A good draw despite broken hearts
Lazio only a few days after Tommaso Maestrelli's death earn a point in Milan with a Giordano equaliser
Also on this day: December 5, 2021, Sampdoria Lazio 1-3. A devastating first 45-minute attacking display by Lazio put the game out of Sampdoria's reach in the first half. Player of the day: Thomas Strakosha
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had finished 13th and narrowly avoided relegation. It was a period deeply affected by the Scudetto manager Tommaso Maestrelli's battle with cancer. The season had started with Giulio Corsini as manager, but he never really fitted in and had a bad relationship with charismatic leader Giorgio Chinaglia. After seven games Maestrelli, seemingly healthier, took over again but it was a difficult season. Chinaglia left for New York Cosmos in the spring and Lazio only escaped going down on the last game of the season with a 2-2 draw at Como.
This season the manager was Brazilian Luis Vinicio who had done well with Napoli. Lazio had some promising youngsters coming through; defender Lionello Manfredonia, midfielder Andrea Agostinelli and in particular striker Bruno Giordano.
The summer transfer market had brought: keeper Claudio Garella (Novara), defender Dario Pighin (Palermo), midfielders Franco "Ciccio" Cordova (Roma!!!) and Fernando Viola (Cagliari) plus forward Renzo Rossi (Como). The main player leaving was Sergio Petrelli (Anconitana).
Serie A had not started until October 5, so this was only the 8th league game. After a 2-3 home defeat to Juventus in the opening game, Lazio had done well winning 4 (including derby 1-0, Giordano) and drawn 2. The Biancocelesti were on 10 points.
In Coppa Italia, in August and September, Lazio had won 2 (Novara 3-2 at home and Catania 3-1 away) and lost 2 (Atalanta 1-2 away and Milan 1-2 at home) and been eliminated.
So, Lazio were doing well in the league but today were full of sadness. Three days earlier legendary Scudetto manager Tommaso Maestrelli had passed away after a long fight with illness. A great manager and wonderful human being who would never be forgotten at Lazio.
Inter had finished 4th (UEFA Cup) the previous season, under Giuseppe Chiappella.
This season the Milanese (from San Donato Milanese), legendary former Fiorentina player and manager, had stayed on. The main players coming in were: young defender Giuseppe Baresi (from youth team), forwards Pietro Anastasi (Juventus), Carlo Muraro (Varese) and future Lazio, Claudio Ambu (from youth team).
Leaving Inter were defender and future Lazio, Roberto Galbiati (Pescara), midfielder Franco Cerilli (Vicenza) and above all striker Roberto "Bonimba" Boninsegna (Juventus- after 7 years and 113 league goals).
In Serie A so far, the Nerazzurri had won 2, drawn 3 (including derby 1-1 a week earlier) and lost 2. The "Biscione" (The Grass Snake) therefore had 7 points, 3 less than Lazio.
In the UEFA Cup Inter were already out, having lost to Honvéd (Hungary) 1-2 on aggregate.
In Coppa Italia, in September, Inter had passed the first round group, winning 3 (Palermo 1-0 at home, Varese 3-0 away and Pescara 1-0 at home) and drawing 1 (Fiorentina 2-2 away).
Inter had some good players: keeper Ivano Bordon, defenders Graziano Bini, Adriano Fedele, Nazzareno Canuti and the great Giacinto Facchetti, midfielders Mario Bertini, future world champions Gianpiero Marini and Gabriele Oriali plus the world class Sandro Mazzola. Also in the squad, in a future Lazio connection, was a young keeper, Silvano Martina.
Inter were slight favourites today but Lazio were above in the table and playing well. A lot would depend on how the Lazio players would cope with the recent death of their beloved Tommaso Maestrelli.
The match: Sunday, December 5, 1976, Stadio San Siro, Milan
It was a sad day in Milan, for Italian football in general but especially for Lazio. A minute's silence was observed before the game and the Lazio players were in tears, Lazio also wore black armbands in memory of the "Maestro".
Lazio were still without Vincenzo D'Amico and Luciano Re Cecconi out injured and adapted Luigi "Gigi" Martini in midfield.
Inter started positively and first hit a post with an Anastasi header and then had a Merlo long range shot tipped over the bar by Felice Pulici.
Lazio gradually got over their emotions and had a Renzo Garlaschelli effort go over the bar from an Agostinelli low cross.
Then it was Anastasi versus Pulici again as "Felix" dived brilliantly to keep out a backward header by the Inter striker on a Sandro Mazzola assist.
The last chance of the first half was for Lazio but after a good run down the left Garlaschelli's shot was absorbed by a deflection and Bordon saved comfortably. Half time Inter 0 Lazio 0.
A balanced first half but Inter forcing more difficult saves from the Lazio keeper.
In the first twenty minutes of the second half neither side managed to get the upper hand and it looked like a classic goalless draw. The only thing that happened was a substitution for Inter with Bertini replacing Claudio Merlo in the 60th minute.
Then out of the blue Inter scored. In the 66th minute. Marini won a challenge at the edge of the box and with the ball bouncing up, hammered a superb shot into the top right corner, giving Pulici no chance. Inter 1 Lazio 0.
Lazio found themselves undeservedly behind but reacted well. They seemed physically fitter than Inter and attacked with continuity. In the 75th minute the Biancocelesti threw on a proper midfielder, Toto Lopez replacing Martini.
Lazio equalised three minutes later. From just over the halfway line a clever through ball by Lionello Manfredonia was run onto by Bruno Giordano who took it forward and beat Bordon coming off his line with a perfect low diagonal shot. Inter 1 Lazio 1.
The game did not have much more to say as Inter had no more energy to push for a winner and Lazio were content with an away draw at "La Scala del Calcio". Final score Inter 1 Lazio.
A positive result for Lazio who had held their own against Inter. Pulici, Wilson, Manfredonia and Giordano had stood out but the whole team had played well.
Who played for Inter
Bordon, Canuti, Fedele, Oriali, Gasparini, Facchetti, Anastasi, Merlo (60' Bertini), Mazzola I, Marini, Muraro
Substitutes: Martina, Pavone
Manager: Chiappella
Who played for Lazio
Pulici, Pighin, Ammoniaci, Wilson, Manfredonia, Cordova, Garlaschelli, Agostinelli, Giordano, Martini (75' Lopez), Badiani
Substitutes: Garella, R.Rossi
Manager: Vinicio
Referee: Bergamo
Goals: 66' Marini, 78' Giordano
What happened next
Yet another tragedy hit Lazio on January 18, 1977. One of their star players Luciano Re Cecconi died tragically at 28. He was shot by a jeweller in a shop in north Rome. Initially it seemed it may have been a prank gone wrong and that Re Cecconi had jokingly simulated a hold up, pretending to have a gun in his coat pocket. This has since been challenged. It emerged that the jeweller just panicked, he had already shot at someone before and was on edge, while the Lazio player had done nothing suspicious at all. It did not help that the jeweller did not follow football and so did not recognize "Cecco" who had even played for the national team. The sad fact remains that Re Cecconi died at 28.
On the field Lazio had a good season and finished 5th (UEFA Cup). Lazio won 10, drew 11 and lost 9. Top scorer was Giordano with 13 goals (10 in A).
Inter finished 4th (UEFA Cup). After today's game the Nerazzurri won four in a row but then lost to Juventus. In the end they won 10, drew 13 and lost 7 (including Lazio 1-2 in Rome). Top scorer was Carlo Muraro with 10 goals (9 in A).
In the Coppa Italia Inter reached the final (eliminating Juventus, Lecce and Vicenza in second group phase) but lost to Milan 0-2 at San Siro.
The Scudetto was won by Juventus for the 17th time. Taking a break from top flight football were Sampdoria, Cesena and Catanzaro (the Calabresi would bounce straight back up again).
Lazio 1976-77
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 30 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 34 |
Coppa Italia | 4 | 2 | - | 2 | 8 |
Total | 34 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 42 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Cordova | 34 | 30 | 4 |
Badiani | 34 | 30 | 4 |
Pulici | 34 | 30 | 4 |
Ammoniaci | 33 | 29 | 4 |
Wilson | 33 | 29 | 4 |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Giordano | 13 | 10 | 3 |
Garlaschelli | 5 | 5 | - |
Rossi | 4 | 4 | - |
Martini | 3 | 3 | - |
Cordova | 3 | 2 | 1 |
D'Amico | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Let's talk about Dario Pighin
Dario Pighin was born in Majano (Udine), on February 6, 1951.
He was formed in the Udinese youth set up and in 1971 made his debut for the Friulani in Serie C. He stayed two years, under manager Luigi Comuzzi and the "Zebrette" finished 3rd and 2nd, so narrowly missing promotion. He played 49 league games for the Bianconeri.
In 1973 he moved to the opposite end of the peninsula and joined Palermo in Serie B. He stayed in Sicily for three seasons, playing 101 league games and scoring 1 goal. The Rosanero finished 7th, 5th and 11th. The managers were Corrado Viciani the first two years and then Benigno De Grandi and Antonio De Bellis the last year.
In 1974 they reached the final of Coppa Italia but were beaten by Bologna on penalties (the Rossoblu had equalised in the 90th minute with a controversial penalty).
In 1976 he joined Lazio in Serie A. The manager was Luis Vinicio and the Biancocelesti finished 5th. Pighin played 8 league games.
In 1977-78 Vinicio started but was replaced by Bob Lovati in early April. Lazio finished 10th, drawing both derbies but beating Juventus 3-0, Milan 2-0 and Inter 1-0, all at home. Pighin played 18 league games and 2 in the UEFA Cup.
In 1978-79 Lovati stayed on and Lazio finished 8th. The Biancocelesti won an epic derby, coming from behind and winning 2-1, with an 88th minute Aldo Nicoli winner. Pighin played 9 league games and 2 in Coppa Italia.
The 1979-80 season was Lazio’s "annus horribilis". First before the derby, on October 28, a nautical flare shot from the Roma end killed a Lazio fan Vincenzo Paparelli. Then in March four Lazio players were arrested, accused of match fixing and Lazio were later punished with relegation. On the field Lazio had miraculously avoided the drop but then came the harsh punishment in the courts. Pighin played 13 league games and 3 in Coppa Italia.
In 1980-81, in Serie B under Ilario Castagner, Lazio finished 4th just missing out on promotion. The turning point was a penalty miss by Roberto Chiodi in the penultimate game against Vicenza. Pighin played 17 league games and 4 in Coppa Italia.
In 1981-82 Castagner started but was replaced by Roberto Clagluna in early February. Lazio had a negative season and finished 11th. Pighin played 24 league games. This was his last year in Rome. The following season Giordano and Manfredonia returned from their suspensions and Lazio renewed the squad, to finally win promotion which they did.
Pighin instead joined Taranto in Serie C1. He played 20 league games under Lauro Toneatto and the Ionici finished 3rd.
In 1983 he joined SPAL in Serie C1. The manager was Giovanni Galeone and the Estensi from Ferrara finished 4th. Pighin played 30 league games. One of his teammates was former Lazio, Stefano Ferretti.
At 33 he retired. Since retiring he has run a trout farm and produced wine in San Daniele in Friuli. Wise man.
As a player Pighin was a classic defender, specializing in man -to-man marking. At 1.80 and 74 kilos he was a strong, rugged defender and good in the air. He played 289 professional league matches.
At Lazio he stayed six years but apart from a year in Serie B he rarely held down a regular place in the sides. He however played 106 games for the Biancocelesti (48 in A). He is sometimes confused with Pietro Ghedin who played for Lazio in the same period.
Lazio Career
Season | Total games | Serie A | Serie B | Coppa Italia | UEFA Cup | Intertoto Cup |
1976-77 | 8 | 8 | - | - | - | - |
1977-78 | 26 | 18 | - | - | 2 | 6 |
1978-79 | 11 | 9 | - | 2 | - | - |
1979-80 | 16 | 13 | - | 3 | - | - |
1980-81 | 21 | - | 17 | 4 | - | - |
1981-82 | 24 | - | 24 | - | - | - |
Total | 106 | 48 | 41 | 9 | 2 | 6 |
Sources