May 13, 1984: Pisa-Lazio 2-2

Dag Jenkins
May 13
8 min read

Updated: May 23

SERIE A for another year!!

With two Giordano goals Lazio clinch crucial point which means survival in the top flight

Player of the day: Alessandro Piconi

Also on this day:

May 13, 2009, Lazio Sampdoria 1-1 (6-5 on pens) Coppa Italia Final. A seemingly endless penalty roulette goes Lazio's way after a 1-1 draw.
May 13, 1979, Lazio Milan 1-1. An enjoyable game ends in a draw that pleases everyone.

The season so far

Lazio were finally back in Serie A after three difficult years in the second division, the "purgatory" of Serie B.

The legendary Giorgio Chinaglia was back as president with promises of massive American partners investing in Lazio's bright future.

The summer market had seen major changes to the squad. The main arrivals were defenders Daniele Filisetti (Atalanta), Massimo Piscedda (back from loan-Sanremese), midfielders Joāo Batista (Palmeiras and Brazilian national), Angelo Cupini (Cavese), Rinaldo Piraccini (Pistoiese), Claudio Vinazzani (Napoli) plus forward Michael Laudrup (loan for 2 years- Juventus).

So, apart from a young Laudrup and the experience of Batista, not much to get excited about, but at this point the Laziali had blind faith in Long John Chinaglia. Giancarlo Morrone, who had substituted Roberto Clagluna towards the end of the previous season, had been confirmed.

Leaving Lazio were several Serie B faithful: keeper Maurizio Moscatelli (Cavese- he never really recovered from his serious injury), defenders Ernesto Calisti (loan-Cavese), Carlo Perrone and Paolo Pochesci (both to Ascoli), Marco Saltarelli (Monza), midfielders Roberto Badiani (Vigor Senigallia), Maurizio Montesi (retired), Roberto Tavola (end of loan-Juventus), forwards Claudio Ambu (Monza), Stefano Chiodi (Prato) and Leonardo Surro (Siena).

No great losses for various reasons: injuries (Moscatelli and Montesi), age (Badiani), unfulfilled potential (Pochesci, Perrone and Saltarelli) or lack of Serie A quality (Chiodi, Tavola and Surro). The one player Lazio fans were extremely sad to see leave was Enrico Vella when he left in the autumn for Atalanta.

Whatever opinion was given to the squad, Lazio came into the season with great enthusiasm and packed out the Olimpico in the early games. The long-awaited return to Serie A and even more so that of Chinaglia were enough to excite even the most laid-back fans.

In Coppa Italia, in August and early September, Lazio had been eliminated in a group with: Catanzaro 0-0, Perugia 2-0, Taranto 0-1, Bari 0-0 and Juventus 1-1.

So far, the season in Serie A had, as expected, been difficult. Lazio lost the first but then surprisingly crushed Inter 3-0 at home. It was an illusion as Lazio then struggled.

In December, Morrone was replaced by Paolo Carosi and things were not helped by Bruno Giordano breaking his leg at Ascoli on December 31. After the 15 away fixtures the Biancocelesti were 15th (out of 16), on 9 points, but only 2 from safety. In the first 6 return games Lazio had then picked up 7 points (including two wins, an away draw at Inter and a recent draw in the derby in ten men). There was still hope.

Lazio had then drawn 0-0 at home to Milan but then collapsed 0-3 to relegation rivals Avellino.

Lazio had then drawn 0-0 at home to Milan but then collapsed 0-3 to relegation rivals Avellino. There followed three crucial wins (Torino Napoli and Ascoli, all at home), a draw (Catania away) and two defeats (Fiorentina and Udinese away).

On April 15 Giordano had finally come back from injury to give Lazio extra hope of staying. The previous week's 2-1 home win against Ascoli meant Lazio travelled up to Pisa with their fate in their own hands.

For 3 relegation places the table read: Catania 12 (down), Pisa 21 (down), Genoa 23, Lazio 24, Avellino 25. The games were Pisa-Lazio, Genoa-Juventus (already champions) and Avellino-Fiorentina. Lazio were ahead in the direct matches with Genoa but behind with Avellino. A Sunday not for the faint hearted.

Pisa had finished 11th the previous season under former Lazio manager Luís Vinicio.

This season the manager was initially Bruno Pace then the Brazilian had returned before being replaced by Pace again. The main new players were: midfielders Patrizio Sala (Fiorentina), Antonio Criscimanni (Napoli) and Roberto Scarnecchia (Napoli) plus Dutch forward Wim Kieft (Ajax). The main player leaving was midfielder Pasquale Casale (Napoli).

Unfortunately, the season had not gone well for the Nerazzurri. They were already down after only 3 wins (including Lazio 1-0), 15 draws and 11 defeats.

In Coppa Italia the Tuscans had been eliminated in the first group phase after 1 win (Campania 3-0) and 4 defeats (Triestina 1-3, Pistoiese 0-5 and Sampdoria 0-1 away and Cremonese 2-3 at home).

Lazio went up to Pisa with huge motivations, thousands of fans and the knowledge that a win against an already relegated side would keep them up. Would it be enough?

The match: Sunday, May 13, 1984, Stadio Arena Garibaldi, Pisa

A mass exodus of Lazio fans accompanied the team to Tuscany. At least 10,000 Laziali had made the trip including my brother and I. The Arena Garibaldi was almost entirely light blue and white.

It was a nice and sunny day near the leaning tower and there was optimism in the air.

Things seemed to be looking up when the radios announced Juventus had taken the lead with Antonio Cabrini at Marassi after 7 minutes. Only three minutes later however, Genoa equalised with a Beniamino Vignola own goal. The goal was welcomed by a huge cheer by the locals which did nothing to ease the tension between the two factions.

So back to square one, until only a minute later, in the 11th minute, when Bruno Giordano scored for Lazio with a header from a Vincenzo D'Amico free kick. Lazio controlled Pisa's attempts without excessive difficulty and seemed to have things under control. Half time Pisa 0 Lazio 1 and Genoa 1 Juventus 1; Lazio 26 points, Genoa 24. Things were looking good.

At the beginning of the second half however, Pisa equalised with a controversial goal by Danish Klaus Bergreen who seemed to score with his arm. So, 1-1, but Lazio were still safe.

Pisa pushed forward looking to go down with dignity and a win. Luca Birigozzi in the 52nd minute shot over the bar from a favourable position and five minutes later he had the mother of all chances. He found himself with an open goal with only Lazio's Joāo Batista on the goal line but somehow managed to get his shot cleared by the Brazilian. One of those chances that are easier to score than miss.

Having seen hell's door opening Lazio turned up the pressure and were rewarded in the 67th minute. Lionello Manfredonia was fouled in the area for a clear penalty. Giordano's low spot kick was not impeccable but went under keeper Alessandro Mannini for the 2-1.

Lazio then got a third, but Michael Laudrup had his goal ruled out for offside. Still, going into the last two or three minutes, the situation seemed under control, Lazio were winning and Genoa drawing.

In the 87th and 88th minutes Lazio made two substitutions: Mario Piga for Angelo Cupini and keeper Massimo Cacciatori for Fernando Orsi.

Then in the 89th minute Stefano Bosetti scored for Genoa against the Italian Champions, Juventus. No panic, Lazio were still a point ahead. There was more drama in the 90th minute as Pisa equalised with Ferruccio Mariani. Lazio 25 points and Genoa 25 points. A goal by either Pisa or Genoa would send Lazio down.

A very tense few minutes of injury time saw Lazio hold on for their sacred point and Genoa failed to get a winner so Lazio were safe. The decider would not be goal difference (as in UK for example) but the direct matches in the league (0-0 and 2-1 to Lazio). The win over Genoa in January turned out to be a lifesaver for Lazio.

The fans were ecstatic and Giorgio Chinaglia went down to the pitch to celebrate with the players.

On the way home on the motorway, Long John bombed past us in his Jaguar, with Felice Pulici, waving and tooting his car horn at our supporters' bus. All was good.

Lazio stayed in Serie A after 8 wins, 9 draws and 13 defeats. The top scorers were Laudrup and Giordano with 8 league goals.

All may have been good, however, dark clouds were already looming in Lazio's future but that's another story.

Pisa had ended the season with dignity. They finished 15th, on 22 points after 3 wins, 16 draws and 11 defeats. Top scorers were Klaus Berggreen and Wim Kieft with 7 goals (Berggreen all in A).

Who played for Pisa

Mannini, Longobardo, Azzali, Garuti, Dianda, Armenise (82' Gori) Berggreen, Criscimanni, Birigozzi, Sorbi, Mariani

Substitutes: Buso, Pellicciotti, Giovanelli

Manager: Pace

Who played for Lazio

Orsi (88' Cacciatori), Podavini, Filisetti, Piscedda, Batista, Vinazzani, Cupini (87' Piga), Manfredonia, Giordano, Laudrup, D'Amico

Substitutes: Miele, Marini, Piconi

Manager: Carosi

Referee: D'Elia

Goals: 11' Giordano, 47' Berggreen. 67' Giordano (pen), 90' Mariani

What happened next

The Scudetto was won by Juventus for the 21st time. As mentioned the three clubs Lazio had managed to avoid as travelling companions to Serie B were Catania, Pisa and Genoa.

The following season the tables would turn as Lazio would be relegated while Pisa would bounce straight back up to Serie A.

Let’s talk about Antonio Piconi

Antonio Piconi was born in Rome on August 10, 1965.

He played his early football with Olimpia (Rome) and then joined Lazio at 17.

He was part of the 1983-84 squad and was an unused substitute twice. Lazio avoided relegation in the last game of the season. His managers were first Juan Carlos Morrone and then Paolo Carosi.

In 1984-85 he took part in the Lazio pre-season training camp under Carosi but then joined Rondinella (Florence) in Serie C1. He played 21 league games and the Biancorossi finished 11th.

In 1985-86 he also prepared for the season with Lazio under Gigi Simoni but then went out on loan again, this time to Mestre in C2. He played 20 league games and the Arancioneri finished 9th. One of his two managers was future Lazio, Edy Reja (2010-12, 2014).

In 1986-87 he was back at Lazio. The Biancocelesti were now in their second year in Serie B but with a new manager Eugenio Fascetti and a heavy nine-point docking due to a betting scandal. He played one league game against Pescara as substitute and one in Coppa Italia but in October was sold to Alessandria in Serie C2. He played 20 league games with 3 goals and the Grigi finished 16th (relegated but then stayed up due to other clubs' financial problems). His managers were Amilcare Ferretti and then Alessandria legend Antonio Colombo.

In 1987-88 he played for Civitavecchia (a port town near Rome) in Serie C2. He played 24 league games with 1 goal but the Nerazzurri were relegated.

He too went down a category and played two seasons for Avezzano at Interregionale level (5th tier), playing 53 league games with 5 goals.

His last club was Marino near Rome, again in Interregionale, in 1991-92. He played 19 league games.

He then retired at 27.

Piconi was a midfielder. He had a career in the lower divisions but never made it at a high level. He did however have the satisfaction of being in the same squad as the likes of Bruno Giordano, Lionello Manfredonia, Vincenzo D'Amico and Michael Laudrup.