Mastropasqua and little else but two points

Dag Jenkins
Feb 15, 2024
3 min read

Season 1980-81

Game 21, Serie B

Sunday, February 15, 1981

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Verona 1-0

An early goal by the Piedmontese midfielder is enough to defeat Verona

Ticket owned by Dag Jenkins, Photo by Dag Jenkins

So far Lazio had played 20 league games and won 8, drawn 10 and lost 2. Lazio had started well with 6 wins and 4 draws in the first 10 games but then slowed down. In the previous game however, Lazio had won 2-0 away at Palermo. The Biancocelesti were 2nd on 26 points and needed a win today to show they were definitely back on track. The table read Milan 29, Lazio 26, Cesena 25, Sampdoria 24.

Verona were 12th, with Atalanta and Bari on 18 points (3 above drop zone). They had won 3, drawn 12 (including Lazio 0-0) and lost 5.

Lazio were expected to win but Verona often drew games and had only conceded 14 goals in 20 matches.

The match

A sunny, spring-like day in the capital but with only 25,000 and a heavy atmosphere due to the fans' strike organised by the Curva Nord. The protest was directed at chairman Aldo Lenzini, accused of dragging the club into economic disaster and chaos.

Lazio had no real absences while Verona were without defenders Fabio Ferri and Emiliano Oddi.

The game started positively for the Biancocelesti who went in front early. In the 7th minute Giorgio Mastropasqua headed in from a Nando Viola corner, 1-0.

A perfect start but that was it for Lazio who then went quiet for long periods conceding the initiative to the visitors.

Lazio sat back and defended their lead. The Biancocelesti left too much space between their back line and midfield so the visitors were constantly organising attacks just outside the Lazio area. Fortunately, the Gialloblu lacked the killer punch and were rarely dangerous, their efforts ending up off target.

However, both sides had a chance each towards the end of the half. In the 40th minute Paolo Conti was reactive on a close range Viola strike and two minutes later at the other end Aldo Nardin saved well on Verona's most dangerous player Enzo Scaini. Halftime: Lazio 1 Verona 0.

The second half continued as the first, Verona pushing forward but with Lazio's defence holding firm. There was however a change of forwards for Verona as Luciano Venturini had come on for Luigi Capuzzo.

In the 61st minute came the first substitution as the Scaligeri brought on former Roma midfielder Walter Franzot for Adriano Fedele.

A minute later Scaini forced Nardin into another good save but it was a rare threat.

Lazio's only shot at goal came on a freekick by Filippo Citterio but Conti dived to his left and parried.

In the 75th minute Lazio tried to liven up their midfield by putting on Renzo Garlaschelli for a tired Alberto Bigon.

The Scaini vs Nardin duel continued in the 82nd minute but again the keeper from Friuli got the better.

Ilario Castagner then decided to button up more and threw on defender Pietro Ghedin and took off forward Giuseppe Greco.

The precaution worked as Verona, despite more pressure, were not dangerous again. Final score: Lazio 1 Verona 0.

Far from pretty but two good points for Lazio and a home win after two months. An early goal and not much else but the defence had been solid and the keeper Nardin had finally put in a positive performance. Two useful promotion points but Lazio would have to be more dominant if they wanted to go all the way.

Lazio were still 2nd on 28 points but now two ahead of Cesena and three of Sampdoria who had drawn 0-0 in their direct clash in Genoa.

Verona were now 15th on 18 points and still three above the relegation slots.

Who played for Lazio

Nardin, Spinozzi, Citterio, Perrone, Pochesci, Sanguin, Viola, Bigon (75' Garlaschelli), Chiodi, Mastropasqua, Greco (82' Ghedin)