at home. It was an illusion as Lazio then struggled.
In December, Morrone was replaced by Paolo Carosi and things were not helped by Bruno Giordano breaking his leg at Ascoli on December 31. After the 15 away fixtures the Biancocelesti were 15th (out of 16), on 9 points, but only 2 from safety. In the first 6 return games Lazio had then picked up 7 points (including two wins, an away draw at Inter and a recent draw in the derby in ten men). There was still hope.
Lazio had then drawn 0-0 at home to Milan but then collapsed 0-3 to relegation rivals Avellino.
Lazio were currently 13th with 17 points but on the same points as Napoli and occupied the 3rd bottom slot.
The table was not a pretty sight: Catania 10, Genoa 14, Napoli 17 Lazio 17, Pisa 18, Avellino 19.
Today's game was not easy as Torino were having a good season.
Torino had finished 8th the previous season under manager Eugenio Bersellini. The highlight was defeating city rivals Juventus 3-2, with 3 goals in three minutes after being 0-2 down. Top scorer was Franco Selvaggi with 10 goals (8 in A).
This season the manager was still Bersellini, "Il Sergente di Ferro". The main new signings were: defender Giovanni Francini (Reggiana - back from loan), midfielders Domenico Caso (Perugia) and Danilo Pileggi (Cagliari) plus forwards Pietro Mariani (Catanzaro - back from loan) and Walter Schachner (Cesena).
Leaving Toro were: defenders Roberto Salvadori (Alessandria, after ten years with Torino), Michel Van de Korput (Feyenoord), midfielders Dante Bertoneri (Avellino), Fortunato Torrisi (Catania) plus forwards Alessandro Bonesso (Cesena) and Carlo Borghi (Ascoli).
In Serie A the Granata were 4th on 29 points and only four behind leaders Juventus. They had won 10 (including Juventus 2-1, Lazio 4-0, Roma 2-1, Inter 3-1 at home and Milan 1-0 away), drawn 9 and lost 4 (including derby 1-2).
In Coppa Italia they were through to the quarterfinals to be played against Sampdoria in June. In the group phase Torino had won 3 (Vicenza 5-0, Palermo 2-1 away, Foggia 3-0 at home) and drawn 2 (Monza 2-2 away and Genoa 0-0 at home) and then knocked out Varese 3-1 on aggregate in the last 16.
A tricky game for Lazio who could not afford to lose again. Torino were superior but had not won away since December 18 giving Lazio some hope.
The match: Sunday, March 25, 1984, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A pleasant late March day in the capital attracted about 40,000 spectators to the Olimpico.
Lazio were as usual without Bruno Giordano, out injured since December. Torino had no absences.
Lazio's game plan was clear from the onset, a tight defence and quick counterattacks. This strategy was helped by what happened after only five minutes. A Michael Laudrup run reached the edge of Toro's box, he then squared the ball brilliantly across to the right where Vincenzo D'Amico pushed it forward and blasted it mid-height past Giuliano Terraneo. Lazio 1 Torino 0.
A perfect start for the Biancocelesti and the ideal situation for their game plan.
Torino started to attack immediately and Fernando Orsi saved well on a Domenico Caso effort.
Torino threatened again but Daniele Filisetti managed to clear a Walter Schachner effort off the goal line.
Lazio defended but their solid midfield limited the Granata's attacks.
In the 38th minute Lazio were forced to take off a hobbling Claudio Vinazzani and put on Rinaldo Piraccini.
Lazio reached halftime with the single goal lead thanks to scoring early and then being compact and concentrated defensively.
The second half was similar with Torino pushing forward but inconclusive and Lazio ready to counterattack.
Angelo Cupini had a good effort saved by Terraneo and then Laudrup had a goal disallowed for an extremely doubtful offside.
In the 68th minute D'Amico went off to a standing ovation and was replaced by Giancarlo Marini.
Two minutes later Torino took off Renato Zaccarelli and brought on Marco Rossi.
The last twenty minutes saw the visitors putting pressure on Lazio’s defence but without creating anything particularly dangerous.
Lazio resisted and clinched a hugely important win.
Grit, determination and discipline had earned Lazio the two points today plus the superior talent of Laudrup and D'Amico. Lionello Manfredonia in midfield had an excellent game too, increasing his credentials to be called up for the national team.
Torino had an off day and never really came to terms with Lazio’s sheer numbers in midfield. Too many of their players underperformed and the Granata were ultimately undone by Lazio's early goal and subsequent perfect tactical setup.
The table was now looking a little healthier for the Biancocelesti. It read; Catania 10, Genoa 15, Pisa 18, Napoli 19, Lazio 19, Avellino 21… slightly more comforting.
Toro were still 4th but now six points behind leaders Juventus and two behind 3rd placed Fiorentina (last UEFA slot) and only one ahead of Inter.
Who played for Lazio
Orsi, Miele, Filisetti, Spinozzi, Batista, Podavini, Vinazzani (38' Piraccini), Manfredonia, D'Amico (68' Marini), Laudrup, Cupini
Substitutes: Cacciatori, Della Martira, Meluso
Manager: Carosi
Who played for Torino
Terraneo, Pileggi, Beruatto, Zaccarelli (70' M.Rossi), Danova, Francini, Schachner, Caso, Comi, Dossena, Hernández
Substitutes: Copparoni, Corradini, Ferri, Selvaggi
Manager: Bersellini
Referee: Magni
Goal: 5' D'Amico
What happened next
A week later Lazio drew 1-1 at Catania. Then star striker Giordano returned from injury. On April 15, away to Fiorentina, Bruno-Gol finally came back and 10,000 Lazio fans travelled up to Florence to witness the event, he even scored but Lazio lost 2-3.
Lazio then won at home against Napoli 3-2, lost at Udine 0-2 and then won a crucial home game against Ascoli 2-1.
So, it all came down to the final game under the leaning tower of Pisa. Catania and Pisa were already down while Genoa on 23 and Lazio on 24 still had hope. Only one of them would stay up. Genoa had Juventus at home but the Bianconeri had already won and celebrated the league title. Lazio however had the advantage in the head-to-head matches, having won 2-1 in Rome and drawn 0-0 in Genova.
A mass exodus of Lazio fans accompanied the team to Tuscany. The Arena Garibaldi was almost entirely light blue and white.
Lazio managed to draw 2-2 with two goals by Giordano so, despite Genoa beating Juventus 2-1, the Biancocelesti reached the agonised target of staying in Serie A.
Torino finished 5th. In the last 6 matches they won 1, drew 2 and lost 3. Top scorer was Schachner with 16 goals while only in A it was Patricio Hernández with 11.
In Coppa Italia Toro eliminated Sampdoria on away goals but then lost 1-4 on aggregate to Roma in the semi-final.
The Scudetto was won by Juventus for the 21st time. As mentioned the three clubs Lazio had managed to avoid as travelling companions to Serie B were Catania, Pisa and Genoa.
Let’s talk about Sergio Guenza
Sergio Guenza was born in Rome on January 9, 1933.
He joined Lazio at 14 and went through the various youth academy age groups.
He never made it into the first team squad and spent his career at lower levels.
He played for L'Aquila (1952-53, Serie D), San Lorenzo Artiglio (1953-54, regional level), Lazio reserves (1955-56, winning league), Tivoli (1956-59, Serie D and 5th tier), Foligno (1959-60, 5th tier), Vis Sezze (1962-64, 5th tier) and Sora (1965-66, 5th tier). So, a career spent in minor leagues.
It was then as a coach that he had more success.
From 1971 to 1977 he worked for the Lazio youth academy.
In 1977 he took charge of Lazio women's team until 1980, winning the league title twice and a Coppa Italia.
In 1980 he became Italy women's national coach.
In 1981-82 he spent a season as Lazio U19s coach.
In 1982-83 he was assistant manager to Roberto Clagluna with Lazio's first team squad. From May 15 Juan Carlos Morrone took over from Clagluna and the Biancocelesti won promotion back to Serie A.
Guenza stayed on as assistant the following year, first to Morrone and then to Paolo Carosi. Lazio managed to avoid relegation on the last day of the season with a 2-2 draw at Pisa.
From 1982 to 1988 (so for two years in addition to his men's first team duties) he trained the Lazio female team again. He won another 2 league titles and another Coppa Italia. In these years (1986-89 he also collaborated with Tuscania near Viterbo at regional level).
In 1989 he returned to the Italy female side until 1993. He led them to the World Cup quarterfinals in 1991. In 1993 the Azzurre won silver in the European Championships held in Italy, losing out to Norway.
In 1995 he became Italy women's coach for the third time, until 1997. He again led them to a runners-up medal at the European Championships held in Norway and Sweden in 1997, this time losing to Germany.
He then had two more spells as Lazio women's team coach, in 1998-99 and 2004-05. In 1999 the Biancocelesti won another Coppa Italia.
Guenza is not a household name but is a bit of a legend at Lazio and at female football level.
Sergio Guenza died in Rome on April 6, 2020.
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