Lazio qualify for the UEFA Cup

Simon Basten
May 22
3 min read

Season 1976-77

Game 30, Serie A

Sunday, May 22, 1977

Stadio Comunale, Catanzaro

Catanzaro Lazio 1-2

By beating Catanzaro, the Biancocelesti reach fifth place and qualify for next season’s UEFA Cup

Lazio had started well and beating Roma at the end of November they were third. But then they had stopped winning and finished the first half of the season in 6th place. It took them nine games to win again (4-1 vs Fiorentina).

Lazio were now in pole position to claim an incredible fifth place and UEFA Cup qualification. The table for the last European position read: Lazio and Napoli 29, Perugia 28, Genoa and Bologna 27. The last games of the season were Catanzaro-Lazio, Napoli-Fiorentina, Inter-Perugia, Torino-Genoa and Roma-Bologna. If Lazio won they would be automatically fifth since they had a better goal difference compared to Napoli (+5 for Lazio, +1 for the Neapolitans).

The match

Catanzaro were already in Serie B but were determined to leave the top tier with a win. So they put their foot down on the accelerator right from the word go, pushing for the win.

Fortunately for Lazio, Felice Pulici was on one of his days where he saved everything, even the moving air. In the 11th minute he parried a great Adriano Banelli shot, in the 15th he managed to anticipate Sauro Petrini, in the 18th he was able to get a hand on a dangerous free kick taken by Giovanni Improta and palm the ball onto the post and a minute later saved a shot by Alberto Arbitrio.

Lazio were in trouble even though they had scored in the 12th with Bruno Giordano but it was inexplicably not given due to a very dubious off side. Then Luis Vinicio made a change at midfield, freeing Roberto Badiani and Gigi Martini of defensive duties and the Biancocelesti took hold of the game. And they scored. In the 23rd minute, Ciccio Cordova crossed, Paolo Ammoniaci headed the ball towards the centre of the box, Banelli tried to kick it away but missed and Renzo Garleschelli made it 1-0.

Five minutes later they doubled their score. Freekick for the Biancocelesti, Cordova touched the ball for Vincenzo D’Amico, big whack, slight deflection from Improta and it was 2-0 for Lazio.

Catanzaro back on the attack and Pulici back into action in the 31st minute when he fisted away an Arbitrio attempt and in the 36th when with a marvellous dive he neutralised a Massimo Palanca lob.

In the second half the Calabrian Giallorossi attacked but Lazio managed to put the game to sleep slowing down the pace. In the 77th minute blatant foul on D’Amico by Luigi Boccolini but the ref ignored it. Three minutes later Improta to Petrini, Pulici saved, Pietro Rondinelli tried a shot, Pulici saved again, ball back to Rondinelli who adjusted it with his hand and crossed, Palanca with a marvellous bicycle kick reduced the deficit.

But that was the last episode of an entertaining match and Lazio qualified for the UEFA Cup.

Who played for Catanzaro

Novembre, Silipo, Banelli, Arbitrio, Ranieri, Maldera, Petrini S., Improta, Sperotto (46' Rondinelli), Boccolini, Palanca

Substitutes: Pellizzaro G., Pierelli

Manager: Di Marzio

Who played for Lazio

Pulici F., Ammoniaci, Martini L., Wilson, Manfredonia, Cordova, Garlaschelli, Agostinelli A., Giordano, D'Amico, Badiani (58' Ghedin)