Maestrelli’s final game as manager

Simon Basten
Jun 26, 2024
2 min read

Updated: Jul 4

Season 1975-76

Game 6, Coppa Italia Second Group Phase, Group A

Saturday, June 26, 1976

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Genoa 1-0

Lazio beat Genoa in Coppa Italia in what will be Maestrelli’s final match on the bench

In Coppa Italia Lazio had done rather well, qualifying for the second phase, which would be played at the end of the campionato. They won their two matches at home and drew the two away games.

Now the Biancocelesti had to play the second group phase of the Coppa Italia. They were paired with Verona, Inter and Genoa. The team that topped the group would play the final.

They were currently on 5 points with Inter on 8 and Verona on six so no chance of reaching the final. They had won 2 (Inter 1-0 and Genoa away 3-0), drawn one (with Verona at home) and lost two (away to Verona and Inter). Today was the final game, at home with Genoa.

The match

Despite the very few spectators, Lazio and Genoa started the game at a high pace. The ball went from one box to the other. The visitors went close to scoring early when Francesco Rizzo passed to Paolo Mariani who unmarked in front of Felice Pulici could not do better than shoot at the keeper. The scare got the Biancocelesti moving and in the 36th minute they scored. Luciano Re Cecconi with a massive whack from 25 metres beat the Genoa keeper who had his view partially covered by Francesco Ciampoli.

One would have thought that the fireworks would continue but they stopped as the two teams started to seriously think about the upcoming holidays. Only Rizzo did anything as the Lazio midfield put the game to sleep.

In the second half there were only two things to note. A penalty which Giovanni Carlo Ferrari missed shooting at the keeper and an impressive shot from Bruno Giordano in the 63rd minute which hit the woodwork.

This was Tommaso Maestrelli’s last game on the bench. He would now be sporting director with Luís Vinício as new manager.

Who played for Lazio

Pulici, Ghedin, Martini, Wilson, Polentes, Badiani, Garlaschelli, Re Cecconi (81’ Masuzzo), Ferrari, Lopez (61’ Brignani), Giordano