Lazio clinch point against league leaders
Inter attack for most of the match but can't find a way past Cei
Also on this day: April 23, 1978, Lazio Perugia 2-0. An ill-tempered game is decided by an own goal and a world class Giordano. Vital two points for Lazio. Player of the day: Antonio Lopez
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had finished 12th under Umberto Mannocci. The highlights were beating Roma 1-0 (the other derby was 0-0) and Milan 2-0 away. Top scorer was Vito D'Amato with 7 league goals.
This season Mannocci had stayed on but then been replaced on November 7 by Maino Neri. The main summer transfers in were defender Sergio Castelletti (Fiorentina, after 214 league games), midfielders Arrigo Dolso (Udinese), Rino Marchesi (Fiorentina), Giuseppe Massa (Internapoli) plus forwards Romano Bagatti (Varese), Juan Carlos Morrone (Fiorentina) and Gianni Sassaroli (Avellino-end of loan). In the autumn Lazio had added defenders Pietro Adorni (Napoli) and Antonio Maggioni (Juventus-on loan).
Leaving were defenders Vincenzo Gasperi (Varese), Giampiero Vitali (Fiorentina), midfielder Giovanni Sacco (Juventus-end of loan) plus forwards Nicola Ciccolo (Vicenza), Antonio Renna (Varese) and Orlando Rozzoni (SPAL).
The season started with a 1-5 away defeat to Fiorentina. A sign of things to come. Since then Lazio had won 4 (including Inter 1-0 at home), drawn 14 (including Milan 2-2 away and Juventus 0-0 at home) and lost 10 (including derby 0-1). Lazio were currently joint 13th, with Vicenza and SPAL on 22 points, in the last relegation slot. The main problem, and not a minor one, was scoring goals, only 16 so far in 28 games. A week earlier the Biancocelesti had drawn at Vicenza, 0-0 unsurprisingly.
In Coppa Italia, Lazio had beaten Catania 1-0 away in September but then lost 0-2 at home to Lecco in November and crashed out.
Inter had won the Scudetto the previous year, under manager Helenio Herrera known as "Il Mago" (The Magician) while his assistant was Maino Neri, the current Lazio manager. The Nerazzurri had also won the Intercontinental Cup beating Argentines Independiente 3-0 on aggregate.
This season the "Mago" stayed on. The Italian national side's flop in the 1966 World Cup led the Federation to stop any new foreign players coming in. This penalised Inter who had already signed a pre-contract with the great Franz Beckenbauer. Instead they signed defender Carlo Soldo (Varese) and forward Luís Vinicio (Vicenza).
Leaving were midfielders Sergio Gori (Vicenza) and Saul Malatrasi (Lecco) plus forward Joaquín Peiró (Roma).
Inter were currently top of the table, on 44 points, four ahead of Juventus. Things seemed under control. The Nerazzurri had won 19 (including Milan 4-0), drawn 6 and lost 3 (including Lazio 0-1). A week earlier they had won 3-2 away at Venezia. Top scorer was Sandro Mazzola with 17 league goals, Cappellini had 9 and Angelo Domenghini 7.
In the European Cup, Inter were between semi-final legs against CSKA Sofia. The first in Milan, on April 19, had ended 1-1 while the return game in Bulgaria would be on April 26. The Nerazzurri had so far eliminated Torpedo Moscow, Vasas (Hungary) and Real Madrid.
So, Inter were marching towards the Scudetto and Lazio were struggling. This was a difficult game for Lazio, to put it mildly.
The match: Sunday, April 23, 1967, Stadio San Siro, Milan
Lazio had brought the Roman sun with them today although there was a slight fresh north wind blowing.
Inter decided to rest goalkeeper Giuliano Sarti, midfielders Gianfranco Bedin, Sandro Mazzola and forward Jair in view of the important upcoming European game in Bulgaria. Lazio meanwhile were without Pietro Dotti who was suspended and replaced by Giovanni Masiello for his Serie A debut.
Inter pushed forward immediately hoping to get things over with quickly. Their first chance was a Luís Vinicio header, after Renato Cappellini had headed the ball on from an Angelo Domenghini corner, but it went just high.
Lazio responded with a half-hearted weak header by Enrico Burlando.
Then it was Inter at the charge again. Luisito Suarez got past Paolo Carosi and let off a cracking shot but it was saved brilliantly by Idilio Cei. Suarez then had a freekick opportunity but this time the keeper saved comfortably.
Lazio put their noses out briefly in the 26th minute but, from a Juan Carlos Morrone corner, Romano Bagatti couldn't get a touch obstructed by Tarcisio Burgnich.
Around the half hour mark Inter had a huge double chance. Mariolino Corso floated in a free kick and Vinicio got a decent header in, it was saved by Cei but only as far as Domenghini who hit it first time but too centrally and the keeper, leaping off the ground, managed to block it. Great reflexes but the Italian international should have done better. Halftime Inter 0 Lazio 0.
Inter obviously on top but Lazio were proving a tough nut to crack.
The second half was no different. In the 51st minute Cappellini tried his luck with a powerful long-range effort but Cei was quick off his feet to dive and deny the Lombard striker.
Lazio finally went close in the 56th minute when Rino Marchesi suddenly unleashed a blistering long-range strike but it went just wide.
In the 62nd minute Inter almost took the lead but Aristide Guarneri's header shaved the post.
There was a controversial episode in the 75th minute. Morrone had a prolonged battle with Guarneri towards the corner flag just outside the area, the Argentine went past the defender near the by-line and was then clearly tripped. A blatant foul and clear penalty but not for the referee. Lazio, at San Siro, against league leaders Inter... highly unlikely.
In the last ten minutes the Nerazzurri attacked constantly and Lazio pulled back into the trenches even more.
In the 85th minute Cappellini had a cross goal effort which went extremely close to the far post. Then a Suarez-Corso combination saw the Italian hammer a shot towards goal but Cei confirmed his good form by tipping it over the bar. There was no more time for further assaults and the referee blew up. Final score Inter 0 Lazio 0.
Inter had attacked for at least 70 minutes but Lazio deserved the point if only for their sheer doggedness. The defence had played well but the whole team had helped out in a resilient performance. The denied penalty was obviously brushed under the carpet and not really talked about.
A useful point for Lazio who were now 5th bottom, on 23 points. Unfortunately, SPAL had won but Vicenza had lost. Lazio were safe for now but still had a long way to go.
Inter saw their lead at the top reduced to three points as Juventus had beaten Venezia 2-1 at home. Five games to go, Inter were still in the driving seat but had to be careful.
Who played for Inter
Miniussi, Burgnich, Facchetti, Bicicli, Guarneri, Picchi, Domenghini, Cappellini, Vinicio, Suarez, Corso
Manager: Herrera
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Neri
Referee: De Robbio
What happened next
Lazio ended up relegated. The Biancocelesti won two more matches but lost three and finished 15th. They only scored 20 league goals all season. Top scorers were Romano Bagatti and Juan Carlos Morrone with 4...
Inter, not for the first or last time in their history, managed to throw away the title. In the next four matches they drew three and lost one, against Juventus. Going into the last match however they still had a one-point lead over the Bianconeri. They then fell to a shock 0-1 defeat at Mantova and were pipped to the post by Juventus who beat Lazio 2-1. Top scorer was Sandro Mazzola with 23 goals (17 in A).
Inter were also runners-up in the European Cup. They reached the final but were beaten 1-2 by Celtic Glasgow in Lisbon. The Scots were the first to lift the new look trophy (still the current one with large side handles or "big ears" as they call them in Italy).
With Juventus champions, the other verdicts were Serie B for Lazio, Foggia, Venezia and Lecco.
Lazio 1966-67
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 34 | 6 | 15 | 13 | 20 |
Coppa Italia | 2 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 |
Mitropa Cup | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
Total | 40 | 8 | 16 | 16 | 26 |
Top Five Appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Mitropa Cup |
Morrone | 38 | 33 | 2 | 3 |
Carosi | 38 | 33 | 2 | 3 |
Cei | 37 | 31 | 2 | 4 |
D'Amato | 37 | 32 | 2 | 3 |
Pagni | 36 | 30 | 2 | 4 |
Top Five Goal Scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Mitropa Cup |
Bagatti | 7 | 4 | - | 3 |
D'Amato | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
Morrone | 4 | 4 | - | - |
Marchesi | 2 | 2 | - | - |
Sassaroli | 2 | 2 | - | - |
Let's talk about Sergio Castelletti
Sergio Castelletti was born in Casale Monferrato (Alessandria-Piedmont) on December 30, 1937.
He started his football with local Casale and then Torino youth set ups.
In 1956-57 he joined the Torino first squad and played one league game. The Granata had four different managers and finished 7th. His teammates included, former Lazio, Dionisio Arce (1949-51).
In 1957 Castelletti joined Vigevano on loan. The Ducali were in Serie C and won promotion. He played 34 league games.
In 1958 he joined Fiorentina in Serie A where he would stay eight seasons. The Viola finished 2nd, 2nd, 7th, 3rd, 6th, 4th, 4th and 4th again. In this period however, the Gigliati won the Coppa Italia twice (1961, 1966), the Cup Winners Cup (1961, beating Rangers 4-1 on aggregate) and the Mitropa Cup (1966). Castelletti played 214 league games, 13 in Coppa Italia, 10 in the Cup Winners Cup, 7 in the Mitropa Cup and 5 in the Fairs Cup. Some of his teammates included, Lazio connections: Rino Marchesi (1966-71), Can Bartu (1964-67) and Pierpaolo Manservisi (1970-71, 1972-74). His managers included Luigi Ferrero (Lajos Czeizler T.D), Luis Carniglia, Nandor Hidegkuti, Giuseppe Chiappella (for 3 seasons) and Ferruccio Valcareggi.
In 1966 Castelletti joined Lazio where he stayed two seasons. In the first the Biancocelesti were relegated from Serie A, first under Umberto Mannocci and then Maino Neri. In the second, under Renato Gei and then Bob Lovati, they finished 11th in B. Castelletti played 26 league games, 3 in Coppa Italia and 4 in the Mitropa Cup.
In 1968-69 he spent a season with Massese in Serie C. The Apuani finished 2nd under Umberto Pinardi and Castelletti played 37 league games.
His last club was Ternana from 1969 to 1971. The Rossoverdi were in Serie B and finished 7th and 11th. His managers were Pinardi again then Dante Fortini and Serafino Montanari in the first season and future Lazio Luis Vinicio in the second. Castelletti played 64 league games plus 6 in Coppa Italia.
He then retired at 33.
At international level he won 7 caps for Italy, between 1958 and 1962.
He stayed in football and went into coaching. He had spells at Empoli (Serie C, 1971-72, 11th), Lucchese (C, 1972-74, 3rd and 7th), Alessandria (B, 1974-75, relegated after playoff), Vigevano (C, 1975, sacked), Massese (C, C2 1977-79, relegated and then sacked). He then had stints in the Fiorentina and Viareggio youth sectors.
Castelletti was a defender, more specifically a left full-back. He was a solid player who formed an excellent defence with Enzo Robotti and goalkeepers Giuliano Sarti and then Enrico Albertosi at Fiorentina, helping the Viola to win three important trophies and three lesser ones.
At Lazio he arrived probably already past his peak and was also unlucky with his timing which coincided with the Biancocelesti 's relegation and subsequent struggle in Serie B. He played 33 games for the Eagles.
Sergio Castelletti died on November 28, 2004 in Florence.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances | Serie A | Serie B | Coppa Italia | Mitropa Cup |
1966-67 | 28 | 22 | - | 2 | 4 |
1967-68 | 5 | - | 4 | 1 | - |
Total | 33 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
Sources
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