Heaven must wait

Dag Jenkins
Jun 21, 2024
3 min read

Season 1980-81

Game 38, Serie B

Sunday, June 21, 1981

Stadio Erasmo Jacovone, Taranto

Taranto-Lazio 1-1

A depressing affair ends up 1-1 with both teams disappointed

Lazio had promotion ambitions and had started well with 7 wins and 8 draws in the first 15 games but then slowed down. In the next 22 games the Biancocelesti won 6, drew 11 and lost 5.

Then a week earlier disaster had struck in the home game against Vicenza as with the score on 1-1, and in the last minute, Stefano Chiodi had missed a penalty thus virtually ending Lazio's promotion hopes.

The table read Milan 50, Genoa 46, Cesena 46, Lazio 45. With three promotion slots and only one game to play the situation looked grim. Genoa played Rimini at home while Cesena had Atalanta at home. Rimini were safe in mid-table but Atalanta were in the relegation places so should at least put up a fight.

A disappointed Lazio therefore travelled down to south-east Italy with still a mathematical chance of promotion but hopes were low.

The match: Sunday, June 21, 1981, Stadio Erasmo Jacovone, Taranto

A hot and sticky day in the port and steel works town of Taranto with only about 6,000 fans present. The ones who had chosen the game over a day at the sea were in a belligerent mood too.

Lazio only had Stefano Chiodi out but by the manager's choice and otherwise fielded their best possible line-up.

Taranto were without goalkeeper Maurizio Rossi, defender Francesco Scoppa, midfielder Maurizio Raise and forwards Antonio Rondon and Massimo Barbuti.

The Rossoblu also had four Lazio connections in the squad. Two were absent, a young Angelo Gregucci who would later become a Lazio legend (1986-93 and 210 games) and Vincenzo Chiarenza whose next team would be Lazio. The Ionici also had Renzo Rossi on the bench, he had played for Lazio in 1976-77 and the manager was former player Umberto Pinardi (1956-59)

Few were expecting a lively affair in a game between two sides both melancholic and subdued for different reasons. The first goal however came after only two minutes when Giuseppe Pavone struck the ball well from the edge of the box after a poor clearance by Giorgio Mastropasqua. Taranto 1 Lazio 0.

The goal did nothing to pacify the crowd who would constantly throw objects onto the field for the whole match and refuse to give the ball back when it went into the stands.

Lazio showed no signs of life and Taranto had a chance to double their lead in the 10th minute but Pavone was just off target.

The Pavone show continued in the 22nd minute but Dario Marigo denied him with an excellent save. Lazio did nothing and halftime came with the locals deservedly in front 1-0.

The results from the other games were not encouraging. Genoa were winning 1-0 and Cesena 2-0 but in the second half Lazio improved slightly (it was difficult to get any worse).

In the 58th minute Renzo Garlaschelli had a goal disallowed as he had touched the ball with his hand at least once in the buildup.

In the 62nd minute the referee Menicucci awarded Lazio a generous penalty when Alberto Bigon collapsed between defenders Bruno Beatrice and Franco Falcetta. Filippo Citterio put away the spot kick, 1-1.

In the 69th minute former Lazio Renzo Rossi came on for Nicola Cassano.

In the 71st minute Lazio scored again. Citterio crossed into the area from the left and Garlaschelli charged in and into the net. A perfectly good goal which Menicucci nevertheless disallowed for a non-existent offside position. Mistakes and more mistakes for the referee who Lazio would unfortunately cross paths with again in future years.

The game then carried on without much happening as the players were more interested in skirting objects flying onto the field than going for a winner.

In the 90th minute Mauro Manzoni replaced Pietro Ghedin and the game and season petered out. Both sides trudged off the field unhappy while there was more crowd trouble in the streets after the game.

Lazio had failed to get promoted and Taranto were relegated. A game and day both would prefer to forget.

Who played for Taranto

Ciappi, Falcetta, Mucci, Beatrice, Dradi, Picano, Gori, Pavone, Mutti, Ferrante, Cassano (69' Rossi)

Substitutes: Naccarella, Intagliata, Fagni, Di Stefano

Manager: Pinardi

Who played for Lazio

Marigo, Spinozzi, Ghedin (90' Manzoni), Mastropasqua, Pochesci, Citterio, Sanguin, Bigon, Garlaschelli, Viola, Marronaro