A win at last

Season 1984-85

Game 7, Serie A

Sunday, October 28, 1984

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Cremonese 2-1

Lazio win their first game of the season thanks to D’Amico and Dell’Anno

Paolo Carosi had been sacked after two games Juan Carlo Lorenzo took his place. Under Lorenzo Lazio had drawn three consecutive games and lost the last one with Torino. They were second from last. A win today would be very important.

The match: Sunday, October 28, 1984, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio were without Joao Batista and Lionello Manfredonia so the team had been revolutionised, but weirdly. For a game that needed to be won, Lorenzo placed five defenders, two midfielders and three forwards. It was up to Michael Laudrup to be playmaker, helped by Massimo Storgato, certainly not his cup of tea.

As a consequence, in the first 45 minutes Lazio were just plain awful. Cremonese took control of the game and missed numerous chances. In the 17th minute Marco Nicoletti was unmarked and with an open goal opportunity. He kicked the ball out. In the 21st minute Fulvio Bonomi shot too early allowing Fernando Orsi to parry. Lazio did try something. In the 7th minute Laudrup took a shot which was saved by the keeper and in 34th Vincenzo D’Amico had an opportunity when Fausto Borin missed a ball on a cross, but his shot was saved on the line by Mario Montorfano.

In the beginning of the second half, Cremonese finally scored. In the 51st minute Felice Garzilli on the counter attack passed to Walter Viganò who with no opposition was able to go into the penalty area and beat Orsi.

At this point, Lorenzo made a long-awaited substitution. In the 55th minute, out went a terrible Fortunato Torrisi and in came Francesco Dell’Anno, 17 years of age and star of the primavera, for his debut in Serie A. A minute later he received the ball, dribbled past three Cremonese defenders and from the byline on the left crossed in the middle. Oliviero Garlini somehow managed to shoot. The ball beat Borin, Gianluigi Galbagini managed to save on the line but kicked it against the keeper. The ball bounced back to the defender first and then off Borin once more, before it went into the net. Comical goal but at least Lazio scored.

The Biancocelesti started to play much better but Garlini decided to hit Garzilli and was sent off. Cremonese had an incredible chance in the 74th minute. Bonomi crossed into the box from the left, Chiorri made a wonderful backheel pass to Nicoletti completely unmarked, great save from Orsi. At this point Lorenzo decided to send in a real midfielder, Gianpiero Marini for a defender playing at midfield, Storgato. And things improved.

In the 81st minute Laudrup went down the left and dribbled past a Cremonese player, then another, and another, reached the by-line and put a fantastic pass to D’Amico who controlled the ball with his chest and then volleyed into the back of the net.

Victory at last.

Who played for Lazio

Orsi, Calisti, FIlisetti, Vianello, Podavini, Storgato (76’ G. Marini), D’Amico, Torrisi (55’ Dell’Anno), Giordano, Laudrup, Garlini