Game 11, Serie A
Sunday, December 2, 1984
Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa
Sampdoria Lazio 2-2
Two-nil down, the Biancocelesti snatch a miraculous draw with two goals in five minutes
The season started in August with the Coppa Italia. Lazio had not done too badly and were almost through to the second stage. The last game was against Roma. A point each would have meant that they would both go through. But a ridiculous penalty given to Roma and an Antonio Di Carlo goal gave Roma the win. Lazio could still have got to the round of 16 anyway on goal difference. Genoa had to beat Pistoiese 5-0 to overtake Lazio and unfortunately this is exactly what happened with three goals in the last 8 minutes. The Biancocelesti were out and President Giorgio Chinaglia was furious. His temper did not improve after Lazio lost the first Serie A game against Fiorentina and most certainly not after losing 5-0 against Zico’s Udinese. He blamed manager Paolo Carosi for being too soft with the players and sacked him. Juan Carlos Lorenzo was called in his place.
Juan Carlos Lorenzo had been Lazio manager when Chinaglia joined in the 60's and he was very fond of him. However, Lorenzo was past his prime, as far as managerial style was concerned. The beginning was comforting, a draw against Diego Maradona’s Napoli and Roma, a couple of wins, maybe Chinaglia was right after all. Lazio were 13th, one point clear of the relegation zone.
The match
The game was immediately uphill for Lazio. In the 3rd minute Trevor Francis crossed from the left for Alessandro Scanziani who stopped the ball and shot from an impossible angle. Fernando Orsi parried, the ball went up in the air and after a header arrived perfectly to Roberto Mancini who beat the Lazio goalkeeper for Sampdoria’s lead.
The Biancocelesti reacted and had a couple of shots by Bruno Giordano and Vincenzo D’Amico saved by Ivano Bordon. But in the 19th minute it was 2-0. Mancini tried a shot from outside the box on the right, Orsi saved, but Fausto Salsano headed the ball in.
Sampdoria were dominating. Mancini missed an easy chance and in the 36th minute Orsi saved a Francis shot and did so again shortly after. Lionello Manfredonia then had to save a goal on the line too following a Mancini attempt.
In the second half, Doria stopped playing and allowed the Biancocelesti to move forward. Lorenzo made two decisive substitutions. Massimo Storgato took Daniele Filisetti’s place and Francesco Dell’Anno came on for D’Amico. Not a good game from Lazio’s former golden boy. The Biancocelesti found more stability on the pitch and Gabriele Podavini and twice Michael Laudrup had chances to reduce the deficit.
In the 78th minute Lazio scored. Freekick for the Biancocelesti, Giordano crossed into the box, Podavini headed towards the centre, Laudrup volleyed towards the goal and Calisti managed to head the ball in.
Samp fell further back and Lazio equalised. In the 83rd minute long ball from Fortunato Torrisi for Joao Batista on the right, Pietro Vierchowod was unable to stop the Brazilian who beat Bordon with a clinical shot.
A great and unexpected point for the Biancocelesti.
Who played for Sampdoria
Bordon, M. Mannini, L. Pellegrini, F. Pari, Vierchowod, Renica, Scanziani, Souness, Francis, Salsano, R. Mancini (75' Vialli)
Substitutes: Bocchino, Galia, Casagrande, Beccalossi
Manager: Bersellini.
Who played for Lazio
Orsi, Vianello, Podavini, Calisti, Batista, Filisetti (46’ Storgato), D’Amico (63’ Dell’Anno), Torrisi, Giordano, Laudrup, Manfredonia
Substitutes: Cacciatori, Marini, Garlini
Manager: Lorenzo
Referee: Lanese
Goals: 3’ Mancini, 19’ Salsano, 78’ Calisti, 83’ Batista
Sources
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