Lazio give all but Empoli take point
Lazio attack for most of match but unable to break down defensive Tuscans
IIAlso on this day: June 1 1930, Lazio Torino 1-0. Lazio, with more to play for, defeat a relaxed Toro with a Ziroli goal. Player of the day: Alfredo Foni
The season so far
Lazio's new dawn under Giorgio Chinaglia had failed and they were back in Serie B. Despite changing manager twice (Paolo Carosi to Juan Carlos Lorenzo and finally to Bob Lovati/Giancarlo Oddi) Lazio came second bottom and made the drop. Chinaglia's financial partners had never materialized and he had been forced to leave. From February this year the new president was Franco Chimenti. Turbulent times on and off the pitch.
This year the new manager was much respected Gigi Simoni. Lazio had been obliged to sell their star players: Bruno Giordano (Napoli), Lionello Manfredonia (Juventus) and Michael Laudrup (Juventus - end of 2-year loan). Also leaving were keepers Massimo Cacciatori (Gubbio) and Fernando Orsi (Arezzo), defender Renato Miele (Triestina), midfielder Giancarlo Marini (Genoa) plus Brazilian Joāo Batista had left in the autumn session (Avellino).
Lazio had brought in some players more suitable to the new financial and sporting situation. A rare deal with Roma was made and in came goalkeeper Astutillo Malgioglio, three defenders arrived: Fabio Calcaterra (Inter-loan), Roberto Galbiati (Torino) and Giorgio Magnocavallo (Atalanta), a midfielder Domenico Caso (Torino) and two forwards, Giuliano Fiorini (Genoa) and Fabio Poli (Cagliari). The two forwards would later prove to be history changers for Lazio.
The season had started with the Coppa Italia in August. Lazio had been eliminated despite 2 wins (Catania 1-0 and Monopoli 2-0 at home) and 3 draws (Atalanta 2-2, Sampdoria 0-0 at home and Taranto 0-0 away).
In the league, after a decent start (4 wins, a draw and a defeat in the first 6 games), things had not gone well. The team had suffered from the uncertainty at club level and were risking relegation. The Biancocelesti were currently joint 13th with Cagliari, Palermo and Perugia on 31 points but only one point from the drop zone, Sambenedettese on 30. Lazio had not won a match since March 29 and in total had won 9, drawn 13 and lost 13. A team built with promotion ambitions was in serious trouble. The keeper Astutillo Malgioglio had been excluded from the squad in March for spitting on his Lazio jersey after being heckled by some fans in a home defeat to Vicenza. All in all, things were not going well…. The only positive was the prolificacy of striker Oliviero Garlini, on 17 league goals so far.
Empoli had finished 8th the previous season, under manager Vincenzo Guerino. The Azzurri had drawn too many games, 21, to fight for promotion. Top scorer was Gianfranco Cinello with 11 goals (10 in B).
This season the manager was Gaetano Salvemini. The main new players were defenders Silvio Gori (Pisa-on loan), Roberto Miggiano (Lecce-on loan), Natale Picano (Ternana), midfielder Corrado Urbano (Foggia) plus forwards Luca Cecconi (Fiorentina) and Loriano Cipriani (Lecce).
Leaving were keeper Michele Pintauro (Palermo), midfielders Enrico Piccioni (Catanzaro), Francesco Radio (Ternana, after 194 league games) plus forwards Francesco Boito (Campobasso) and Gianfranco Cinello (Triestina).
Empoli had two other players of interest in their squad: Claudio Vertova (Lazio 1990-92) and future top manager Walter Mazzarri (Napoli, Inter and Torino amongst others).
Empoli were doing well this season. They were currently 4th, on 40 points, four from 3rd placed Vicenza. The Empolesi had won 11 (including Lazio 2-0), drawn 18 and lost 6
In Coppa Italia they had qualified for the quarter finals played recently in May against Fiorentina. In the group stage Empoli had played Ancona 5-0, Cesena 1-1 and Brescia 1-2, away and Inter 1-1 and Avellino 1-1, at home. In the round of 16 the Tuscans had surprisingly beaten Milan 2-1 on aggregate. Next up was a derby with the Viola but despite one win, they went out 3-5 on aggregate.
A difficult game for Lazio against an ambitious, young, fast and enthusiastic opposition. Lazio however could not afford to lose.
The match: Sunday, June 1, 1986, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A warm and humid day attracted about 20,000 to the Olimpico for this fourth bottom against fourth top clash.
Lazio were without defenders Ernesto Calisti and Roberto Galbiati, midfielders Francesco Dell'Anno and Claudio Vinazzani plus forward Giuliano Fiorini.
Empoli had only one absence, defender Claudio Vertova.
Lazio needed a win and played with Fabio Poli, Oliviero Garlini and veteran Oscar Damiani up front.
Empoli too in theory had to play for the two points but the Tuscans approach soon made it clear they would be satisfied with one.
Lazio attacked from the start whole Empoli sat back deep. For all the Biancocelesti's endeavour they did not create much until the half hour. Domenico Caso had a close-range effort punched away by Drago but the man from Eboli could have done better.
Lazio attacked head down but lacked the necessary lucidity finishing or on the last pass to transform their pressure into goals. Their top striker Garlini was also having an off day. Giulio Drago then saved again on a Gabriele Podavini shot.
Just before halftime however, the Eagles had a huge chance but were denied again by Drago. In the 44th minute Podavini again fired a close-range strike that the Empoli keeper brilliantly put into corner with a spectacular and acrobatic save. Half time Lazio 0 Empoli 0.
Lazio on top so far and would deserve to be in front of Empoli who were over cautious but defending well.
For the second half the Azzurri changed forwards and took off Loriano Cipriani and put on Adelino Zennaro.
The game continued in similar fashion to the first 45 minutes. Lazio going forward but in an increasingly confused and desperate way.
In the 66th minute Vincenzo D'Amico replaced a subdued Fabio Poli who going off threw his jersey to the ground in anger.
A major change in the script came in 68th minute, the Empolesi actually had a shot at goal. Following a misunderstanding between Massimo Piscedda and Fabio Calcaterra, Luca Cecconi had a crack but his shot hit the crossbar.
Then it was all Lazio again who tried a final forcing. In the 75th minute hit the outside of the post. The Biancocelesti tried throwing on a more offensive midfielder Fortunato Torrisi for Giorgio Magnocavallo.
Lazio attacked until the end but with tiring legs and minds were unable to get the breakthrough against Empoli's organised defensive set up. Final score Lazio 0 Empoli 0.
Not Lazio's worse performance and they deserved more than a draw. A point was not brilliant but not a disaster either, against promotion hopefuls.
The situation however was still critical. The new table read: Monza 25 (relegated), Catanzaro 30, Sambenedettese 31, Lazio 32, Palermo 32, Perugia 32, Pescara 32, Cagliari 33, Catania 33, Arezzo 34, Campobasso 34. With 4 relegations and 2 games to go it was no moment for the faint hearted and next up Catanzaro-Lazio…
Empoli meanwhile were still four points behind Vicenza and had been caught up by Triestina (who had fortunately for Lazio beaten Catanzaro 3-2) in joint 4th place. They had lacked ambition and settled for a draw.
The Lazio fans did everything they could to get behind the team, singing the Aida chant non stop for over an hour. Very moving.
Who played for Lazio
Ielpo, Podavini, Calcaterra, Fonte, Piscedda, Magnocavallo (75' Torrisi), Poli (66' D'Amico), Corti, Damiani, Caso, Garlini
Substitutes: Carlini, Perna, Toti
Manager: Simoni
Who played for Empoli
Drago, Miggiano, Gelain, Della Scala, Picano, Salvadori, Cecconi, Urbano, Della Monica, Casaroli, Cipriani (46' Zennaro, 83' Calonaci)
Manager: Salvemini
Referee: Casarin
What happened next
The following week Lazio faced a dramatic away game at Catanzaro where a defeat could probably spell relegation. Fortunately, the Biancocelesti won 3-2 and then beat already promoted Brescia 4-2 to end up 11th. A deceiving position considering just how close Lazio had been to the drop. Top scorer was Oliviero Garlini with 18 league goals.
A disappointing season with the mitigating circumstances of the chaos at club level including late or unpaid wages and unfulfilled promises.
Lazio then started planning for their next promotion push but those ambitions were shattered in the summer when they were docked nine points for one of their player's (Claudio Vinazzani) alleged involvement in the Totonero- bis match fixing scandal. Thus started the paradoxically wonderful -9 season but that's another story.
Empoli on the other hand ended up promoted. They won the next two matches (Cagliari 2-0 at home and Cesena 1-0 away) and finished 4th. Then, however, they were upgraded to third (due to Vicenza's involvement in the Totonero- bis scandal) and went up to Serie A for the first time in their 66-year history. Top scorer was Luca Cecconi with 17 goals (7 in B).
The other clubs going up were champions Ascoli and Brescia. Leaving the purgatory for even worse things were Monza, Catanzaro, Perugia and Palermo (the Rosanero for bankruptcy instead of Pescara).
Lazio 1985-86
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie B | 38 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 38 |
Coppa Italia | 5 | 2 | 3 | - | 5 |
Total | 43 | 13 | 17 | 13 | 43 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
Garlini | 43 | 38 | 5 |
Podavini | 39 | 34 | 5 |
Calcaterra | 37 | 33 | 4 |
Galbiati | 35 | 30 | 5 |
Vinazzani | 35 | 30 | 5 |
Top goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
Garlini | 18 | 18 | - |
Caso | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Fiorini | 5 | 3 | 2 |
Podavini | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Let’s talk about Giuseppe Corti
Giuseppe Corti was born in Bergamo on February 3, 1957.
He started his football in the Milan academy. In 1975-76 he joined the top squad but never made his debut.
In 1976 he joined Udinese in Serie C. The Zebrette narrowly missed out on promotion finishing 2nd. The manager was Livio Fongaro and Corti played 16 league games.
In 1977-78 he spent a season with Pergocrema (Crema-Lombardy) in Serie C. The "Cannibali" finished 13th under Giorgio Veneri and the following year would have to play in the new C2. Corti played 32 league games and scored 7 goals.
In 1978 he joined Monza in Serie B where he stayed two years. In the first the Brianzoli almost won promotion to Serie A but lost in a playoff to Pescara 0-2 in Bologna. The manager was Alfredo Magni and Corti played 24 league games plus the playoff and 3 in Coppa Italia. His teammates included future Lazio, Paolo Monelli (1987-88) and Paolo Beruatto (1987-1990)
The following season the Biancorossi finished 6th and Corti played 30 league games with 1 goal (Pistoiese). One of his teammates was future Milan and Italy player, Daniele Massaro.
In 1980 he signed for Genoa where he stayed four seasons, one in B (2nd and promoted) and 3 in A (13th, 12th and 14th relegated). Corti played 98 league games with 4 goals (Pescara, Lazio, Udinese, Cagliari) and 8 games in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Brescia). His manager was Gigi Simoni for all four seasons. His teammates included Lazio connections: Silvano Martina (1987-89), Enrico Todesco (1979-80), Stefano Di Chiara (1973-76), Giuliano Fiorini (1985-87), Fernando Viola (1976-77, 1978-82).
In 1984 he joined Arezzo in Serie B. The Amaranto had three different managers, Enzo Riccomini (1-23), Giuseppe Chiappella (24-32) and Mario Rossi (33-38), and finished 14th. Corti played 26 league games. He played alongside Lazio connections Alessandro Bertoni (1989-91) and Fabrizio Di Mauro (1993-94).
In the autumn of 1985, he joined Lazio in Serie B. Lazio had been relegated and were in financial difficulty after the Giorgio Chinaglia presidency. There was uncertainty and discontent and the team suffered. Under Gigi Simoni, Lazio risked relegation but ultimately finished 11th. Corti played 22 league games with 1 goal (Genoa).
In 1986 he moved to Parma in Serie B. He stayed one and a half seasons and the Ducali finished 7th and 8th, the first year under Arrigo Sacchi and the second Zdeněk Zeman. Corti played 11 league games and 3 in Coppa Italia. During the second season he moved back to Pergocrema in Serie C2.
In his second spell in Crema the "Canarini" finished 13th, under three different managers. Corti played 16 league games.
In 1988-89 he spent a season with Fiorenzuola (Piacenza) in Serie D finishing 4th and then three more seasons at amateur level with San Paolo d'Argon.
After retiring he became a scout. He worked with Palermo, where he had the merit of bringing a little known Edinson Cavani, and then Atalanta for six years.
In 2018 he returned to Palermo and is in charge of the scouting sector.
Corti was a defensive central midfielder. He was a physical and hard-working player. He played 34 games in Serie A and 147 in B, winning a promotion with Genoa.
At Lazio he only stayed one season and it was a bad one for the club in general. He played 22 games in a difficult year.
Lazio Career
Season | Total Serie B appearances |
1985-86 | 22 |
Sources