Lazio go top

Dag Jenkins
Oct 12, 2023
3 min read

Season 1985-86

Game 6, Serie B

Sunday, October 13, 1985

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio-Triestina 2-1

With a Garlini double the Biancocelesti join three other teams as league leaders

In Serie B the Biancocelesti had so far won 3 (Palermo 2-1 on debut, Campobasso and Arezzo 2-0, all at home), drawn 1 (recent 1-1 away at Sambenedettese) and lost 1 (Bologna 0-1 away). The Biancocelesti were currently joint 3rd on 7 points (with Ascoli, Cesena and Sambenedettese).

So far in the league Triestina had won the first 3 (Arezzo 2-1 on debut, Monza 1-0 at home, Campobasso 1-0 away) and drawn the last 2 (Cagliari 0-0 away, Catania 1-1 at home). The Giuliani were currently on 8 points. A solid start.

A difficult game for Lazio today against high flying Triestina. The Romans however wanted to make it four home wins out of four so far.

The match

A sunny "Ottobrata romana" day attracted almost 50,000 spectators to the Olimpico.

Lazio had no absences apart from midfielder Fortunato Torrisi while Triestina were missing defender Ersilio Cerone, midfielder Pasquale Iachini and forward Franco De Falco.

The game was balanced from the start but it was Lazio who had the clearer chances. Unfortunately for the Biancocelesti their centre-forward Giuliano Fiorini was not at his best due to a chronic calf problem and he was unable to finish off at least two good chances.

The visitors threatened mainly on freekicks and two whistled just over the bar.

Lazio took the lead in the 37th minute with their other striker Oliviero Garlini. On a cross from Giorgio Magnocavallo from the left, the striker managed to anticipate his marker Maurizio Costantini and head past Guido Bistazzoni, 1-0.

It looked as if Lazio would get the break in front but in the 44th minute the Alabardati equalised. Gianfranco Cinelli teed up Vincenzo Di Giovanni in the area and the Sicilian blasted a powerful strike under the crossbar, 1-1 at halftime.

The second half continued to be even and entertaining. Lazio attacked more but another free kick by Stefano Strappa forced Astutillo Malgioglio into a difficult save.

In the 53rd minute Lazio made their first substitution bringing on Francesco Fonte for Claudio Vinazzani.

The Muli (Mules) responded seven minutes later replacing goal scorer Di Giovanni with Giampiero Scaglia.

From the 65th minute on, Lazio produced their maximum effort and pushed forward. They were rewarded in the 73rd minute when Boom Boom Garlini lived up to his nickname and got his brace. A long cross by Gabriele Podavini was headed backwards by Fiorini and prolonged to Garlini who let off a cracking low left footed volley which gave the keeper no chance, 2-1.

The Giuliani tried to remedy the setback by putting on midfielder Franco Salvadè for defender Maurizio Braghin. Lazio however managed to control the situation without too much trouble. In the 88th minute they slowed the game down by bringing on young Francesco Dell'Anno for Fabio Poli. The final whistle saw a jubilant crowd celebrate an important win over fellow promotion candidates.

A solid display by Lazio with standout performances by match winner Garlini and midfield maestro Mimmo Caso.

Lazio were now top of the table on 9 points (with Brescia, Cesena and Sambenedettese).

Triestina had played well but were now 6th on 8 points (with Ascoli).

Who played for Lazio

Malgioglio, Podavini, Calisti, Galbiati, Calcaterra, Magnocavallo, Poli (88' Dell'Anno), Vinazzani (53' Fonte), Fiorini, Caso, Garlini