Facco to the rescue
A rare goal by the Lazio defender ten minutes from time gives Lazio a well-deserved point
Also on this day:
The season so far
Lazio the previous year had finished 8th in Serie A, under Roberto Lovati and Juan Carlos Lorenzo as technical director.
This year Lorenzo was officially manager and Lovati his assistant. There had been no major movements on the transfer market. The main players coming in were midfielders Pierpaolo Manservisi (Napoli) and Arrigo Dolso (Monza-end of loan). In the autumn, midfielder Giudo Magherini had also been added on loan from Milan. Leaving were defenders Carlo Soldo (Monza), Giancarlo Oddi (Massese-on loan), midfielder Bruno Gioia (Parma) and forward Gian Piero Ghio (Napoli).
Lazio were already out of the Coppa Italia despite two wins out of three (Palermo, Catanzaro), unfortunately the defeat was in the derby 0-2. Lazio were also out of the Fairs Cup having lost to Arsenal 2-4 on aggregate.
In Serie A, Lazio were struggling too. After ten games the Biancocelesti were in joint 14h place on 7 points, one from safety (three teams on 8) Lazio had won 1 (most recent game 1-0 at home to Sampdoria), drawn 5 (including Milan away and derby, both 1-1) and lost 4.
Fiorentina had finished 4th the previous season, under manager Bruno Pesaola. The Viola had also reached the quarterfinals of the European Cup (Celtic 1-3 on aggregate). In Serie A, Fiorentina had lost 1-5 to Lazio away but won 2-0 at home. Top scorer was Luciano Chiarugi with 19 goals (12 in A).
This season the manager was still Pesaola. Fiorentina had brought in a few new players; defenders Giovanni Botti (Brescia), Giancarlo Galdiolo (ALMAS), Pietro Ghedin (Venezia), Paolo Stanzial (Livorno - back from loan), midfielders Dino D'Alessi (Brescia), Giorgio Gennari (Bologna) plus forward Alessandro Vitali (Vicenza).
Leaving were: defender Bernardo Rogora (Brescia), Pierluigi Cencetti (Brescia), Giovan Battista Pirovano (Legnano), midfielder Francesco Rizzo (Bologna) plus forwards Amarildo (Roma) and former Lazio, Mario Maraschi (Vicenza).
Fiorentina were currently in joint 10th position with Sampdoria and Varese on 8 points. The Viola had won 2 (including Roma 1-0 away on debut), drawn 4 and lost 4. Their most recent game was a 3-0 home win against Foggia.
In Coppa Italia Fiorentina had qualified for the final phase to be played in May-June (a 4-team mini-league). To get there Fiorentina had won all three of the matches in their group (Bari 2-0, Taranto 1-0 and Foggia 3-0 at home). In the quarterfinals they had then defeated Monza 4-1 on aggregate.
In the Fairs Cup the Viola had gone out to Cologne 1-3 on aggregate in the round of 32.
So, two teams with some problems were meeting today. A game neither could afford to lose.
The match: Sunday, December 27, 1970, Stadio Comunale, Florence
A dark, showery day in Florence today and the pitch was a little heavy. A 25,000 crowd had turned up in the Campo di Marte area of town.
Both sides had more or less their best XI's. Juan Carlos Lorenzo however, had dropped Giuseppe Papadopulo and Luigi Polentes and played Pino Wilson and Mario Facco as markers and Rino Marchesi as sweeper.
The Viola started well but in the 5th minute lost their star striker Luciano Chiarugi through injury. The Tuscan striker from near Pisa hobbled off after clashing with Wilson and was replaced by Ennio Pellegrini.
The Florentines remained on top and Rosario Di Vincenzo had to be vigilant on a Dino D'Alessi effort. In the 19th minute the Gigliati went in front. A powerful and precise Claudio Merlo shot gave the Lazio keeper no chance. Fiorentina 1 Lazio 0.
Lazio regrouped and began playing some good football. Ferruccio Mazzola had a goal correctly disallowed for offside and then Arrigo Dolso, set up by Giorgio Chinaglia, missed the target with only the keeper to beat. In the 44th minute Mazzola went past two defenders but then, instead of passing to an unmarked Dolso, tried a shot which was comfortably blocked by Claudio Bandoni. Halftime Fiorentina 1 Lazio 0.
After a difficult start the Biancocelesti had grown into the game and would have deserved to be level.
In the second half Lazio were in control and attacked incessantly. In the 57th minute they increased their attacking potential by replacing Gaetano Legnaro with striker Juan Carlos Morrone.
The pitch became increasingly heavy thus favouring defensive play over attacking tactics.
The Argentine Gaucho was inspired and led Lazio on the attack. The deserved equaliser finally came ten minutes from the end. In the 80th minute Nello Governato floated in a freekick and Facco, taking advantage of a mistimed Bandoni jump, headed the ball in. Fiorentina 1 Lazio 1.
The heavy pitch by now had taken its toll and both sides seemed to settle for a draw. Final result, Fiorentina 1 Lazio 1.
A good away point for Lazio. The Biancocelesti had battled hard and shown strength of character, always believing they could get something out of the game.
Lazio were now joint 13th with Varese on 8 points while Fiorentina were joint 11th on 9 points with Sampdoria.
Who played for Fiorentina
Bandoni, Galdiolo, Longoni, Esposito, Ferrante, Brizi, D'Alessi, Merlo, Vitali, De Sisti, Chiarugi (6' E. Pellegrini)
Substitutes: Superchi
Manager: Pesaola
Who played for Lazio
Di Vincenzo, Wilson, Legnaro (57' Morrone), Governato, Facco, Marchesi, Massa, Mazzola II, Chinaglia, Magherini, Dolso
Substitutes: Sulfaro
Manager: Lorenzo
Referee: Panzino
Goals: 19' Merlo, 80' Facco
What happened next
Lazio ended up relegated. The Biancocelesti won 4 more matches and drew with Juventus and Roma but ultimately an away defeat at Varese and at home to Vicenza condemned the Romans to the drop. Lazio finished 15th after 5 wins, 12 draws (both derbies) and 13 defeats.
Lazio's two consolations were winning the Alps Cup defeating Basel away 3-1 and having Giorgio Chinaglia score 21 goals (9 in the league).
Lazio were going down but Tommaso Maestrelli and better times were on the way.
Fiorentina finished 13th. After the 15th fixture Pesaola was replaced by Oronzo Pugliese and then for the last three games of the Coppa Italia final phase Mario Mazzoni came in. After today's game the Gigliati won only won 1 more game, drew 14 (including Lazio 0-0) and lost 4, only avoiding relegation on goal difference. Top scorer in all competitions was Luciano Chiarugi with 12 (5 in A) while in the league it was Alessandro Vitali with 6.
In the Coppa Italia final phase they won 2 (Torino 4-0 and Napoli 2-0, at home), drew 2 (Napoli and Torino both 1-1 away) and lost 1 (Milan 1-2 at home). The Cup was won by Torino.
In Serie A the Scudetto was won by Inter for the 11th time. Lazio went down with Foggia and Catania.
Let’s talk about Mario Facco
Mario Facco was born in Milan, on January 23, 1946.
He grew up in the Inter youth sector. In 1965 he moved up into the main team. In three years he only played 1 league game and 2 in Coppa Italia. He was however part of the Inter squad that won the Scudetto in 1966.
In 1968 he joined Lazio. The Biancocelesti had just been relegated and were attempting an immediate return under Juan Carlos Lorenzo. They were successful, also thanks to Facco who played 28 league games with 3 goals (winners against Catania home and away plus Cesena) and 3 games in Coppa Italia.
The following year Lazio had a good season in Serie A with an 8th place under Lorenzo/ Lovati. Facco played slightly less with 18 league games and 3 in Coppa Italia.
In 1970-71 things did not go as well. Lazio were relegated to Serie B with a 15th position finish. Facco played 20 league games with 2 goals (Verona, Fiorentina) and 3 games in Coppa Italia.
The next season saw the arrival of new manager Tommaso Maestrelli and Lazio's history was about to change. The "Maestro" took Lazio straight up to Serie A again. Facco made 32 league appearances with1 goal (Livorno) and 8 in Coppa Italia.
Back in the top flight in 1972-73 Lazio surprised everyone by fighting for the title. They played great football coming 3rd and winning both derbies. Facco played less due to injury making 22 league games and 4 in Coppa Italia.
The 1973-74 season was Lazio's masterpiece. Maestrelli's crazy gang shocked Italy by winning the Scudetto. The Biancocelesti conquered the top of the table after 10 matches and never looked back. On the 12th May 1974 Lazio were crowned "Campioni d'Italia" for the first time. Facco was part of it although he only made 6 league appearances, plus 7 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Varese) and 2 in the UEFA Cup.
After the Scudetto glory Facco left Lazio and joined Avellino in Serie B. The "Irpini" changed managers three times and came 16th. Facco had a good season playing 31 league games with 1 goal.
The following year was better and the green and white wolves came 9th. Facco only missed one league match playing 37 and scoring 1 goal.
The 1976-77 season saw the Avellinesi take a step backwards and finish 14th under Corrado Vinciani. Facco played 36 league games.
The following year Avellino won their first historic promotion to Serie A, under former Lazio player Paolo Carosi, but Facco by then had moved on.
In 1977 he joined Parma in Serie C. The "Ducali" came 3rd under first Gianni Corelli and then Bruno Mora. Facco made 12 league appearances and at 32 retired due to a serious injury.
He had played 243 professional league games with 8 goals plus 32 in cup games. He also earned one U21 Italy cap.
Facco was a classic man-to-man marker of the late 60's and 70'S. He was a strong defender but clean, good in the air and a solid tackler. He duelled with the best strikers of his generation; Gigi Riva, Paolino Pulici, Pierino Prati, often getting the better of them. There was one striker he had difficulties against and that was Roberto Bettega. At Lazio he had a good six-year period but his final fall from Maestrelli's lineups had a name and surname, Trevor Whymark who scored 4 goals in an Ipswich -Lazio game causing Facco to lose his place to Sergio Petrelli.
On retirement Facco became a manager starting with the Avellino youth sector. He then had a series of B and C teams; Squinzano, Frosinone, Salernitana, Barletta, Benevento, Ternana, Vigor Lamezia and Trapani. In 1990 he called it a day and came back to Rome permanently.
He settled in Fregene on the sea near Rome and slotted back into the Lazio world. He became a popular voice on the radio collaborating with various well-known programmes talking about Lazio. He still kept his unmistakable Milanese accent but became a familiar daily fixture for Lazio fans.
He also became a pundit for Rai becoming the commentators' expert sidekick for the televised Lega Pro games (3rd tier football). In recognition of his services in 2018 Rai and Lega Pro set up the "Trofeo Facco", an award given to the best Serie C goal.
He died in his beloved Fregene in 2018. His legacy in Rome is eternal for his presence in the Lazio 1973-74 team of miracles.
Lazio career
Season | Total games (goals) | Serie A | Serie B | Coppa Italia | UEFA Cup | Fairs Cup | Mitropa Cup | Anglo Italian Cup | Cup of the Alps |
1968-69 | 31 (3) | - | 28 (3) | 3 | - | - | - | | |
1969-70 | 30 (1) | 18 | - | 3 | - | - | 2 | 3 | 4 (1) |
1970-71 | 28 (1) | 20 | - | 3 | - | 2 | - | | 3 (1) |
1971-72 | 40 (1) | - | 32 (1) | 8 | - | - | - | | |
1972-73 | 28 | 22 | - | 4 | - | - | - | 2 | |
1973-74 | 15 (1) | 6 | - | 7 (1) | 2 | - | - | | |
Total | 172 (7) | 66 | 60 (4) | 28 (1) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 7 (2) |
Sources
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