Two goals in two minutes are enough for Lazio

Simon Basten

Oct 12, 2023

3 min read

Season 1980-81

Game 5, Serie B

Sunday, October 12, 1980

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Varese 2-1

Lazio score twice in two minutes but are made to work hard for victory by a stubborn Varese side

Lazio started 1980-81 with the Coppa Italia. In the group stage they were paired with Pescara, Varese, Verona and Ascoli. They won all of the games with the exception of a draw with Ascoli, hence winning their group.

In the first four games of Serie B Lazio had drawn three and beaten Catania. Today was game five.

The match

Lazio did what was expected of them at the Olimpico, beating Varese 2–1 and collecting another two points in their attempt to return to Serie A. It was, however, far from an impressive performance.

On a wet and heavy pitch, the game was played at a remarkably slow tempo, with neither side appearing particularly eager to take control.

Varese, coached by Eugenio Fascetti, were happy to sit back and allow Lazio to have the ball. The Biancocelesti duly dominated possession, but there was little urgency or imagination in their attacking play. Alberto Bigon tried to organise his teammates and set an example with his work rate, but too many Lazio attacks broke down through misplaced passes or unnecessary individualism.

There was an early warning when Bigon met Nando Viola's free-kick from the left with a diving header that struck the post after only five minutes. Lazio continued to press, but Varese remained compact and looked reasonably comfortable.

The hosts thought they should have had a penalty in the 19th minute when Renzo Garlaschelli went down under a challenge from Giuliano Vincenzi, but referee Rosario Lo Bello waved play on.

Then, almost out of nowhere, Lazio finally broke through. In the 40th minute Viola's corner was punched away by goalkeeper Antonio Rigamonti, even if he could have caught the ball.

Filippo Citterio returned it into the danger area and, after Marco Cecilli and Aldo Cerantola collided, Giuseppe Greco was left with a simple finish from close range.

Lazio struck again just two minutes later. Citterio found a perfect opening for Bigon, who was brought down by Cecilli inside the area.

Citterio took responsibility for the penalty, but Rigamonti guessed correctly and saved his initial effort. The rebound, however, fell straight back to the Lazio defender, who made no mistake at the second attempt to make it 2–0.

The double blow left Varese facing an uphill battle, and Lazio seemed to believe the match was effectively over. The second half became a rather subdued affair, with Castagner's side increasingly content to control the game rather than search for a third goal.

That complacency nearly cost them. Varese began to attack with greater confidence as Lazio's midfield lost some of its earlier authority. The visitors did not create a great deal, but the Biancocelesti defence looked increasingly vulnerable whenever they were put under pressure.

The warning became reality in the 81st minute. Cecilli beat Mauro Manzoni on the right and sent the ball back into the area, where Carlo Tresoldi had been left completely unmarked. He struck a powerful shot beyond Maurizio Moscatelli to reduce the deficit to 2–1.

Suddenly Lazio were no longer comfortable. Varese sensed an opportunity to snatch an unlikely equaliser, while Lazio were forced to defend their slender advantage. Greco hit the post for the second time in the match, although he had clearly started his run from an offside position.

There was one final scare in stoppage time when Maurizio Braghin's free-kick narrowly cleared the crossbar.

Lazio held on for the victory, but it was a performance that offered little to excite the spectators at the Olimpico. Two goals in two minutes had done the damage in the first half, but the Biancocelesti's complacency after the interval almost allowed Varese to snatch a point.

Who played for Lazio

Moscatelli, Spinozzi, Citterio, Perrone, Pochesci, Mastropasqua, Viola, Sanguin (57' Manzoni), Garlaschelli, Bigon, Greco