Giordano pearl
A fantastic Giordano free kick gives Lazio a great win three minutes from time
Also on this day: March 6, 1994, Lazio Roma 1-0. An early goal by Signori in the haze of smoke bombs was enough for Lazio to beat Roma. Giannini missed a penalty. Lazio Legend of the day: Beppe Signori
The season so far
The previous year had been a terrible one. Lazio had started as one of the favourites for promotion but instead needed a Vincenzo D’Amico hat trick in the final home game to avoid risking relegation. Manager Ilario Castagner had been sacked half way through and was replaced by Roberto Clagluna.
In 1982 Italy won the World Cup in Spain and the Federation decided to cut two years suspension off all players involved in the 1980 Totonero match fixing Scandal. That meant that Bruno Giordano and Lionello Manfredonia could return to play, making Lazio favourites, together with Milan, for promotion.
Lazio started the season in the Coppa Italia but after winning against Perugia, two losses against the Serie A teams Avellino and Napoli meant an early exit.
But there was Serie A to conquer. The start was not good with three draws. At this point Clagluna changed things. Fernando Orsi replaced Maurizio Moscatelli, who had never recovered properly from his Achilles tendon injury of 1980, Marco Saltarelli came in for Vincenzo Chiarenza as left back, Renato Miele substituted Paolo Pochesci as centre back. Lazio won at San Benedetto and beat Cremonese at home. After losing at Bologna, Manfredonia was moved to midfield and Lazio won eight consecutive games between the end of October and the beginning of December After 13 games Lazio were first with a three-point lead over Milan.
The last two games of the year were two draws. The first against Reggiana saw the most impressive performance by a Lazio goalkeeper of all time as Orsi saved everything humanly possible. The last game was the big match against Milan. The Biancoclesti went behind twice but goals from Giordano and D’Amico allowed them to draw. So at the end of the year they were still first.
In the new year Lazio slowed down and had been overtaken by Milan who had a one-point lead. Cremonese and Cavese were two points behind, Catania and Como three.
Big game today
The match: Sunday, March 6, 1983, Stadio Giovanni Zini, Cremona
A difficult game for Lazio in a tough moment. For the Biancocelesti the most important thing was not to lose and that is how the game plan was played out.
As a consequence, nothing much happened in the first half. Sauro Frutti arrived a fraction too late to tap in a cross by Gianluca Vialli and towards the end of the first half a Cremonese goal was disallowed by the referee because Walter Viganò had headed the ball when it was already in Nando Orsi's hands.
In the beginning of the second half, a deflected shot by Roberto Tavola had given Bruno Giordano the opportunity to score but he was anticipated by the Cremonese goalkeeper. The Lombards did try to break down the Lazio wall but could only muster a Sergio Paolinelli shot from very far out which Orsi managed to parry into corner.
Then, towards the end of the match, there was a corner for Lazio. The ball was cleared by the Cremonese defence and arrived to Enrico Vella just outside the box. The Biancoceleste midfielder was fouled. Free kick for Lazio, quite central. Tavola passed to Giordano who sent a surface to air missile to the top hand corner. Nothing Enrico Pionetti could do about it. It was the 87th minute and Lazio won.
To note that the next time the Biancocelesti would win an away match would be on June 8 1986 at Catanzaro!!!
A great moment for Giordano, harassed and insulted by the Cremonese fans from the beginning of the match. “Giordano Bruno you are nobody!!!”. And look what Mr. Nobody did …
Who played for Cremonese
Pionetti, Garzilli, Galbagini, Mazzoni (86' Boni), S. Di Chiara, Paolinelli, Viganò, Bonomi, Frutti (46' Rebonato), Bencina, Vialli.
Substitutes: Drago, Finardi, Montorfano.
Manager: Mondonico
Who played for Lazio
Orsi, Podavini, Saltarelli, Vella, Miele, Manfredonia, Ambu (88’ Badiani), Tavola, Giordano, Surro, Sciarpa
Manager: Clagluna
Referee: Pieri
Goal: 87’ Giordano
What happened next
In the next 8 games Lazio only managed one win. A deep psychological crisis. It was not as if in the first part the Biancocelesti were playing champagne football, but at least they were effective. In the second part, all the problems came out. Very few scoring chances were created so Lazio were just not scoring enough.
The game against Reggiana was a must win match. Three times in front with Giordano, three times Reggiana equalised. Lazio were second and had a one-point lead over Cremonese and two over Catania, Come and Cavese.
Clagluna had to go to create a spark which could allow the team to get over the finishing line. Veteran Lazio player and Primavera Manager Giancarlo Morrone was called, along with Bob Lovati as technical director, to help create that spark. The first match in Milan was a disaster as Lazio collapsed 5-1. Lazio, Cremonese, Catania, Como and Cavese were all level at 40 points. Only two would go up since Milan were miles ahead.
On Sunday May 22, Lazio fans woke up with heavy hearts. But when they went to buy their newspapers, they discovered that Giorgio Chinaglia wanted to buy Lazio. The enthusiasm that this news generated brought 55,000 people to the Olimpico to watch Lazio Atalanta. The Biancocelesti won and were now second again on 42 points, Catania and Cremonese 41, Como and Cavese 40.
The next game was a goalless draw at Arezzo. Lazio and Catania 43, Cremonese 42, Como and Cavese 41.
The following Sunday came the mother of all games for Lazio, at home against Catania. A win would mean that a single point would then guarantee promotion. And a win it was thanks to a shot from Gabriele Podavini deflected by Giorgio Mastropasqua that made it 2-1. Lazio 45 points, Cremonese 44, Catania and Como 43, Cavese 41 and out of contention.
Last game was at Cava de’ Tirreni against Cavese. A draw was needed and draw it was. Lazio were back in Serie A after three years!!!!
Chinaglia arrived in July and became President on July 13, 1983.
A final note on that season. In order to celebrate, Lazio organised a friendly against Ajax on June 17. Apart from Giordano scoring three incredible goals, the match was important because Italians were introduced for the very first time to a young Dutch centre-forward, his name was Marco Van Basten.
Lazio 1982-83
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie B | 38 | 14 | 18 | 6 | 44 |
Coppa Italia | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
Total | 43 | 16 | 19 | 8 | 52 |
Top five appearances (complete player statistics)
Player | Total | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
43 | 38 | 5 | |
42 | 38 | 4 | |
39 | 34 | 5 | |
38 | 34 | 4 | |
38 | 36 | 2 |
Top five goal scorers (complete player statistics)
Player | Total | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
Bruno Giordano | 21 | 18 | 3 |
Enrico Vella | 5 | 5 | - |
Vincenzo D'Amico | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Lionello Manfredonia | 4 | 4 | - |
Claudio Ambu | 4 | 3 | 1 |
Let's talk about Antonio Sciarpa
Antonio Sciarpa was born in Rome on September 19 1964. He started to play football with Pro Tevere Roma and at the age of 12 joined Lazio. He played in all the youth teams and was part of the primavera squad when in late February 1983 he started playing with the main team. He debuted in Serie B on March 6 1983 at Cremona where Lazio won 1-0 with a magnificent Bruno Giordano free kick with three minutes to the end of the match.
That season he made seven more appearances including playing the final minutes of Cavese Lazio, the last match of the season, which saw Lazio clinch promotion to Serie A after three years of Serie B hell.
In 1983 he signed for Cavese but played very little, just three appearances. He then played with Siena in 1984-85, Latina in the next two seasons and Viterbese in 1987-88.
Lazio Career
Season | Total Serie B appearances |
1982-83 | 8 |
Sources
Opmerkingen