A win after the storm
An afternoon game played under floodlights and suspended for ten minutes is decided by a Monelli winner
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had dramatically avoided relegation to Serie C. They started the season with a nine-point docking due to one of their player's involvement in the Totonero bis scandal. The manager was Eugenio Fascetti and only a Giuliano Fiorini goal eight minutes from time in the last game of the season and a subsequent win over Campobasso in a three-team playoff allowed them to stay up. The squad were heroes for life at Lazio but another season was about to begin.
Fascetti stayed on and the objective was clearly promotion. The Biancocelesti made some changes to the squad. The main new arrivals were: keeper Silvano Martina (Torino), defender Paolo Beruatto (Torino), midfielders Ciro Muro (Napoli), Gabriele Savino (Vicenza) plus forwards Giuseppe Galderisi (Milan-on loan) and Paolo Monelli (Fiorentina).
Leaving were keepers Mario Ielpo (Cagliari) and Giuliano Terraneo (Lecce), defenders Ernesto Calisti (Fiorentina), Gabriele Podavini (Genoa), Daniele Filisetti (Venezia-Mestre) plus forwards Giuliano Fiorini (Venezia-Mestre), Paolo Mandelli (Inter-end of loan), Fabio Poli (Bologna) and Giampaolo Saurini (Cagliari-on loan). In the autumn Giorgio Magnocavallo also left (Barletta). Some painful departures, especially Podavini, Poli and Fiorini.
Lazio had already started their season in Coppa Italia. They had won 2 (Lecce 1-0 and Casertana 2-0, both at home), drawn 2 (Pisa 0-0 away and Juventus 1-1 at home, then lost on penalties) and lost 1 (Catanzaro 0-5 away) and were eliminated.
The main objective however this year was promotion back to Serie A. In the league so far Lazio had played four games and had won 1 (Sambenedettese 2-0 at home on debut), drawn 2 (Modena 0-0 away and Bologna 2-2 at home ) and lost 1 (Messina 0-1 away). The Biancocelesti were joint 7th on 4 points with four other teams but only one point from 3rd place.
Lazio's hesitant start plus a disappointing 3-3 draw with amateurs Fondi (near Latina, south of Rome) in a friendly three days earlier meant the feeling around the campaign was already slightly negative. As one knows, however it doesn't take much in Rome to transform negativity into positivity and vice versa.
The previous season Cremonese had finished 3rd in Serie B under Bruno Mazzia but then lost the promotion playoffs against Lecce and Cesena. The Grigiorossi had surprisingly reached the Coppa Italia semi-finals (eliminating Inter on penalties on the way) but then lost to Atalanta 0-2 on aggregate. Top scorer was Marco Nicoletti with 14 league goals.
This season Mazzia was still in charge. The main new players were: defender Ivan Rizzardi (Derthona - back from loan), midfielders Pierangelo Avanzi (Mantova) and Enrico Piccioni (Catanzaro).
Leaving were: defenders Ettore Ferraroni (Novara - on loan), Wladyslaw Źmuda (retiring), midfielders Walter Viganò (Casertana) and Gabriele Bongiorni (Catanzaro) plus forward Giancarlo Finardi (Ospitaletto, after 383 league games),
An interesting player in the squad was Attilio Lombardo who would later win league titles with Sampdoria, Juventus and Lazio. Another was former Lazio, Filippo Citterio (1979-81).
So far, the "Violini" (Violins) had won 1 (Parma 2-0 away on debut) and drawn 3 (Modena 2-2 and Piacenza 0-0 at home and Udinese 1-1 away). The Grigiorossi were currently in joint 3rd place, with Lecce, Catanzaro and Bari, on 5 points.
In Coppa Italia the "Tigri" (Tigers) had been knocked out in August-September after 1 win (Centese 1-0 at home), 2 draws (Sambenedettese 1-1, then won on penalties and Avellino 2-2 at home, then lost on penalties) and 1 defeat (Empoli 2-3 away).
An interesting and important game today between two Serie A promotion candidates.
The match: Sunday, October 11, 1987, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A dark, rainy day in Rome and just under 30,000 wet souls in the stadium.
The pitch was heavy and slippery. It was so gloomy that after five minutes of play the referee requested that the floodlights be turned on. Three minutes later things degenerated and the rain became torrential even washing away the benches. The referee was forced to suspend the game for about seven minutes until the worst was over. After the drama the game then resumed but still under floodlights.
So, to the game. Lazio had the whole squad available while the visitors were missing midfielder Marco Merlo and forward Marco Nicoletti.
The first chance was for the Lombards in the 9th minute when neither Claudio Bencina nor Claudio Pelosi were quick enough to punish Silvano Martina's short parry on an Alviero Chiorri freekick.
The game was lively despite the conditions. Lazio pushed forward and had chances with Luca Brunetti and Paolo Monelli shots, a Giuseppe Galderisi acrobatic effort plus Ciro Muro and Angelo Gregucci headers. In the 34th minute Lazio had a huge opportunity but Paolo Beruatto with only the keeper to beat went for force rather than precision and Michelangelo Rampulla saved well.
The Cremonesi were cautious but in the 37th minute hit the crossbar with a thundering long range shot by Attilio Lombardo.
Lazio then slowed down and halftime arrived with the game still goalless.
Lazio had attacked more and would have deserved to be in front, but Cremonese had hit the crossbar.
By the time the second half started it had stopped raining. In the 55th minute Lazio scored. Muro and Raimondo Marino combined on the left and the latter put in a low, crisp cross which went right through the defence and found Monelli on the far post, the striker had an easy task to slot the ball in from close range. Lazio 1 Cremonese 0.
Lazio had worked hard for the lead and now they sat back and waited for the Tigers' reaction.
It came and in the 67th minute they went close with a Bencina header from a Chiorri header which Martina managed to slap away to his left.
Cremonese made the first substitution when in the 70th minute they replaced Pierangelo Avanzi with Luciano Feliciani. The Grigiorossi had other attempts with a freekick by Chiorri in the 72nd minute and a Lombardo shot in the 75th but they were comfortably blocked by Lazio's Bosnian born keeper.
Lazio then buttoned up more, taking off Ciro Muro and putting on a more defensive and physical Gabriele Savino in the 78th minute.
Cremonese continued to put pressure on the Biancocelesti but had no more real chances to equalise. Lazio defended well but one criticism could be that they failed to be particularly dangerous on the counter attack, bar one shot by Galderisi late on. Lazio held on for an important win. Final score Lazio 1 Cremonese 0.
Lazio had played well for almost an hour, attacking constantly and creating chances. After the breakthrough they had tried to control the game without running excessive risks. A positive performance but the Biancocelesti would have to continue pushing for a second goal or be more threatening on the break to be sure of winning these sorts of games.
Cremonese were a well-balanced and organised team, confirming their aspirations to fight for Serie A until the end.
Lazio were now up to joint 3rd with Bari and Bologna, still one point from the last promotion slot. Cremonese were joint 4th with Atalanta, Genoa and Brescia.
Who played for Lazio
Martina, Brunetti, Beruatto (86' Piscedda), Pin, Gregucci, Marino, Camolese, Acerbis, Galderisi, Muro (78' Savino), Monelli
Manager: Fascetti
Who played for Cremonese
Rampulla, Garzilli, Rizzardi, Piccioni, Montorfano, Citterio, Lombardo, Avanzi (70' Feliciani), Pelosi, Bencina, Chiorri
Substitutes: Violini, Torri, Gualco
Manager: Mazzia
Referee: Amendolia
Goal: 55' Monelli
What happened next
Lazio managed to win promotion. With a 3rd place finish the Biancocelesti went back up to Serie A after three difficult seasons in the "purgatory" of Serie B and even risking worse.
It was not easy and it was touch and go all season. In the remaining games Lazio won 13, drew 15 (including Cremonese 0-0) and lost 5. On June 19, in an Olimpico already undergoing heavy restoration for Italia '90, Lazio defeated Taranto 3-1 to book their ticket back in the big time. Lazio have been in Serie A ever since. Top scorer was Paolo Monelli with 14 goals (13 in B).
Cremonese finished 6th, six points off the last promotion slot. They then won 9, drew 18 and lost 6. The top scorer in total was Alviero Chiorri with 7 goals while in Serie B it was Marco Nicoletti with 5. "La Cremo" would be successful the following season, winning promotion on penalties in a playoff against Reggina.
Lazio went up with league winners Bologna plus Lecce and Atalanta. At the other end Arezzo, Triestina (with 5-point docking) and Modena descended to Serie C1
Lazio 1987-88
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie B | 38 | 15 | 17 | 6 | 42 |
Coppa Italia | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
Total | 43 | 17 | 19 | 7 | 46 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
Monelli | 42 | 37 | 5 |
Marino | 41 | 36 | 5 |
Martina | 41 | 36 | 5 |
Pin | 41 | 36 | 5 |
Beruatto | 40 | 35 | 5 |
Savino | 40 | 35 | 5 |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
Monelli | 14 | 13 | 1 |
Savino | 10 | 8 | 2 |
Muro | 4 | 4 | - |
Gregucci | 3 | 3 | - |
Rizzolo | 3 | 3 | - |
Let's talk about Alessandro Salafia
Alessandro Salafia was born in Rome on June 25 1965.
His father was also a goalkeeper, having played for Roman team Romulea and Viterbese.
In 1985 Alessandro Salafia was signed by Lazio from local club Anzio (seaside town just south of Rome). He initially played in the Primavera team and made the bench 5 times for the first team in 1985-86.
In 1987-88 he joined the Lazio main squad. The manager was Eugenio Fascetti and the Biancocelesti were aiming for promotion after two turbulent years in Serie B. The first keeper was Silvano Martina so Salafia was the reserve. He played three league games, making his debut in 0-2 away defeat at Padova on March 20. Lazio were finally successful in their promotion challenge and finished 3rd. They have been in Serie A ever since.
In 1988 Lazio had a new manager, Giuseppe Materazzi. Salafia took part in the pre-season training camps but then just before the season started he was sold to Jesi (Ancona) in Serie C2. He stayed two seasons and the "Leoncelli"(Little Lions) finished 11th and 12th.
In 1990-91 he was back near Rome with Ostia Mare in Serie C2. The Lidensi were relegated to the amateur 5th tier.
Salafia's career never really took off after his Lazio experience. He then became a goalkeeper coach and worked with amateurs Nettuno (another seaside town near Rome) for some years and now works with amateurs Pomezia (an industrial satellite town just south of Rome).
The peak of his career was with Lazio and he can say he helped the Biancocelesti get back to where they belong, Serie A.
Lazio Career
Season | Total Serie B appearances |
1987-88 | 3 |
Sources
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