October 31: 1971 Sorrento-Lazio 0-1
Limoncello for two points
Despite not actually playing in Sorrento Lazio can toast to a precious win
The season so far
The 1970/71 season had been disastrous for Lazio. There had been ongoing divergences between president Lenzini and manager Juan Carlos Lorenzo over various issues including market strategies. The Argentine was sacked a few times only to be brought back following protests by a particularly loyal group of fans. The problems on the field and off had resulted in relegation to Serie B with only 4 wins in 30 matches. The initial shock would however later result to be a blessing in disguise.
This year the manager problem had been resolved with the appointment of Tommaso Maestrelli, who had impressed in charge of Foggia.
The new manager had also brought some novelties to the squad. In the summer Lazio had signed three new players: goalkeeper Claudio Bandoni (Fiorentina) plus defenders Luigi Martini (Livorno) and Giancarlo Oddi (Massese). In the autumn session another three would arrive: midfielder Giambattista Moschino (Verona) plus forwards Alessandro Abbondanza (Napoli) and Carlo Facchin (Almas).
Five players left Lazio in the summer; goalkeeper Michelangelo Sulfaro (Fiorentina - on loan), midfielders Nello Governato (Savona), Rino Marchesi (Prato), Ferruccio Mazzola (Fiorentina - on loan) and forward Juan Carlos Morrone (Foggia). In November two more midfielders would go: Arrigo Dolso (Varese - on loan) and Pierpaolo Manservisi (Napoli - on loan).
Lazio had a patchy start to the league season but even if it was early days they were already up among the frontrunners for the promotion places. They had won 3 (all at home) and lost 2 (both away) so had 6 points and were joint 2nd, with Reggiana, Palermo and Taranto, while three teams were on 8 points. Giorgio Chinaglia had already scored 5 goals.
In the Coppa Italia first round group Lazio had qualified.
The Biancocelesti had the satisfaction of winning the derby 1-0 and then beat Perugia 3-1 away, Ternana 2-0 at home and drew 0-0 away to Atalanta.
The next group phase would not be until May-June 1972 with Fiorentina, Napoli and Bologna. The main priority however was to secure promotion.
Sorrento had won a historic promotion to Serie B the previous season. It was their third promotion in four years. The Rossoneri had won the Girone C of Serie C under manager Giancarlo Vitali. The top scorers were Paolino Bozza and Gennaro Sportiello with 8 league goals each. The squad included former Lazio, Gilberto Noletti (1961-62) and future Napoli legend Giuseppe Bruscolotti (511 games and Scudetto winner).
This season the Sorrento manager was Nicola D'Alessio. The main new signings were: defender Dante Lodrini (Avellino), midfielder and former Lazio Graziano Landoni (Piacenza), plus forwards Fernando Scarpa (Potenza), Giovanni Vastola (Toronto FC) and future Lazio Paolo Franzoni (Piacenza).
The main player leaving was Antonio Fiorile (Crotone, after 224 league games).
Sorrento were 18th on 3 points. The Costieri had won 1 (Livorno 2-0 at home), drawn 1 (Reggina 2-2 away) and lost 3 (Foggia 0-3 away on debut, Bari 0-2 at home and Perugia 0-1 away).
In Coppa Italia they were out after 2 wins (Napoli 1-0 away, Palermo 2-1 at home) and 2 defeats (Verona 0-4 at home and Catanzaro 0-1 away). They were eliminated but had a historic win against nearby big city club Napoli (Sorrento is 50 kilometres away).
Lazio had to win these games if they wanted to mount a serious promotion chase.
The match: Sunday, October 31, 1971, Stadio San Paolo, Naples
The big San Paolo stadium only attracted just under 6,000 spectators and many of those came down from the Rome area.
Lazio were without defender Giuseppe Papadopulo plus forwards Carlo Facchin and Alessandro Abbondanza.
Sorrento were missing midfielder Graziano Landoni and forward Paolo Franzoni.
Lazio's start was promising. The Biancocelesti looked concentrated, organised and ready to strike on the counter attack.
The home side battled hard and played at a fast pace but lacked lucidity with their final passes.
Lazio seriously threatened twice with Gaetano Legnaro. In the 18th and 23rd minutes the full-back twice forced Antonio Gridelli into difficult saves.
In the 38th minute the Veneto-born defender was again the protagonist. He had a give and go with Giuliano Fortunato and raced into the area with only Gridelli to beat but was then blatantly held back by Edmondo Lorenzini. The referee did not have to think twice and pointed to the penalty spot. It was the sixth penalty against Sorrento in six matches but this one at least was undisputable.
Giorgio "Long John" Chinaglia then sent a powerful, low spotkick to the right of Gridelli who hardly moved, 0-1. Halftime arrived with Lazio leading.
In the second half Lazio continued to control the game and attempted to hurt the Sorrentini on the break.
In the 58th minute the Biancocelesti had a double chance. Gridelli denied "Giorgione" with an excellent save and on the rebound Rino Gritti missed an opportunity that looked easier to score than miss.
In the last twenty minutes or so the Costieri increased their pressure but Lazio, helped by several safe aerial catches by Claudio Bandoni on crosses, rarely panicked.
The hosts however had one huge chance to equalise nine minutes from time. Former Milan and Lazio, Gilberto Noletti found himself two metres from goal but incredibly mishit a seemingly simple header allowing Bandoni to save. Final score: Sorrento 0 Lazio 1.
An important win for Lazio. By no means dominant or brilliant but assured and mature. Hopefully they would improve as the season went on.
Lazio were still 2nd on 8 points (with Palermo, Bari and Taranto) but now there were only two teams above them on 9 points (Ternana and Perugia). Next up for Lazio was another away game, this time in Tuscany against lowly Arezzo.
Sorrento had given everything until the end but had lacked the precision and quality to put Lazio in real difficulty. The Rossoneri were still 18th on 3 points but all their nearest rivals for survival had lost too so not much had changed. Next up for the Campani was another difficult home game against high flying Taranto.
Who played for Sorrento
Gridelli, Bruscolotti, Noletti, Savarese, Lodrini, Lorenzini, Furlan. Angrisani, Giannotti, Scarpa, Bozza
Substitutes: Formisano, Fiorile
Manager: D'Alessio
Who played for Lazio
Substitutes: Di Vincenzo, Nanni
Manager: Maestrelli
Referee: Trincheri
Goal: 38' Chinaglia (pen)
What happened next
Lazio were successful in their promotion chase. They came in second on 49 points, one behind champions Ternana. On June 18, with a 0-0 draw against Bari, Maestrelli's boys were back in Serie A.
From today, with the help of another 15 Chinaglia goals and 10 by Massa, the Biancocelesti would win 14 games, draw 13 (including Arezzo 2-2) and lose 2. They would also win the return match against Sorrento 2-0. In the season overall Chinaglia got a total of 26 goals (21 in B) and Massa 12 (all in B) plus several assists for Long John).
In the Coppa Italia from May-July the Biancocelesti won 2 (Fiorentina 1-0 and Napoli 3-0 at home), drew 1 (Fiorentina 1-1 away) and lost 3 (Napoli 1-5 away, Bologna both home and away 0-1, 1-2) and were eliminated. The main thing however was to return to the top flight. Lazio were back.
Sorrento finished 19th and were relegated (-3 from survival). This would remain their only ever season in Serie B. They tried changing manager to Pasquale Atripaldi from the 16th fixture onwards but to no avail. After today's defeat the Campani won 7, drew 8 and lost 17 (including Taranto 0-2). The top scorer was Paolino Bozza with 7 goals (6 in B).
Sorrento are currently in Serie C and are now called Sorrento Calcio 1945.
Ternana won Serie B and went up with Lazio and Palermo while Sorrento went down with Livorno and Modena.
Let's talk about Giuseppe Bruscolotti
Giuseppe Bruscolotti was born in Sassano (Salerno), on June 1, 1951.
At 14 he joined Pollese (from Polla inland from Salerno).
In 1970 he signed for Sorrento, 130 kilometres towards Naples, and stayed two seasons.
In the first the Rossoneri won a historic promotion to Serie B (only conceding 12 goals) but in the second were relegated.
He played 60 league games with 1 goal. His managers were Giancarlo Vitali (promotion season), Nicola D'Alessio and Pasquale Atripaldi. His teammates included Lazio connections Gilberto Noletti (1961-62), Graziano Landoni (1961-64) and Paolo Franzoni (1973-75).
In 1972 Bruscolotti joined Napoli and stayed 16 seasons. He played 511 games with 11 goals, 9 in A (Inter, Sampdoria, Cesena, Pescara, Vicenza, Bologna, Bologna again, Verona, Udinese), 1 in the Cup Winners Cup (Anderlecht) and 1 in the Anglo-Italian League Cup (Southampton).
He won a Scudetto (1986-87), the Coppa Italia twice (1975-76, 1986-87) and the Anglo-Italian League Cup (1976). In his time in Naples the Azzurri also achieved two 2nd places (1975, 1988) and three 3rd places (1974, 1981, 1986).
His managers included; Giuseppe Chiappella, Luís Vinicio, Gianni Di Marzio, Rino Marchesi, Massimo Giacomini, Ottavio Bianchi (Scudetto year).
In his long years with Napoli his teammates included Lazio connections: Giuseppe Massa (Lazio, 1966-72), Roberto Badiani (1974-79,1981-83), Bruno Giordano (1975-85), Claudio Garella (1976-78), Sergio Clerici (1977-78), Luigi Boccolini (1977-78), Filippo Citterio (1979-81), Aldo Nardin (1980-81), Walter Speggiorin (1981-82), Claudio Vagheggi (1981-82), Claudio Vinazzani (1983-86), Oscar Damiani (1985-86), Domenico Caso (1985-88), Raimondo Marino (1986-89), Ciro Muro (1987-89) and Davide Lampugnani (1990-91).
He retired at 33.
Bruscolotti was a right full-back or central defender. He was the classic tough man-to-man marker who was at forwards' heels for 90 minutes and possibly more. He was strong and tough.
He was nicknamed "Palo 'e fierro" (Palo di ferro in Italian and Iron pole in English). He rarely fell to the ground himself but the forwards certainly did.
In Naples he is a legend. He was captain from 1978-80 and 1983-86, then yielding the armband to Diego Maradona, and was a regular for 16 long years. Despite not being originally from Naples itself he was from near enough and stayed long enough to be considered the local lad.
The various Canés, Savoldis, Bertonis, Maradonas, Giordanos, Carnevales and Carecas could entertain up front but Napoli needed Bruscolotti at the back to mark the opposing forwards off the park.
He was one of Maradona's favourites and could often be seen on camera joking around with "El Pibe de Oro". In 1985 the two of them founded a football academy at San Sebastiano al Vesuvio.
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