Como arrives in Genoa fully launched towards promotion and also in the last precedent in Serie B the Larians they played in Genoa with three days to go, in that case almost mathematically promoted. The Sampdoria eleven, led by Bellotto, were looking for safety points and after the hard-fought victory two weeks earlier against Messina beat President Preziosi’s Como 2-1with Flachi the great protagonist and author of the opening goal, with a doubling thanks to an own goal by Bega and the goal of the flag only in the ninetieth minute by the former Genoa player Marco Nappi.
Also in March 1980 the eleven coached by Pippo Marchioro showed up at Ferraris as leaders but that afternoon at Marassi a certain Alviero Chiorri played the “Martian”, scoring the decisive goal in a Samp team led by Lauro Toneatto who was entertaining after an uphill start but at the end of the season, the Como team rose up the ranks, including a young Pietro Vierchowod among their ranks and fielding the fearsome duo of Nicoletti and Cavagnetto in attack.
Over the years, many players have arrived in Mantovani’s Sampdoria from a team like the Como one, in addition to the “Tsar” we remember the various Mannini, Fusi, Matteoli, Invernizzi… Precisely with Giovanni on the pitch, future championship winner and Sampdoria manager, the Como of Mondonico in September 1986thanks to a goal from the former Genoa player Todesco, at the start of the season he overcame Samp under the new coach Boskov who was struggling to get going while in the following seasons in Serie A we remember two round victories, the first signed by the hits of Vierchowod, Briegel and Vialli and the second with the seals of Cerezo and Mancini.
Como reminds me of a distant away match February 22, 1976, it was the pre-Mantovan Sampdoria chasing useful points for salvation. The Blucerchiati were forced to play a month and a half away from home, that trip to the banks of the Lario happened between the matches against Milan and Cesena, which Samp played on a neutral pitch in Bergamo and Lucca due to the disqualification of the pitch for three days, after the invasion against Inter.
Typically lake climate that day, with cold, drizzle and the typical mist that enveloped the facility right on the lake shore; Samp in a white shirt against a Como team who were obliged to win considering their position at the bottom of the table. The Larians’ coach was Osvaldo Bagnoli, with Giorgio “Custer” Garbarini, a former Samp and Genoa defender, leading a team that included, among others, the midfielders Correnti and Pozzato, whose name was Doriano, and a young Scanziani as a center forward in support to the clever Cappellini.
It wasn’t a match to remember for its scoring chances, the fear of losing definitely prevailed; the Blucerchiati the previous week in Bergamo against Milan had suffered the injury of Mario Maraschi, who ruptured his Achilles tendon and was forced to end his glorious career. Massimo Cacciatori dressed in black managed to keep his clean sheet, protected by the various Arnuzzo, Zecchini, Rossinelli and Lelj, a former Viola deployed by Bersellini as a left back. Magistrelli and Saltutti failed to strike and the match ended in stalemate.
At the end of the season, Samp achieved hard-fought salvation thanks to the last four home games, all won against Roma, Perugia, Ascoli and Naples, with Nello Saltutti the great protagonist and author of the decisive goals for remaining in the top flight while Como were relegated.
MARCO FERRERA
