Lazio keep rolling with another statement win

Simon Basten
Nov 16, 2023
2 min read

Season 1986-87

Game 10, Serie B

Sunday, November 16, 1986

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Modena 4-2

A blistering start, a nervy finish, and Mandelli’s late header seal Lazio’s eighth unbeaten match in a row.

The start of the season was terrible. Lazio drew the first game away at Parma but then lost at home to Messina.

After the catastrophic beginning Lazio started to win and reduce the handicap of 9 points unjustly awarded in the second totonero scandal. They were currently on 2 points, three away from safety.

The match

Eugenio Fascetti’s Lazio continued their charge with a commanding 4–2 victory over Modena at the Olimpico, delivering a first half full of flair, technical quality, and ruthless finishing. The Biancocelesti have now gone eight games unbeaten, their only setback a loss to Messina. Without the nine-point deduction hanging over them, they’d be sitting just a point off top spot.

Modena, the newly promoted side that had caused some pre-match nerves, simply couldn’t cope with the intensity of the hosts.

For the opening 45 minutes it was all Lazio. After several near escapes, the visitors’ defence finally crumbled in the 13th minute: Gabriele Podavini fed Luca Brunetti, whose quick cross found Giuliano Fiorini. With his back to goal, the striker spun sharply and buried a low finish to open the scoring.

Lazio doubled their advantage eleven minutes later, though with a slice of luck. Fabio Poli played in Fiorini, who slipped the ball to Paolo Mandelli in what looked like an offside position. In trying to cut it out, defender Pierantonio Torroni could only turn the ball into his own net. From there, Lazio surged forward, lifted by the crowd. On 39 minutes Antonio Acerbis bulldozed his way through a couple of Modena challenges before rifling in a thunderous strike for 3–0.

The heavy lead, though, dulled Lazio’s edge. After the break Modena found a way back, first when Angelo Gregucci, attempting to clear an Andrea Bergamo cross, headed into his own net in spectacular fashion. When Mauro Rabitti nodded in Damiano Longhi’s delivery to make it 3–2 with ten minutes left, the Olimpico felt a flicker of tension.

But Lazio re-asserted themselves quickly. In the 80th minute a corner from Poli picked out young Mandelli, who rose sharply to head home the fourth and secure the points.

Fascetti’s men march on, still playing with the rhythm of a side that would be fighting for the top — if not for that nine-point handicap.

Who played for Lazio

Terraneo, Podavini, Brunetti, Acerbis, Gregucci (87’ Filisetti), Marino, Poli, Caso, Fiorini (82’ Piscedda), Pin, Mandelli