September 9, 1979: Lazio -Udinese 0-0, Coppa Italia
Lazio clinch necessary point
The Biancocelesti do not shine but progress to quarterfinals
The season so far
Lazio had finished a respectable 8th the previous season, under Roberto "Bob" Lovati. Lazio had also won a derby after three years. Bruno Giordano had been top Serie A scorer with 19 league goals and 21 in total.
This year Lovati had kept his place. There were some changes to the squad. The main new signings were: defender Filippo Citterio (Palermo), midfielders Maurizio Montesi (Avellino- back from loan), Vincenzo Zucchini (Pescara) and young forward Enrico Todesco (Como).
The players leaving were: defenders Paolo Ammoniaci (Palermo), Pietro Ghedin (Pescara-on loan), Scudetto legend Gigi Martini (Chicago Sting), Andrea Agostinelli (Napoli-on loan), midfielders Roberto Badiani (Napoli-on loan), Franco Cordova (Avellino), Massimo De Stefanis (Palermo) and forward Aldo Cantarutti (Pisa).
On paper it looked as if Lazio had not come out strengthened by the transfer market, far from it.
In the Coppa Italia Lazio had already played three games and things had gone well. The Biancocelesti had beaten Matera 5-0 at home, Brescia 2-0 and Pistoiese 2-1 away.
The table read Lazio 6 (3 games +8 goal difference), Udinese 6 (3 +5 gd), Pistoiese 2 (3 games), Brescia 1 (3 games), Matera 1 (4 games).
Lazio needed a point against Udinese to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Serie A would start on September 16 with an away trip to Avellino.
Udinese had won the Serie B Championship the previous season under former Lazio player, Massimo Giacomini (1963-64). It was the Bianconeri's second consecutive promotion. The top scorer was Nerio Ulivieri with 15 league goals. Another Lazio connection was Claudio Vagheggi (1981-82).
This year was the Friulani's first season in Serie A since 1960-61. This season the manager was Corrado Orrico, as Giacomini had joined Milan.
The main new signings were; goalkeepers Ernesto Galli (Vicenza) and Fausto Borin (Conegliano), defenders Carlo Osti (Atalanta), Sauro Catellani (Napoli) and Daniele Arrigoni (Cesena-on loan), midfielders Livio Pin (Napoli), Elvi Pianca (Reggina), Angelo Cupini (Carrarese) and Silvio Francesconi (Ternana) plus forward Giuseppe Bressani (Montevarchi).
Leaving Udine were; defenders Franco Bonora (Lecce), Mariano Riva (Cesena, in autumn so after today's game) plus forward Carlo De Bernardi (Cesena, in autumn so after today's game).
So far in Coppa Italia, like Lazio, the Zebrette had won three out of three; Pistoiese 2-0 at home, Matera 2-0 away and Brescia 1-0 at home.
Their Serie A debut would be against Fiorentina away.
A final day decider in the cup today. Lazio had the advantage of having two results out of three to qualify.
The match: Sunday, September 9, 1979, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A crowd of just over 35,000 turned up for this decisive cup game.
Lazio had no real absences.
Udinese were without midfielder Livio Pin and forwards Francesco Canella and Claudio Vagheggi.
After a fifteen minute feel-out period the first chance fell to Udinese. In the 16th minute a Luigi Delneri free kick forced Massimo Cacciatori to produce a spectacular dive to keep the ball out.
Lazio responded with a dangerous free kick of their own but this time it was Ernesto Galli who did well to deny Bruno Giordano. Udinese controlled without any problems and occasionally threatened on the break.
The game went into an uneventful period. Lazio attacked confusedly and sometimes Giordano and Vincenzo D'Amico exaggerated in individual moves. The Bianconeri however gave the impression to be better organised while Lazio tended to improvise more. Half time 0-0.
There were no changes during the interval.
Lazio seemed slightly more determined. In the 48th minute Maurizio Montesi crossed but Nando Viola, instead of volleying first time, controlled the ball, lost time and then hit a weak shot straight at Galli.
Lazio attacked but were still slow and predictable. In the 62nd minute Giordano floated in a free kick and Pino Wilson headed just over the bar.
Udinese were fluid in their build up play on the counter attack but were rarely dangerous. In the 69th minute Carlo Osti got a shot following a Ciro Bilardi corner but Cacciatori was well positioned and blocked.
In the 70th minute Galli saved on a Giordano header.
In the 72nd minute came the first substitution as Claudio Bencina replaced Bilardi.
Four minutes later Bob Lovati decided to take off Vincenzo Zucchini and put on more creative midfielder Antonio Labonia.
In the last fifteen minutes Lazio were finally more dangerous. In the 78th minute Galli saved on Giordano, in the 80th on Renzo Garlaschelli, in the 85th on Filippo Citterio and in the 87th on a near own goal by Bencina from a D'Amico corner.
Lazio had one last big opportunity in the last minute. Mauro Tassotti pushed down the right, squared to Montesi who set up Giordano but Galli showed excellent reflexes on the Roman striker's shot. Final score Lazio 0 Udinese 0.
Lazio got the point they needed to qualify for the quarter finals. Lazio were dull and monotonous for long periods and only stirred and accelerated in the last part of the game. The objective however had been reached, the quarterfinals in November and January.
Udinese had looked slick and organised but lacked weight up front. They should possibly have risked more and been more ambitious to hope to win the group.
Now it was time for Serie A.
Who played for Lazio
Cacciatori, Tassotti, Citterio, Wilson, Manfredonia, Zucchini (76' Labonia), Garlaschelli, Montesi, Giordano, Viola, D'Amico
Manager: Lovati
Who played for Udinese
Galli, Osti, Fanesi, Leonarduzzi, Fellet, Riva, De Bernardi, Delneri, Bilardi (72' Bencina), Vriz, Ulivieri
Substitutes: Della Corna, Sgarbossa, Catellani, Cupini
Manager: Orrico
Referee: Bergamo
What happened next
There were no signs after this cup qualification but 1979-80 would turn out to be Lazio's "annus horribilis".
Firstly, just over a month later a Lazio fan, Vincenzo Paparelli, was killed inside the stadium before a local derby. A nautical flare was fired from the Roma end and, after having crossed the entire pitch, entered the Curva Nord tragically hitting 33-year-old and father of two Paparelli, in the eye. He died on the way to hospital. I came into the Curva soon after the event and hearing of the incident and sensing the inevitably sombre, tense atmosphere my father decided to take my brother and I home. A huge tragedy. The game went ahead to avoid further crowd trouble and ended in a 1-1 of convenience.
On the pitch things were not going too badly until another disaster struck. By March Lazio were having an average season despite beating Juventus but then, on March 23, four Lazio players were arrested after a defeat at Pescara. The players were Giordano, Manfredonia, Pino Wilson and Cacciatori and they were accused of being involved in the "Totonero" (betting scandal). Lazio managed to avoid relegation on the pitch thanks to Vincenzo D'Amico leading a team full of youth players to victory over Catanzaro but then Lazio were punished for their players' alleged involvement in the scandal and relegated anyway, along with Milan. Lazio won 5, drew 15 and lost 10. Top scorer was Giordano with 12 goals (9 in A)
In Coppa Italia Lazio were eliminated in the quarters by Torino on penalties.
Giordano and Manfredonia would not play again until 1982 and only because of the World Cup winning armistice. Lazio would spend three years in the purgatory of Serie B and only get promoted in 1982-83 (with the help of Giordano and Manfredonia).
Udinese finished 15th in Serie A and would have been relegated but were then upgraded to 13th and stayed up. The manager Orrico was replaced after 22 fixtures by Dino D'Alessi. They only won 3, drew 15 and lost 12. Their best result was beating Milan 2-1 at home while both games against Lazio were draws again. The top scorers were Nerio Ulivieri and Sergio Friz with 5 league goals each.
Angelo Cupini would play for Lazio in 1983-84 while Carlo Osti would be Lazio sporting director in 2005-06.
Inter won the 1979-80 Scudetto while Lazio went down with Milan and Pescara.
Roma won the Coppa Italia beating Torino on penalties.
Let's talk about Carlo Osti
Carlo Osti was born in Vittorio Veneto (Treviso), on January 20, 1958.
He started his youth football with Conegliano (Treviso) before playing for the first team from 1973-76. The Gialloblu were in Serie D and he played 54 league games with 5 goals.
In 1976 he joined Udinese and stayed two seasons. In the first the Bianconeri finished 5th in Serie C but in the second won promotion to Serie B under Massimo Giacomini. Osti played a total of 15 league games.
In 1978-79 he played for Atalanta in a joint ownership deal. The Bergamaschi were in Serie A but were relegated under Batista Rota. Osti played 22 league games. He played with three Lazio connections: Giorgio Mastropasqua (1980-82), Vincenzo Chiarenza (1981-82, 1983) and Roberto Tavola (1982-83).
In 1979 Juventus bought Atalanta's half but left Osti at Udinese for a season. The Friulani finished 15th in Serie A, first under Corrado Orrico (1-22) and then Dino D'Alessi (23-30). Osti played 28 games (24 in A). His teammates included two Lazio connections: Claudio Vagheggi (1981-82) and Angelo Cupini (1983-84).
In 1980 Osti joined Juventus. He stayed two seasons, winning the Scudetto twice under Giovanni Trapattoni. He however only played 19 total games (12 in A). Juventus had strong defenders such as Claudio Gentile, Sergio Brio, Antonio Cabrini, Antonello Cuccureddu, Gaetano Scirea and Beppe Furino just to name a few. In Turin he played alongside a few Lazio connections; Roberto Tavola (1982-83), Massimo Storgato (1984-85) and Giuseppe Galderisi (1987-88) plus future manager and president Dino Zoff (1990-94, 1997, 2001).
In October 1982 Osti signed for Avellino and stayed two seasons. The Irpini were in Serie A and finished 9th and 12th under managers Giuseppe Marchioro, Fernando Veneranda and Ottavio Bianchi. Osti played 60 games (52 in A) with 1 goal (Verona).
In 1984 he returned to Atalanta for four seasons. The Nerazzurri were in Serie A and finished 10th, 8th, 15th (relegated) and 4th in B (promoted). He played 93 games (72 in A) with 1 goal (Inter). His managers were Nedo Sonetti (3 seasons) and Emiliano Mondonico. His teammates included many Lazio connections; Andrea Agostinelli (1975-79), Aldo Cantarutti (1978-79), Enrico Vella (1982-83), Oliviero Garlini (1984-86), Giorgio Magnocavallo (1985-87), Andrea Icardi (1988-89) and Roberto Soldà (1989-92).
In the autumn of 1988 he joined Piacenza. It was a deal which took future Lazio player Armando Madonna to Bergamo. Osti remained two seasons with Piacenza, in the first they were relegated from Serie B and in the second finished 8th in C1. He played 54 games and in the second season was captain. His managers were Enrico Catuzzi, Attilio Perotti and Giorgio Rumignani. He played alongside Lazio connections; Beppe Signori (1992-97).
In 1990 he joined his last club Virescit Bergamo. The Viola were in C2 and finished 11th under former Torino player Giancarlo Danova. Osti played 27 league games.
At 33 he retired but remained in the football world.
In 1993 he started a long career as a director.
From 1993 to 1995 he was in charge of Piacenza's youth academy.
In 1995-95 he was sporting director at Triestina.
From 1996 to 1999 he was sporting director at Ternana obtaining promotions from C2 to B.
From 1999 he was with Alzano Virescit for two seasons.
In 2001 he was with Treviso until 2005. He was part of the Trevigiani's first ever promotion to Serie A.
In 2005-06 his path crossed with Lazio's. He was sporting director working alongside transfer market consultant Walter Sabatini. He worked under Claudio Lotito… not easy for anyone. The manager was Delio Rossi and the signings included; Emílson Cribari, Guglielmo Stendardo, Valon Behrami, Stefano Mauri, Gaby Mudingayi and Igli Tare. He also brought Samir Handanovič on loan in January 2006 (he would go on to play 455 games for Inter). Lazio finished 6th but were then demoted to 16th due to Calciopoli.
At the end of the season Osti left and went to Atalanta for four seasons.
In 2011-12 he was at Lecce.
From 2102 to 2023 (with brief interruption from October 2021 to January 2022) he was with Sampdoria.
In January 2025 he became sporting director at Palermo where he is still currently working, in Serie B with Pippo Inzaghi as manager.
He is highly respected as a sporting director and his next aim is to bring Palermo back up to Serie A.
As a player Osti was a full-back but could also play centre-back. He was a quick and tough man-to-man marker who had a solid career. In his youth he played 6 times for Italy U21s and 6 times for the Italy Olympic team.
He won the Scudetto twice with Juventus, albeit not as a protagonist, had good years at Atalanta with a promotion to A and was also part of the Avellino "miracle" period.
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