Wilson to the rescue

Simon Basten
Dec 10, 2023
2 min read

Season 1978-79

Game 11, Serie A

Sunday, December 10, 1978

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Bologna 1-0

The Lazio captain gives two very precious points to the Biancoceleste cause

In Serie A after ten games Lazio were tenth on ten points. Not exactly what was hoped for before the season. After a good start (draw with Juventus at home and win at Avellino), they had beaten Vicenza and Verona, drawn the derby and lost heavily against Fiorentina, Inter and Catanzaro. Time for a much-needed win.

The match

The first 45 minutes of the game precisely depicted the current situation at Lazio. A team confused, lacking that spark which could hold the whole game together, way too flamboyant in the decision making. Not the spirit needed in the current situation.

Bologna did not do much the entire game. Only in the 3rd minute did Antonio Bordon give Massimo Cacciatori some work with a shot from outside the box but otherwise the Lazio goalkeeper was fairly undisturbed. The Biancocelesti did have their chances in the first half but squandered them all. Like for example when on a Vincenzo D’Amico corner kick in the 24th minute Bruno Giordano missed the ball completely from a very favourable position, or when Aldo Nicoli was unable to make the decisive pass with the Bologna goalkeeper out of action, or when Pino Wilson in the 42nd minute was unable to get a decent touch on an open goal opportunity.

In the second half, Lazio were much better. Renzo Garlaschelli, in the 58th minute after a great Giordano assist, missed the target and two minutes later Maurizio Memo blocked a long range shot from the Lazio centre-forward. Then Bologna manager Bruno Pesaola gave the Biancocelesti a hand taking off Bordon and substituting him with midfielder Ennio Mastalli. This allowed Wilson to move forward and with the entry of Antonio Lopez for injured Nicoli, the Biancocelesti had a thinker in midfield. Lazio scored in the 77th minute. Lopez to Garlaschelli surrounded by Bologna defenders. He did not control the ball properly, but his mistake became a great assist to Wilson who alone in front of Memo made no mistake.

Bologna did not have the strength to overturn the result and Lazio got the win. There is however a lot of room for a much-needed improvement.

Who played for Lazio

Cacciatori, Ammoniaci, Tassotti, Wilson, Manfredonia, Cordova, Garlaschelli, Martini, Giordano, Nicoli (68’ A.Lopez), D’Amico