Milan in trouble, Lazio see UEFA Cup

Simon Basten
Apr 24, 2024
2 min read

Season 1976-77

Game 26, Serie A

Sunday, April 24, 1977

Stadio San Siro, Milan

Milan Lazio 2-2

A Giordano brace gives Lazio a precious draw and allows the Biancocelesti to continue to dream of a UEFA Cup qualification.

Lazio had started well and beating Roma at the end of November they were third. But then they had stopped winning and finished the first half of the season in 6th place. It took them nine games to win again (4-1 vs Fiorentina) and by now they were 8th but not too far off a possible UEFA Cup qualification, just a point away.

Milan on the other hand were in trouble. Just two points ahead of the relegation zone.

The match

Lazio started well and Andrea Agostinelli had a chance in the 4th minute with a shot that was well saved by Enrico Albertosi. Milan reacted and, in the 13th minute scored. Egidio Calloni took a corner, the ball reached the far post and Alberto Bigon headed it in. Perhaps Felice Pulici could have done better here.

The Biancocelesti stirred and in the 20th minute a Renzo Rossi header was saved on the line by Angelo Anquilletti with Albertosi beaten. Milan scored again with Bigon four minutes later but Agnolin saw the Rossonero forward foul Luigi Polentes in the build-up. The goal did come anyway on the half hour. Bigon was fouled just outside the box and while the Biancocelesti were organising the wall, Fabio Capello passed to Gianni Rivera alone in the box who easily beat Pulici.

At this point Lazio decided to push forward and Milan retreated. In the 44th minute, Fernando Viola passed to Roberto Badiani who once in the box crossed low and Bruno Giordano reduced the deficit.

At the beginning of the second half splendid pass from Rivera to Calloni who in front of Pulici decided to go for power rather than precision and the ball ended up in the stands. In the 55th minute Aldo Bet fell asleep on the left, Agostinelli dispossessed him, ran towards the middle and crossed for Giordano who with a splendid volley beat Albertosi for the second time.

Bruno-gol almost made it three in the 71st minute when from the right he dribbled past Fulvio Collovati, moved towards the box watched by Anquiletti at a distance and tried a shot which Albertosi managed to parry into corner.

Milan had the final match point. Simone Boldini to Calloni who turned and tried a shot, well saved by Pulici, the ball reached Bigon who tried a volley deflected by Luigi Martini but the Lazio keeper was ready again.

Excellent point for the Biancocelesti who had now caught up with Roma and were only one point away from a UEFA Cup qualification with four games to go. Milan still in trouble.

Who played for Milan

Albertosi, Collovati (75' Boldini S.), Maldera III, Anquilletti, Bet, Biasiolo, Morini G., Capello, Bigon, Rivera, Calloni

Substitutes: Rigamonti, Silva

TD: Rocco

Who played for Lazio

Pulici, Ammoniaci (55' Ghedin), Martini, Polentes, Manfredonia, Cordova, Rossi R, Agostinelli, Giordano, Viola, Badiani