September 4, 1983: Lazio Juventus 1-1, Coppa Italia
- Simon Basten
- Sep 4
- 7 min read
Out of Coppa Italia
By drawing with Juventus the Biancocelesti were out of the Coppa Italia, but they had done well and given it all, at least in this match.
Also on this day:
The season so far
The previous year, thanks to the old guard – Bruno Giordano, Lionello Manfredonia and Vincenzo D’Amico – Lazio were able to secure promotion after three years from the harsh and unjust relegation due to the first Calcio Scommesse betting scandal.
During the summer Giorgio Chinaglia, the 1974 Lazio scudetto hero, took over the club. Chinaglia had left the Biancocelesti to play for New York Cosmos in the mid-1970s and his return was all Biancocelesti fans' dream. Claiming to have large sums of money to invest, Long John was welcomed like a Messiah, the one who would take Lazio back to the highest levels.
He confirmed Giancarlo Morrone as manager, and brought in some of his former teammates: Nello Governato as sporting director, Felice Pulici as General Manager and Renato Ziaco, the famous team doctor of the 1974 team, back in his former role.
The team went through a revolution. Saying goodbye were goalkeepers Dario Marigo (Campania) and Maurizio Moscatelli (Cavese), defenders Marco Saltarelli (Monza), Carlo Perrone and Paolo Pochesci (both to Ascoli), midfielders Antonio Sciarpa (Cavese), Roberto Badiani (Vigor Senigallia), Mauro De Angelis (Lodigiani), Michele De Nadai (Pistoiese), Roberto Tavola (end of loan) and forwards Claudio Ambu (Monza), Stefano Chiodi (Prato) and Leaonardo Surro (Siena). Ernesto Calisti went on loan to Cavese and Maurizio Montesi retired.
The newcomers were Daniele Filisetti (Atalanta), Angelo Cupini (Cavese), Rinaldo Piraccini (Pistoeise), Claudio Vinazzani (Napoli), Mario Piga (Perugia) and the first two Lazio foreign players since the opening to non-Italians were Michael Laudrup, on loan from Juventus, and Brazilian International Joāo Batista from Palmeiras. Also arriving were Mauro Della Matira (free agent) and Massimo Piscedda (end of loan).
The first official games were for the Coppa Italia. They were grouped with Perugia, Catanzaro, Taranto, Bari and Juventus. After drawing at Catanzaro and beating Perugia 2-0 (D’Amico and Enrico Vella), the Biancocelesti had surprisingly lost at Taranto 1-0 and were unable to go beyond a goalless draw at Bari. This meant that they now had to beat Juventus today to go through to the next round.
The match: Sunday, September 4, 1983, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio and Juventus shared the honours in a 1–1 draw before a lively crowd of 70,000. The match, rich in tempo and incident, offered supporters ninety minutes of thrills and tension befitting two sides determined to claim the upper hand.
Lazio began with verve and courage, immediately forcing the Bianconeri onto the defensive. After just two minutes, a free kick from Bruno Giordano announced the home side’s intent. In the 11th minute, the Lazio forward delivered a splendid cross to Angelo Cupini, whose first-time effort thundered against the crossbar. Enrico Vella seized the rebound, but his attempt was deflected behind for a corner. The Biancocelesti pressed again shortly after: another Giordano assist, Massimo Bonini’s short touch for Stefano Tacconi, and Cupini charging in, forced the Juventus keeper to concede another corner under heavy pressure.
It was not until the 17th minute that Juventus offered a reply of any substance. A quick one-two placed Zibi Boniek in an excellent shooting position, but Massimo Cacciatori, quick and safe parried with authority. Lazio, however, continued to seek the breakthrough before the interval, with Giordano attempting an acrobatic effort from a Vincenzo D’Amico pass, only for luck to desert him.
The second half opened in similar fashion, Juventus producing another rapid exchange of passes that freed Paolo Rossi for a strike, though he was hurried into it by two defenders. Ten minutes into the half came the explosion of joy for the Olimpico faithful: Giordano’s shot, perhaps deflected by Boniek, found its way past Tacconi for the 1–0. The stadium erupted; on the touchline, President Giorgio Chinaglia, in his dark jacket, celebrated warmly alongside manager Giancarlo Morrone.
Yet the euphoria was short-lived. Barely a minute later, Juventus struck back with precision and authority. Rossi delivered from the right, Antonio Cabrini rose imperiously, and his header left Cacciatori with no chance — 1–1, and all to play for.
In the closing stages, Juventus looked for the winner with energy. Boniek eluded Massimo Piscedda, only for Cacciatori to perform a miraculous intervention. Rossi, charging forward from deep, unleashed another effort, again thwarted by the Lazio keeper. Boniek, presented with one final opportunity, sent his shot wide.
When the referee brought proceedings to a close, both sides left the field to appreciative applause. Lazio owed the point much to the heroics of Cacciatori; for Juventus it was a reminder that even the finest attacking moves can flounder against a resolute defence. It was, in every respect, a contest worthy of the setting, and one to linger in the memory of those present.
The Biancocelesti were out of the Coppa Italia, but they had done well and given it all, at least in this match.
Who played for Lazio
Cacciatori, Spinozzi, Vinazzani, Manfredonia, Batista, Piscedda, D’Amico, Vella (85’ Chiarenza), Giordano, Laudrup, Cupini
Manager: Morrone
Who played for Juventus
Tacconi, Caricola, Cabrini (62' Prandelli), Bonini, Brio, Scirea, Penzo, Tardelli, Rossi, Platini, Boniek
Substitutes: Bodini, Tavola, Vignola, Furino
Manager: Trapattoni
Referee: D’Elia
Goals: 55’ Boniek (og), 56’ Cabrini
What happened next
There was great hope, but, with very few exceptions, Lazio were disappointing. In the first 12 games Lazio won three times, drew twice and lost all the remaining matches. Morrone was fired in December and replaced by Paolo Carosi, another former Lazio player.
After a controversial draw at home against Udinese, things went from bad to worse. At Ascoli, Giordano broke his leg following a ruthless tackle by Antonio Bogoni (who was not even booked). Lazio fell into despair, losing the Ascoli match as well as the next one at home against Pisa.
Lazio had only nine points after the first half of the season. Carosi realised that he must do something and he put his faith in the players with greater experience. Life without probably one of the best centre forwards in Europe would not be easy and there was no backup plan. At this point D’Amico and Manfredonia took matters in their own hands and stepped up to lead the team.
Lazio started earning points. In the first six games of the second half of the season they beat Genoa and Sampdoria at home and drew against Verona, Inter away (thanks to a Walter Zenga howler) and drew a dramatic derby 2-2.
Just when things were looking brighter, Lazio faltered again. The last four games became fundamental. Fortunately, Giordano came back in record time. The week before the unlucky defeat against Fiorentina, a rumour spread that Lazio’s star player might be on the bench and possibly play the final minutes. Ten thousand fans travelled to Florence (including us!) in the hope of seeing their captain play. He came on with 20 minutes to go and this was the best possible news for Lazio.
The following match against Napoli saw Giordano regain his place in the centre of the Lazio attack. It took him just 30 seconds to score and the Biancocelesti managed to win the game 3-2. There was still hope.
Lazio then lost at Udine and in the final two games of the season needed three points to stay in Serie A. A win against Ascoli at home and a draw against Pisa with a Giordano brace did the job.
“We will never suffer like this again”, said Chinaglia at the end of Pisa-Lazio. Alas, this was only the beginning of the suffering.
Let’s talk about Antonio Cabrini
Antonio Cabrini must be considered one of the first modern left backs in football history. Ahead of his times, he was more of a winger than a defender and became a legend.
Born in Cremona on October 8 1957, he started playing football with Cremonese debuting in Serie C in 1974 and starting in the first eleven the season after. After 29 appearances and two goals, in 1975 he joined Atalanta in Serie B, in joint ownership with Juventus. He stayed one season in Bergamo playing 39 games with one goal, and then left for Turin.
He stayed with Juve for 13 years, 442 appearances and 52 goals, winning 6 titles (1976-77, 1977-78, 1980-81, 1981-82, 1983-84 and 1985-86), twice the Coppa Italia (1979 and 1983), and all of the UEFA titles: European Cup in 1985, Cup Winners Cup in 1984, UEFA Cup in 1977, UEFA Super Cup in 1984 and Intercontinental Cup in 1985. He debuted against Lazio on February 13 1977 at just 19 years of age and became part of the first eleven during the subsequent season.
In 1989 he signed for Bologna. At Juve he had wanted to play at midfield, but Juventus manager Dino Zoff was sceptical so he left. He played two years in Rossoblu before retiring.
He has 73 caps with Italy and has scored 9 goals, the record number for a defender playing for the Nazionale. He debuted in the World Cup of 1978 in Argentina against France. A surprise move from head coach Enzo Bearzot, considering his young age and lack of experience. But in that World Cup Italy played very well and arrived fourth, almost making it to the final. A final that was won four years later in Spain with Cabrini one of the protagonists scoring against Argentina and being the first player ever to miss a penalty in the final. He also played in the 1986 edition.
The World Cup win was one of those incredible footballing moments. After a dull group phase where Italy had qualified second with three draws, in the second group phase they had to play against Argentina, reigning champions, and Brazil, the favourites. The Italian media was having a field day bashing the Azzurri in continuation. When one paper mentioned that Cabrini and Paolo Rossi were having an affair, that was just too much and the team decided to stop speaking to the many journalists present. The only one who could, was captain Dino Zoff. Italy went on to win against Argentina, Brazil, Poland in the semis and Germany in the final.
Once he stopped playing he became a manager. He was head coach at Arezzo, Crotone, Pisa, Novara and the Syrian national team. In 2012 he became manager of the Italy Women and stayed for five years.
Cabrini was also a sex symbol for his good looks, something that did not help his rather shy person. But we must remember him as one of the Italy heroes of 1982 and the great player that he was.
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