October 19 1969: Lazio -Fiorentina 5-1
"Manita" to champions
Despite falling behind early Lazio bury Fiorentina with five goals
The season so far
Lazio were newly promoted after a year in the purgatory of Serie B. They had won the championship and promotion under Juan Carlos Lorenzo. He had only been allowed to sit on the bench from March 30 as foreigners were not officially allowed to be managers so, until he obtained his passport, Roberto Lovati had carried out the Sunday afternoon dug out duties.
This year officially the manager was Bob Lovati and the technical director was Juan Carlos Lorenzo who was basically in charge. The most important changes had been made to the squad. Lazio had brought in some players who would prove to change the entire club's history.
An unknown young forward called Giorgio Chinaglia was signed from third division Internapoli. Also from the Neapolitan club arrived defender Giuseppe Wilson. Both players had British connections; Chinaglia grew up in South-Wales while Wilson was born in Darlington to an English father and Neapolitan mother. These two facts would later be one of the reasons for myself becoming a lifelong Lazio fan.
Along with the two "Brits" Lazio had added other players: defender and local lad Giancarlo Oddi (Sora - back from loan), defender Giuseppe Papadopulo (Livorno), goalkeeper Michelangelo Sulfaro (Sambenedettese) plus, in the autumn session, defender Luigi Polentes (Perugia) and above all, midfielder Franco Nanni (Trapani) would also arrive. Four of these players; Chinaglia, Wilson, Oddi and Nanni would play key roles some years later in Lazio's Scudetto winning team.
The main players leaving were defenders Pietro Fontana (Ternana), Guido Onor (Juventus-end of loan) and above all Diego Zanetti (Vicenza - after 248 league games for Lazio), midfielder Elio Rinero (Juventus - end of loan) plus in the autumn defenders Carlo Soldo (Monza) and Pietro Adorni (Piacenza), midfielder Piero Cucchi (Ternana) plus forward Arrigo Dolso (Monza - on loan) would also leave.
Lazio's Coppa Italia had started on August 31 with a 0-1 defeat at Perugia. The Biancocelesti then drew 0-0 at Ternana and lost 0-1 to Roma (then changed to 0-2 for floodlights failure) and were eliminated.
In Serie A so far Lazio won 2 (Milan and Sampdoria both 1-0 at home), drawn 1 (Torino 1-1 at home on debut) and lost 2 (Bologna and Cagliari both 0-1 away). The Biancocelesti were joint 6th (with Vicenza, Verona, Bari, Roma and Torino) on 5 points.
Fiorentina were reigning champions. They had won their second Scudetto, under Bruno Pesaola (the first in 1956 under Fulvio Bernardini). "La Viola" had won 16, drawn 13 and only lost 1 (Bologna 1-3 at home). The top scorer was former Lazio, Mario Maraschi with 16 goals (14 in A).
This season Pesaola stayed on. The main novelties to the squad were: defenders Fabrizio Berni and Giuseppe Longoni (Cagliari) and in the autumn defender Francesco Carpenetti (Roma).
Leaving Florence were defenders Eraldo Mancin (Cagliari) and Paolino Stanzial (Livorno - on loan).
A pretty much unchanged squad to defend their Scudetto.
In Serie A Fiorentina had won 4 (Verona and Sampdoria 1-0 at home, Napoli 1-0 and Vicenza 2-1 away) and lost 1 (Cagliari 0-1 at home recently). The "Gigliati" were joint 2nd (with Inter) on 8 points (behind surprising leaders Cagliari on 9).
In the European Cup they passed the round of 32 by defeating Swedish club Öster (Växjö) 3-1 on aggregate. Next up would be Dinamo Kyiv in November.
In Coppa Italia they were through to the second group phase. In the first they won 2 (Arezzo 2-0 away and Bari 7-0 at home) and drew 1 (Livorno 0-0 away). In the quarterfinals they would play Varese.
So a newly promoted team against the champions. Fiorentina had shown they were beatable a week earlier by losing at home to Cagliari. The Florentines however were unbeaten for 17 months away from home.
The match: Sunday, October 19, 1969, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A sunny day attracted about 55,000 spectators to the Olimpico.
Lazio were missing defender Giuseppe Papadopulo.
Fiorentina were without midfielders Francesco Rizzo and Claudio Merlo plus forward Amarildo.
The champions started well and after three minutes were already in front. It was however a goal shrouded in controversy. Giorgio Mariani crossed for Mario Maraschi who inadvertently set up Luciano Chiarugi but the Tuscan striker then clearly touched the ball with his arm before beating Rosario Di Vincenzo with a precise left footed strike, 0-1. The Lazio players protested furiously but the goal stood.
Lazio were in disarray and Fiorentina almost doubled with attempts by Salvatore Esposito just wide, Pierluigi Cencetti just high and Chiarugi high again.
After about fifteen minutes Lazio finally entered the fray with shots by Gian Piero Ghio, Piero Cucchi and Giorgio Chinaglia.
Lazio equalised in the 17th minute. Pino Wilson won two challenges on the left and passed to Nello Governato, "Il Professore" battled with Cencetti and Ugo Ferrante and when he reached the byline he hit something between a cross and a shot which surprised Franco Superchi and went in, 1-1.
Lazio were galvanised and four minutes later took the lead. Giuseppe Massa started the move, Carlo Soldo continued it and Cucchi let off a powerful shot which Superchi parried but the ball came back to Cucchi who scored with his second attempt, 2-1.
Fiorentina tried to react but Wilson was at the top of his game and commanded Lazio's defence with authority.
In the 26th minute Lazio got their third. Ghio weaved his way past three defenders and shot, Ferrante got in the way but the ball reached Chinaglia who scored with a low strike, 3-1.
In less than ten minutes Lazio had completely turned the game round.
Late on Lazio had a penalty appeal for a foul by Bernardo Rogora on Ghio but referee Torelli was not interested. Lazio went to the break 3-1 up
In the second half Lazio's defence and midfield continued to dominate and Fiorentina had problems creating any clear cut chances.
It was Lazio who went closer when in the 65th minute Chinaglia crossed and Ghio turned a superb header towards goal but Superchi produced an excellent stop.
A minute later however Lazio struck again. Lorenzo had just told Giuliano Fortunato to warm up to replace a tired Juan Carlos Morrone "El Gaucho" decided to leave his mark before going off. After a one-two with Cucchi he smashed a low shot in near the far post, 4-1.
Ten minutes later Morrone finally went off to a standing ovation.
Fiorentina tried to make the scoreline more respectable but Di Vincenzo was outstanding on a long range Cencetti drive.
In the 82nd minute "Long John" got his brace. Giorgione beat the offside trap and beat the keeper coming off his line, 5-1. An epic win against Fiorentina who had not conceded so many goals for more than four years.
A triumph for Lazio who had swept the Italian champions off the park.
The whole team had played well. They had pace, determination and organisation in an almost perfect performance. Man of the match was a superlative Wilson.
Lazio were now 4th on 7 points (with Roma, Milan, Vicenza and Bologna). Fiorentina were 3rd on 8 while Cagliari had 10 and Inter 9 (the two had drawn 1-1 in Sardinia)
Next up for Lazio was the derby.
Who played for Lazio
Di Vincenzo, Wilson, Facco, Cucchi, Soldo, Marchesi, Massa, Governato, Chinaglia, Ghio, Morrone (77' Fortunato)
Substitutes: Fiorucci
Manager: Lorenzo
Who played for Fiorentina
Superchi, Rogora, Longoni, Cencetti, Ferrante, Brizi, Mariani, Esposito, Maraschi, De Sisti, Chiarugi
Substitutes: Bandoni, Stanzial
Manager: Pesaola
Referee: Torelli
Goals: 3' Chiarugi, 17' Governato, 21' Cucchi, 27' Chinaglia, 66' Morrone, 82' Chinaglia
What happened next
Lazio had an up and down season but finished a decent 8th. Lazio lost the derby, they played well but were wasteful with their many chances. The Biancocelesti had some good wins; Palermo 4-0, Inter 3-1, Juventus 2-0 and drew one derby 1-1 but also lost at home to Cagliari 0-2, away to Torino 0-3, Milan 0-3, Vicenza 1-2 and the derby 1-2. In the end Lazio won 11, drew 7 and lost 12.
In the Mitropa Cup in October-November they lost in the last 16 to Hungarians Honved 2-3 on aggregate.
In the Anglo-Italian Cup in May they won 2 (Sunderland 2-1 and Wolves 2-0, both at home) and lost 2 (Sunderland 1-3 and Wolves 0-1, both away).
In the Alps Cup in June they won 2 (Young Boys 2-0 and Zurich 3-0, both away), drew one (Lugano 3-3 away) and lost one (Basel 2-3 away).
Top scorer was Giorgio Chinaglia with 12 league goals, 2 in the Mitropa Cup and 6 in the Alps Cup.
Fiorentina finished 4th. They then won 11 (including Lazio and Juventus 2-0, Milan 4-2), drew 6 and lost 7. The top scorer was Luciano Chiarugi with 19 goals (12 in A).
In the European Cup they got past Dinamo Kyiv 2-1 but then in the quarterfinals lost to 1-3 Celtic. The final was then Feyenoord vs Celtic and the Dutch won 2-1 after extra-time.
In the Coppa Italia they were eliminated by Varese 0-1 in a playoff (first two games both 0-0). The cup was won by Roma who topped a final group with Cagliari, Foggia and Torino.
In May 1970 the Gigliati took part in the Anglo Italian Cup with 1 win (Sunderland 3-0 at home), 1 draw (Sunderland 2-2 away) and 2 defeats (Wolves 1-2 away and 1-3 at home).
In June 1970 they also participated in the Alps Cup. They reached the final but lost 2-3 away to Basel.
The Scudetto was surprisingly but deservedly won by Cagliari. Manlio Scopigno's islanders made history with players such as Albertosi, Cera, Martiradonna, Brugnera, Gori, Niccolai, Domenghini, Nenè to name a few but above all top goal scorer, with 21 goals, Gigi Riva.
At the opposite end Bari, Palermo and Brescia were relegated to serie B. Palermo would not be back for 34 years, Bari 18 and Brescia 10. None are currently in A (Palermo in B, Bari and Brescia in C)
Let's talk about Giorgio Fiorucci
Giorgio Fiorucci was born in Perugia, on February 20, 1951.
Lazio signed him from Pontefelcino in the summer of 1969.
He was an unused substitute 15 times in Serie A and a few Alps Cup games.
He was third keeper behind Rosario Di Vincenzo and Michelangelo Sulfaro. Fiorucci also played for the Primavera team (U19s).
In 1970-71 he played in the "De Martino" league (Reserves League).
He played 7 games and Lazio won the title.
The team included future Scudetto winner Franco Nanni and the manager was Bob Lovati.
Fiorucci retired young at 20.
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