Mission accomplished

Dag Jenkins
Sep 6, 2023
3 min read

Updated: Oct 6

Season 1980-81

Game 4, Coppa Italia Group 6

Sunday, September 7, 1980

Stadio Cino e Lillo Del Duca, Ascoli Piceno

Ascoli Lazio 0-0

With a solid and assured performance Lazio clinch necessary point to reach quarter finals

This was Lazio's fourth cup game and so far, things had gone well with three wins out of three (Pescara 2-0 away, Varese 2-1 and Verona 3-0 at home)

Lazio's league debut would be on September 14 at home to Palermo.

In the Coppa Italia so far, Ascoli had won 2 (Varese 1-0 and Verona 2-0, both away) and lost 1 (Pescara 1-2 at home).

The table read; Lazio 6, Ascoli 4, Pescara 4, Varese 1, Verona 1.

Lazio practically had two results out of three to go for today. They could even lose 0-2 and still go through.

The Ascolani's Serie A debut would be on September 14 away to Bologna.

The match

A 12,000-crowd turned up on a pleasant and sunny day.

Ascoli had all their players available while Lazio were without midfielder Dario Sanguin and forward Stefano Chiodi, the striker would not return until November. Alberto Bigon was playing but had suffered from stomach problems so was not at his best.

Ascoli decided to attack furiously right from the start as they needed a big win today. In the 5th minute Maurizio Moscatelli had to save a Fortunato Torrisi header.

Lazio however soon settled, absorbed the early pressure and tried to hit the Bianconeri on the break.

In the 23rd minute Renzo Garlaschelli weaved his way past two defenders and shot but his effort was just wide with Felice Pulici beaten.

Lazio went even closer when they hit the woodwork. Giuseppe Greco sent Filippo Citterio down the left wing, the full-back cut inside and with Pulici coming out hit a low shot which looked destined for the back of the net but bounced back off the post.

Ascoli continued to attack but Lazio defended well, and the hosts never arrived in shooting positions. Halftime 0-0 and Lazio in no trouble whatsoever.

For the second half the home side took off defender Francesco Scorsa and brought on midfielder Carlo Trevisanello. For at least fifteen minutes Lazio were finally made to suffer as Ascoli were more threatening.

In the 58th minute Trevisanello was in a good scoring position but hesitated and was anticipated by Moscatelli and in the 59th minute a blistering shot by Adelio Moro went just over the bar.

Lazio realised they had to change something and replaced Greco with a defender, Pietro Ghedin. Meanwhile the “marchigiani” took off former glory Pietro Anastasi and put on another forward, Hubert Pirchner.

Lazio settled and the game returned to be similar to the first 45 minutes. Ascoli attacked but found no openings and Lazio were dangerous on the counterattack.

In the 70th minute Pulici had to save a Garlaschelli effort with his foot. In the 74th a Bigon header shaved the post. In the 78th Pulici had to rush off his line to block a good Garlaschelli-Bigon combination and in the 81st minute a powerful Nando Viola freekick whistled past the post.

In this period Ascoli created nothing, but the last chance of the game was theirs in the 83rd minute when Gian Franco Bellotto went close to scoring with a header. Full time Ascoli 0 Lazio 0.

Mission accomplished for Lazio who had not had to sweat to clinch the point and if anything should have won. The most important thing however was that the Biancocelesti won their group and were through to the quarter finals.

Next up were Bologna home and away in March. For now, it was time to concentrate on getting back to Serie A.

Who played for Ascoli

Pulici, Anzivino, Boldini, Perico, Gasparini, Scorsa (46' Trevisanello), Torrisi, Moro, Anastasi (60' Pircher), Scanziani, Bellotto

Substitutes: Muraro, Mancini, Paolucci

Manager: G.B. Fabbri

Who played for Lazio

Moscatelli, Spinozzi, Citterio, Perrone, Pochesci, Mastropasqua, Viola, Manzoni, Garlaschelli, Bigon, Greco (60' Ghedin)