Well begun is half done..

Dag Jenkins

Aug 21, 2023

2 min read

Season 1985-86

Game 1, Group Stage, Coppa italia

Wednesday, August 21, 1985

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio - Catania 1-0

Lazio start season with Fiorini winner against Catania

Today was the first game of the Coppa Italia. Apart from Catania the group included Monopoli, Atalanta, Taranto and Sampdoria.

Serie B would start on September 8 against Palermo at home.

The match

A hot evening kick-off at the Olimpico had a decent 25,000 in attendance.

Lazio had no real injury problems. The only player unavailable was Francesco Dell'Anno.

Catania were without goalkeeper Dario Marigo, defenders Adriano Polenta, Nazzareno Canuti and Maurizio Longobardo.

Lazio started well and took the lead early on. Mimmo Caso floated a free kick into the area where Giuliano Fiorini out jumped Nicola Garzieri and hit a lovely header past Marco Onorati, 1-0.

In the 10th minute Gigi Simoni was forced to make a first change as Claudio Vinazzani could not continue after a knock on the ribs. The chosen replacement was Francesco Fonte.

Lazio continued to play at a fast pace and in the 17th minute Oliviero Garlini was applauded for his bicycle kick which Onorati blocked at the second attempt.

In the 20th minute Fiorini burst into the area but this time Garzieri did well and put the ball behind for a corner.

In the 27th minute a Caso free kick shaved the crossbar and in the 37th Giorgio Magnocavallo picked up a short defensive clearance but his shot was just wide. Halftime Lazio 1 Catania 0, with the Romans well on top.

For the second half the visitors took off their two Brazilians, Pedrinho and Luvanor and put on Maurizio Lubbia and forward Roberto Mandressi. Lazio changed defender Daniele Filisetti for Fabio Calcaterra.

Lazio sat back more after the interval but Catania had great difficulty in creating any threats for Astutillo Malgioglio.

In fact it was Lazio who had more chances with Caso twice and Fiorini.

In the 73rd minute however the Sicilians had a big opportunity to draw level. Pietro Puzone put something between a shot and cross into the box and Malgioglio looked completely in control but then let the ball through his legs, fortunately Calcaterra was well positioned and cleared before Mandressi could pounce.

That was the Etnei's big chance and from then on Lazio controlled the game without any particular worries.

There were two more substitutions with five minutes to go, one each, for Lazio Alessandro Toti replaced a positive Fabio Poli while Catania threw on Pietro Garaffa for Puzone. Final score: Lazio 1 Catania 0.

A winning debut for Lazio. A promising performance by the Biancocelesti with standout games by Caso, Poli and match-winner Fiorini (despite an ankle problem and little physical preparation).

Next up for Lazio were Serie A side Atalanta away on August 25.

Who played for Lazio

Malgioglio, Podavini, Calisti, Galbiati, Filisetti (46' Calcaterra), Magnocavallo, Poli (86' Toti), Vinazzani (11' Fonte), Fiorini, Caso, Garlini