Out of bottom four !!

Dag Jenkins
Mar 15, 2024
4 min read

Season 1986-87

Game 24, Serie B

Sunday, March 15, 1987

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Cremonese 2-0

Lazio defeat promotion candidates and climb out of relegation slots

Lazio started the season at -9 points. The main priority was survival.

After a hesitant start Lazio gathered steam and at one point even looked as if they could join the promotion battle. Now however the stress of the handicap start and the necessity to push early were starting to take their toll and Lazio were slowing down. In the return fixtures they had won 1, drawn 1 and lost 2 (including recent 0-1 at Bologna). In total so far Lazio had won 9, drawn 9 (including Cremonese 0-0 away) and lost 5.

Lazio were currently 17th on 18 points, in the last relegation slot but survival was only one point above (Sambenedettese on 19)

Cremonese were doing well and were currently 2nd on 27 points, only one behind leaders Messina. The Grigiorossi had won 9, drawn 9 and lost 5. They had not however won in five games and had the same points as Lazio would have had without the docking. This would have been a big promotion clash in different circumstances.

Lazio needed points. It would not be easy against high flying Cremonese but it was also a chance to prove they should have been up there with the front-runners.

The match

A sunny day in Rome but with a freezing north wind attracted about 30,000 to the Olimpico.

Lazio were without forward Fabio Poli while Cremonese were missing forward Claudio Pelosi.

Lazio started with the wind behind them and pushed forward. The first real chance however was for the visitors. In the 13th minute a powerful Gianpietro Torri shot came off Vincenzo Esposito's back and fell conveniently to Attilio Lombardo who, with only the keeper to beat, managed to miss the target.

Cremonese were tactically set up well. Lazio tried to play the ball on the ground but had difficulty in threatening also due to the strong wind. They therefore decided to use it in their favour with shots from the long range but lacked precision.

In the 35th minute Lazio took the lead with the same tactic but better aim. Mimmo Caso received the ball from Esposito, looked up and saw Michelangelo Rampulla slightly too far forward so he tried his luck from 25 metres out and sent a lovely, floating and curling shot in near the far post, 1-0.

Cremonese did not change their game plan, probably waiting to use the wind to their advantage in the second half. Lazio went to the break deservedly leading by the single goal.

The second half started with a threatening cross by Alviero Chiorri in the 50th minute but Giuliano Terraneo was quick and alert and anticipated any danger. It was a flash in the pan as Lazio gradually took control again.

The Grigiorossi had difficulty organising any decent moves and danger man Marco Nicoletti was well marked by Angelo Gregucci.

In the 61st minute the visitors made a change, bringing on midfielder Roberto Galletti for Gabriele Bongiorni.

A minute later Lazio doubled their lead. In the 62nd minute Antonio Elia Acerbis fed Raimondo Marino inside the area and he hit a great first time low shot which beat Rampulla on the near post, 2-0. A movement and goal worthy of a journeyed striker.

There was little or no reaction from the Lombard guests.

In the 76th minute Lazio made their first substitution, a role for role replacement with defender Daniele Filisetti coming on for Massimo Piscedda.

Lazio went close to scoring again when Giuliano Fiorini went on a good run but was denied by Rampulla and even closer in the 84th minute when Mario Montorfano, in an attempt to anticipate Acerbis, hit his own post.

The game was won but Lazio made another change in the 89th minute taking off Caso and putting on Giancarlo Camolese.

Final score: Lazio 2 Cremonese 0. A convincing performance by the Biancocelesti and a statement win. Without the point-handicap they would be serious promotion candidates, in fact they would have been joint leaders. For now it was an important step towards survival.

Lazio were joint 14th, on 20 points with Vicenza and Catania and finally out of the bottom four (+1 on Sambenedettese).

Cremonese were still 2nd on 27 points but now in the company of Cesena and Genoa who had both won. Fortunately for the Grigiorossi, of the four teams immediately behind them only Parma had managed to get a point.

Who played for Lazio

Terraneo, Podavini, Piscedda (76' Filisetti), Esposito, Gregucci, Marino, Caso (89' Camolese), Acerbis, Fiorini, Pin, Mandelli