Giordano and D'Amico make the difference

Season 1977-78

Coppa Italia, Group 2, Game 4

Wednesday, August 31, 1977

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Ternana 4-1

Not a vintage performance but Lazio's star players' quality give them flicker of cup hope

Source Lazio Wiki

Today was Lazio's fourth Coppa Italia game and they had won one (Monza 2-1 at home) and lost 2 (Varese 1-2 and Bologna 0-1 both away) and were almost out. The table read Varese 3, Bologna 2 Ternana 2, Lazio 2, Monza 2 Only one team would progress but Lazio only had one more game while the others had two.

Serie A would start on September 11 and Lazio were to play Genoa away.

So far in Coppa Italia Ternana had played two games and won 1 (Bologna 2-1 at home) and lost 1 (Monza 0-3 away on debut). The Fere had the same points as Lazio but had played a game less so by winning today could still go through.

Serie B would start on September 11, Cremonese at home.

Lazio were firm favourites tonight against second tier opposition. Nothing but a win would keep their slender cup hopes alive.

The match

A hot late August evening saw about 25,000 turn up at the Olimpico.

Lazio were without injured full-back Gigi Martini but otherwise had everyone available.

Ternana were missing defender Maurizio Codogno and midfielder Luciano Aristei. They fielded eight new players compared to the previous season.

Lazio attacked in the early stages favoured by the visitors defensive approach. In the 6th minute Lazio took the lead. Bruno Giordano got his first of the evening from a Vincenzo D'Amico assist, 1-0.

The Umbri realised they could not just defend and became more adventurous. They showed they could be dangerous and even equalised in the 34th minute with a Roberto Casone free kick. Meanwhile Lazio had had more chances but the score was now 1-1.

Just before halftime the hosts went in front again. It was another free kick this time by D' Amico, the "golden boy" from Latina, 2-1 at the break.

For the second half the Rossoverdi replaced midfielder Franco Caccia with defender Fabrizio Broggio.

The next 45 minutes were of a lower quality by both sides. The difference was made by the class of Bruno Giordano.

In the 65th minute the Trasteverino striker got his brace, again teed up by D'Amico, 3-1.

Ternana tried changing attackers in the 68th minute, bringing on Gianni De Rosa for Sileno Passalacqua but it was Lazio who scored again when Bruno-gol got his hat-trick in the 88th minute, 4-1.

A heavy defeat for Ternana who probably had not deserved such an unflattering score line. They had played well in midfield but were too light up front.

Lazio had not been overly impressive but in D'Amico and Giordano they had two world class players. In midfield Ciccio Cordova had played well and often had to drop back in defence when full-backs Paolo Ammoniaci and Roberto Badiani pushed forward. Badiani in particular had shown his defensive weaknesses and could possibly be more useful further upfield.

The table now read; Lazio 4 (+2 GD) Varese 4 (+1), Monza 3 (+2), Bologna 3 (0), Ternana 2 (-3). The Biancocelesti still had little hope of progressing as they had to sit out the last game while there were Monza v Bologna and Ternana v Varese. Lazio had to hope Ternana beat Varese and Monza v Bologna ended in a draw.

Who played for Lazio

Pulici, Ammoniaci, Badiani, Wilson, Manfredonia, Cordova, Giordano, Agostinelli, Clerici, D'Amico, Boccolini

Substitutes: Garella, Pighin, Ghedin, Lopez, Garlaschelli

Manager: Vinicio

Who played for Ternana

Mascella, La Torre, Ratti, Casone, Gelli, Volpi, Passalacqua (68' De Rosa), Bagnato, Pagliari, Caccia (46' Broggio), Biagini

Substitutes: Bianchi, Marchei, Cei

Manager: Marchesi

Referee: Panzino

Goals: 6' Giordano, 34' Casone, 44' D'Amico, 65' Giordano, 88' Giordano

Sources

Lazio Wiki