Nightmare start

Dag Jenkins
Jun 27, 2024
4 min read

Season 1986-87

Game 1, Serie B Relegation Play Offs

Saturday, June 27, 1987

Stadio San Paolo, Naples

Taranto-Lazio 1-0

Lazio lose first playoff game to a goal in offside but there is still hope

Lazio started the season at -9 points. The main priority now was survival.

After a hesitant start Lazio gathered steam and at one point even looked as if they could join the promotion battle. Then the stress of the handicap start and the necessity to push early on began to take its toll and Lazio had started to struggle in the second part of the season.

After the first 19 fixtures Lazio had conquered 24 points, so were on 15, in 16th place (without the handicap they would have been 2nd). In the next 18 fixtures however the Biancocelesti had only gathered 16 points.

Then came the mother of all games Lazio vs Vicenza on June 21. The table read: Cagliari 26 (relegated), Taranto 31, Lazio 31, Catania 32, Vicenza 32, Sambenedettese 32, Campobasso 32, Modena 33. With four relegations the situation was dramatic. In front of an 80,000 crowd Lazio managed to clinch a 1-0 win in an epic match decided by an 82nd minute goal by Giuliano Fiorini.

This meant a three-team playoff to be played in Naples with first Taranto and then Campobasso.

The match

It was a hot and humid day in Naples for this crucial clash. There were about 25,000 Lazio fans present but it is said another 10,000 never made it due to a crash on the Autosole motorway near Caianello. There were also 10,000 Taranto fans present.

Lazio were without defender Raimondo Marino but apart from that fielded a strong side.

Taranto were missing talented midfielder Pietro Maiellaro and also had midfielder Vincenzo Tavarilli unavailable.

The heat and the importance of the game affected the first half. Lazio had territorial superiority and attacked more but had difficulty against Taranto's defensive approach.

Taranto had a freekick by Stefano Dalla Costa in the first minute saved by Giuliano Terraneo and then defended for long periods with the occasional hopeful long ball for Antonio De Vitis.

Lazio had a few chances, Fabio Poli in the 6th minute and Paolo Mandelli in the 28th had shots saved by Daniele Goletti. Lazio pushed forward but were unable to cause the keeper any particular problems.

At the end of the half the Rossoblu had another free kick, this time taken by De Vitis, but Terraneo was safe. Halftime Taranto 0 Lazio 0.

Not a great first 45 minutes but the slight breeze which started to blow during the break promised to make the playing conditions easier.

The game became faster and Lazio continued to attack but continued to hit Taranto's defensive wall. Taranto threatened more on the counter attack compared to the first half and Terraneo had to save on Silvio Picci and Dalla Costa.

In the 61st minute Lazio had a good chance but Mandelli's header was blocked by Goletti. A minute later the Pugliesi responded with a powerful Maurizio Gridelli attempt saved by Terraneo.

In the 65th minute disaster struck for Lazio. Lazio hesitated at the back, Terraneo saved on a Gridelli shot but parried only as far as De Vitis who had no problem scoring. The striker's position looked blatantly offside but the goal stood despite heavy protests by the Lazio players.

Lazio were under shock for some minutes and then started to attack head down. In the 72nd minute the Romans were unlucky when a Luca Brunetti strike hit the post.

They had just replaced Gabriele Pin with Giorgio Magnocavallo and then in the 78th minute took off Gabriele Podavini for Massimo Piscedda.

Taranto waited a little longer but then in the 83rd minute substituted forward Silvio Paolucci with midfielder Bruno Russo and in the 87th changed forward, bringing on Marco Romiti for the provisional match winner De Vitis.

Lazio threw themselves forward but lacked lucidity. The last chance was for Fiorini but Goletti dived low at his feet and gathered. Final score Taranto 1 Lazio 0.

A nightmare start for Lazio. The Biancocelesti were now staring 3rd tier football in the face and even their future as a club was potentially in danger. The Eagles however had one more chance, the game against Campobasso on July 5. The exodus of Lazio fans would have to be repeated for a life or death clash with the Molisani. Campobasso would have already played Taranto by then as that game was scheduled for July 1. The situation would be clearer after that game but Lazio basically knew they had to win to survive.

Who played for Taranto

Goletti, Biondo, Gridelli, Donatelli, Serra, Paolinelli, Paolucci (83' Russo), Picci, De Vitis (87' Romiti), Dalla Costa

Substitutes: Incontri, D. Conti, Di Maria

Manager: Veneranda (not on bench due to suspension)

Who played for Lazio

Terraneo, Brunetti, Podavini (78' Piscedda), Acerbis, Gregucci, Camolese, Mandelli, Caso, Poli, Pin (71' Magnocavallo), Fiorini