SERIE A for another year!!

Dag Jenkins
May 13, 2023
4 min read

Season 1983-84

Game 30, Serie A

Sunday, May 13, 1984

Stadio Arena Garibaldi, Pisa

Pisa-Lazio 2-2

With two Giordano goals Lazio clinch crucial point which means survival in the top flight

So far, the season in Serie A had, as expected, been difficult. Lazio lost the first but then surprisingly crushed Inter 3-0 at home. It was an illusion as Lazio then struggled.

In December, Morrone was replaced by Paolo Carosi and things were not helped by Bruno Giordano breaking his leg at Ascoli on December 31. After the 15 away fixtures the Biancocelesti were 15th (out of 16), on 9 points, but only 2 from safety. In the first 6 return games Lazio had then picked up 7 points (including two wins, an away draw at Inter and a recent draw in the derby in ten men). There was still hope.

Lazio had then drawn 0-0 at home to Milan but then collapsed 0-3 to relegation rivals Avellino. There followed three crucial wins (Torino Napoli and Ascoli, all at home), a draw (Catania away) and two defeats (Fiorentina and Udinese away).

On April 15 Giordano had finally come back from injury to give Lazio extra hope of staying. The previous week's 2-1 home win against Ascoli meant Lazio travelled up to Pisa with their fate in their own hands.

For 3 relegation places the table read: Catania 12 (down), Pisa 21 (down), Genoa 23, Lazio 24, Avellino 25. The games were Pisa-Lazio, Genoa-Juventus (already champions) and Avellino-Fiorentina. Lazio were ahead in the direct matches with Genoa but behind with Avellino. A Sunday not for the faint hearted.

The match

A mass exodus of Lazio fans accompanied the team to Tuscany. At least 10,000 Laziali had made the trip. The Arena Garibaldi was almost entirely light blue and white.

It was a nice and sunny day near the leaning tower and there was optimism in the air.

Things seemed to be looking up when the radios announced Juventus had taken the lead with Antonio Cabrini at Marassi after 7 minutes. Only three minutes later however, Genoa equalised with a Beniamino Vignola own goal. The goal was welcomed by a huge cheer by the locals which did nothing to ease the tension between the two factions.

So back to square one, until only a minute later, in the 11th minute, when Bruno Giordano scored for Lazio with a header from a Vincenzo D'Amico free kick. Lazio controlled Pisa's attempts without excessive difficulty and seemed to have things under control. Half time Pisa 0 Lazio 1 and Genoa 1 Juventus 1; Lazio 26 points, Genoa 24. Things were looking good.

At the beginning of the second half however, Pisa equalised with a controversial goal by Danish Klaus Bergreen who seemed to score with his arm. So, 1-1, but Lazio were still safe.

Pisa pushed forward looking to go down with dignity and a win. Luca Birigozzi in the 52nd minute shot over the bar from a favourable position and five minutes later he had the mother of all chances. He found himself with an open goal with only Lazio's Joāo Batista on the goal line but somehow managed to get his shot cleared by the Brazilian. One of those chances that are easier to score than miss.

Having seen hell's door opening Lazio turned up the pressure and were rewarded in the 67th minute. Lionello Manfredonia was fouled in the area for a clear penalty. Giordano's low spot kick was not impeccable but went under keeper Alessandro Mannini for the 2-1.

Lazio then got a third, but Michael Laudrup had his goal ruled out for offside. Still, going into the last two or three minutes, the situation seemed under control, Lazio were winning and Genoa drawing.

In the 87th and 88th minutes Lazio made two substitutions: Mario Piga for Angelo Cupini and keeper Massimo Cacciatori for Fernando Orsi.

Then in the 89th minute Stefano Bosetti scored for Genoa against the Italian Champions, Juventus. No panic, Lazio were still a point ahead. There was more drama in the 90th minute as Pisa equalised with Ferruccio Mariani. Lazio 25 points and Genoa 25 points. A goal by either Pisa or Genoa would send Lazio down.

A very tense few minutes of injury time saw Lazio hold on for their sacred point and Genoa failed to get a winner so Lazio were safe. The decider would not be goal difference (as in UK for example) but the direct matches in the league (0-0 and 2-1 to Lazio). The win over Genoa in January turned out to be a lifesaver for Lazio.

The fans were ecstatic and Giorgio Chinaglia went down to the pitch to celebrate with the players.

On the way home on the motorway, Long John bombed past us in his Jaguar, with Felice Pulici, waving and tooting his car horn at our supporters' bus. All was good.

Lazio stayed in Serie A after 8 wins, 9 draws and 13 defeats. The top scorers were Laudrup and Giordano with 8 league goals.

All may have been good, however, dark clouds were already looming in Lazio's future but that's another story.

Pisa had ended the season with dignity. They finished 15th, on 22 points after 3 wins, 16 draws and 11 defeats. Top scorers were Klaus Berggreen and Wim Kieft with 7 goals (Berggreen all in A).

Who played for Pisa

Mannini, Longobardo, Azzali, Garuti, Dianda, Armenise (82' Gori) Berggreen, Criscimanni, Birigozzi, Sorbi, Mariani

Substitutes: Buso, Pellicciotti, Giovanelli

Manager: Pace

Who played for Lazio

Orsi (88' Cacciatori), Podavini, Filisetti, Piscedda, Batista, Vinazzani, Cupini (87' Piga), Manfredonia, Giordano, Laudrup, D'Amico