August 14, 1976: Pisa Lazio 0-1, Friendly
- Simon Basten
- Aug 14
- 12 min read
Still learning
Lazio beat Pisa but struggle as the players are still learning how to play under Vinicio
Also on this day:
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth. Needing at least a draw in the last match of the season at Como, the Biancocelesti fell behind 2-0 after just 15 minutes. But then two goals, by Bruno Giordano and Roberto Badiani, gave them the vital point.
Lazio had started with Giulio Corsini as manager but following problems with the team, and Giorgio Chinaglia in particular, he was sacked and replaced by Tommaso Maestrelli. The maestro had been diagnosed with cancer in 1975, but apparently a new treatment had cured him and he was able to go back to his job. He however got worse towards the end of the season so President Umberto Lenzini was forced to make a change. Maestrelli stayed on as technical director.
Brazilian Luis Vinicio was chosen. Vinicio had been manager at Napoli and he was the first in Italy to play the Dutch "Zona" (new deal) style of football, thus breaking away from the traditional man to man marking. Especially from his second year, with the arrival of defender Tarcisio Burgnich, Vinicio played the "total football" way. A revolution in Italy.
Lenzini, Maestrelli and Vinicio decided to avoid risks and to choose players that could adapt to the new style of play. In came second goalkeeper Claudio Garella (Novara), defender Dario Pighin (Palermo) and forward Renzo Rossi (Como). Also returning was midfielder Fernando Viola from his loan to Cagliari.
Lazio also scored a coup and signed the Roma captain Ciccio Cordova. Cordova in 1972 became Roma captain and was one of the more popular players, but he was linked to the past president Alvaro Marchini (he had married Marchini’s daughter Simona) and never got on with the new one, Gaetano Anzalone. After a disappointing 1975-76 season, Anzalone decided to get rid of the old players and start from scratch with a new, younger and more motivated team. Cordova was up for sale after 285 games for the Giallorossi in nine years. Anzalone sold him to Verona without saying anything to the player during the negotiations. Ciccio, heartbroken, felt betrayed by the club he supported and broke his contract with Rome thus becoming a free agent.
Nobody was interested in signing him and he risked having to quit football at 32. He really wanted to stay in Rome, so when Lazio knocked at his door, he took the opportunity and signed for the Biancocelesti. With this move he continued to play football, in the city he loved, and could be a thorn in Anzalone’s side. Perfect. Lazio had been looking for a playmaker ever since they disastrously sold Mario Frustalupi and Cordova was their ideal player. Not everybody at Lazio was happy, especially Luciano Re Cecconi, but the fans accepted him immediately.
Lazio were in their pre-season training period at Pievelago near Modena were they would stay until August 23. They had already played a couple of friendlies, today was the third against Pisa who were in Serie C.
The match: Saturday, August 14, 1976, Arena Garibaldi, Pisa
In the first half, Lazio struggled to build play with any fluidity. The players tried to find their positioning and rhythm, but this affected both speed and efficiency. A few rare initiatives came from Renzo Garlaschelli, well supported by Luciano Re Cecconi, and from a run by Vincenzo D’Amico, who managed to get past two opponents with skilful dummies and send a precise cross into the box, which Bruno Giordano headed just over the crossbar.
After several counterattacks by Pisa where Felice Pulici saved two dangerous shots by Claudio Di Prete and Marco Ghilardi, in the 19th minute Lazio finally tested the Pisa goalkeeper: D’Amico weaved past a couple of opponents and, upon reaching the edge of the box, tried his luck with his left foot. However, a deflection by Agostino Schiaretta slowed down and softened the shot, making it an easy save for Pietro Tomei.
There were some flashes of good play from Re Cecconi and Pino Wilson, as well as some runs down the wings, particularly from Paolo Ammoniaci’s crosses, though they were almost always off target. Attempting to build an organized attack was difficult, not least because of the tight marking by Pisa’s defenders. Lazio seemed split into two parts, with too much space between defence and attack, leaving the forwards rather isolated. They struggled more than usual to take the initiative, partly because of Pisa’s energy and liveliness. However, the Tuscan side were often stopped by Lazio’s offside traps.
In the 43rd minute, a good move by Nando Viola, who crossed at mid-height, found three Lazio players — Garlaschelli, D’Amico, and Giordano — one after the other but all unprepared to deliver the decisive blow, and the chance went begging. After a rather poor first half — not only for the lack of goals but also for the quality of midfield play — the defence barely earned a passing grade, and the forwards were still searching for a concrete and effective approach. In short, very little was seen apart from individual initiative, while the team play as a whole was a worry for coach Luis Vinicio.
In the second half, both teams made several substitutions: Vinicio brought on Claudio Garella, Lionello Manfredonia, Toto Lopez, and Renzo Rossi in place of Pulici, Luigi Polentes, D’Amico, and Garlaschelli. Lazio appeared to move with more organization and, within four minutes, won three corner kicks. On the second one, Re Cecconi, running in, headed the ball towards goal, but Tomei, with an astonishing reflex, managed to tip it out for another corner. In the 55th minute, a Lopez–Viola–Roberto Badiani combination ended with a fine diagonal shot by the latter, which Tomei again managed to push out for a corner. In the 59th minute, a move down the left flank by Manfredonia and Pietro Ghedin set up Re Cecconi, who crossed perfectly for the incoming Wilson, whose shot grazed the crossbar. In the 61st minute, Re Cecconi sent a long pass to Ghedin, who crossed into the centre for Giordano, but Tomei’s quick exit obstacled the Lazio striker. Giordano, unable to shoot, passed the ball to Garlaschelli, who was in turn anticipated by Francesco Gabrielli.
In the 63rd minute, Andrea Agostinelli replaced Re Cecconi and, in the 66th minute, nearly scored the breakthrough goal: he outran his direct marker and, from the edge of the box, unleashed a powerful shot that Tomei miraculously deflected with one hand before a teammate cleared it away. Lazio were now playing with more cohesion but still could not find the net, despite Wilson and Rossi forcing Tomei into two more difficult saves. Meanwhile, Pisa tried to counterattack, though these attempts were often nullified by offside calls. The game grew rougher, partly due to the poor officiating of referee Pieri.
In the 82nd minute a goal finally came, Viola produced a beautiful solo run, dribbling past three opponents and unleashing a powerful diagonal shot that struck the post. Giordano, quick to react, calmly slotted the rebound into the empty net. Pisa then pressed Lazio’s defence with furious attacks, including a header from Roberto Tosetti and a powerful long-range strike from Renato Colusso, both of which severely tested Garella. After these two missed chances, the game stagnated in midfield until the final whistle.
Overall, Lazio’s second-half performance was impressive, while the first half was saved only by Re Cecconi’s dynamism, Wilson’s generosity, and Viola’s hard work — the latter finally bringing some fluidity to the team’s play in the second half. Although they ultimately managed to clinch the win, Vinicio’s problems remained unresolved, and for now, he had to rely on young players — talented ones like Manfredonia and Agostinelli — to help build the team’s attacking play.
Who played for Pisa
First half: Tomei, Schiaretta, Baiardo, Baldoni, Della Bianchina, Luperini, Cini, Cappanera, Di Prete, Zunino, Ghilardi
Second half: Tomei, Gabrielli, Piccoli, Baldoni, Della Bianchina, Luperini, Tosetto, Rossi, Gabbriellini, Colusso, Vinciarelli
Manager: Landoni
Who played for Lazio
First half: Pulici, Ammoniaci, Ghedin, Wilson, Polentes, Viola, Garlaschelli, Re Cecconi, Giordano, D’Amico, Badiani
Second half: Garella, Ammoniaci, Ghedin, Wilson, Manfredonia, Viola, Rossi, Re Cecconi (63’ Agostinelli), Giordano, Lopez, Badiani
Manager: Vinicio
Referee: Pieri
Goal: 82’ Giordano
What happened next
In the first six games the Biancocelesti did well and were fourth. Vinicio had introduced a few young players to the squad: Bruno Giordano, who had played well the previous year in Serie A both with and in place of Giorgio Chinaglia, Lionello Manfredonia and Andrea Agostinelli.
But then two tragedies struck. On December 4 Maestrelli died. The Biancoceleste derby win was the last present his boys were able to give him. Furthermore, on January 18 Luciano Re Cecconi was shot by a jeweller as he walked into his shop. He was only 28 years of age.
Despite all this the season was a great one on the pitch and Lazio surprised everybody by arriving fifth and qualifying for the UEFA Cup. A young team with experienced players too, a good cocktail that worked well.
Three players had the most appearances this season: Badiani, Cordova and Pulici (34). The top scorer was Giordano with 13 goals overall.
What happened in Serie A 1976-77
The previous season had seen Torino win the scudetto ahead of Juventus and Milan. After the first 15 games, the Bianconeri had a three-point lead over the Granata which increased to 5 with ten games left. But then three consecutive losses including the derby had allowed Torino to move ahead and they then kept the lead until the end.
In the summer transfer window Juve signed Romeo Benetti, Roberto Boninsegna and Antonio Cabrini in order to try and overtake Torino who stayed as they were. The Bianconeri also changed manager, choosing young Giovanni Trapattoni. Inter signed Pietro Anastasi, Milan Fabio Capello and new manager Giuseppe Marchioro who was introducing the zonal defensive setup.
September
In the European Cup, Torino eliminated Malmo FF 3-2 on aggregate and in the Cup Winners Cup Napoli had the better of Bodo/Glimt 3-0. In the UEFA Cup, Milan eliminated Dinamo Bucuresti (2-1 on aggregate) and Juventus also went through winning 2-1 against Manchester City. Inter and Cesena were eliminated by Budapest Honved (2-1) and Magdeburg (4-3).
In Coppa Italia, Milan, Juventus, Inter, Spal, Lecce, Bologna and Vicenza qualified for the second group stage where they would be joined by Napoli who won the trophy the previous season.
October
The Turin based teams won their first four games and were already leading followed by Napoli who beat Milan.
In the European Cup Torino lost at home to Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-1. It would be very tough to go through. In the Cup Winners Cup Napoli drew away to APOEL. In the first leg of the second round of the UEFA Cup, Milan lost away with Akademik Sofia 4-3 and Juventus lost against Manchester United 1-0.
Torino 8, Juventus 8, Napoli 7, Perugia 6, Lazio 5, Roma 4, Inter 4, Milan 4, Verona 4, Fiorentina 3, Catanzaro 3, Foggia 2, Sampdoria 2, Bologna 2, Genoa 1, Cesena 1
November
Juventus continued their winning streak and took advantage of Torino drawing at Perugia to take the solitary lead. The Milan derby ended in a draw and the Rome one saw Lazio prevail and take third place.
Torino were unable to overturn the result against Borussia Mönchengladbach in the return match of the second round of the European Cup. They drew 0-0. Napoli qualified for the quarter finals of the Cup Winners Cup by beating APOEL at home 2-0. Both Milan and Juventus qualified for the third round of the UEFA Cup by beating Akademik Sofia 2-0 and Manchester United 3-0. In the first leg of the third round, Milan crumbled against Athletic Bilbao 4-1 while Juve beat Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0.
Juventus 14, Torino 13, Lazio 10, Napoli 9, Perugia 7, Roma 7, Fiorentina 7, Inter 7, Milan 6, Verona 6, Bologna 6, Foggia 5, Catanzaro 5, Sampdoria 5, Genoa 3, Cesena 2
December
Torino won the derby and went back into the lead which increased by another point after the 9th fixture as the Bianconeri drew at home with Fiorentina and the Granata won at Catanzaro.
On December 2, Tommaso Maestrelli died, a sad day for football.
Milan went close to overturning the result of the first leg of the UEFA Cup but won 3-1 against Athletic Bilbao and were eliminated. Juventus went through to the quarter finals despite losing 1-0 against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Torino 19, Juventus 17, Napoli 13, Lazio 12, Inter 12, Fiorentina 11, Perugia 11, Roma 9, Verona 9, Milan 8, Sampdoria 8, Foggia 8, Genoa 7, Bologna 7, Catanzaro 7, Cesena 2
January
Another tragedy hit Lazio as Luciano Re Cecconi died when he was shot by a jeweller who had not recognised him and feeling threatened had opened fire. He was only 28. The double blow was tough on the Biancocelesti who started to fall behind.
In the meantime, the leading duo continued in their quest for the title. Juventus by winning in Naples joined their cousins, held by Lazio in a spectacular 3-3 draw, at the top. They then took a solitary lead when they beat Inter at home and Torino drew against Milan. But a loss against Roma allowed Torino, who beat Foggia, to return to the previous month’s status quo.
At the bottom Foggia, Bologna and Cesena were in deep trouble.
Torino 24, Juventus 23, Inter 17, Napoli 17, Fiorentina 16, Lazio 15, Roma 14, Perugia 14, Verona 14, Genoa 13, Milan 12, Sampdoria 11, Catanzaro 11, Foggia 8, Bologna 8, Cesena 7
February
The lead was swapped continuously during the month as Torino also lost against Roma and drew at Genoa while Juve won all of their games with the exception of a draw against the Ligurian Rossoblu. As a consequence the Bianconeri were back in the lead. In the fight to avoid Serie B, Foggia and Bologna caught up with Sampdoria and Catanzaro.
Juventus 30, Torino 29, Inter 23, Fiorentina 21, Napoli 20, Perugia 18, Roma 18, Verona 18, Lazio 17, Genoa 16, Milan 16, Foggia 13, Sampdoria 13, Catanzaro 13, Bologna 13, Cesena 10
March
In the 21st fixture Torino caught up only to lose the lead again the week after. The Milan derby ended in a draw and Roma beat Lazio. Down below Catanzaro fell back a little bit and Cesena were unable to leave the bottom of the table.
Napoli qualified for the semi-finals of the Cup Winners Cup by eliminating Slask Wroclaw 2-0 on aggregate. Juventus did the same in the UEFA Cup eliminating Magdeburg 4-1 on aggregate.
Juventus 37, Torino 36, Inter 26, Napoli 25, Fiorentina 25, Roma 23, Genoa 22, Perugia 22, Verona 21, Lazio 20, Milan 19, Foggia 17, Sampdoria 16, Bologna 16, Catanzaro 14, Cesena 13
April
Torino won all of their games but Juventus drew the last match of the month at Perugia and the duo were level again. The battle to avoid relegation now included Milan while Cesena could already be considered in Serie B.
Napoli missed out on the final of the Cup Winners Cup. In the first leg they won 1-0 but lost 2-0 in the second against Anderlecht. Juventus qualified for the UEFA Cup final by winning both legs against AEK Athens. They would face Athletic Bilbao in the final.
Torino 43, Juventus 43, Inter 31, Napoli 29, Fiorentina 28, Perugia 26, Lazio 25, Roma 25, Genoa 24, Verona 24, Milan 22, Foggia 22, Bologna 22, Sampdoria 20, Catanzaro 19, Cesena 13
May
Lazio stopped Torino and Juventus beat Napoli so the Bianconeri were back ahead. The Bianconeri won the remaining matches and the scudetto was theirs. It was not enough for Torino to earn more points than the previous season, only lose one game and have the best defence.
The battle for the UEFA Cup qualification was tough with many teams involved. With two games to go, Inter had secured their place and Fiorentina needed just one point. For the other places the table read Napoli 29, Lazio 27, Perugia, Foggia, Roma and Verona 26, Genoa and Bologna 25. Lazio won the last two matches, the others did not, so it was the Biancocelesti to secure their place. Napoli were given a one-point docking for the continuous problems created by their fans during the entire season.
With three games to the end Milan were third from bottom and in trouble. But they beat Catanzaro and Bologna won against Sampdoria who then lost their last game at home with Juve and thus joined Catanzaro and Cesena in Serie B. They would be replaced for the next season by Vicenza, Atalanta and Pescara.
Juventus completed the double by winning the UEFA Cup against Athletic Bilbao. In the first leg at home they won 1-0 and then lost 2-1 in Bilbao so the win came thanks to the away goal rule.
Juventus 51, Torino 50, Fiorentina 35, Inter 33, Lazio 31, Perugia 29, Napoli 28*, Roma 28, Verona 28, Milan 27, Genoa 27, Bologna 27, Foggia 26, Sampdoria 24, Catanzaro 21, Cesena 14* one point docking
June and July
Milan and Inter qualified for the final of the Coppa Italia winning their semi-final groups. In the final at San Siro in July, the Rossoneri beat the Nerazzurri in the derby 2-0, their fourth win in the competition.
As a consequence, Juventus would be playing the European Cup, Milan the Cup Winners Cup, Torino, Fiorentina, Inter and Lazio the UEFA Cup.
The top scorer was Francesco Graziani (Torino) with 21 goals.
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