Second Primavera Scudetto!!

Dag Jenkins
Jul 1, 2024
4 min read

Season 1986-87

Final, Primavera Scudetto, Second Leg

Wednesday, July 1, 1987

Stadio Flaminio, Rome

Lazio -Torino 1-0

A prestigious win for the Primavera who added a second Scudetto to their trophy cabinet in a difficult moment in the club's history and eleven years after the first in 1976.

Lazio had won their first and only U19s league title in 1976. The team included the likes of Bruno Giordano, Lionello Manfredonia and Andrea Agostinelli.

Lazio had then reached the semi-finals in 1982, the finals both in 1985 (lost to Torino 0-3 on aggregate) and 1986 (lost to Cesena 1-2 on aggregate). They had won the Coppa Italia in 1979 but now was another chance to become Italian Champions again.

In the regular season Lazio had won 15, drawn 6 and lost 1. In the next phase the Biancocelesti had won 4 (including Roma 1-0 away), drawn 1 (Roma 0-0 at home) and lost 1 and qualified for the final.

The Lazio head coach was Juan Carlos Morrone. The Argentine known as "El Gaucho" had played 259 games for Lazio with 53 goals (1960-64, 1966-71). It was his last game in charge as the following season he was taking over the Napoli U19s. He would have liked to stay but the owners had other plans.

The first leg had been played the previous Sunday June 28 and finished 0-0. Torino had attacked more but Lazio keeper Valerio Fiori's saves and a post had given Lazio a precious draw.

Torino had a solid academy and had already won the Primavera Scudetto five times (1967, 1968, 1970, 1977 and 1985). At the time they were the most winning club (Roma followed with four titles).

The match

The game was played at the Stadio Flaminio in front of about 10,000 spectators including Lazio president Gianmarco Calleri and the whole first team squad. The kick off was at 18.30

The fans had eyes on the game and ears on their transistor radios. The Lazio first team were involved in a three-team playoff in Naples to avoid Serie C, having started with a nine-point handicap. Lazio had lost the first game 0-1 to Taranto and the Tarantini were currently playing Campobasso in the second match (K.O 17.30). The result was obviously important for Lazio’s chances of survival and at kick-off in Rome the score was 0-0, so far so good.

At the Flaminio, Torino were more dangerous in the early stages. Valerio Fiori saved well on Diego Fuser in the 6th minute, on Gianluca Lentini in the 13th and on a Giorgio Bresciani shot under the crossbar in the 15th.

Meanwhile the crowd had let off a collective sigh of disappointment around the quarter hour mark as news came through that Evangelisti had put Campobasso ahead in Naples.

Lazio stirred and had a couple of chances especially with Federico Agostinelli but he was off target from a favourable position.

In the 33rd minute the crowd exploded with joy as Taranto had equalised in Naples with Paolinelli. A draw would still give Lazio hope.

The news must have given the boys on the field enthusiasm as only ten seconds later they scored. Antonio Rizzolo headed in a Giampaolo Saurini cross from the right to put Lazio in front, 1-0. A curious fact is that Saurini had lost his right boot but still managed to get a perfect cross in. Halftime came with Lazio in the lead, 1-0.

During the break came another roar from the stands as the news spread that the game in Naples had ended in a draw. Lazio now had to beat Campobasso to be mathematically safe.

The second half at the Flaminio saw Torino constantly forward looking for an equaliser. Lazio however had already proved in Turin that they had a solid defence. The Granata attacked but had difficulty creating clear cut chances.

In the 69th minute Gianluca Sordo came on for D'Agostino.

In the 76th minute Bresciani blasted over the bar after Lentini had set him up with a clever backheel.

In the 77th minute came the Granata's biggest opportunity. Lentini twisted and directed an excellent volley towards the top hand corner but Fiori was feline in his reaction and tipped it out for a corner.

In the 78th minute the visitors made their second substitution, bringing on Andrea Menghini for Paolo Bellatorre.

By now the game was practically played out in Lazio's half but Fiori was not called to any more miracles and only had to be alert on high balls and corners.

Lazio changed a couple of players towards the end, Stefano Bernardi for Saurini in the 85th minute and Alfonso Greco for Rizzolo in the 88th.

Lazio held out and there were scenes of joy at the final whistle. The most celebrated was Morrone who had finally triumphed after two defeats in the previous years' finals. A "Grazie Giancarlo" banner was displayed in the Curva.

The fact that he was leaving was confirmed by the fact that president Calleri did not go down to the changing rooms as is customary to congratulate the team and coach. The Argentine then dedicated the win to Giorgio Chinaglia.

A prestigious win for the Primavera who added a second Scudetto to their trophy cabinet in a difficult moment in the club's history and eleven years after the first in 1976.

Who played for Lazio

Fiori, Delucca, Amato, Bertocchi, Valentini, Agostinelli, Saurini (85' Bernardi), Cacciatore, Rizzolo (88' Greco), Conti, Biagioni