Zebras aggressive but Eagles escape unscathed
Juventus attack for most of match but Cacciatori saves give Lazio useful and unexpected point
Also on this day: March 9, 2015, Lazio Fiorentina 4-0. A goal after six minutes and three more in the second half help Lazio win a no contest affair. Player of the day: Lucas Biglia
The season so far
Lazio had finished a respectable 8th the previous season, under Roberto "Bob" Lovati. Bruno Giordano had been top Serie A scorer with 19 league goals and 21 in total.
This year Lovati had kept his place. There were some changes to the squad. The main new signings were defender Filippo Citterio (Palermo), midfielders Maurizio Montesi (Avellino - back from loan), Vincenzo Zucchini (Pescara) and young forward Enrico Todesco (Como).
The players leaving were defenders Paolo Ammoniaci (Palermo), Pietro Ghedin (Pescara-on loan), scudetto legend Gigi Martini (Chicago Sting), Andrea Agostinelli (Napoli-on loan), midfielders Roberto Badiani (Napoli-on loan), Franco Cordova (Avellino), Massimo De Stefanis (Palermo) and forward Aldo Cantarutti (Pisa).
On paper it looked as if Lazio had not come out strengthened by the transfer market, far from it.
So far, Lazio had played 22 league games and had won 4 (including Juventus 1-0 at home), drawn 11 (including derby 1-1) and lost 6. Lazio were in 13th position, on 20 points (with Napoli), only 3 points above Catanzaro in the relegation zone. Lazio had started the season reasonably well and at Christmas were joint 3rd with Roma, Cagliari, Torino and Perugia. Since then, however the Biancocelesti had not won again, with 5 draws and 3 defeats (the most recent a week earlier in the derby 1-2). Top scorer was Bruno Giordano with 12 goals (9 in A).
In this period in Italian football there were already rumours of a huge match fixing scandal. Some Lazio players were allegedly involved too and this situation obviously affected Lazio’s performances on the field.
In August and September, the Biancocelesti got through the first Coppa Italia group phase against Matera 5-0, Brescia 2-0, Pistoiese 2-1 and Udinese 0-0. They then played Torino away in November and drew 0-0. The return game in January also ended up 0-0 and Lazio then lost on penalties.
Lazio’s season however had been marked by a terrible tragedy. On October 28 a Lazio fan, Vincenzo Paparelli, was killed inside the stadium before a local derby. A nautical flare was fired from the Roma end and, after having crossed the entire pitch, entered the Curva Nord tragically hitting 33-year-old, and father of two, Paparelli in the eye. He died on the way to hospital. I came into the Curva soon after the event and hearing of the incident and sensing the inevitably sombre, tense atmosphere my father decided to take my brother and I home. The game went ahead to avoid further crowd trouble and ended in a 1-1 of convenience. There is now a plaque in memory of poor Vincenzo Paparelli opposite the steps leading up to the Curva Nord.
Today's game in Turin had an extremely high quotient of difficulty and few believed Lazio stood much chance.
Juventus had finished 3rd the previous season under Giovanni Trapattoni. They had however won the Coppa Italia defeating surprise finalists Palermo 2-1 in extra-time.
This season "Il Trap" was still manager. The new players were midfielders Domenico Marocchino, Cesare Prandelli and Roberto Tavola (all from Atalanta). Leaving were midfielder Romeo Benetti (Roma) and forward Roberto Boninsegna (Verona).
Juventus had some great players in their squad including six future World Champions with Italy: Dino Zoff, Antonio Cabrini, Claudio Gentile, Gaetano Scirea, Marco Tardelli and Franco Causio. They also had two future Lazio players, Gabriele Pin (1986-92) and Roberto Tavola (1982-83).
In Serie A Juventus were currently joint 2nd with Milan and Avellino, on 25 points. They had started the season well but then between October 28 (beat Napoli 1-0) and January 20 (beat Catanzaro 1-0) they only earned 5 points in 9 games, losing 6 times (including Lazio, Avellino, Perugia away and Ascoli at home). Since then, however the "Old Lady" had reacted and won 4 and drawn 2, the last two however and both 0-0 (the derby and away to Napoli).
In Coppa Italia the Bianconeri had eliminated Inter 2-1 on aggregate and would now play city rivals Torino in the semi-finals at the end of March and April.
In the UEFA Cup, Juventus had eliminated Hungarians Győri ETO 3-2 on aggregate and Bulgarians P.F.K Beroe 4-1 on aggregate after extra-time. They had then played the first away leg against Croatians Rijeka (Yugoslavs at the time), drawing 0-0. The return game in Turin would be on March 19.
So, a revived Juventus,despite at home playing a struggling and troubled Lazio. As they say in Italy, "partita da uno fisso" (a certain home win).
The match: Sunday, March 9, 1980, Stadio Comunale, Turin
A nice, sunny day in Turin brought about 30,000 spectators to the old Comunale.
Lazio were without Mauro Tassotti and Antonio Lopez while Juventus were missing their striker Roberto Bettega.
Lazio played in uncharacteristic red shirts while the Zebras wore their usual black and white stripes.
This was the first game since the accusations of match fixing had emerged and there was a strange sense of limbo in the air.
Juventus had played Rijeka away on Wednesday and Lazio were hoping they could be a little tired.
From the early stages it didn't seem so and the Bianconeri attacked. The home side pegged Lazio back and had several chances to go in front. First Claudio Gentile brought the ball down well in the area and blasted a low shot but Massimo Cacciatori saved well. The next chance was for Pietro Virdis, set up by Pietro Fanna, he went round Cacciatori but from the by-line hit the side netting. Thirdly a good move between Franco Causio and Antonio Cabrini saw the left full-back put in a perfect cross for Fanna whose close-range header was superbly saved by Cacciatori. Finally, Tardelli had a double effort, first with a low shot and then with a subsequent header, after Cacciatori had saved with the spinning up into the air, but the keeper was there again. Halftime Juventus 0 Lazio 0.
One way traffic so far with Cacciatori keeping Lazio in the game but Pino Wilson and Filippo Citterio also playing well.
The beginning of the second half saw Lazio have a rare corner and a chance. The ball fell to Zucchini inside the area, he had time to take aim but his shot went wide. The goal area had been crowded but he should have done better.
Then it was all Juventus again but without all the first half chances. They did however threaten a couple of times. First Virdis had a close-range shot saved by Cacciatori after a scramble in the box.
In the 88th minute Lazio were reduced to ten men when Lionello Manfredonia was shown a second yellow card and then the consequent red. The Lazio defender had engaged in a ferocious battle with Domenico Marocchino for the whole game.
Then, in the dying seconds, a Gentile low shot towards goal was contested by both Cacciatori and Virdis and continued its path trickling towards the far post where Zucchini cleared it off the line.
Lazio resisted and picked up an extremely useful and unexpected point. Full time Juventus 0 Lazio 0.
Juventus had attacked for most of the game but, missing Roberto Bettega, had not been clinical in front of goal. It was the "Zebra's" fourth consecutive goalless draw.
Lazio had played an excellent defensive game with the midfield and forwards also sacrificing themselves for the cause. The main hero however was Cacciatori who had made at least five or six decisive saves
Lazio with the point were solitary in 13th place but, for once, the good news was that Roma had won beating Catanzaro 1-0 with a Pruzzo penalty. This meant Lazio now had a four-point cushion on the Calabresi with seven games to go.
Juventus meanwhile, along with Milan, were caught up by both Ascoli and Roma in 2nd place while Avellino dropped down to joint 3rd with Perugia.
Who played for Juventus
Zoff, Cuccureddu, Cabrini, Furino, Gentile, Scirea, Marocchino, Tardelli, Virdis, Causio, Fanna
Substitutes: Baratella, Brio, Prandelli
Manager: Trapattoni
Who played for Lazio
Cacciatori, Pighin, Citterio, Wilson, Manfredonia, Zucchini, Garlaschelli, Manzoni, Giordano, D'Amico (81' Cenci), Viola
Substitutes: Avagliano, Pochesci
Manager: Lovati
Referee: D'Elia
Red Card: 88' Manfredonia
What happened next
The next league game was on March 23 against Pescara away. Lazio lost 0-2 but worse still was that four of their players were arrested after the game (Giordano, Manfredonia, Wilson and Cacciatori). They were accused of being involved in the "Totonero" betting scandal. The match fixing bubble had finally exploded after weeks of rumours.
On the field Lazio managed to avoid relegation by one point thanks to Vincenzo D'Amico leading a team full of youth players to victory over Catanzaro, but then Lazio were punished for their players' alleged involvement in the scandal and relegated anyway, along with Milan. Lazio won 5, drew 15 and lost 10.
Giordano and Manfredonia got a three-and-a-half-year suspension, Cacciatori 4 years and Wilson three years. Lazio president Aldo Lenzini resigned and left the running of the club to his younger brother Aldo.
Giordano and Manfredonia would not play again until 1982 and only because of the World Cup winning armistice. Lazio would spend three years in the purgatory of Serie B and only get promoted in 1982-83 (with the help of Giordano and Manfredonia).
Juventus finished 2nd. The Bianconeri continued strongly, winning 6 out of the last 7 games. Top scorer was Roberto Bettega with 16 league goals.
In Coppa Italia they went out to Torino on penalties.
In the Coppa UEFA beat Rijeka 2-0 in the return leg. In the semi-final however they lost to Arsenal 1-2 on aggregate. After drawing 1-1 at Highbury, they then succumbed to an 88th minute Paul Vaessen winner in Turin.
The Scudetto was won by Inter for the 12th time. Lazio went down with Milan (also punished for the betting scandal) and Pescara who came rock bottom.
Lazio 1979-80
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals Scored |
Serie A | 30 | 5 | 15 | 10 | 21 |
Coppa Italia | 6 | 3 | 3 | - | 9 |
Total | 36 | 8 | 18 | 10 | 30 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Citterio | 36 | 30 | 6 |
D'Amico | 33 | 28 | 5 |
Viola | 33 | 28 | 5 |
Tassotti | 32 | 27 | 5 |
Zucchini | 30 | 25 | 5 |
Cacciatori | 30 | 24 | 6 |
Top goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Giordano | 12 | 9 | 3 |
D'Amico | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Garlaschelli | 5 | 2 | 3 |
Zucchini | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Let's talk about Riccardo Cenci
Riccardo Cenci was born in Fucecchio (Florence), on February 25 1958.
His early football was played in the Pistoiese youth set up. He then made his professional debut for the Arancioni in 1976 in Serie C. He only played one league game under manager Bruno Bolchi but the Tuscans were promoted, winning the league. His teammates included, former Lazio, Stefano Di Chiara (1973-76) and future Juventus legend Sergio Brio.
In 1977-78 he stayed at Pistoiese but again only played one league game. The manager was first Bolchi and then Enzo Riccomini and the Orange finished 16th. His teammates included, Lazio legend, Mario Frustalupi (1972-75) and former Lazio, Sergio Borgo (1973-74, 1975-76) plus a young Beppe Dossena (World Champion with Italy in 1982 and Italian champion with Sampdoria in 1991).
In 1978 Cenci joined Cerretese (Cerreto Guidi-Florence) in C2. He played 27 league games and scored 9 goals. Cerretese finished 3rd.
In 1979 he joined Lazio in Serie A. The manager was Bob Lovati but it was a terrible year for the Biancocelesti. First, in October, a fan, Vincenzo Paparelli, was killed by a flare before the Roman derby and then in March four Lazio players were arrested for alleged match fixing. Lazio were eventually punished with relegation. On the field Cenci had played 5 league games and 1 in Coppa Italia.
The following year in Serie B he stayed on. The manager was Ilario Castagner and Lazio narrowly missed out on promotion finishing 4th. Cenci played 5 games with 1 goal (winner at Foggia) and 3 games in Coppa Italia.
From Lazio he went to Piacenza in Serie C1. He stayed two seasons, playing 55 league games with 8 goals. Il Piace finished 12th and 15th (relegated).
In 1983-84 he played a season with Mantova in Serie C2. The Virgiliani finished 4th, first under Dino Binacchi and then Bruno Mazzia. Cenci played 29 league games with 6 goals.
In 1984 he joined Derthona (Tortona-Alessandria) in C2. He stayed two seasons, finishing 4th (under Angelo Domenghini) and 13th (under Adriano Lombardi). Cenci played 68 league games and scored 22 goals.
In 1986 he joined Fiorenzuola (Piacenza) in Interregionale (5th tier). The Fiore finished 7th and Cenci played 25 league games and scored one goal.
He then went back to Derthona for two seasons. The Leoncelli were in C1 and finished 13th and 14th. He played 50 league games with 2 goals, under manager Ambrogio Pelagalli.
In 1989 he moved back to Tuscany and joined Cuoiopelli (Pisa) in C2. The Biancorossi finished 18th and were relegated. The manager was first, former Lazio keeper, Idilio Cei (1958-68) and then Lucio Mujesan. Cenci played 27 league games with 2 goals.
His last club was Rondinella (Florence) in 1991-92. The "Rondine" (Swallow/Bluebird) was in Interregionale (5th tier) and finished 6th. Cenci played 30 league games with 5 goals.
At 34 he then retired.
He reappeared in the football world in 2008-09 working as coach in the Cuoiopell youth sector.
Then from 2016-18 he was technical director at Fucecchio, his hometown.
Cenci was an attacking midfielder. He was an agile and dynamic player. At 1.70 and 63 kilos he based his game on technique and movement. Neither were enough to give him a top-level career. His peak was winning the C1 league with Pistoiese in 1977 and then playing for Lazio.
At Lazio he was unlucky with his timing, arriving in their "annus horribilis", 1979-80. He stayed the following year but was basically a reserve to Stefano Chiodi, Alberto Bigon, Giuseppe Greco, Renzo Garlaschelli and Nando Viola. His highpoint was scoring the winner at Foggia, on October 26 1980, in an away win which however was not enough to contribute to a promotion. Cenci played a total of 14 games with the Eagles.
Lazio Career
Season | Total Appearances (goals) | Serie A | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
1979-80 | 6 | 5 | - | 1 |
1980-81 | 8 (1) | - | 5 (1) | 3 |
Total | 14 (1) | 5 | 5 (1) | 4 |
Sources
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