Standing ovation for Lazio
A 3-0 away triumph as Lazio leave the field applauded by both sets of fans
Also on this day: October 31, 2002: Lazio Red Star Belgrade 1-0, UEFA Cup Second Round. Fiore gives Lazio decent result but will it be enough in Belgrade hell hole? Player of the day: Stefano Fiore
The season so far
Lazio had renewed ambitions this season with the long-awaited return of golden boys Bruno Giordano and Lionello Manfredonia after the betting scandal.
The previous season Lazio had finished disappointingly 10th but they now had some optimism and enthusiasm. Some interesting players had come in, such as goalkeeper Fernando Orsi (Parma), defenders Gabriele Podavini (Brescia) and Marco Saltarelli (Lodigiani), midfielders Enrico Vella (Catania) and Roberto Tavola (Juventus- on loan) plus forward Claudio Ambu (Perugia).
Players who had left the capital included defender Giorgio Mastropasqua (Catania) midfielders Dario Sanguin (Perugia), Alberto Bigon (Vicenza), Fernando Viola (Genoa) plus forwards Claudio Vagheggi (Napoli) and Walter Speggiorin (Massese). Lazio had also said farewell to scudetto heroes Felice Pulici (retired) and Renzo Garlaschelli (Pavia).
The season had started with the Coppa Italia in August and early September. Lazio were out after 2 wins (Perugia 3-2 at home and Salernitana 3-2 away), 1 draw (Atalanta 0-0 at home) and two defeats (Avellino 1-2 away and Napoli 1-2 at home).
In Serie B after a hesitant start and three draws, Lazio had won three out of the last four. The Biancocelesti were on 9 points, in 4th position. Giordano had scored 4 goals.
Bari the previous season had finished 4th and narrowly missed out on promotion under Enrico Catuzzi. Top scorer was Maurizio Iorio with 20 goals (18 in B).
This season Catuzzi was still on the bench but Iorio had joined Roma in Serie A. In the Bari squad was future Lazio Antonio Elia Acerbis and past backup goalkeeper Bruno Fantini. Other decent players were defenders Nicola Caricola (future Juventus), Giovanni Loseto, Giorgio De Trizio, midfielder Carmelo Bagnato and forwards Luigi De Rosa and Carlo Bresciani.
In Coppa Italia Bari had surprisingly won their group. The "Galletti" (The Cockerels) had won all 4 (Foggia 3-1, Inter 1-0 away, Udinese 1-0 and Rimini 3-1).
In Serie B things had not started so well. Bari had only won 1 (Pistoiese 2-0), drawn 2 (Reggiana 0-0, Varese 2-2) and lost 4 including 2 derbies (Atalanta 0-1, Lecce 1-2, Milan 1-3 and Foggia 1-2). The Biancorossi only had 4 points and were 3rd bottom.
Lazio were favourites today but there were no easy games in the "purgatory", especially away from home.
The match: Sunday, October 31, 1982, Stadio Comunale, Bari
A mild, cloudy day in the south -east brought 20,000 spectators to the old Stadio della Vittoria.
Bari had signed former forward Fabrizio Lucchi back in the October market window and today also had Valerio Majo back from injury. Lazio had no absences apart from Roberto Tavola.
Lazio started very compact and looked sharp, threatening on the break. Bari were slower and had difficulty creating dangers. In the 8th minute came Lazio's first chance. A Vincenzo D'Amico cross was headed by Renato Miele to Claudio Ambu who coordinated well and went for a spectacular bicycle kick but it shaved the crossbar.
In the 13th minute Bari reacted but Carmelo Bagnato, put through by Lucchi, struck his low powerful effort too central and Orsi blocked.
In the 17th minute Ambu missed a sitter. Teed up by Bruno Giordano, he found himself one-on-one with the keeper in a central position but miskicked his lob.
In the 18th minute Lazio were forced to make a replacement as Roberto Badiani hobbled off and on came Michele De Nadai.
The rest of the first half was evenly poised but Lazio seemed better organised. The Lazio defence was excellent and the impression was that sooner or later they would have more chances to strike on the break. Halftime Bari 0 Lazio 0.
For the second half the "Galletti" took off Majo, who lacked match fitness, and threw on Cuccovillo.
Lazio struck almost immediately. In the 48th minute the Biancocelesti were awarded a free kick a metre outside the area, for a foul by Armenise on Ambu. D'Amico touched the ball to De Nadai whose low left footed shot beat Fantini to his left. Bari 0 Lazio 1.
At this point Lazio were in the ideal tactical situation. Bari attacking head down, a solid Lazio defence and quick counter attacks for Giordano. The Roman striker went close several times, he hit a crossbar on a free kick, was denied by a brilliant Fantini save and had a couple of efforts go just wide. Bari's only chance came when Carlo Bresciani had a go but his shot was wide.
Lazio were in control and finally got a second in the 83rd minute. Giordano dribbled past Nicola Caricola and shot, but from a difficult angle, Fantini saved, the ball came back to Bruno-gol who squared the ball back into the middle of the area where Ambu slammed in a left footed volley for an excellent goal. Bari 0 Lazio 2.
The Bari fans were by now showing their disapproval of their side's performance and heavily contesting their President Antonio Mattarese. Their whistles and protests were soon transformed into applause... but for Lazio and Giordano. In the 89th minute on the break again Giordano surged forward, on a D'Amico assist, went around the keeper and slotted in a low right foot which a lunging defender could not keep out. Bari 0 Lazio 3. The locals stood up and clapped, paying tribute to Lazio's performance but also as a dig at their team's poor showing.
Things were looking good for Lazio. A good win with a steel defence, Manfredonia dominant in midfield and Giordano world class up front.
Who played for Bari
Fantini, Acerbis, Armenise, O. Loseto (71' De Rosa), Caricola, De Trizio, Bagnato, Majo (46' Cuccovillo), De Tommasi, Lucchi, Bresciani
Substitutes: Caffaro, G. Loseto, De Martino
Manager: Catuzzi
Who played for Lazio
Orsi, Podavini, Saltarelli, Vella, Miele, Perrone, Ambu, Manfredonia, Giordano, D'Amico, Badiani (18' De Nadai)
Manager: Clagluna
Referee: Pairetto
Goals: 48' De Nadai, 83' Ambu, 89' Giordano
What happened next
After today's win Lazio went on a roll and also won the next five. They then slowed down with five draws and a win in the next six. Halfway through the fixture list Lazio were top of the table, one point ahead of Milan and with a five-point cushion on fourth placed Catania. Promotion looked almost like a done deal.
In the second half of the season however Lazio faded. By May 15 they had only won another two, drawn eight and lost four. After a 3-3 home draw with Reggiana, Clagluna was sacked and replaced by former player, Argentine Juan Carlos Morrone.
His first match was a 1-5 away defeat by Milan but then in the last four matches Lazio won two (Atalanta and crucially Catania, both 2-1) and drew two (Arezzo 0-0 and 2-2 in the last game at Cavese).
Lazio didn't have an easy ride by any means, but did enough to win the agonised promotion back to the elite Serie A, after three difficult years. In the end they had that extra quality in the squad plus top scorer Giordano in the team to get them over the line just one point ahead of Cremonese, Como and Catania. These three ended up in a play-off, with Catania eventually clinching the last promotion slot. Milan came top.
Bari continued to struggle and were relegated to C1. They tried to improve things by changing managers after 25 games, from Catuzzi to Gigi Radice who won in his first match but then lost five (including Lazio 0-1), drew five and only won two more before slumping down a level. They were kept company by Foggia, Reggiana and Bologna.
In Coppa Italia, Bari were knocked out in the Last 16, putting up a good fight but losing 1-2 on aggregate to Juventus. Bari's top scorer was Bagnato with 7 league goals.
The "Vecchia Stella del Sud" would then bounce back with consecutive promotions and play in Serie A in '85-86 and Lazio would not, but that's another story.
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 Claudio Ambu
Claudio Ambu was born in Milan, on August 2, 1958.
His youth career was spent at Macallesi 1927 (in Milan) and then Inter.
In 1976-77 he was included in Inter's first squad under Giuseppe Chiappella. Ambu only played one league game (against Roma) and Inter finished 4th and runners-up in Coppa Italia (Milan 0-2).
In 1977 he signed for Ascoli in Serie B. The manager was Antonio Renna and the "Picchio" (The Woodpecker) won the league and promotion. Ambu was top scorer with 17 league goals. He played alongside future Lazio Giuseppe Greco.
With Ascoli in Serie A in 78-79 he played 29 league games with 3 goals (Napoli, Torino, Inter in 1-1 away draw) plus 3 games in Coppa Italia. His goalkeeper was Lazio Scudetto legend Felice Pulici. Ascoli had a good season and finished 10th (the highlight beating Juventus 1-0).
In 1979-80 Ambu returned to Inter. The manager was Eugenio Bersellini and the "Beneamata" won the Scudetto. Ambu played 13 league games with 1 goal (Avellino). One of his teammates was future Lazio, Domenico Caso.
The following season the Nerazzurri finished 4th and reached the European Cup semi-final (Real Madrid 1-2 on aggregate). Ambu played 19 league games with 3 goals (Juventus, Torino, Como).
In 1981-82 he joined Perugia in Serie B. The manager was Gustavo Giagnoni and the "Grifoni" (The Griffins) finished 15th. Ambu played 30 league games with 5 goals.
In 1982 he signed for Lazio in Serie B. The Biancocelesti came from two disappointing seasons but with the return of Bruno Giordano and Lionello Manfredonia had promotion ambitions. The manager was Roberto Clagluna. It was far from easy but the Biancocelesti conquered Serie A despite having to change managers to Juan Carlos Morrone five games from the end. Ambu contributed with 3 goals (Bari, Lecce x2) in 29 league games plus 1 goal in Coppa Italia (Salernitana) in 2 appearances. It would be his only season in Rome.
In 1983 he went back up north and joined Monza in Serie B. The Brianzoli's manager was first Guido Mazzetti (1-13) and then Alfredo Magni (14-34) and they finished 15th. Ambu played 29 league games with 6 goals (Triestina, Varese, Perugia, Campobasso x2, Cagliari). His teammates included former Lazio, Marco Saltarelli and Lorenzo Marronaro.
In 1984-85 he stayed with the Lombard Biancorossi. The manager was Magni and the "Bagai" finished 9th. Ambu played 32 league games with 8 goals (Sambenedettese x2, Taranto, Pescara x2, Cesena, Cagliari, Varese).
The 1985-86 would be his last with Monza. It ended in relegation to C1, first under Magni and then, from early January, former Lazio Paolo Carosi. Ambu played 29 league games with 3 goals (Cagliari, Cesena, Ascoli). He played alongside a very young Pierluigi Casiraghi playing for his hometown club.
In 1986 he joined Genoa in Serie B. The "Grifone" had Attilio Perotti as manager and finished 6th. Ambu played 20 league games with 4 goals (Pisa, Parma, Lazio, Bari). In the Genoa squad were former Lazio Giuseppe Greco and future Lazio Sergio Domini.
In 1987-88 he stayed with the Rossoblu under former Lazio Luigi Simoni and then, from late January, Perrotti again. The "Vecchio Balordo" (The Old Fool) finished 14th and Ambu played 18 league games with 2 goals (Sambenedettese, Messina) plus 5 games in Coppa Italia. One of his teammates was Lazio legend Gabriele Podavini, plus Andrea Agostinelli, towards the end of his career.
Ambu's last club was Frosinone, near Rome. The "Canarini" (The Canaries) were in C1 but were relegated under managers Alberto Mari and then Enzo Robotti. The following year the "Ciocari" finished 3rd in C2 under Rosario Rivellino but then went bankrupt. In 1990-91 they played at regional level and Ambu was captain. In his three years at Frosinone, Ambu played 71 league games with 12 goals.
Ambu then retired just short of his 33rd birthday.
In his youth he won 2 caps with Italy U21's with 2 goals and also played a game with the Olympic team but not at the Olympics.
He was a forward, 1.78 and 72 kilos. He was a very dynamic and quick player, often playing on the wing. This athleticism and constant movement possibly limited his goal scoring, although at Ascoli in particular he scored regularly. He showed promise at Inter, winning a Scudetto in 1980. His career then did not follow at the same high level. He scored 7 goals in Serie A and 48 in Serie B.
At Lazio he won a promotion back to Serie A. He only scored 3 goals but he opened up spaces and helped Bruno Giordano become top scorer with 18 league goals.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
1982-83 | 31 (4) | 29 (3) | 2 (1) |
Sources
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