June 9, 1976: Lazio Inter 1-0, Coppa Italia
- Dag Jenkins
- 6 days ago
- 7 min read
Re Cecconi is king
A goal by "Cecco" defeats Inter and keeps Lazio's cup hopes alive
Also on this day:
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had failed to defend their title but had finished an honourable 4th. More disappointing, was not being able to represent Italy in the European Cup, due to a one-year ban after the previous year's Lazio vs Ipswich incidents (pitch invasion, brawls etc). Another problem was Tommaso Maestrelli's health which caused him to miss the last five games, replaced of course by Bob Lovati.
There had not been many new signings to the squad this year. The main entries were defender Paolo Ammoniaci (Cesena) and midfielder Antonio "Totò" Lopez (Pescara). Sadly, some Scudetto winners and fan favourites were leaving; Mario Frustalupi "The Wolf Thrasher" (Cesena), local lad Giancarlo Oddi (Cesena), Franco "Bombardino” Nanni (Bologna) and Paolo Franzoni (Avellino).
This season Lazio had started with Giulio Corsini on the bench. Corsini had problems with the "old guard" and especially Giorgio Chinaglia, so the climate was not ideal. Things in the league had not gone great and after 7 matches Lazio had lost 3, drawn 3 (including Roma 1-1) and won only 1 (first game away to Sampdoria with a goal by Bruno Giordano on his debut). Things however did not improve and Lazio continued to struggle. They were in the relegation battle for the remainder of the season. In April Chinaglia definitely left and joined New York Cosmos. A 4-0 win home win against Milan and a 2-2 away draw at Como ultimately clinched Lazio their agonised objective. Top scorer was Giorgio Chinaglia with 11 goals (8 in A).
In Coppa Italia, Lazio had qualified for the second group stage to be played in May/June. The Biancocelesti had won two (Varese 1-0 and Avellino 2-0, at home) and drawn two (Ascoli and Brescia both 0-0 away).
In the UEFA Cup Lazio had got through the first round beating Černomorec (Ukraine) 3-1 on aggregate. Then someone at Lazio had obviously been missing during history lessons and in the round of 64 Lazio refused to play against Barcelona in protest against the Franco regime. Lazio were punished by UEFA with a 0-3 defeat and then made to play the return leg which they lost 0-4. A shambles.
So today it was back to the Coppa Italia. It was the second match of the second-round group phase. In the first on May 19 the Biancocelesti had lost 0-3 in Verona. The fourth team in the group was Genoa.
There were two groups of four teams. The winners of each group would play in the final in Rome on June 29.
This season Inter had finished 4th in Serie A under Giuseppe Chiapella. The Nerazzurri had won 14 (including Lazio 1-0 at home), drawn 9 (including Lazio 1-1 away) and lost 7. Top scorer was Roberto Boninsegna with 10 league goals.
In Coppa Italia Inter had qualified to this second phase by winning all four of their matches (Ternana 2-0 and Taranto 1-0 away and Juventus 1-0 and Sambenedettese 3-0 at home).
In the first game in this second round the Nerazzurri had beaten Genoa 1-0 at home.
An early summer cup game which Lazio could not afford to lose if they wanted to be in the final on June 29 (also a holiday in Rome as it is San Pietro e Paolo, the Patron Saints).
The match: Wednesday, June 9, 1976, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A crowd of almost 50,000 turned up for this Wednesday evening game.
Lazio had to do without Gigi Martini who was suspended after being sent off at Verona. Inter were missing goalkeeper Lido Vieri and defender Mario Giubertoni.
At the start Inter looked more organised while Lazio responded with a grittier approach.
The first chances were for the visitors when in the 5th minute Gabriele Oriali shaved the post, then imitated by Roberto Boninsegna on a free kick in the 11th minute.
Lazio were lively with Bruno Giordano and Vincenzo D'Amico up front but without creating any clear opportunities. For Inter Sandro Mazzola confirmed to be in a different class.
Inter knocked at Lazio's door again in the 22nd minute when "Bonimba" Boninsegna went close after being set up by Giuseppe Pavone.
A minute later Lazio had a potential chance but Renzo Garlaschelli was beaten to the ball by a brave, low dive by Ivano Bordon.
The game was lively and physical but not dirty.
In the 29th minute Lazio had a huge chance but Luigi Polentes fired over the bar from a good position. In the 35th minute D'Amico went solo but hit the side netting, the fans applauded his effort enthusiastically.
Lazio had gained control of the midfield and attacked with more consistency while Inter relied more on the counter attack. Halftime came without any goals, 0-0.
In the second half the game was less flowing and became scrappier. It was Lazio however who kept pushing forward and in the 61st minute went in front. D'Amico took a freekick from near the by-line, the ball ricocheted off Pietro Ghedin and Giacinto Facchetti and spun across to Luciano Re Cecconi who cleverly lobbed Bordon to give Lazio the lead, 1-0.
Inter's reaction was feeble, so in the 70th minute the Nerazzurri replaced forward Giacomo Libera with Franco Cerilli. The Milanese threw themselves into attack especially in the last ten minutes but always messed up the last pass or lacked lucidity in front of goal. Their attacks were also repelled by superb defending by Pino Wilson.
Lazio held on and conquered a precious win. The Biancocelesti were back in the running for the final. The table read; Verona 4, Lazio 2, Inter 2, Genoa 0.
On a personal note this was my first game at the Olimpico. 100% record so far…
Who played for Lazio
Pulici, Ammoniaci, Ghedin, Wilson, Polentes, Badiani, Garlaschelli, Re Cecconi, Giordano, D'Amico, Lopez
Manager: Maestrelli
Who played for Inter
Bordon, Oriali, Fedele, Bertini, Gasparini, Facchetti, Pavone, Marini, Boninsegna, Mazzola, Libera (70' Cerilli)
Substitutes: Busi, Canuti, Acanfora, Roselli
Manager: Chiappella
Referee: Panzino
Goal: 61' Re Cecconi
What happened next
Lazio then won 3-0 in Genoa, drew 0-0 at home to Verona, lost 2-3 away to Inter and finally beat Genoa 1-0 at home. This meant they finished on 7 points, one behind Verona and Inter. The Gialloblu won the group, on goal difference. A Coppa Italia final would have to wait (until 1998…).
Inter then beat Verona 3-1 at home, Genoa 3-1 away, Lazio 3-2 at home but finally lost the decisive away game to Verona 0-2.
The other group was won by Napoli ahead of Fiorentina, Milan and Sampdoria.
In the final the Partenopei beat Verona 4-0 with four goals in the last fifteen minutes.
Let's talk about Sandro Mazzola
Alessandro Mazzola, known as Sandro, was born in Turin, on November 8, 1942. He is the son of the great Valentino, one of the best players in Italian history. His father died in the Superga tragedy in 1949 when the plane carrying the Grande Torino team crashed on the way back from a friendly in Lisbon.
Sandro started playing football for Inter at 15 and would remain faithful to the Nerazzurri for his whole career. He joined the youth set up in 1957 and made his first team debut in 1960.
He stayed for seventeen seasons, playing 570 games (417 in A) and scoring 163 goals (116 in A). He won 4 league titles (1963, 1965, 1966 and 1971), 2 European Cups (1964 and 1965) and 2 Intercontinental Cups (1964, 1965).
His managers were Helenio Herrera (1960-68), Alfredo Foni (1968-69), Heriberto Herrera (1969-70), Giovanni Invernizzi (from game 6, 1970 to game 23, 1973), Enrico Masiero (from game 24, 1973), Helenio Herrera again (game 1-16, 1973-74), Enrico Masiero (from game 17, 1973-74), Luis Suarez (1974-75) and Giuseppe Chiappella (1975-77).
He was top Serie A scorer in 1964-65. Mazzola scored two goals in the 1964 European Cup final, won 3-1 against Real Madrid and was top scorer of the competition with 7 goals. He also scored three goals in the two victorious Intercontinental games (1 against Independiente in '64 and 2 against the same opposition in '65).
He played 70 times for Italy and scored 22 goals. He took part in three World Cups and a European Championship. In Mexico 1970 he won a World Cup silver medal while he won gold in the 1968 European Championship. In Mexico 1970 he was often alternated with another exceptional talent of the time Gianni Rivera, this caused some controversy in Italy between those who preferred one and those who thought both should play together.
Mazzola retired in 1977. He then worked for Inter as an advisor from 1977 to 1984. He then had a spell at Genoa before returning to Inter as sporting director when Massimo Moratti bought the club. Between 2000 and 2003 he was a director at Torino (his father's old club). He then worked in television as a pundit in football programmes and as a technical commentator for Italy matches (as for Italy's World Cup triumph in 2006).
Mazzola was a fantastic player. He started off as a midfielder but under Helenio Herrera became more of a forward. Later in his career however went back to being more of a midfielder. He was an incredibly versatile player, he could do everything well. He was strong physically, scored goals, set up fellow forwards, was good in the air, could defend and had a strong character giving him leadership qualities. Some of his more famous skills were his "serpentine" (darting, weaving runs).
He is an absolute legend at Inter, up there with the likes of Giacinto Facchetti and Javier Zanetti. As mentioned he won the Scudetto four times, the European Cup twice and the Intercontinental Cup twice. At individual level he came 2nd in the "ballon d'or" of 1971 (behind Johan Cruijff) and was among the candidates nine times.
In a Lazio connection his brother Ferruccio played for the Biancocelesti between 1968 and 1971 and then again between 1972 and 1974, playing 86 league games but mainly in his first spell. He died in 2013 while Sandro is still with us.
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