Giordano is back

Dag Jenkins

Sep 5, 2022

3 min read

Season 1982-83

Game 5, Group Stage, Coppa Italia

Sunday, September 5, 1982

Stadio Donato Vestuti, Salerno

Salernitana-Lazio 2-3

Two assists and a winning goal by the Roman striker show he has not lost his class

Today was Lazio's fifth Coppa Italia game. In the first the Biancocelesti had defeated Perugia 3-2 at home but then lost 1-2 at Avellino, drew 0-0 with Atalanta and lost 1-2 to Napoli, both at home. Lazio were already out as only one team qualified.

The Table read; Napoli 7, Avellino 5, Atalanta 4, Perugia 3, Lazio 3, Salernitana 2.

Salernitana were in Serie C1. So far in the Coppa Italia they had had drawn 2 (Atalanta 0-0 and Perugia 1-1 both away) and lost 2 (Napoli 0-1 and Avellino 1-2 both at home). The Granata were therefore also already eliminated.

A game with not much to say apart from preparing for the upcoming leagues.

The match

A very hot day saw only about 7,000 turn up at the Vestuti.

Lazio were only missing midfielder Enrico Vella.

The pattern was soon apparent. Lazio had the initiative and Salernitana played on the break.

Lazio broke the deadlock early on. In the 9th minute Bruno Giordano was the assistman with a first touch through ball to Claudio Ambu who went past Vincenzo Leccese and beat Roberto Marconcini with a low finish, 0-1.

Five minutes later the two forwards inverted their roles but this time Giordano was hypnotised by the keeper.

Lazio were in control and all Salernitana mustered was a poor shot by Giovanni Oddo.

Around the half hour however the "Bersagliera" had a good chance. Paolo Pochesci hesitated and Giovanni Zaccaro took advantage and pounced but the ball whistled past the post.

Lazio registered the warning sign and in the 39th minute doubled the score. It was again Giordano who was the provider as his cross to the far post was volleyed in by Vincenzo D'Amico, 0-2.

For the second half former Roma player Francisco Lojacono decided to replace Leccese with Pasquale Viscido. Clagluna meanwhile substituted Michele De Nadai with Maurizio Montesi.

Lazio came back on with too much complacency probably thinking the afternoon's work was done.

Salernitana still seemed to believe they could salvage something. In the 50th minute they scored but it was disallowed as Zaccaro had clearly handballed.

Four minutes later however the Campani were awarded a penalty. Lionello Manfredonia tripped up Marco Rossi and Zaccaro wrong footed Maurizio Moscatelli with a low strike, 1-2.

Lazio's defence continued to be hesitant and Moscatelli had to be reactive to save a Marco Fracas close range effort.

In the 72nd minute the Granata took off former Lazio, Vincenzo Zucchini and introduced Fabio Vulpiani. Lazio in the same minute took off Carlo Perrone and brought on Roberto Tavola.

Two minutes later the hosts were awarded another penalty. Vincenzo Chiarenza lost his man and decided to rugby tackle him instead. This time Fracas took it and the execution and result was exactly the same, 2-2.

On the waves of enthusiasm Salernitana almost got a third but became unbalanced and were punished. In the 84th minute Tavola crossed and Giordano's header was saved by Marconcini but the ball came back to the Trastevere-born striker who headed it in, 2-3.

Lazio then replaced D'Amico with Leonardo Surro but the Granata had no more to give and Lazio were able to see out the game without any further worries.

A second platonic cup win for Lazio. There had been positives and negatives. A good sign was that Giordano had not lost his class with both assists and goals. His quality would surely make the difference in Serie B. On the down side Lazio had given up a two-goal lead against a 3rd tier side and shown a few cracks defensively.

The Coppa Italia however was always a side show. All effort had to be focused on finally getting back to Serie A.

Who played for Salernitana

Marconcini, Leccese (46' Viscido), Chirco, Zucchini (72' Vulpiani), Di Fruscia, Del Favero, Rossi, Oddo, Chiancone, Fracas, Zaccaro

Substitutes: Ceccarelli, Mattolini, Gambuzza

Manager: Lojacono

Who played for Lazio

Moscatelli, Podavini, Chiarenza, Perrone (72' Tavola), Pochesci, Manfredonia, Ambu, Badiani, Giordano, De Nadai (46' Montesi), D'Amico (84' Surro)