August 21, 1985: Lazio - Catania 1-0, Coppa Italia
- Dag Jenkins
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Well begun is half done..
Lazio start season with Fiorini winner against Catania
The season so far
Lazio's new dawn under Giorgio Chinaglia had failed and they were back in Serie B. Despite changing manager twice (Paolo Carosi to Juan Carlos Lorenzo and finally to Bob Lovati/Giancarlo Oddi) Lazio came second bottom and made the drop. Chinaglia's financial partners had never materialized and he was in huge difficulty. Turbulent times on and off the pitch.
This year the new manager was much respected Gigi Simoni. Lazio had been obliged to sell their star players; Bruno Giordano (Napoli), Lionello Manfredonia (Juventus) plus Michael Laudrup had gone (Juventus - end of 2-year loan). Also leaving were keepers Massimo Cacciatori (Gubbio) and Fernando Orsi (Arezzo), defender Renato Miele (Triestina) and midfielder Giancarlo Marini (Genoa).
Lazio had brought in some players more suitable to the new financial and sporting situation. A rare deal with Roma was made and in came goalkeeper Astutillo Malgioglio, three defenders arrived: Fabio Calcaterra (Inter-loan), Roberto Galbiati (Torino) and Giorgio Magnocavallo (Atalanta), a midfielder Domenico Caso (Torino) and two forwards, Giuliano Fiorini (Genoa) and Fabio Poli (Cagliari). The two forwards would later prove to be history changers for Lazio.
Today was the first game of the Coppa Italia. Apart from Catania the group included Monopoli, Atalanta, Taranto and Sampdoria.
Serie B would start on September 8 against Palermo at home.
Catania were in Serie B. The Rossozzurri had finished 14th the previous season under manager, and former Lazio player, Antonio Renna (1964-66). The top scorer was Pedinho with 7 league goals. The squad included one former Lazio player, goalkeeper Dario Marigo (1980-82).
This season the manager was Gennaro Rambone. The main new signings were; defenders Nazareno Canuti (Milan), Marco De Simone (Napoli), Claudio Onofri (Genoa) and Silvio Picci (Torino), midfielders Piero Braglia (Triestina) and Pietro Puzone (Napoli-on loan) plus forward Roberto Mandressi (Cavese).
Leaving were; defender Pier Giuseppe Mosti (Foggia) and Roberto Pidone (Foggia), midfielders Franco Ermini (Arezzo), Maurizio Giovanelli (Ascoli) and Ennio Mastalli (Foggia) plus forward Guglielmo Coppola (Padova-end of loan).
The Etnei would start their Serie B campaign at home against Brescia.
The match: Wednesday, August 21, 1985, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A hot evening kick-off at the Olimpico had a decent 25,000 in attendance.
Lazio had no real injury problems. The only player unavailable was Francesco Dell'Anno.
Catania were without goalkeeper Dario Marigo, defenders Adriano Polenta, Nazzareno Canuti and Maurizio Longobardo.
Lazio started well and took the lead early on. Mimmo Caso floated a free kick into the area where Giuliano Fiorini out jumped Nicola Garzieri and hit a lovely header past Marco Onorati, 1-0.
In the 10th minute Gigi Simoni was forced to make a first change as Claudio Vinazzani could not continue after a knock on the ribs. The chosen replacement was Francesco Fonte.
Lazio continued to play at a fast pace and in the 17th minute Oliviero Garlini was applauded for his bicycle kick which Onorati blocked at the second attempt.
In the 20th minute Fiorini burst into the area but this time Garzieri did well and put the ball behind for a corner.
In the 27th minute a Caso free kick shaved the crossbar and in the 37th Giorgio Magnocavallo picked up a short defensive clearance but his shot was just wide. Halftime Lazio 1 Catania 0, with the Romans well on top.
For the second half the visitors took off their two Brazilians, Pedrinho and Luvanor and put on Maurizio Lubbia and forward Roberto Mandressi. Lazio changed defender Daniele Filisetti for Fabio Calcaterra.
Lazio sat back more after the interval but Catania had great difficulty in creating any threats for Astutillo Malgioglio.
In fact it was Lazio who had more chances with Caso twice and Fiorini.
In the 73rd minute however the Sicilians had a big opportunity to draw level. Pietro Puzone put something between a shot and cross into the box and Malgioglio looked completely in control but then let the ball through his legs, fortunately Calcaterra was well positioned and cleared before Mandressi could pounce.
That was the Etnei's big chance and from then on Lazio controlled the game without any particular worries.
There were two more substitutions with five minutes to go, one each, for Lazio Alessandro Toti replaced a positive Fabio Poli while Catania threw on Pietro Garaffa for Puzone. Final score: Lazio 1 Catania 0.
A winning debut for Lazio. A promising performance by the Biancocelesti with standout games by Caso, Poli and match-winner Fiorini (despite an ankle problem and little physical preparation).
Next up for Lazio were Serie A side Atalanta away on August 25.
Who played for Lazio
Malgioglio, Podavini, Calisti, Galbiati, Filisetti (46' Calcaterra), Magnocavallo, Poli (86' Toti), Vinazzani (11' Fonte), Fiorini, Caso, Garlini
Manager: Simoni
Who played for Catania
Onorati, De Simone, Garzieri, Picone, Pedrinho (46' Lubbia), Maggiora, Luvanor (46' Mandressi), Pellegrini, Puzone (85' Garaffa), Braglia, Picci
Substitutes: Pino, Frazzetto
Manager: Rambone
Referee: Leni
Goal: 6' Fiorini
What happened next
Lazio had an awful season on and off the pitch and the two were obviously connected. Giorgio Chinaglia was forced to leave and returned to the states in December. In February Franco Chimenti became president and it was a turbulent season with late or unpaid wages amid confusion and uncertainty.
Poor Gigi Simoni did the best he could but Lazio finished 11th, after even risking relegation at one point (a 3-2 away win at Catanzaro in the penultimate game finally blew away all worries). One positive note was Oliviero Garlini who despite Lazio's poor season was top Serie B scorer with 18 goals.
In the Coppa Italia then drew 2-2 with Atalanta and also drew with Taranto and Serie A Sampdoria both 0-0 and then beat Monopoli 2-0 but were eliminated on goal difference.
As bad as things seemed they got worse. The following season's 1986-87 promotion dream was already shattered in the late summer. Lazio player Claudio Vinazzani was accused of being involved in the "Totonero- bis" match fixing scandal.
On August 6 Lazio were sentenced to relegation to Serie C. The owners, the Calleri brothers, risked giving up and leaving while 8,000 fans caused urban warfare under the Football Federation headquarters. The players, already in pre-season training in Gubbio, decided to stay on for now, awaiting the final CAF verdict (the appeal).
On August 26 the appeal court changed the verdict to a lighter nine-point docking in the following season's Serie B. It was still a harsh sentence with two points per victory and especially considering the scant evidence against Lazio, but it meant survival and some hope for the future. So here started the epic -9 season..
Catania finished 11th. After 14 fixtures Rambone was sacked and in came Salvatore Bianchetti but he only lasted five games and then Antonio Colomban took over. The Sicilians beat Lazio 2-1 at home but lost 0-1 in Rome. The top scorer was Carlo Borghi with 10 league goals.
In Coppa Italia the "Elefanti" then drew 2 (Sampdoria 0-0 and Atalanta 1-1 at home) and lost 2 (Monopoli and Taranto both 1-2 away).
Catania were back in Serie A from 2006 to 2014 but are now in Serie C.
Let's talk about Lazio Jersey 1985-86
Image source: Football Kit Archive
The technical sponsor was Ennerre while the main sponsor was Castor for the second year running.
The home shirt was classic light blue with a white collar. There was a small stylized eagle on the heart. The shorts and socks were white and there was also a thin white stripe at the end of the sleeves.
The away shirt was the same design but white.
The goalkeeper wore a dark green shirt with a black collar and long black sleeves. A curious fact is that although the keepers shirts were officially Ennerre they were in reality made by German manufacturer Uhlsport (soon to become a leading world brand).
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