Game 13, Serie A
Sunday, January 7, 1979
Stadio San Paolo, Naples
Napoli Lazio 1-1 (0-2)
On the two teams entering the pitch two Lazio players were almost hit by a firecracker causing them shock and inability to play but luckily only light injuries. The game became little more than a training exercise as everyone was aware Lazio would later be awarded victory.
The week before travelling down to Naples the Biancocelesti had drawn 2-2 away to Torino and now had 13 points in the table. Their star centre-forward Bruno Giordano was on top form and had already scored 9 goals.
So far this season Napoli had won 3, drawn 7 and lost 2 giving them 13 points (same as Lazio). Savoldi was still scoring and was on 6 goals.
Today's match was seen as a crunch match for the UEFA qualification positions.
The match
It was a cold, sunny day in Naples and 60,000 turned up hoping for an exciting game. They would be disappointed but through no fault of the 22 players on the field.
The main event of the day happened before the 90 minutes even took place. The two teams were coming up the steps leading to the pitch from the changing rooms when an enormous bang was heard. Lazio were wearing uncharacteristic red shirts to avoid TV colour clashes with Napoli and two of these were seen to keel over. Two Lazio players had collapsed and were rushed to hospital.
It turned out a large firecracker had been thrown from the Napoli fans' sector and exploded dangerously near Lazio’s Lionello Manfredonia and Dario Pighin. The two players suffered a state of shock, confusion and temporary deafness and were taken to hospital for further checks.
The referee ordered the two teams back to the changing rooms and the match kick-off was put back by 30 minutes. This was to enable Lazio to call two replacements from the grandstand (they were actually summoned by the stadium tannoy) to make up the numbers (14 at the time). Lazio replaced the two hospitalized players with the young Roman defender Mauro Tassotti and Paolo Ammoniaci.
The game eventually got under way but would be more of a training exercise than a competitive Serie A game. Both teams knew perfectly well the two points would be awarded to Lazio due to the Napoli fans' violent conduct.
The game itself was a bland affair. Napoli lacked motivation and Lazio were more worried about their team mates' well-being. The outcome was a drab draw. Lazio went 1-0 up after 13 minutes with Aldo Nicoli teed up in the area by Giordano, he went past a defender and put a close range left foot in the top hand corner beating Luciano Castellini. Napoli equalised four minutes later when Beppe Savoldi, lurking in front of goal, deflected a teammate's shot in a crowded area. Not much else worthy of note happened for the rest of the match.
A draw of little sporting value. The two Lazio players would suffer no serious consequences and were able to travel back to Rome that evening.
Three days later as predicted the Italian Federation sports judicial authorities awarded Lazio a 2-0 victory and banned Napoli from playing at home for the next two matches.
Who played for Napoli
Castellini, Bruscolotti (68' Tesser), Valente, Catellani, Ferrario, Pin, C.Pellegrini, Vinazzani, Savoldi, Majo, Filippi
Substitutes: Fiore, Capone
Manager: Vinicio
Who played for Lazio
Cacciatori, Tassotti, Martini (50' Ghedin), Wilson, Ammoniaci, Cordova, Agostinelli, Nicoli, Giordano, D'Amico, Badiani
Substitutes: Fantini, Cantarutti
Manager: Lovati
Referee: Lapi
Goals: 13' Nicoli, 17' Savoldi
Sources
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