February 28, 1982: Foggia Lazio 0-1
- Simon Basten
- 14 hours ago
- 9 min read
First victory for Clagluna
A Vagheggi goal in the second half lifts Lazio out of trouble
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had gone agonisingly close to an immediate promotion to Serie A. A missed penalty in the penultimate match had condemned the Biancocelesti to another year of Serie B.
Lazio had changed ownership and Gian Casoni was the new president. There was not a lot of money so the club was forced to sell a few of their best players, Filippo Citterio and Giuseppe Greco. The transfer window saw the return of scudetto heroes Felice Pulici and Vincenzo D’Amico plus Roberto Badiani. Also signed were Walter Speggiorin, Vincenzo Chiarenza and Claudio Vagheggi. There was a surprise deal with Roma which saw Michele De Nadai and Carlo Perrone swap sides of the Tiber. Manager Ilario Castagner had been confirmed.
Lazio had ambition but the team was not helped by the internal dualism between Luciano Moggi, who had been confirmed as sporting director, and Antonio Sbardella, newly appointed general director. The players were under constant pressure and that did not help either.
Lazio, after having been immediately eliminated in Coppa Italia, had not played well. Lazio were very inconsistent in the first half of the season but after 18 games they were just a couple of points off the promotion zone. But in the next game Lazio crumbled against Palermo and Castagner was sacked. He was replaced by the head coach of the Primavera team Renato Clagluna, his first experience with an A team.
The defeat the previous week in the home game against Rimini had put the Biancocelesti in 10th place, five points away from promotion. A long way off.
The match: Sunday, February 28, 1982, Stadio Pino Zaccheria, Foggia
Lazio secured their first victory under Roberto Clagluna’s management, temporarily pushing away the deep crisis that had already led some to speak of a relegation battle for a team that had begun the season aiming to return to the top division in their second Serie B campaign.
A goal by Claudio Vagheggi in the 55th minute not only delivered the win against a tenacious, hard-fighting — and at times unfortunate — Foggia side, but also confirmed what the Lazio coach had said on the eve of the match: “I especially trust Viola and Vagheggi.” It is fair to say that both were among the best on the pitch. Vagheggi scored his 11th and match-winning goal, rewarding some of his coach’s tactical choices — including leaving Vincenzo D’Amico on the bench and bringing him on only two minutes from time, more to run down the clock than to make a real contribution.
Defensively, Lazio relied mainly on Dario Pighin and Paolo Pochesci, but Arcadio Spinozzi and Vincenzo Chiarenza also played authoritatively, along with goalkeeper Felice Pulici, who prevented what could have been goals on more than one occasion. In midfield, Roberto Badiani, Stefano Ferretti, Michele De Nadai and Alberto Bigon were reliable (the latter a former Foggia player, just as on the opposite side there was goalkeeper Aldo Nardin, who had little luck with Lazio last season). De Nadai’s return was positive, and Nando Viola’s work was commendable.
The match report speaks of good chances for Lazio, but also of Foggia initiatives, especially in the first half as they pushed hard for a goal. Antonio Rocca tried in the 14th minute (saved by Pulici). Then in the 19th minute Antonio Bordon missed from an easy position, and in the 27th minute he again forced Pulici into a difficult save. In the 29th minute Giuliano Musiello headed over the crossbar, and in the 39th Rocca’s shot was saved. In the 41st another header from Musiello was parried away.
In the second half, having come through the opening period unscathed, Lazio faced their opponents with greater determination and in the 55th minute reaped the rewards of that pressure. De Nadai delivered a cross, and in the centre of the penalty area Vagheggi was ready to strike on the volley and score. Ten minutes later Vagheggi had a good chance to double the lead, and in the 67th minute Viola forced Nardin into a difficult save.
The home side threw caution to the wind to try and equalise but their efforts were not enough. De Nadai tried to give them a hand after having argued with the referee who in reply showed him the red card in the 89th minute but the Biancocelesti held strong and brought home the two points.
Who played for Foggia
Nardin, Di Giovanni, Bianco, Conca, Stimpfl (63' Pozzato), Stanzione, Frigerio, A.Rocca, Musiello, Sciannimanico (75' Scalingi), A.Bordon
Substitutes: Bacio, D.Rossi, Petruzzelli
Manager: Veneranda (Nocera was on the bench)
Who played for Lazio
Pulici, Spinozzi, Chiarenza, Pochesci, Pighin, Badiani, Vagheggi (88' D'Amico), Bigon, Ferretti, De Nadai, Viola
Substitutes: Marigo, Benini, Sanguin, Speggiorin
Manager: Clagluna
Referee: Ballarin
Goal: 55’ Vagheggi
What happened next
In the next 13 games Lazio managed to win just two. With two games left to the end of the season, Lazio were only three points clear of relegation. Varese, on the other hand, had had a splendid season and were just one point away from promotion. A very difficult match for Lazio.
The Biancocelesti went 2-0 down but then D’Amico came to the rescue and scored a hat trick to avoid any possible danger of relegation.
In conclusion, a dismal season for Lazio who had started the campionato with high hopes. Chiarenza was the player with most appearances (41) and D’Amico with the most goals (10), with two hat-tricks.
What happened in Serie B 1981-82
The previous season had seen Milan, Genoa and Cesena be promoted to Serie A with Lazio missing out due to a missed penalty in the penultimate match when the Biancocelesti, Genoa and Cesena were tied.
This year the favourites for promotion were obviously Lazio and Sampdoria who had just missed out in 1980-81 plus Brescia, Perugia and Pistoiese who had been relegated from Serie A. But pundits also mentioned Pisa, Verona, Varese, Cavese and Sambenedettese as possible outsiders.
September
Just to demonstrate some pundits' theories, Cavese and Varese went ahead after the first three games, but it was very early. Incredible false start from Lazio who lost two and were last. To note an unusual 5-1 in Pisa-Catania.
Cavese 5, Varese 5, Perugia 4, Pisa 4, Lecce 4, Spal 4, Bari 4, Sambenedettese 3, Sampdoria 3, Verona 3, Palermo 3, Pistoiese 3, Rimini 3, Foggia 2, Reggiana 2, Brescia 2, Pescara 2, Catania 2, Lazio 1, Cremonese 1
October
Varese went top alone in October, despite losing against Sampdoria, as Lazio finally managed to win a few games and place themselves mid-table only to fall again in Perugia.
Varese 11, Sambenedettese 9, Cavese 9, Pistoiese 9, Catania 9, Pisa 8, Palermo 8, Perugia 8, Verona 8, Lazio 7, Spal 7, Rimini 7, Lecce 7, Reggiana 6, Sampdoria 5, Bari 5, Brescia 5, Cremonese 5, Foggia 4, Pescara 3
November
Very tight in the top places but Varese continued to lead despite losing in Palermo in the last fixture of the month. Lazio moved up but there were a lot of teams in just a few points.
Varese 16, Verona 15, Catania 15, Sampdoria 14, Pisa 13, Lazio 13, Lecce 13, Cavese 13, Sambenedettese 12, Palermo 12, Perugia 12, Rimini 12, Pistoiese 12, Reggiana 11, Spal 11, Foggia 11, Bari 9, Brescia 9, Cremonese 9, Pescara 8
December
Verona had caught up with Varese only to fall at Pistoia in the next game so the leaders now had a two-point lead. To demonstrate how tight the table was, Lazio were one point from the promotion zone and three from relegation. Anything could still happen
Varese 20, Verona 18, Pisa 17, Palermo 17, Catania 17, Lazio 16, Perugia 16, Sampdoria 16, Pistoiese 16, Cavese 16, Reggiana 15, Lecce 15, Foggia 15, Bari 14, Cremonese 14, Spal 14, Sambenedettese 13, Rimini 13, Brescia 10, Pescara 8
January
A few draws too many for Varese, including a home one against Lazio, and the opponents crept up. However it seemed Verona were no longer the main peril, substituted by Pisa. After losing 3-0 at home with Palermo, Ilario Castagner was sacked as Biancoceleste manager and replaced by Roberto Clagluna. There were ten points between first place and second from last. Pescara had more than a foot in Serie C.
Varese 25, Pisa 24, Catania 23, Perugia 21, Palermo 21, Verona 21, Sampdoria 21, Cavese 21, Bari 20, Lazio 20, Foggia 19, Pistoiese 19, Sambenedettese 18, Rimini 17, Spal 17, Lecce 17, Reggiana 16, Cremonese 16, Brescia 15, Pescara 9
February
Not much of a change at the top, still all very close. Pisa had joined Varese for most of the month but had drawn in the 23rd fixture with Bari so were one point behind the leaders.
Varese 30, Pisa 29, Bari 27, Verona 27, Sampdoria 27, Catania 27, Palermo 26, Perugia 26, Cavese 25, Lazio 24, Sambenedettese 22, Foggia 22, Pistoiese 22, Lecce 21, Cremonese 20, Reggiana 19, Spal 19, Rimini 19, Brescia 17, Pescara 11
March
Varese lost at Verona in the 24th fixture and Pisa joined them at the top only to regain the solitary lead 90 minutes later when they beat Sampdoria and Pisa were stopped at Foggia. In the next game it was Varese’s turn to be blocked in Apulia, so both Pisa and Verona took advantage by joining them at the top. Eugenio Fascetti’s team then lost at home to Cavese and the other two drew so were the new front runners.
Pisa 34, Verona 34, Varese 33, Sampdoria 32, Palermo 31, Bari 31, Perugia 31, Cavese 29, Catania 29, Lazio 28, Pistoiese 27, Lecce 25, Foggia 25, Sambenedettese 24, Cremonese 23, Reggiana 23, Spal 22, Rimini 22, Brescia 21, Pescara 16
April
In the 28th fixture Verona lost at Palermo and Pisa took solitary lead only to lose it in the next game when they were beaten by Varese. After the 30th fixture Sampdoria joined the two leaders with Palermo and Bari just a point behind. Pisa and Verona then drew in their clash so Verona took the lead and the other two were joined by Bari. All very close. Below, with Pescara practically in Serie C, Cremonese, Rimini and Spal had lost touch a little .
Verona 39, Pisa 38, Bari 38, Sampdoria 38, Varese 37, Palermo 36, Perugia 34, Lazio 32, Cavese 32, Catania 32, Pistoiese 31, Sambenedettese 30, Lecce 29, Foggia 28, Reggiana 28, Brescia 28, Cremonese 25, Rimini 25, Spal 24, Pescara 16
May
In the 32nd fixture Verona lost at Rimini, Pisa beat Palermo and Sampdoria won at Bari but in the next game the top two were stopped by Lazio and Reggiana so they were all together again with Bari two points behind and Varese three but with one game in hand. The top three all drew in fixture 34 with Bari and Varese winning, but the latter lost the game at Perugia that had been previously suspended. After fixture 35, Verona and Samp were on 44 points, Pisa and Bari on 43, Varese on 42. In the next match Varese beat Bari and all the others won. Behind it was all very close with just two games left. Spal looked as if they would soon be joining Pescara in Serie C, for the other two places there were ten teams in five points.
Verona 46, Sampdoria 46, Pisa 45, Varese 44, Bari 43, Perugia 41, Palermo 40, Catania 36, Lazio 35, Sambenedettese 35, Cavese 35, Reggiana 34, Lecce 34, Pistoiese 34, Cremonese 33, Rimini 33, Foggia 32, Brescia 30, Spal 28, Pescara 16
June
In the penultimate match Verona, Pisa and Sampdoria all drew 0-0. It came down to what would happen in Lazio-Varese. After 15 minutes the visitors were 2-0 up, but Vincenzo D’Amico scored a hat-trick taking the Biancocelesti out of trouble and killing Varese’s quest for Serie A.
Below, Brescia lost at home to Cremonese and would join Spal and Pescara in Serie C. With 90 minutes left Sambenedettese, Reggiana and Lecce had 36 points, Cremonese, Pistoiese and Cavese 35, Rimini and Foggia 34.
In the last game, Rimini and Foggia won, Cremonese and Pistoiese drew, all four were now on 36 points, but Rimini had the worst head-to-head results against the other three and were relegated.
Top scorer was Gianni De Rosa (Palermo) with 19 goals.
Final table: Verona 48, Pisa 47, Sampdoria 47, Bari 45, Varese 45, Perugia 42, Palermo 42, Sambenedettese 38, Catania 38, Lazio 37, Cremonese 37, Reggiana 37, Lecce 37, Foggia 36, Cavese 36, Pistoiese 36, Rimini 36, Brescia 31, Spal 28, Pescara 17
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