September 5, 1982: Salernitana-Lazio 2-3, Coppa Italia
- Dag Jenkins
- 2 hours ago
- 6 min read
Giordano is back
Two assists and a winning goal by the Roman striker show he has not lost his class
The season so far
Lazio were in their third consecutive year in Serie B, after the betting scandal and relegation of 1979-80 but had renewed ambitions this year. The previous season had been a depressingly mediocre 11th place but with the return of striker Bruno Giordano and midfielder Lionello Manfredonia (after the world Cup win armistice) they could finally see some light at the end of the tunnel.
The main players who had joined Lazio were goalkeeper Fernando Orsi (Parma), defenders Renato Miele (Catania), Gabriele Podavini (Brescia) and Marco Saltarelli (Lodigiani), midfielders Enrico Vella (Catania) and Roberto Tavola (Juventus) plus forward Claudio Ambu (Perugia).
Players to leave were the scudetto legends of 1974, keeper Felice Pulici and attacking winger Renzo Garlaschelli plus defenders Giorgio Mastropasqua (Catania), Dario Pighin (Taranto), midfielders Alberto Bigon (Vicenza), Dario Sanguin (Perugia), Fernando Viola (Genoa) and forwards Lorenzo Marronaro (Monza) and Walter Speggiorin (Massese). In October more players would leave; Claudio Vagheggi (Napoli), Stefano Ferretti (SPAL) and Vincenzo Chiarenza (Udinese-on loan).
This reshuffling of the squad plus the return of clearly superior level players such as Giordano and Manfredonia, added to the talent of fan favourite Vincenzo D'Amico, gave the whole Lazio environment renewed enthusiasm and optimism.
Roberto Clagluna had been confirmed as manager after taking over from Ilario Castagner halfway through the previous campaign.
Serie B would start on September 12 at home against Campobasso.
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. The previous season the Granata had finished 4th. The managers were first Antonio Giammarinaro (1-6), then Luigi Gigante (7) and finally Romano Monte (8-34). The squad included former Lazio player Vincenzo Zucchini (1979-80).
This season the manager was Francisco Lojacono. The main new signings were; defender Sergio Giovannone (SPAL), midfielders Giovanni Oddo (Paganese) and Marco Rossi plus forward Angelo Quaglia.
Leaving were; defender Pantaleo De Gennaro (Marsala), midfielders Stefano De Lucia (Mestre) and Fabrizio Falco (Novara).
The "Bersagliera" would start their league campaign on September 19 away at Reggina.
So far in the Coppa Italia "Sua Maestà" 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: Sunday, September 5, 1982, Stadio Donato Vestuti, Salerno
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)
Substitutes: Orsi, Saltarelli
Manager: Clagluna
Referee: Ballerini
Goals: 9' Ambu, 39' D'Amico, 54' Zaccaro (pen), 69' Fracas (pen), 84' Giordano
What happened next
In Serie B Lazio got off to a hesitant start. In the first six games Lazio won 2, drew 3 (the first 3) and lost 1.
Lazio then improved and between the 7th and 13th fixtures won seven games in a row (without conceding a goal). They however struggled in the second half of the season and after the 33rd fixture replaced Clagluna with former player Juan Carlos Morrone. His first game was a 1-5 away defeat to Milan (on the same day Roma won the Scudetto…) but then crucial wins at home against Atalanta and Catania put Lazio back on course. In the end they had enough talent to get them over the line and win promotion with a 2nd place finish on 46 points, one point more than a trio on 45.
Despite Roma's triumph things were looking up especially with the confirmed return of "Long John" Chinaglia from the States as new President, but that's another story.
Bruno Giordano ended up as top Serie B scorer with 18 goals. Milan came top and were followed up by Lazio and Catania (after a three team playoff with Como and Cremonese).
Salernitana finished 7th. After a good start they topped the table in November but then faded. In February, after the 19th fixture, Lojacono was replaced by Marino Perani.
Since 1983 Salernitana have spent 4 seasons in A (most recent 2022-23), 19 in B, 17 in C, 1 in LP2 and 1 in D. They are currently in Serie C.
Let's talk about Lazio Jersey 1982-83
Image sources: Classic Football Shirts (main), Football Kit Archive (green and both goalkeepers), Sport Club Memories (red).
The 1982-83 jersey is possibly one of the best in Lazio's history.
It was innovative, aesthetically wonderful and classy. It has become one of the most iconic shirts in Italian football history. It is known as the "maglia bandiera" (the flag shirt).
The technical sponsor was Ennerre while the main sponsor was Seleco.
The main novelty was the stylized dark blue eagle spanning all along the chest and onto the sleeves. The shirt was divided in two colours, the top half was white while the bottom half was light blue. The v-neck collar was light blue, the shorts either white or light blue and the socks white.
There were two other versions of the shirt. A red one with a celeste eagle and a green one with a white eagle. It is the first shirt in light blue however which stole all Laziali's hearts.
The goalkeeper shirt was navy blue, the eagle white and the collar light blue. There was also a grey one with a blue eagle.
The 1982-83 shirt was used again in 1986-87 (the epic -9 season), from January 2015 (for Lazio's 115th anniversary year) and in 2018-19 plus on various other special occasions.
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