March 15 1987: Lazio -Cremonese 2-0
- Dag Jenkins
- 1 hour ago
- 11 min read
Out of bottom four !!
Lazio defeat promotion candidates and climb out of relegation slots
The season so far
The previous season had been disappointing. Lazio had finished 11th under Gigi Simoni and at one point even flirted with relegation.
In the early summer Lazio brought in a new manager, Eugenio Fascetti, and several good players to boost their new promotion push: keeper Giuliano Terraneo (Milan), defenders Angelo Gregucci and Raimondo Marino (in autumn) , midfielders Antonio Elia Acerbis, Giancarlo Camolese and Gabriele Pin plus plus forward Paolo Mandelli (in autumn) to name a few.
Leaving were goalkeeper Astutillo Malgioglio, defenders Fabio Calcaterra, Roberto Galbiati, Arcadio Spinozzi, midfielders Francesco Dell'Anno, Francesco Fonte (both in the autumn), Fortunato Torrisi, Claudio Vinazzani (retiring for obvious reasons - see below), legend Vincenzo D’Amico plus forwards Oscar Damiani (also retiring at 36) and top scorer Oliviero Garlini.
The promotion dream however was already shattered in the late summer. Lazio player Vinazzani was accused of being involved in the "Totonero-bis" match fixing scandal. On August 6 Lazio were sentenced to relegation to Serie C. The owners, the Calleri brothers, risked giving up and 8,000 fans caused urban warfare under the Football Federation headquarters. The players, already in pre-season training in Gubbio decided to stay on for now, awaiting the final CAF verdict (the appeal).
On August 26 the appeal court changed the verdict to a lighter nine-point docking in the following season's Serie B. It was still a harsh sentence with two points per victory and especially considering the scant evidence against Lazio, but it meant survival and some hope for the future.
So, Lazio started the season at -9 points. The main priority now was survival.
After a hesitant start Lazio gathered steam and at one point even looked as if they could join the promotion battle. Now however the stress of the handicap start and the necessity to push early were starting to take their toll and Lazio were slowing down. In the return fixtures they had won 1, drawn 1 and lost 2 (including recent 0-1 at Bologna). In total so far Lazio had won 9, drawn 9 (including Cremonese 0-0 away) and lost 5.
Lazio were currently 17th on 18 points, in the last relegation slot but survival was only one point above (Sambenedettese on 19)
Cremonese had finished 9th in Serie B under Emiliano Mondonico the previous season. The "Violini" had beaten Lazio 2-1 at home and drawn 0-0 in Rome. The top scorers were Alviero Chiorri, Giancarlo Finardi and Claudio Bencina with 5 league goals each.
This season the manager was Bruno Mazzia. The main new signing was defender Gianpietro Torri (Derthona). Leaving Cremona were midfielder Graziano Mazzoni (Livorno) and forward Giuseppe Galluzzo (Ancona). The squad therefore went pretty much untouched.
The squad included two interesting players from a Lazio perspective: former defender Filippo Citterio (1979-81) and future midfielder Attilio Lombardo (1999-2001). It also included Polish international defender Wladyslaw Żmuda (91 caps).
Cremonese were doing well and were currently 2nd on 27 points, only one behind leaders Messina. The Grigiorossi had won 9, drawn 9 and lost 5. They had not however won in five games and had the same points as Lazio would have had without the docking. This would have been a big promotion clash in different circumstances.
Lazio needed points. It would not be easy against high flying Cremonese but it was also a chance to prove they should have been up there with the front-runners.
The match: Sunday, March 15, 1987, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A sunny day in Rome but with a freezing north wind attracted about 30,000 to the Olimpico.
Lazio were without forward Fabio Poli while Cremonese were missing forward Claudio Pelosi.
Lazio started with the wind behind them and pushed forward. The first real chance however was for the visitors. In the 13th minute a powerful Gianpietro Torri shot came off Vincenzo Esposito's back and fell conveniently to Attilio Lombardo who, with only the keeper to beat, managed to miss the target.
Cremonese were tactically set up well. Lazio tried to play the ball on the ground but had difficulty in threatening also due to the strong wind. They therefore decided to use it in their favour with shots from the long range but lacked precision.
In the 35th minute Lazio took the lead with the same tactic but better aim. Mimmo Caso received the ball from Esposito, looked up and saw Michelangelo Rampulla slightly too far forward so he tried his luck from 25 metres out and sent a lovely, floating and curling shot in near the far post, 1-0.
Cremonese did not change their game plan, probably waiting to use the wind to their advantage in the second half. Lazio went to the break deservedly leading by the single goal.
The second half started with a threatening cross by Alviero Chiorri in the 50th minute but Giuliano Terraneo was quick and alert and anticipated any danger. It was a flash in the pan as Lazio gradually took control again.
The Grigiorossi had difficulty organising any decent moves and danger man Marco Nicoletti was well marked by Angelo Gregucci.
In the 61st minute the visitors made a change, bringing on midfielder Roberto Galletti for Gabriele Bongiorni.
A minute later Lazio doubled their lead. In the 62nd minute Antonio Elia Acerbis fed Raimondo Marino inside the area and he hit a great first time low shot which beat Rampulla on the near post, 2-0. A movement and goal worthy of a journeyed striker.
There was little or no reaction from the Lombard guests.
In the 76th minute Lazio made their first substitution, a role for role replacement with defender Daniele Filisetti coming on for Massimo Piscedda.
Lazio went close to scoring again when Giuliano Fiorini went on a good run but was denied by Rampulla and even closer in the 84th minute when Mario Montorfano, in an attempt to anticipate Acerbis, hit his own post.
The game was won but Lazio made another change in the 89th minute taking off Caso and putting on Giancarlo Camolese.
Final score: Lazio 2 Cremonese 0. A convincing performance by the Biancocelesti and a statement win. Without the point-handicap they would be serious promotion candidates, in fact they would have been joint leaders. For now it was an important step towards survival.
Lazio were joint 14th, on 20 points with Vicenza and Catania and finally out of the bottom four (+1 on Sambenedettese).
Cremonese were still 2nd on 27 points but now in the company of Cesena and Genoa who had both won. Fortunately for the Grigiorossi, of the four teams immediately behind them only Parma had managed to get a point.
Who played for Lazio
Terraneo, Podavini, Piscedda (76' Filisetti), Esposito, Gregucci, Marino, Caso (89' Camolese), Acerbis, Fiorini, Pin, Mandelli
Manager: Fascetti
Who played for Cremonese
Rampulla, Garzilli, Citterio, Viganò, Montorfano, Torri, Lombardo, Bongiorni (61' Galletti), Nicoletti, Bencina, Chiorri
Substitutes: Violini, Gualco, Ferraroni, Feliciani
Manager: Mazzia
Referee: Luci
Goals: 35' Caso, 62' Marino
What happened next
In the next 13 games Lazio won 3, drew 5 and lost 5. Things got messy.
With one game to go the table read: Cagliari 26 (relegated), Taranto 31, Lazio 31, Catania 32, Vicenza 32, Sambenedettese 32, Campobasso 32. With four relegations the situation was worrying to say the least. The last games were: Lazio-Vicenza, Taranto-Genoa, Cesena-Catania, Bari-Sambenedettese and Messina-Campobasso.
On June 21, 1987, came possibly the most dramatic match in Lazio's history. In the last game of the season nothing but a win would avoid relegation to Serie C. A record crowd of 70,000 on a scorching afternoon witnessed Lazio beat Vicenza 1-0 with a Giuliano Fiorini goal eight minutes from time. One of the most important goals in Lazio history.
Catania lost 1-2, Campobasso drew 0-0, Taranto won 3-0, and Sambenedettese won 4-3. A complex calculation gave the verdict that....
Lazio had avoided relegation...for now. Next up was a three team playoff in Naples to decide the last unlucky loser. The other two teams were Taranto and Campobasso.
On June 27, Lazio lost 0-1 to Taranto with a goal, probably in offside, by De Vitis. 25,000 Lazio fans came back disappointed but there was one last chance, Lazio had to beat Campobasso. The table read Taranto 3 (safe), Campobasso 1, Lazio 0 (Taranto and Campobasso had drawn).
On July 5 the 25,000 Lazio fans returned to Naples for the decisive game. Lazio managed to beat Campobasso 1-0 with a Fabio Poli goal in the 53rd minute and survived. They survived in B but also possibly as a club. A wonderful feat which would be remembered forever. The 1986-87 squad would be legends for life on the biancoceleste side of Rome. "I ragazzi dei -9" are up there with the silverware squads full of stars that would come a decade later. Without the heroes of 1986-87 there is a strong chance none of those glory years would have been possible.
In the following games Cremonese won 5, drew 6 and lost 3 (including the decisive last game 1-2 at home to Pisa) They finished joint 3rd. They went to a three-team playoff with Lecce and Cesena but lost both, 1-4 and 0-1. The top scorer was Marco Nicoletti with 14 league goals.
Cremonese would win promotion to Serie A in 1988-89 and have since had 7 seasons in A (including present one), 11 in B, 14 in C1 and 4 in C2.
Next season Serie A awaited joint champions Pescara and Pisa plus playoff winners Cesena. Lazio had avoided going down to Serie C with Cagliari, Catania, Vicenza and obviously Campobasso.
Let's talk about Raimondo Marino
Raimondo Marino was born in Messina, on February 11, 1961.
He grew up in the Napoli youth sector and made his first team debut in 1979. The manager was first, former Lazio, Luís Vinicio and then, for the last three games, Angelo Sormani. Marino played 7 league games with 1 goal (winner against Milan), 1 in Coppa Italia and 2 in the UEFA Cup. His teammates included Lazio connections Roberto Badiani, Andrea Agostinelli, Claudio Vinazzani and Walter Speggiorin. Napoli finished 10th.
In 1980-81 Napoli finished 3rd (UEFA Cup) under former Lazio player Rino Marchesi. Marino played 13 league games and 4 in Coppa Italia. He played in a defence which included Ruud Krol, Giuseppe Bruscolotti and Moreno Ferrario.
In 1981-82 Napoli finished 4th (UEFA Cup) and Marino played 18 league games with 1 goal (Como), 4 in Coppa Italia and 1 in the UEFA Cup. His teammates included former Lazio, Filippo Citterio.
In 1982-83 former Lazio player Massimo Giacomini arrived as manager but he was replaced at the end of November by Gennaro Rambone (with Bruno Pesaola as TD). The Partenopei finished 10th and Marino played 27 league games with 2 goals (last minute equaliser away at Inter and Roma), 8 in Coppa Italia and 4 in Europe. His teammates included Claudio Vagheggi.
In 1983 Marino was loaned to Catanzaro in Serie B for a year. It was a negative one for "Aquile del Sud" (Eagles of the South) or the slightly exaggerated "Timore del Nord" (Fear of the North) as they were relegated to Serie C. The managers were first Mario Corso and then, after ten games, former Lazio player Antonio Renna. Marino played 35 league games with 5 goals (Campobasso, Como, Cremonese, Arezzo and Sambenedettese).
In 1984-85 he was back in Naples in Serie A. The manager was Marchesi again and the "Azzurri" finished 8th. Marino played 22 league games and 5 in Coppa Italia. His teammates included a character called Diego Armando Maradona.
The 1985-86 would be his last in Naples. The new manager was Ottavio Bianchi and Napoli finished 3rd (UEFA Cup). Marino played 12 league games and 5 in Coppa Italia. Two of his new team mates were Lazio legend Bruno Giordano and former keeper Claudio Garella. The following season Napoli would win the Scudetto but by then Marino had moved on.
In the summer of 1986 he joined Lazio in Serie B. The manager was Eugenio Fascetti and the Biancocelesti had promotion ambitions. Unfortunately before the season they were given a docking of nine points for former player Claudio Vinazzani's alleged involvement in the Totonero-bis scandal. With still only two points for a win this was a heavy handicap. Lazio however had a memorable season. They avoided direct relegation with a dramatic 82nd minute Giuliano Fiorini goal against Vicenza and went to a three team playoff with Taranto and Campobasso, to decide the last team to go down. In Naples in July Lazio first lost 0-1 to Taranto but then beat Campobasso 1-0 with a Fabio Poli winner. An endless and epic season. Marino played 31 league games plus 1 in the playoffs with 3 goals (Pescara, Cremonese and Campobasso) and 2 in Coppa Italia.
In 1987-88 Fascetti stayed on and Lazio won promotion to Serie A. Marino played 36 league games and scored 2 goals (Modena and opened the score in the promotion clincher against Taranto) plus 5 games in Coppa Italia. A big contribution to Lazio’s return to the top flight after three difficult years.
In 1988-89 Fascetti surprisingly left over divergences on market strategies and in came Giuseppe Materazzi. Lazio had a decent first season back and finished 10th. Marino played 26 league games and 8 in Coppa Italia with 2 goals (Messina, Atalanta). The highlight of the season was defeating Roma after ten years with a Paolo Di Canio winner. Marino played the whole game blocking Völler, Conti, Giannini and company.
In 1989-90 he signed for Lecce in Serie A. Under manager Carlo Mazzone the Salentini finished 12th. Marino played 31 league games with 1 goal (Cesena) and 2 games in Coppa Italia. He stayed on the following season, under manager Zbigniew Boniek but the "Lupi" were relegated. Marino played 15 league games with 1 goal (Cagliari) and 5 games in Coppa Italia.
In 1993 he joined L'Aquila in C2. The "Valorosa" (The Valiant) came 6th but was then relegated to Eccellenza (5th tier) due to financial problems. The Rossoblu then finished 3rd and then changed their name to Vis Aquila and in 1995-96 played in the Amateur League. In his three years in Abruzzo he played 28 league games and in his last year was player-manager.
In his early years he also earned two Under-21 caps in 1980.
At the age of 35 Marino retired and went into full time coaching. From 1997 to 2003 he was in Lecce's youth sector. In 2003-04 he coached Napoli Primavera (U19s) and from 2004 to 2006 was involved with Taranto youth sector and then first team. In 2007, towards the end of the season, he became head coach at Ternana in C1 and finished 12th. In 2007-08 he was manager of Gubbio in C2 but did not last the season. In 2009-10 he was coach at Real Squinzano (Lecce) in Promozione (6th tier) and finished 4th. Then from 2010 to 2014 he was back in Lecce's youth sector. From 2017 was involved in Brindisi's youth sector. He is currently working with Cursi (near Lecce) youth sector and Lecce Soccer Academy.
Marino was a central defender but he also could play at left and right full-back. He is 1.88 and 76 kilos. He was a strong and physical defender good at man to man marking. He could however also play the ball from the back and given his height was good in the air. He played 156 games in Serie A.
He was at Lazio only three seasons but they were all important ones. He is one of the -9 heroes who saved the club from relegation. In his second year Lazio won promotion back to Serie A. In his third Lazio were back in the big time and he was captain, with the Biancocelesti experiencing the thrill of winning a local derby for the first time in ten years. Marino is obviously remembered fondly at Lazio.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie A | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
1986-87 | 34 (3) | - | 32 (3) | 2 |
1987-88 | 41 (2) | - | 36 (2) | 5 |
1988-89 | 34 (2) | 26 | - | 8 (2) |
Total | 109 (7) | 26 | 68 (5) | 15 (2) |
Sources
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