9 January 1972 – Sant’Elia Stadium in Cagliari
CAGLIARI-JUVENTUS 2-1
Cagliari: Albertosi; Martiradonna and Poletti; Cera, Niccolai and Tomasini; Domenghini, Nenè, Gori, Brugnera and Riva. On the bench: Reginato and Roffi. Coach: Scopigno
Juventus: Carmignani; Spinosi and Marchetti; Furino, Morini and Salvadore; Haller, Causio, Anastasi, Capello and Bettega. On the bench: Piloni and Roveta. Coach: Vycpálek
Referee: Angonese from Mestre.
Scorers: Domenghini in the 25th minute, Bettega in the 83rd minute, Gori in the 91st minute.
It is the game of mockery, in which Carmignani becomes the negative protagonist. Cagliari sets up an assault in the first half and puts Juventus in difficulty for whom the objective is not to lose, like at San Siro. Riva, against Spinosi, appears unleashed but, at the last moment, the left wing’s shots are neutralized by a Carmignani in splendid condition. However, the Juventus goalkeeper could do nothing about Domenghini’s goal, which resolved a melee created in the Juventus area. Haller could equalize a few minutes later, but Albertosi performs a feat by keeping his goal clean.
In the second half the Bianconeri with cold determination and progressive courage managed to equalize: on a corner kicked by Causio, Albertosi, coming out, completely missed the save. The ball, in fact, rears up and hits the crossbar; the quickest of all is Bettega who collects and slips into the Cagliari goal.
Everyone seems satisfied with the 1-1 draw, the match is about to end, when Domenghini makes a long throw from midfield towards the Juventus goalkeeper. Nobody threatens the Juventus goalkeeper, the ball is slow. Carmignani grabs it but, incredibly, lets it slip from his hands; behind him Gori anticipates everyone by depositing it into the net.
Anastasi’s comment: «We are still in the lead and I think almost nothing will change for the ranking, since our rivals didn’t win. Of course, it would have been much better to take a point here in Cagliari. The most dangerous pursuer, however, is always Milan.”
“EVENING PRESS”
An unforgettable succession of images is linked to Pietro Carmignani’s drama, Boniperti asks in the grandstand: «But isn’t it over yet?» Thirty seconds to go, let’s say. Juventus, after having grabbed the 1-1 draw, seems more relaxed, more dangerous finally. Marchetti sets up a counterattack in the opponent’s half of the field, the Bianconeri find themselves with four against three. The president jumps up, at the edge of the Cagliari area the last pass is to Causio who fidgets and loses the ball. Boniperti shouts: «What are you doing? Hand!”. Cagliari counters. The 90th minute has already struck.
Long throw from Domenghini, the ball hits the ground ten meters in front of Carmignani, bounces and you know the rest. It’s a goal. Boniperti in the stands becomes pale, then red, then pale again, he has lost his speech, he doesn’t know what to say, it is impossible for anyone that such a ball could have escaped from the hands of a goalkeeper. At the end of the match, the drama of a man begins, that of Pietro Carmignani. He will hate Cagliari for his whole life. He kneels inside the door, as if he wanted to hide under the protection of the net. He throws away his gloves, he cries, no one has the courage to look at him, to say anything to him, only Anastasi runs to cheer him up, urges him to get up, to go back to the locker room. By now all the players are about to leave the pitch. Carmignani was left alone among the riots of flags, shouts and red and blue chants. He walks in the middle of the field like an automaton, his left hand against the back of his head as if he wanted to stop something from exploding inside him.
He appears at the door of the changing rooms and, spreading his arms, whispers in a low voice: “I’m here, but I don’t know what to say.” Her eyes are red, his lips are trembling, he grits his teeth with emotion, while her enormous hands clasp in a convulsive movement. He is a broken man. Maybe it’s too much to call him a man. He is twenty-six years old and as a goalkeeper he is still a boy. He had the fortune of arriving at Juventus and after a difficult start, just at the moment in which he seemed to be on his way to his best form (remember Sunday’s match at San Siro?), here is the fatal 91st minute in Cagliari: a harmless ball that is from afar, an easy ball even for a child. Pietro spreads his hands to grab it but gets it all wrong, incredibly, inexplicably. Gori arrives and scores with a split. It is Juventus’ defeat, the second and bitter defeat of the season. Carmignani collapses and cries.
His companions encourage him, Morini whispers to him: «You are always the strongest!». Anastasi, the game is now over, accompanies him hand in hand towards the underpass. It is clear that in the locker rooms, hermetically sealed and in the presence of Boniperti and Vycpálek, Carmignani’s mistake was discussed, but it is to be believed that the examination of the defeat went beyond the absurd final goal. Something went wrong in the Juventus ranks, something much more important than the apologies made by Vycpálek in the brief chat with the journalists. It’s too easy to say: “The heat and the soft bottom of the ground have betrayed us.” It is an acceptable judgment but it is an incomplete judgment. The trainer must admit that the markings were wrong and that the correction came too late, that some Juventus players yesterday played “at a small trot”, that the midfield never provided useful balls to the strikers, that too many people faced the encounter with an inconceivable superiority in modern football. Vycpálek denies a technical regression, only admitting a “tactical variant” due to the prudence of playing away from home. Anastasi even talks about bad luck: «Nothing has changed in our game – says the center forward – we are no longer lucky».
And here appears the character of the day, the one we mentioned at the beginning, that is Pietro Carmignani, author of a beautiful performance later ruined by an unforgivable inattention. «I conceded such an absurd goal that I can’t give myself peace. I’m a sensitive guy and I feel morally destroyed.” It’s not the player talking, he’s the man. «At this moment I can’t say what I will do. Tomorrow, with a clear mind, I will speak with the managers and I will explain my thoughts to them. I fear that bad luck may haunt me again. An error like this has no justification. Maybe I will ask to be replaced, to rest, to spend some time away from Turin. Right now my head is empty, I am unable to connect. Give me time to think. Tomorrow I will make a decision.”
He takes refuge at the back of the bus, with his head in his hands. We have never seen such a dejected footballer. We do not believe that Vycpálek will accept Carmignani’s request to be retired. The injury in Cagliari must be considered as such and immediately forgotten. That this should be the orientation of the Juventus managers can be deduced from the words that Boniperti says as he leaves the locker room: «In my long career as a footballer I have had the opportunity to see several absurd goals, just like the one against Cagliari, without any drama arising. In fact, I hope that the defeat will be a useful lash for my players. The championship is difficult and we have to fight every Sunday. No other distractions will be allowed.”
Immediately after the race a sort of “war council” was held in the same premises as Sant’Elia. Boniperti, Count Cavalli d’Olivola and some players took part in the meeting. The situation would be looked into. It seems to have been decided that the team should return to the open play tactic as soon as possible, without worrying too much about the strength and value of the opponents. The game, so to speak, which had allowed Juventus to gain the top of the table with a large margin of advantage. Vycpálek partially admits the information: «From Sunday against Fiorentina – says the trainer – we will return to our usual tactics, without excessive defensive coverage». It is a confirmation that mistakes were made in Milan and Cagliari even “during the study phase”.
Tags: remember day CAGLIARIJUVENTUS
