On 16 October 1983, at the Olympic stadium, a match was played that became history, despite being a friendly match. Because it is Giorgio Chinaglia’s latestLong John, center forward icon of a historical period of Lazio. But not only that, he was one of the first to go to the United States to play with the Black Pearl, Pelè. There is a festive air in the Roman venue as 40,000 spectators arrive to enjoy a sun-kissed Sunday.
It’s Chinaglia daythe friendly match between Lazio – of which he had become president three months ago, on 13 July – and the Cosmos, the New York team where he had played for nine years until September. The teammates, although old, represented the best: Pelè, in fact, but also Beckenbauer and Neeskens, who passed away a few days ago. Also on the pitch were D’Amico and Carlos Alberto, historic goalscorer in the 1970 Mexico final, but also Laudrup. Chinaglia played for a time with the Cosmos, the first, then changed his shirt and wore blue and white for the second.
The most awaited goal also arrived, that of Chinaglia, following a pass from Bruno Giordano (who had played for Bearzot’s national team a day earlier. We hear the anthem, new: “Vola Lazio vola” commissioned by the president to Toni Malco, with the participation of the aforementioned D’Amico and Giordano, but also Manfredonia.
Lazio-Cosmos 3-1
Markers: 2′ Laudrup, 26′ Romero, 52′ Laudrup, 76′ Chinaglia.
Lazio
Cacciatori (81′ Ielpo), Miele (46′ Chiarenza), Piscedda, Manfredonia, Batista, Vinazzani, Cupini (46′ Marini), D’Amico (46′ Giordano), Meluso (46′ Chinaglia), Laudrup, Piraccini (46 ‘ Calisti).
Trainer: Morrone.
Cosmos
Birkenmeier, Carlos Alberto (46′ Durgan), Beckenbauer, Rijsbergen (65′ Geer), Eskandarian (82′ Borja), Neeskens, Fox, Romero, Chinaglia (46′ Peterson), Bogicevic, Cabanas.
Trainer: Mazzei.
Referee: Longhi (Roma).