Much ado about nothing

Dag Jenkins
Apr 17, 2024
3 min read

Season 1976-77

Game 25, Serie A

Sunday, April 17, 1977

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio - Genoa 4-1

The dreaded Genoa attacking partnership is nullified as Lazio crush Genoa

In Serie A, Lazio lost the opener (Juventus 2-3 at home) but had since done reasonably well and were now in mid-table, on 22 points. After losing on their debut the Biancocelesti had won 7 (including first derby 1-0, Fiorentina 4-1 and Inter 2-1 at home), drawn 8 (including Inter 1-1) and lost 8 (including second derby 0-1, Genoa 1-3 away and most recent game 0-1 at Foggia).

Genoa were currently 7th on 24 points with Verona. The Rossoblu had won 7 (including the derby with Sampdoria 2-1 and most recently Milan 1-0 at home), drawn 10 (including the first derby 1-1) and lost 7. The Roberto Pruzzo-Oscar Damiani duo was doing well with 25 goals between them (Pruzzo was top Serie A scorer with 16).

In the Coppa Italia the Genoese had been eliminated in the first group phase. They had won 2 (Verona 3-0 away and Sambenedettese 1-0 at home) and drawn 2 (Monza 2-2 away and Juventus 0-0 at home) but went out in favour of Juventus who had a better goal difference.

A difficult game for Lazio this afternoon against the best attacking partnership in the league.

The match

A lovely, sunny spring day brought about 35,000 spectators to the Olimpico.

Lazio were missing winger Renzo Garlaschelli and attacking midfielder Vincenzo D'Amico.

Genoa were without regular goalkeeper Sergio Girardi and defender Antonio Maggioni.

It was one-way traffic from the start. Lazio attacked and Genoa defended. In the first half hour the Rossoblu managed to survive mainly because Lazio were wasteful in the last third.

In the 32nd minute however Lazio got the breakthrough. Ciccio Cordova was astute to see Claudio Tarocco too far off his line and cleverly lobbed him, 1-0.

Genoa had no reaction and Lazio found no resistance especially on the wings where Gigi Martini, Andrea Agostinelli and Roberto Badiani ran riot.

A second goal was on the cards and it came just before half time. In the 43rd minute Cordova rolled an indirect freekick to Renzo Rossi who blasted an unstoppable shot past Tarocco, 2-0.

Lazio cruising and completely in control.

In the second half the Grifone barely had time to even try and change their game plan before they were punished again. In the 47th minute Cordova worked the ball well and fed Bruno Giordano who let off a superb mid-height volley from the edge of the box. 3-0.

Genoa were having an off day but in the 57th minute were awarded a penalty for a Lionello Manfredonia push on Roberto Pruzzo. The spotkick was taken and put away by Oscar Damiani, 3-1.

It was only now that Genoa showed more initiative and they looked as if they could have a small chance to claw themselves back into the game.

The possibility lasted just over ten minutes as in the 70th Lazio made it four. It was a brilliant solo effort by Giordano who danced past a couple of defenders and blasted the ball past Tarocco, 4-1.

In the 77th minute Pruzzo, who had barely touched the ball all afternoon, went off due to a slight injury and was replaced by Giovanni Urban.

Genoa tried to make the scoreline more respectable with a couple of isolated attacks but efforts by Damiani and Felice Secondini went just wide. Final score: Lazio 4 Genoa 1.

A match practically dominated from start to finish by Lazio. An excellent team effort but with stand out performances by Cordova and Giordano. Genoa had been fragile defensively, non-existent in midfield and in attack Damiani had worked hard but with negligible results while Pruzzo had been a ghost.

Lazio were now joint 8th, with Verona and Genoa on 24 points. The European UEFA slots were now only four points away (Napoli Fiorentina on 28).

Genoa 8th with Lazio had been caught up by the Biancocelesti and overtaken by Perugia who had beaten Roma 3-0 at home. The Rossoblu could still aspire to get into Europe but today's result and especially performance were a serious setback.

Who played for Lazio

Pulici, Ammoniaci, Martini, Manfredonia, Wilson, Cordova, R.Rossi, Agostinelli, Giordano, Viola, Badiani