January 9, 1983: Lazio-Arezzo 2-0
- Dag Jenkins
- 17 hours ago
- 10 min read
Back on track
After two draws Lazio win and stay top on their 83rd anniversary
The season so far
Lazio in their third consecutive year in Serie B, after the betting scandal and relegation of 1979-80, had renewed ambitions this year. The previous season had been a depressingly mediocre 11th place but with the return of striker Bruno Giordano and midfielder Lionello Manfredonia (after the world Cup win armistice) they could finally see some light at the end of the tunnel.
The main players who had joined Lazio were goalkeeper Fernando Orsi (Parma), defenders Renato Miele (Catania), Gabriele Podavini (Brescia) and Marco Saltarelli (Lodigiani), midfielders Enrico Vella (Catania) and Roberto Tavola (Juventus- on loan) plus forward Claudio Ambu (Perugia).
Players to leave were the scudetto legends of 1974, keeper Felice Pulici and attacking winger Renzo Garlaschelli plus defenders Giorgio Mastropasqua (Catania), Dario Pighin (Taranto), midfielders Alberto Bigon (Vicenza), Dario Sanguin (Perugia), Fernando Viola (Genoa) and forwards Lorenzo Marronaro (Monza) and Walter Speggiorin (Massese).
This reshuffling of the squad plus the return of clearly superior level players such as Giordano and Manfredonia, added to the talent of fan favourite Vincenzo D'Amico, gave the whole Lazio environment renewed enthusiasm and optimism.
Roberto Clagluna, who had taken over from Ilario Castagner half way through the previous season, had been confirmed.
The season started in August-September in the Coppa Italia and Lazio were eliminated after 2 wins (Perugia 3-2 at home and Salernitana 3-2 away), 1 draw (Atalanta 0-0 at home) and 2 defeats (Avellino 1-2 away and Napoli 1-2 at home).
In the league Lazio got off to a slow start (3 draws) but then started winning games (6 consecutive between 7th and 13th fixtures). Lazio had then drawn the big match against Milan 2-2 at home (D'Amico 90th minute equaliser) and drawn with Atalanta 1-1 away. Lazio were currently top of the table on 24 points, one ahead of Milan but it was time to get a win again.
Arezzo were newly promoted. The previous season the Amaranto had won the Serie C group B and won promotion under manager Antonio Angelillo. The top scorer was Tullio Gritti with 16 league goals.
This season the Argentine Angelillo was still in charge. The main new signings were defenders Massimo Arrighi (Varese), midfielder Giuliano Belluzzi (Ternana), Angelo Castronaro (SPAL), Massimo Rise (Taranto) plus forwards Giovanni Sartori (Cavese) and Pasquale Sartori (Rimini).
Leaving Arezzo were goalkeeper Gastone Giacinti (Montevarchi), defender Marino Lombardo (Pro Gorizia), midfielder Massimo Tassara (Rondinella) plus forwards Tullio Gritti (Brescia), Guido Carboni (Benevento) and Mauro Vittiglio (Perugia - end of loan).
The Tuscans were doing reasonably well so far in Serie B. Il Cavallino had won 7, drawn 5 and lost 4. They were currently 6th on 19 points, just one behind the third promotion slot (Catania and Cremonese on 20).
In Coppa Italia however they were out. The Amaranto had won 2 (Catanzaro 1-0 and Paganese 3-0 at home) and lost 3 (Cesena 0-2, Sambenedettese 0-1 and Cremonese 0-1 away).
Therefore, looking at the table this was a big match at the Olimpico. Lazio wanted to return to winning ways after three consecutive draws and consolidate their leadership. It was also January 9 so a special day for the club, 83 years old today.
The match: Sunday, January 9, 1983, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A sunny day in Rome attracted just under 35,000 to the Olimpico. Just before kick-off Vincenzo D'Amico was given an award for his 200th appearance in a Lazio jersey.
Lazio had to play without full-back Gabriele Podavini while Arezzo were missing midfielders Stefano Butti and Angelo Castronaro.
Lazio had the first chance but from a D'Amico corner Renato Miele just missed with a header.
Arezzo answered with a Domenico Neri right footed effort just over the crossbar.
Lazio then had shots by Enrico Vella and Bruno Giordano go wide.
In the 15th minute Giordano weaved his way into the area and was fouled by Fabrizio Innocenti. The referee trusted the defender's surname more than his challenge and waved to play on.
In the 29th minute Pasquale Traini set up by Adriano Malisan hit a low strike, but Fernando Orsi was safe.
In the 35th minute D'Amico and Giordano combined in a fine flying move but ultimately the striker was unable to finish it off. The fans applauded the quality of the build up anyway.
Lazio pushed on but the half came to an end goalless. The Biancocelesti were on top but not dominant.
Lazio broke the deadlock in the 55th minute. The Romans had a freekick at the edge of the area, Giordano took it and hit the post, but the referee decided it had to be taken again. For this second attempt D'Amico took over and placed a wonderful, curling strike in the top hand corner to Giuseppe Pellicanò's right, 1-0.
In the 68th minute the visitors made a change, bringing on midfielder Salvatore Barbieri for defender Emilio Doveri. Two minutes later Roberto Clagluna strangely took off a positive Roberto Tavola and replaced him with Michele De Nadai.
Lazio controlled the game without too much difficulty even if Orsi had to make a couple of saves on Trani.
In the 77th minute the Aquilotti again appealed for a penalty. D'Amico sent a through ball to Giordano who entered the area and was pulled down by Giuseppe Zandonà. A clear penalty but not for the only man who could decide as he strutted off as if nothing had happened.
Arezzo then had a penalty appeal of their own when Trani was sandwiched by two defenders near the byline but the referee continued his no penalty policy.
Fortunately, Lazio doubled their lead anyway. In the 87th minute on a counterattack D'Amico teed up Vella in the area and the moustached Genovese midfielder beat Pellicanò, 2-0.
The game was virtually over. Lazio then replaced Roberto Badiani with a purer defender Paolo Pochesci. Not that Lazio had anything to worry about at this point. Final score Lazio 2 Arezzo 0.
A routine win for Lazio although Arezzo had their chances. The Biancocelesti had not been brilliant, but the higher quality of their players had made the difference. Vincenzo D'Amico in particular had been excellent.
Lazio were top on 26 points, now two ahead of Milan who had drawn 1-1 at Lecce. Lazio had also increased their lead on 3rd place to five points (Catania, Cremonese and Como on 21).
Arezzo were now 7th on 19 points, overtaken by Como on 20.
Who played for Lazio
Orsi, Badiani (87' Pochesci), Saltarelli, Vella, Miele, Perrone, Ambu, Manfredonia, Giordano, D'Amico, Tavola (70' De Nadai)
Substitutes: Moscatelli, Montesi, Chiodi
Manager: Clagluna
Who played for Arezzo
Pellicanò, Doveri (68' Barbieri), Zanin, Mangoni, Innocenti, Zandonà, Belluzzi, Neri, Traini, Malisan, Frigerio
Substitutes: Reali, Arrighi, Sartori, Botteghi
Manager: Angelillo
Referee: Pezzella
Goals: 55' D'Amico, 87' Vella
What happened next
Things seemed to be under control; Lazio drew the next two games and at the halfway point were league leaders a point ahead of Milan and with a five-point cushion on 4th place.
In the return fixtures however, Lazio started to struggle. From January 30 to May 8th, Lazio only won twice (Cremonese, Bari), with 8 draws and 4 defeats (Campobasso, Monza, Pistoiese, Varese). After the 3-3 home draw against Reggiana on May 8, Clagluna was sacked and in came former player Giancarlo "El Gaucho" Morrone.
His first match was a 1-5 away defeat to Milan. To make things worse Roma the same day won the Scudetto and the town was painted red and yellow.
Then luckily Lazio picked up and in a crucial game beat Atalanta 2-1 at home, drew 0-0 at Arezzo and then won the fundamental promotion clash against Catania 2-1 at home. All that was needed then was a point away at Cava de' Tirreni.
Lazio got the point. A week later they drew 2-2 against Cavese (Miele, Marini). They had a scare when Cavese equalised with a penalty four minutes from time but luckily the “Metelliani Blufoncé” did not go on to spoil Lazio's party.
After three difficult years in Serie B Lazio were back in the big time. The Biancocelesti side of town took to the streets of Rome to celebrate and gathered at Piazza del Popolo. It was not a Scudetto, but it almost felt like it. The top scorer was Bruno Giordano with 21 goals (18 in league).
It had not been an easy ride and Lazio's second part of the season was not as positive as the first, but they had enough talent to get them over the line and win promotion with a 2nd place finish on 46 points, behind Milan but one point more than a trio on 45.
Despite Roma's triumph things were looking up especially with the confirmed return of "Long John" Chinaglia from the States as new president, but that's another story.
Arezzo finished 12th, on 36 points with Perugia and Campobasso. In the remaining games the Amaranto won 3, drew 11 (including Lazio 0-0 and Milan 2-2 at home) and lost 7. The top scorer was Pasquale Traini with 8 league goals.
Lazio went up with league winners Milan and Catania (after a three-team playoff with Cremonese and Como). Emilia and Puglia mourned the relegations of Bologna, Reggiana, Foggia and Bari.
Let's talk about Antonio Angelillo
Antonio Valentín Angelillo was born in Buenos Aires, on September 5, 1937.
As a boy he played for Arsenal de Llavallol. In 1955 he joined Racing Club de Avellaneda. He played 9 games for La Academia and scored 3 goals.
In 1956 he signed for Boca Juniors. He played a total of 36 games with 19 goals for the La Azul y Oro before leaving for Europe.
In 1957 he joined Inter where he stayed four seasons. He played a total of 129 games and scored 77 goals (68 in A). In 1958-59 he was top Serie A scorer with 33 goals. Inter finished 11th, 3rd, 4th and 3rd. His managers were former Lazio Jesse Carver, former Lazio Giuseppe Bigogno, Frank Pedersen, Aldo Campatelli, Camillo Achilli and Helenio Herrera. In his last season Angelillo's performances deteriorated and the manager Herrera accused him of enjoying the "dolce vita" too much, at the time he was seeing a well-known ballerina called Attilia Tironi (stage name - Ilya Lopez) and was then sold.
In 1961 he joined Roma and stayed four positive seasons. In the capital he began to play more as a playmaker in midfield in a total of 152 games and with 41 goals (27 in A). Roma finished 5th twice, 12th and 9th. In 1961 the Giallorossi won the Fairs Cup and in 1964 the Coppa Italia. The managers were Luis Carniglia, Alfredo Foni, Luis Miró and Juan Carlos Lorenzo (Foni and Lorenzo two former Lazio connections).
In 1965 he returned to Milan and joined A.C Milan. He was not welcomed well by the fans who saw him as an Interista. He only played 21 games (11 in A) and scored 3 goals. The Rossoneri finished 7th, first under Nils Liedholm and then Giovanni Catozzo.
In 1966-67 he played for Lecco in A for a season. He played 25 games (22 in A) with 1 goal. The Blucelesti came 17th and were relegated, under Angelo Piccioli. He played alongside future Lazio, Sergio Clerici.
In the summer of 1967, he went with Napoli on a tour of South America in the hope of being signed by the Partenopei. His average performances and the injury to his main sponsor Omar Sivori meant the Neapolitans made other choices.
In 1967-68 he accepted to return to A.C Milan as a reserve and only played 9 games (3 in A) with 1 goal. The Rossoneri won the Scudetto under Nereo Rocco.
In 1968-69 he played for Genoa for a year in Serie B. He played 24 games (22 in B) with 5 goals. The Rossoblu finished 6th. The managers were Aldo Campatelli and Maurizio Bruno who alternated with two spells each.
His last club were amateurs Angelana (Assisi-Umbria), for two seasons 1969-71. He was player-manager. He made 19 appearances with 3 goals. In 1970-71 they won their league (Prima Categoria).
He then retired as a player but continued as a manager. His clubs were: Montevarchi (1971-72, D, 1st and promoted), Chieti (1972-73, C, 6th), Campobasso (1973-1974, D, 2nd), Rimini (1974-75, C, 2nd), Brescia (1975-77, B, 5th and 16th-sacked after 21 games), Reggina (1977-78, C, 3rd-sacked during season), Pescara (1978-80, B 3rd and promoted, in A sacked after 5 games), Arezzo (1981-84, C, 1st and promoted, B, 11th and 5th), Avellino (1984-85, A, 11th), Palermo (1985-1986, B, 16th but sacked during season), Mantova (1986-87 C1, took over after 20 games, 15th and relegated), Arezzo (1987-1988, B, took over after 21 games, 20th and relegated), FAR Rabat (1988-90, one league title in 1988-'89), Morocco national team (1889-90), Torres (1990-1991, C1, took over during season, 15th and relegated) and finally Osorno in Chile in 1994.
He then worked as a talent scout for Inter. One of his positive intuitions was bringing Javier Zanetti to the Nerazzurri. The Argentine defender would go on to become an absolute legend at the club.
To summarise, his best results were: promotion to C with Montevarchi, promotion to A with Pescara, promotion to B with Arezzo, 11th place in A with Avellino and a league title in Morocco.
As a player he was a forward who could also play in midfield. He was a prolific striker, especially in his Inter days. He is still top Inter scorer for single season with his 38 total goals in 1958-59 (a record he shares with Giuseppe Meazza)
At international level he played for both Argentina and Italy. For La Albiceleste he played 11 games with 11 goals and won the Copa America in 1957 in Peru (he scored 8 goals). From 1960 as an "oriundo" (his grandfather was from Basilicata) he was eligible to play for Italy (also because he could not return to Argentina for twenty years for allegedly having avoided his military service). He won 2 caps for Italy, playing a friendly against Austria and a 1962 world cup qualifier against Israel in which he scored a goal in a 6-0 win.
He remained in Italy after retiring from football and settled in Arezzo. He died on January 5 2018, in hospital in nearby Siena.
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