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Writer's pictureDag Jenkins

November 21, 1976: Napoli Lazio 1-1

Garlasca salvages point in Naples


A late Garlaschelli header gives Lazio a good point



Also on this day:



The season so far


Lazio had finished 13th the previous season. It had been a difficult season due to Tommaso Maestrelli's illness. Lazio had started the season with Giulio Corsini in charge but he had clashed with the old guard players especially Giorgio Chinaglia and left in early December.

 

At this point Maestrelli surprisingly returned seemingly in better health. Lazio however struggled all season and in April Chinaglia left to play for the New York Cosmos. Lazio ultimately avoided relegation in a dramatic last game of the season 2-2 draw at Como.

 

This season Maestrelli was replaced by Brazilian Luís Vinicio. The main new players were keeper Claudio Garella (Novara), defender Dario Pighin (Palermo), midfielders Franco "Ciccio" Cordova (free agent), Fernando Viola (Cagliari) and forward Renzo Rossi (Como).


Cordova was a free agent but he was actually a rare arrival from Roma where he was captain. He had fallen out with president Gaetano Anzalone who had then tried to sell him to Verona but he refused. To stay in Rome and as payback to Anzalone he then signed for Lazio.

 

Leaving were keeper Avelino Moriggi (Novara), defender Sergio Petrelli (Anconitana), midfielder Sergio Borgo (Pistoiese) and forward Giovanni Carlo Ferrari (Cagliari).

 

The season had started with the Coppa Italia in August-September. Lazio had won 2 (Novara 3-2 at home and Catania 3-1 away) and lost 2 (Atalanta 1-2 away and Milan 1-2 at home) and were eliminated.

 

In Serie A, despite losing the opener (Juventus 2-3 at home), Lazio were doing well. After losing their debut the Biancocelesti had won 3 (Fiorentina 1-0 away, Bologna 3-0 and Perugia 1-0 at home) and drawn 1 (Sampdoria 0-0). Lazio were currently 4th on 7 points.

 

Napoli had finished 5th the previous season under current Lazio manager Luis Vinicio. The Azzurri had beaten Lazio twice in the league, both times 1-0. The Partenopei had won the Coppa Italia defeating Verona 4-0 (but under coaches Alberto Delfrati and Rosario Rivellino).

 

This year the manager was Bruno Pesaola who had already been a Napoli player (1952-60) and manager (1962-63, 1964-68) and won a Scudetto with Fiorentina (1968-69). The main new arrivals were defender Sauro Catellani (Verona), midfielders Claudio Vinazzani (Massese), forwards Walter Speggiorin (Fiorentina) and Walter Chiarugi (Milan).

 

Leaving Naples were defenders Spartaco Landini (retiring), Luigi Punziano (Bari), midfielders Luigi Boccolini (Catanzaro), forwards Giorgio Braglia (Milan) and Giannantonio Sperotto (Catanzaro).

 

The Campani had started well in the league and were unbeaten. They had won 3 (including Milan 3-1 at home) and drawn 2. Napoli were 3rd on 8 points.

 

Napoli had also begun their European campaign in the Cup Winners Cup. So far, they had eliminated Bodø-Glimt (Norway) 3-0 and APOEL (Cyprus) 3-1, both on aggregate. Next up would be Śląsk Breslavia (Poland) in the quarter finals in March.

 

So, a big clash today in Serie A between the 3rd and 4th placed clubs.

 

The match: Sunday, November 21, 1976, Stadio San Paolo, Naples


A big crowd of 70,000 turned up for this high table clash. The weather unfortunately did not help the spectacle. It had rained heavily all morning and continued on and off all afternoon. The pitch was almost unplayable but the referee decided the game should take place.

 

Napoli were without midfielder and captain Antonio Juliano and forward Luciano Chiarugi, replaced by future Lazio players Claudio Vinazzani and Walter Speggiorin. Lazio had Luciano Re Cecconi and Vincenzo D'Amico out and played Gigi Martini in an uncharacteristic number 10 shirt but in the end he had mainly defensive tasks.

 

Lazio started well and in the 2nd minute Andrea Agostinelli got a shot in from close range but Pietro Carmignani saved into corner. In the 6th minute the keeper again saved, this time from Paolo Ammoniaci.

 

In the 8th minute there was a prolonged scramble in the Lazio area but neither Giuseppe Massa nor Beppe Savoldi could get a winning touch and, in the end, Felice Pulici got hold of the ball.

 

In the 15th minute the hosts went close. Esposito floated in a freekick and a Walter Speggiorin header forced Pulici into an excellent save.

 

The game then died down and possibly due to the conditions not much happened up to halftime. Napoli 0 Lazio 0.

 

In the second half Napoli attacked more and Lazio were forced to defend with the occasional foray on the break.

 

In the 72nd minute the Partenopei's pressure paid off. Claudio Vinazzani set up Speggiorin who went past a defender and from a difficult angle near the left by-line slotted a low shot into the net. Napoli 1 Lazio 0.

 

Napoli clearly had orders to continue attacking but started to tire. Lazio realised the hosts had given all they could on the heavy pitch and took advantage.

 

In the 86th minute Andrea Agostinelli went down the right and crossed from near the corner flag, the ball reached Renzo Garlaschelli whose header was weak but as it hit the ground it skidded and sped up beating Carmignani. Napoli 1 Lazio 1.

 

Neither side now had any more energy after playing on a mud slick for 90 minutes and the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

 

Lazio were more pleased than Napoli with the point. The Azzurri would have won on points and Lazio’s goal came late but all in all it was a fair result.

 

Lazio were still 4th and Napoli 3rd.

 

Who played for Napoli


Carmignani, Bruscolotti, La Palma, Burgnich, Vavassori, Orlandini, Massa, Esposito, Savoldi, Vinazzani, Speggiorin

Substitutes Favaro, Catellani, Montefusco

Manager: Pesaola

 

Who played for Lazio


Substitutes: Garella, Lopez, Viola

Manager: Vinicio

 

Referee: Menicucci


Goals: 72' Speggiorin, 86' Garlaschelli


What happened next 


Tommaso Maestrelli died on December 2, 1976.

 

Yet another tragedy hit Lazio on January 18, 1977. One of their star players Luciano Re Cecconi died tragically at 28. He was shot by a jeweller in a shop in north Rome. Initially it seemed it may have been a prank gone wrong and that Re Cecconi had jokingly simulated a hold up, pretending to have a gun in his coat pocket. This has since been challenged, especially by his teammate Pietro Ghedin who was with him at the time. It emerged that the jeweller just panicked, he had already shot at someone before and was on edge, while the Lazio player had done nothing suspicious at all. It did not help that the jeweller did not follow football and so did not recognise "Cecco" who had even played for the national team. The sad fact remains that Re Cecconi died at 28.

 

On the field Lazio had a good season and finished 5th (UEFA Cup), helped by young rising stars from the academy Bruno Giordano, Lionello Manfredonia and Andrea Agostinelli. A week later they won the derby 1-0 (Giordano). In the end Lazio won 10, drew 11 and lost 9. Top scorer was Giordano with 13 goals (10 in A).

 

Napoli finished 7th. They won 9, drew 11(including Lazio 0-0 away) and lost 9. Top scorer was Beppe Savoldi with 17 (16 in A).

 

Napoli had a good run in Europe. They reached the semi-finals but lost 1-2 to Anderlecht (Belgium) on aggregate.

 

In Serie A the winners were Juventus who won their 17th title. Leaving were Cesena, Catanzaro and Sampdoria.


Let's talk about Walter Speggiorin


Source Wikipedia

Walter Speggiorin was born in Camisano Vicentino (Vicenza), on December 16, 1952.

 

His early football was played with the Vicenza youth setup and in 1968-69 he joined the first team squad but did not make his league debut.

 

In 1969 he joined Genoa where he stayed three seasons. The Rossoblu were in Serie B but got relegated. They came straight back up again and then finished 8th. Speggiorin played 52 league games with 14 goals. His promotion manager was Arturo Silvestri who also stayed the following year. In his third year his teammates included future Lazio manager, Gigi Simoni (1985-86).

 

In 1972-73 he returned to Vicenza for a season. The "Lane" were in Serie A and finished 13th under, first former Lazio player Gianni Seghedoni (1-8) and then Héctor Puricelli (9-30). Speggiorin played 14 league games with 1 goal (Lazio).

 

In 1973 he joined Fiorntina where he stayed three seasons. The Viola finished 6th, 8th and 9th and won the Coppa Italia in 1975. Speggiorin played 52 league games with 8 goals, 19 games in Coppa Italia with 2 goals, 2 in the UEFA Cup, 3 in the Cup Winners Cup with 1 goal and 4 in the Mitropa Cup. He also scored the winner in the Italo-English league final against West-Ham United. His managers were Gigi Radice, Nereo Rocco and Carlo Mazzone. His teammates included Lazio connections Mauro Della Martira (1983-84), Domenico Caso (1985-88), Pietro Ghedin briefly (1974-79, 1980-81).

 

In 1976 he joined Napoli for a season. The Partenopei finished 7th in Serie A and reached the semi-finals of the Cup Winners Cup. Speggiorin played 19 league games with 4 goals (Lazio, Milan, Cesena and Bologna), 5 games in Coppa Italia and 3 in Europe. He again scored in the Italo-English league cup final getting a brace against Southampton. The manager was Bruno Pesaola while one of his teammates was future Lazio Claudio Vinazzani.

 

In 1977 he joined Perugia where he had his best years. He stayed two seasons and the Biancorossi finished 7th and 2nd, under Ilario Castagner. It was the "Perugia dei Miracoli" that finished unbeaten in 1978-79. Speggiorin played 44 league games and was top scorer both seasons with 8 and 9 goals.

 

In 1979 he returned to Napoli but was not as successful. The Azzurri finished 10th and 3rd in the two seasons he was there but Speggiorin only scored 3 league goals (Udinese, Roma, Bologna) in 38 appearances plus 1 goal in Coppa Italia. His managers were Luis Vinicio and Angelo Sormani the first year and Rino Marchesi in the second. His teammates included Lazio connections; Raimondo Marino (1986-89), Andrea Agostinelli (1975-79), Roberto Badiani (1974-79, 1981-83) and Oscar Damiani (1985-86).

 

In 1981 Speggiorin joined Lazio in Serie B where he was reunited with manager Ilario Castagner. It was a disappointing season. Castagner was sacked in February and Lazio finished 11th. Speggiorin played 21 league games with 2 goals (Pescara and spectacular bicycle kick against Pisa) and 3 games in Coppa Italia. He was not a success and the following year with the return of Bruno Giordano he moved on.

 

His last club was Massese where he spent his last two years of career. The zebras were in the 5th tier and won promotion. The Apuani then finished 12th in C2. Speggiorin played 20 league games with 1 goal.

 

He then retired at 31.

 

Speggiorin was a forward. He was a physical player at 1.82 and 76 kilos but well known for his acrobatic skills. He played 167 games in Serie A with 33 goals and 49 in B with 7 goals. He also played 1 game for Italy U21's, scoring in a game against France

 

In the late 1970's he was a respected striker, especially after his Perugia days and there was a certain excitement when he arrived at Lazio. It was thought that in Serie B and with Castagner he could make a positive impact. He did not and, apart from an incredible bicycle kick goal against Pisa, he was a failure in Rome. In his defence the whole team had a poor year.


Lazio Career

Season

Total appearances (goals)

Serie B

Coppa Italia

1981-82

24 (2)

21 (2)

3

Sources



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