May 27, 1978: Beerschot Antwerp - Lazio 2-2, Summer Cup
- Dag Jenkins
- 9 hours ago
- 5 min read
Lazio go close to Summer glory
The Biancocelesti have to settle for 2nd place not helped by local referee
The season so far
The Summer Cup was an International tournament organised by the Swiss Football Federation. It had taken over from the Rappan Cup and would later evolve into the UEFA Intertoto Cup. It started in 1967 and this was Lazio's first participation. There was no final phase and the winners of the 12 groups would all receive a trophy and an economic reward.
Lazio had finished their league season on May 8 and arrived 10th, on 26 points (+ 1 on relegation). The Biancocelesti had won 8 (including Juventus 3-0, Milan 2-0, Inter 1-0 all at home and Milan away), drawn 12 (including both derbies) and lost 10. The manager was first Luís Vinicio (1-24) and then Bob Lovati. The Top scorer was Bruno Giordano with 19 goals (12 in A).
In the UEFA Cup, Lazio had been knocked out by Lens 2-6 on aggregate (with four goals in extra-time). Lazio had previously defeated Boavista 5-1 on aggregate.
In today's tournament Lazio had already played five games with 4 wins (Nantes home and away both 2-1, Sparta Rotterdam 3-2 at home and 2-1 away) and 1 defeat (today's opposition Beerschot Antwerp 2-3 at home). Giordano had scored another 6 goals.
Beerschot Antwerp (from the Wilrijk area) had finished 6th in the Belgian top flight.
In this tournament so far, the Purple White Army had won 4 (Nantes home and away both 2-1, Lazio 3-2 and Sparta Rotterdam 3-1 away) and lost 1 (Sparta Rotterdam 1-2 at home).
The table read Beerschot Antwerp 8 (+4 gd), Lazio 8 (+3), Sparta Rotterdam 4 (+1), Nantes 0 (-8).
To win the group Lazio had to clinch two points in Belgium today as they had an inferior goal difference.
The match: Saturday, May 27, 1978, Olympisch Stadion, Antwerp
Lazio were missing captain Pino Wilson, in the US playing for New York Cosmos, and Lionello Manfredonia, involved in the World Cup, but otherwise fielded a strong side.
Lazio started the game as if it were a summer friendly but gradually grew into the game. The Biancocelesti took the lead in the 31st minute when Bruno Giordano superbly volleyed in a Renzo Garlaschelli cross, 0-1.
Lazio controlled the proceedings and went to the break one-nil up.
In the second half the hosts were more aggressive and equalised in the 56th minute with Juan Lozano, 1-1.
Lazio needed a win and with Giordano on top form took back the lead in the 64th minute, 1-2.
The referee then missed a deliberate off the ball foul by Lozano on Andrea Agostinelli as he pretended he had not seen it.
Three minutes later Agostinelli was off himself. He received a somewhat harsh second booking and was thus shown a red card.
In ten men Lazio only resisted for three minutes but again the referee was the protagonist.
In the 79th minute the ball accidentally hit Gigi Martini's arm and the Belgian ref, even to the surprise of the local fans, awarded a spot kick. Lozano stepped up and got his brace, 2-2.
The game had little more to say as Lazio with one man less lacked the strength to chase a winner and "de Kielse Ratten" were pleased with a point. The only thing to note was a substitution by the Flemish, as in the 82nd minute they brought on Schranen for Der Haet.
Final score: Beerschot Antwerp 2, Lazio 2.
The game had been relatively even but the referee's decisions had possibly denied Lazio the win.
Final table: Beerschot Antwerp 9 (+4), Lazio 9 (+3), Sparta Rotterdam 5 (+1), Nantes 1 (-8). The Belgians therefore won the group by one goal.
Who played for Beerschot Antwerp
Laurissen, Van Landeghem, Sanon, Toisa, Meeuws, Der Haet (82' Schraenen), Lambert, Lozano, Cabral, Mucher, Van Pelt
Manager: Coppens
Who played for Lazio
Garella, Ghedin, Martini, Perrone, Pighin, Cordova, Garlaschelli, Agostinelli, Giordano, Lopez, Badiani
Manager: Lovati
Referee: Van Langenhove
Goals: 31' Giordano, 56' Lozano, 64' Giordano, 78' Lozano (pen)
Red Card: 67' Agostinelli
What happened next
The following year Lovati would stay on and Lazio finished 8th in Serie A. Giordano continued to flourish and was top Serie A scorer with 19 league goals.
Beerschot Antwerp would finish 12th the following season but won the Belgian Cup defeating Club Bruges 1-0. They are currently in the Challenger Pro League, the 2nd tier of Belgian football.
The other group winners were; Újpesti Dózsa, MTK Budapest, Perugia, Saarbrücken, Royal Antwerp, Utrecht, RWD Molenbeek, Honvéd, Ferencváros, Lens and Bochum.
The clubs that did not win included; Bayern Munich, Atalanta, Werder Bremen, Olympique Lyonnais, Olympique Marseille, Duisburg, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Saint Étienne and Roma.
Let's talk about Silvano Pivotto
Silvano Pivotto was born in the seaside town of Terracina just south of Rome, on November 12, 1958.
At 15 he joined the Lazio youth sector and in 1975-76 won the Primavera Scudetto (U19s) under Paolo Carosi. His teammates included Massimo De Stefanis, Andrea Agostinelli, Bruno Giordano, Lionello Manfredonia and Maurizio Montesi.
In 1977-78 Pivotto was part of Lazio's first team squad but never made his debut. He then left Rome.
In 1978-79 he played for Campobasso in Serie C1. He played 25 league games with 2 goals (Paganese x2). The Wolves from Molise finished 4th under manager Pietro Fontana.
In 1979-80 he was with Sambenedettese in Serie B. He only played 4 league games and the Rossoblu were relegated. The manager was first Pietro Moroso (1-6) and then Marino Bergamasco. The squad included future top goalkeeper Stefano Tacconi.
In 1980-81 Pivotto played for Siracusa in Sicily in Serie C1. He played 30 league games under three different managers (former Lazio Carlo Facchin, Paolo Lombardo and Bruno Pesaola). The Aretusei were relegated. The squad included former Lazio, Antonio Labonia (1978-80) and future Juventus Luciano Favero as well as future Lazio sporting director Walter Sabatini (2004-2008).
In 1981-82 Pivotto spent a season with Civitanovese in C1. He played 34 league games under manager Gianni Balugani unfortunately with another relegation.
In 1982 he signed for Campobasso again, in Serie B and stayed five seasons. He played 144 league games with 2 goals (Atalanta, Pistoiese). The Rossoblu finished 13th, 7th, 13th, 10th and finally relegated (in the famous playoff against Lazio). His managers included: Antonio Pasinato (two full seasons), Giancarlo Cadè, Bruno Mazzia, Tord Grip, Pietro Fontana and Giampietro Vitali. The various squads included Lazio connections Claudio Vagheggi (1981-82) and Paolo Pochesci (1979-83). In the historic playoff of July 5 1987 against Lazio Pivotto was an unused substitute.
In 1987-88 he played for Perugia in Serie C2. The Grifoni won the league under Mario Colautti and were promoted to C1. Pivotto played 19 league games and his teammates included future Lazio, Fabrizio Ravanelli (1999-2001) and also future Juventus and Italy, Angelo Di Livio.
In 1988-89 he was with Campania Puteolana in C2. The manager was former Napoli player Cané and the Red won the league and promotion to C1. Pivotto played 28 league games.
In 1989-90 Pivotto then played one last season with Latina, just south of Rome, in Serie C2. He played 26 league games and the Pontini finished 10th under former Lazio player Piero Cucchi (1967-69).
Pivotto then retired at 31.
Pivotto was a midfielder. A solid, hardworking, no frills player. He started at Lazio but did not make it with the Biancocelesti first team. Instead he had a decent career in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th tiers of Italian football. He played six seasons and 148 games in Serie B and also won two promotions to C1.
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