Game 13, Serie B
Sunday, December 5, 1982
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Varese 2-0
Lazio go three points clear at top with 2-0 victory

In the league Lazio got off to a slow start (3 draws) but then started winning games (6 consecutive between 7th fixture and today). Lazio were currently top of the table on 19 points, one point ahead of Milan and three points ahead of 4th placed Arezzo.
The match
A sunny but cold day attracted just under 40,000 fans to the Olimpico this afternoon.
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Lazio had no injury problems and nor did Varese. The Biancocelesti had defender Arcadio Spinozzi back after six months.
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Lazio started well and Vincenzo D'Amico hit a crossbar in the 4th minute.
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Varese were very well organised and also did not hesitate in playing rough to stop Lazio.
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Lazio had several chances but lacked precision when it came to shooting. Bruno Giordano was also slightly selfish, trying to resolve things alone. Halftime came with Lazio well on top but being held to 0-0 by a hard-battling Varese.
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The second half was no different. Lazio forward and Varese resisting. Lazio’s biggest chance came in the 58th minute but Claudio Ambu was off target from an inviting position.
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The breakthrough came in the 67th minute. Lionello Manfredonia combined well with Renato Miele and charged forward on the left, beating two defenders, he then crossed low to Giordano who scored from close range. Lazio 1 Varese 0.
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At this point the visitors made two changes: defender Paolo Misuri for Aldo Cerantola and midfielder Giampiero Scaglia for Franco Turchetta.
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It was Lazio however who scored again. An Ambu-Giordano one two put the Roman striker in front of Michelangelo Rampulla who he chipped with a delicate touch, the ball hit the crossbar and bounced possibly already over the line but any doubt was eliminated by defender Marco Cecilli bungling it in. Lazio 2 Varese 0.
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Lazio almost scored again especially with D'Amico but the "Golden Boy" abused his extraordinary talent by trying too many dribblings.
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In the 79th minute Roberto Badiani replaced a tired Enrico Vella.
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It was only in the last five minutes that the Biancorossi finally threatened. In the 86th minute Gaetano Auteri mishit a header from a good position and a minute later Fernando Orsi pulled off a great save on a long-range Gabriele Bongiorni effort.
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It was too little too late and Lazio cruised to a routine win. Final score Lazio 2 Varese 0.
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The whole team had played well with special mentions for Manfredonia who had an excellent box to box game and Gabriele Podavini who was tireless up and down the right wing.
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Lazio were now three points ahead of Milan who had lost 0-1 at Como. Things were looking good. Seven consecutive wins and keeper Fernando Orsi unbeaten for 634 minutes.
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Varese were now joint 16th with Perugia, with only three teams behind them.
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Who played for Lazio
Orsi, Podavini, Saltarelli, Vella (79' Badiani), Miele, Spinozzi, Ambu, Manfredonia, Giordano, D'Amico, De Nadai
Manager: Clagluna
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Who played for Varese
Rampulla, Vincenzi, Braghin, Strappa, Cecilli, Cerantola (69' Misuri), Turchetta (69' Scaglia), Bongiorni, Di Giovanni, Salvadè, Auteri
Substitutes: Zunico, Scarsella
Manager: Fascetti
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Referee: Leni
Goals: 67' Giordano, 73' Cecilli (og)
Sources
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