Game 1, Serie B
Sunday, September 3, 1961
Stadio Emilio Morrone, Cosenza
Cosenza Lazio 2-2
Lazio fall behind twice against fired up Cosenza but salvage a draw
Lazio had played one game in Coppa Italia in August beating Genoa 3-1 but this was their debut in the league.
An interesting game today between a former Serie A side and cup winners only three years earlier and a club who had never been as high as Serie B before in their history.
The match
There was great enthusiasm in the Athens of Calabria for this historic debut in the second tier of Italian football. The crowd was only 12,000 but the small stadium was packed to the rafters.
Lazio were without forwards Orlando Rozzoni, Maurilio Prini and Mario Maraschi but had defender Adelmo Eufemi unexpectedly available again.
The Rossoblu started strongly, pushed on by a raucous home crowd. Lazio were pegged back and defended well until just after the half hour. In the 32nd minute a through ball by Elio Ardit found speedy Corrado Perli who burst past Vincenzo Gasperi and Eufemi and crossed low for Virginio Costa who beat Idilio Cei from close range. Cosenza 1 Lazio 0.
Lazio responded and equalised just before halftime. A high free kick into the area by Gilberto Noletti found Juan Carlos Morrone, the "Gaucho" volleyed and, thanks to a slight deflection by Oriello Lugli, took the keeper by surprise, Cosenza 1 Lazio 1 at the break.
Lazio started the second half well. After only a few minutes Pinti went past several defenders but then tried a shot from a difficult angle instead of passing to at least a couple of unmarked teammates in the middle.
In the 57th minute the Silani went in front again. On a free kick the Lazio wall was not placed well and Ardit scored with a powerful low strike. Cosenza 2 Lazio 1.
At this point Lazio threw themselves into attacking mode. They put the locals under constant pressure but inevitably exposed themselves to the Calabresi's counterattacks. Both Perli and Costa went close for the "Bruzi" (old Italic Calabrian people of Iron Age) but then with less than ten minutes remaining Lazio's efforts were rewarded.
In the 82nd minute a long throw-in was headed by Pinti to Guglielmo Mecozzi who shot first time, Bruno Amati stretched and saved but could not hold onto it and Angelo Longoni pounced and equalised. Cosenza 2 Lazio 2.
The prospect of a point each and the Calabrian end of summer heat taking its toll then made sure there were no more goals. Final score Cosenza 2 Lazio 2.
All in all, a satisfactory away point for Lazio. The Cosentini players and especially the fans were fuelled by huge excitement and expectation. Some of these small southern grounds were not easy places to come to but Lazio had fallen behind twice and still managed to take a point back to Rome.
The standout players were defenders Gianni Seghedoni and Diego Zanetti for Lazio while Perli and Giustino Ippolito had played well for Cosenza.
Who played for Cosenza
Amati, Follador, Orlando, Ippolito, Federici, Lugli, Ardit, Perli, Lenzi, Danelon, Costa
Manager: Zsengellér
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Todeschini
Referee: Leita
Goals: 32' Costa, 44' Lugli (og), 57 Ardit, 82' Longoni
Sources
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