Manfredonia Sparks Late Lazio Surge Past Brescia
Game 2, Group Stage, Coppa Italia
Sunday, August 26, 1979
Stadio Mario Rigamonti, Brescia
Brescia Lazio 0-2
A moment of inspiration from Manfredonia transformed a frustrating evening into a convincing 2-0 victory as Lazio overcame Brescia to remain top of their Coppa Italia group
Today was the second official match of the season. Lazio had to play the group phase of the Coppa Italia and were paired with Matera, Brescia, Pistoiese and Udinese. In their first game they had taken Matera to the cleaners by winning 5-0.
The match
The final score suggested a comfortable success for Bob Lovati's side, but for more than an hour the Biancocelesti struggled to impose themselves against a well-organised Brescia team. Only after Lionello Manfredonia broke the deadlock with a superbly taken goal did Lazio finally discover the confidence and fluency that had been missing for much of the contest.
By the final whistle, the visitors had fully deserved their victory.
The opening half belonged largely to Brescia.
Gigi Simoni's side approached the match with intelligence and discipline, refusing to leave spaces for Renzo Garlaschelli and Bruno Giordano to exploit. Rather than attacking recklessly, the home side were content to remain compact, repeatedly launching high balls into the Lazio penalty area whenever opportunities arose.
Those deliveries frequently caused concern.
With Lazio's midfield struggling to gain control, Brescia enjoyed long spells in which they dictated the tempo. Too many Biancocelesti disappeared from the contest, leaving the defence exposed to wave after wave of pressure.
The visitors, meanwhile, looked strangely hesitant.
Instead of driving the game forward, they remained trapped between caution and ambition. The attacking players rarely received the quick service they required, while the midfield lacked both rhythm and authority.
Fernando Viola and Garlaschelli attempted to combine whenever Maurizio Montesi or Filippo Citterio managed to release them, but support from the rest of the midfield was inconsistent.
Toto López, expected to dictate play, endured a particularly quiet evening. As the match wore on, his influence steadily diminished until he became little more than a spectator in the centre of the pitch.
Fortunately for Lazio, Brescia were unable to translate their territorial superiority into clear-cut chances.
Bob Lovati's men therefore reached half-time with the score still level, a result they were probably happy to accept after such an uncertain opening forty-five minutes.
The second half initially followed the same pattern.
Brescia continued to frustrate Lazio, whose attacking moves repeatedly broke down before reaching the penalty area. It appeared increasingly likely that the contest would be decided by a single moment.
That moment arrived in the 71st minute.
When Garlaschelli won a free-kick after being fouled by Gianni De Biasi, Giordano prepared to deliver the ball into the penalty area. Before the kick was taken, however, Manfredonia began an adventurous run from midfield, repeatedly calling for the pass as he surged forward.
Giordano spotted him.
Receiving the ball inside the penalty area, Manfredonia controlled it expertly before shifting it onto his favoured left foot. Without hesitation, he drove a precise diagonal shot beyond the helpless Brescia goalkeeper and into the far corner. It was a goal of remarkable quality.
Brescia were visibly shaken. Lazio, by contrast, suddenly rediscovered the confidence that had been absent throughout the evening. Their passing became quicker, their movement sharper and their attacking play considerably more dangerous.
Seven minutes later, the victory was secured.
Viola produced an excellent defence-splitting pass into the path of Garlaschelli. As the striker prepared to receive the ball, Giordano cleverly allowed it to run through his legs with an intelligent dummy that completely deceived the Brescia defence.
Garlaschelli needed no second invitation.
Meeting the pass first time with his right foot, he struck a low volley that clipped the inside of the post before bouncing into the net.
The finish was as elegant as the move that created it.
At 2-0, the contest was effectively over.
Having spent much of the evening looking uncertain, Lazio finished the match in complete control, dominating possession and preventing Brescia from mounting any meaningful response.
The victory ensured Lazio remained level on points with Udinese at the top of the Coppa Italia group, although the Biancocelesti now possessed the superior goal difference.
Qualification, however, was not yet guaranteed.
To maintain their hopes of progressing to the next round, Bob Lovati's side would still need to defeat Pistoiese in their next group match.
Who played for Brescia
Malgioglio; De Biasi, Galparoli, Guida, Bonetti (30’ Salvi), Bagni; Salvioni, Maselli, Muttì, Venturi (76’ Zigoni), Penzo
Substitutes: Bertoni, Mendoza, Bonometti
Manager: Simoni
Who played for Lazio
Cacciatori; Pighin (60’ Tassotti), Citterio; Wilson, Manfredonia, Zucchini; Garlaschelli, Montesi, Giordano, Lopez, Viola
Manager: Lovati
Referee: Menicucci
Goals: 71’ Manfredonia, 78’ Garlaschelli
Sources
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