Lazio salvage point despite referee
Denied three penalties and two zero down, Lazio fight back with late goals and clinch a draw
Also on this day:
December 29, 1946, Vicenza Lazio 1-2. Vicenza attacked for most of the match but Lazio resisted the waves and clinched victory in Veneto.
The season so far
The 1967-68 season had seen Lazio come in 11th in Serie B. The manager Renato Gei had been replaced by former goalkeeper Roberto Lovati in February. They had a good home record but didn't win even once away and had the least prolific attack of the league.
This year Argentine Juan Carlos Lorenzo was in charge but as he wasn't in possession of the suitable documentation (Italian passport), he was officially called D.T (Technical Director) and on match days it was Bob Lovati who sat on the bench.
The main changes to the squad were the arrival of defenders Mario Facco (Inter) and Guido Onor (Juventus), midfielder Ferruccio Mazzola (Inter) and striker Gian Piero Ghio (Avellino). Leaving Lazio were goalkeeper Idilio Cei (Palermo), defenders Pierluigi Ronzon (retiring) and Alberto Mari (Sambenedettese).
Lazio were considered one of the favourites for promotion but the start had been slightly hesitant with 4 wins, 4 draws and 2 losses (Livorno and Ternana, both away). They had then picked up slightly with two wins and came into today's game on 16 points after 6 wins, 4 draws and 2 defeats. The Biancocelesti hoped to make it three in a row.
In Coppa Italia, Lazio had gone out in September. In the first four-team group phase they had drawn two (Bologna and SPAL, both 1-1 at home) and lost one (the derby 0-1).
Today's opposition in Serie B were Foggia. The Rossoneri had finished 4th the previous season, under manager Luigi Bonizzoni. A good season but narrowly missing out on promotion.
This season the manager was future Lazio legend, Tommaso Maestrelli. Foggia's main new signings were: defenders Eugenio Fumagalli (Palermo), Luciano Teneggi (Catania), midfielders Pietro Camozzi (Modena), Paolo Garzelli (Livorno) plus forwards Paolo Nuti (Fiorentina), Nello Saltutti (Lecco) and Franco Vanzini (Reggina).
Leaving Apulia were: midfielders Vincenzo Faleo (Audace Cerignola) and club legend Matteo Rinaldi (Maceratese) plus forwards Roberto Oltramari (Modena) and Vincenzo Traspedini (Verona).
So far in the league the "Satanelli" had played 12 games and won 3, drawn 8 and lost only 1, so on 14 points, only two behind Lazio.
In Coppa Italia the Rossoneri had won their group in September, winning two (Pisa 3-0 and Bari 3-1 at home) and drawing one (Fiorentina 0-0 away). They would now play Napoli in March/April in the quarter finals.
A tight contest was expected today between two teams with Serie A
ambitions.
The match: Sunday, December 29, 1968, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A freezing but sunny day saw about 30,000 spectators gather at the Olimpico.
The game started at a good pace but due to the extremely tight marking there were few early chances.
The first real chance fell to the visitors in the 18th and it was huge. Nello Saltutti slalomed through the Lazio defence and put in a low, crisp cross which Nuti connected with but incredibly put the ball wide from only about eight metres out. Easier than a penalty but missed.
In the 36th minute there was a moment of controversy. Giuliano Fortunato hammered a long range shot towards goal but it was intercepted by an outstretched Fumagalli arm. The referee initially pointed to the penalty spot but then put down his arm when he saw the ball had reached Gian Piero Ghio but the striker missed. The Lazio players were furious but the referee stuck with his decision of playing the advantage rule.
This was nothing however to the Laziali players and fans anger in the 43rd minute. Defender Carlo Soldo went past last man Pirazzini who blatantly tripped him up but the referee saw nothing in it. It was a clear foul and the fans reacted by throwing firecrackers onto the athletics track surrounding the pitch (New Year's Eve stocks being dilapidated). Halftime score Lazio 0 Foggia 0.
A hard fought and tactical game so far but Lazio had reason to be upset with the referee.
Lazio started the second half well and pushed forward. Giuseppe Massa set up Nello Governato with only the keeper to beat but he missed.
In the 55th minute Foggia scored. The unstoppable Saltutti went down the left wing and put in a perfect cross for Dalle Vedove who took advantage of Lazio's frozen defence to put the visitors in front. Lazio 0 Foggia 1.
Lazio reacted but in the 59th minute the referee struck again. Governato had a powerful shot blocked by defender Teneggi's hand but the man in black saw nothing wrong with it or maybe saw nothing full stop.
In the 60th minute Lazio replaced Governato with skillful Giuseppe Lorenzetti. Four minutes later however Lazio seemed doomed when Foggia scored again. It was the deadly duo Delle Vedove -Saltutti again, this time with reversed tasks as Saltutti slotted in a Delle Valle cross. Lazio 0 Foggia 2.
Still 25 minutes to go but things not looking good in north Rome.
The fans got behind Lazio and spurned them forward. Lazio attacked ferociously and Foggia pulled back completely in defence of their precious lead.
In the 80th minute Foggia took off an excellent Saltutti and put on a more defensive Rolla.
Lazio's constant pressure was rewarded in the 82nd minute when a Rino Marchesi shot was not held onto by keeper Moschioni and Ghio pounced and scored. Lazio 1 Foggia 2.
Hope yet for Lazio in what was now an explosive light blue and white cauldron of an Olimpico.
Lazio’s equaliser finally arrived in the 88th minute. A Mazzola- Piero Cucchi- Fortunato move was finished off by Massa who anticipated Moschioni coming of his line. Lazio 2 Foggia 2.
Absolute mayhem in the stands with Lazio fans ecstatic about the comeback despite the referee's antics. Final score Lazio 2 Foggia 2.
The Lazio players celebrated at the final whistle as if they had won. It felt like it after being 0-2 down against a solid opposition and being denied three penalties. A more than deserved point for Lazio who had fought with huge heart and could be optimistic for their promotion battle. With this spirit anything was possible.
Off the field the excitement boiled over and unfortunately the Foggia bus was targeted with some stones leaving the ground. Luckily nothing too serious, a broken window and a light head injury to Rullo from the shattered glass. Not his day.
Who played for Lazio
Di Vincenzo, Zanetti, Facco, Governato (60' Lorenzetti), Soldo, Marchesi, Massa, Mazzola II, Fortunato, Ghio, Cucchi
Substitutes: Fioravanti
DT: Lorenzo
Manager: Lovati
Who played for Foggia
Moschioni, Fumagalli, Valadè, Pirazzini, Teneggi, Dalle Vedove, Saltutti (80' Rolla), Garzelli, Nuti, Camozzi, Maioli
Substitutes: Trentini
Manager: Maestrelli
Referee: Motta
Goals: 55' Dalle Vedove, 64' Saltutti, 82' Ghio, 88' Massa
What happened next
Lazio had a triumphal season and won the league.
In the end Lazio won 17, drew 16 and lost 5. After the first round of fixtures, in early February, Lazio were third. Then, the Biancocelesti went unbeaten between February 23 and June 15. A crucial promotion game came on April 20 when, in the top spot clash, Lazio beat Brescia 1-0 at home.
Top scorer was Gian Piero Ghio with 10 league goals while Ferruccio Mazzola and Giuliano Fortunato got 8 each.
Foggia finished 8th, nine points off promotion. The "Diavoli del Sud" won 11, drew 16 (including Lazio 1-1) and lost 11, so too inconsistent to challenge for Serie A.
Top scorer was Nello Saltutti with 12 goals (7 in B).
In Coppa Italia, in the quarter finals, Foggia surprisingly knocked out Napoli 4-1 on aggregate. In the final group of four they won 1 (Cagliari 3-2 away), drew 3 (Torino 2-2 both home and away, Cagliari 1-1 at home) and lost 2 (both to eventual winners Roma, 0-3 away and 1-3 at home). An excellent run however for a Serie B team.
In 1969-70 Foggia would then be promoted to Serie A, also helped by two youngsters, blond midfielder Luciano Re Cecconi and Alberto Bigon.
Let's talk about Giuseppe Lorenzetti
Giuseppe Lorenzetti was born in Rome, on March 19, 1948.
He first started playing football at the parish of Cristo Re church, in the Prati area of Rome (not far from where Lazio were founded).
He then joined Lazio’s youth set up. In 1967 he was added to the first team squad. Lazio were in Serie B and the manager was first Renato Gei and then Bob Lovati. The Biancocelesti finished 11th and Lorenzetti played 4 league games. His debut came on November 5 in a home draw against Perugia.
In 1968-69 the manager was Juan Carlos Lorenzo (with Lovati on the bench for the first 25 games for bureaucratic reasons) and Lazio won the Serie B and promotion. Lorenzetti again played 4 league games.
Lorenzetti and Lazio then parted ways and he joined Livorno in Serie B. The Amaranto manager was first former Lazio legend Aldo Puccinelli and then Armando Picchi (the Livorno stadium is now named after him). The "Triglie" (The Mullets) finished 11th and Lorenzetti played 22 league games with 1 goal (Ternana) and 3 in Coppa Italia. His teammates included young Luigi Martini and Roberto Badiani.
In 1970-71 he moved to Piedmont and Alessandria. The "Orso Grigio" was in Serie C and the manager was Juventus legend, Sergio Manente.
Alessandria finished 2nd and Lorenzetti played 37 league games with 9 goals (Sottomarina, Treviso, Solbiatese, Padova, Lecco, Sottomarina, Parma, Seregno, Piacenza).
In 1971-72 the managers were first Mario David and then Mario Pietruzzi and Alessandria again finished 2nd. Lorenzetti played 35 league games with 5 goals (Imperia, Padova, Rovereto, Pro Vercelli x2).
The 1972-73 season was his last with the Mandrogni. The manager was Giuseppe Marchioro and Alessandria finished 3rd but won the Serie C Coppa Italia beating Avellino 4-2 with 2 goals by Lorenzetti in extra-time. Over the season he played 36 league games with7 goals (Seregno, Cossatese x2, Pro Vercelli, Trento, Rovereto, Venezia) and 12 in Coppa Italia with 7 goals (Asti x2, Derthona, Asti, Modena, Avellino x2). One of his teammates was former Lazio, Arrigo Dolso.
He then left for Rimini in Serie C. The Biancorossi finished 2nd under Natale Faccenda. Lorenzetti played 38 league games with 7 goals.
In 1974-75 he joined Foggia in Serie B. The manager was first Lauro Toneatto and then Cesare Maldini from the end of January. Lorenzetti played 15 league games with 2 goals and 4 games in Coppa Italia with 1 goal. The Rossoneri finished 7th. One of his teammates was Fausto Inselvini, Italian champion with Lazio in '73-'74.
In 1975-76 Maldini stayed on but was replaced by Roberto Balestri after 20 league games. The "Satanelli" won promotion with 3rd place. Lorenzetti played less, only 5 league games and 4 in Coppa Italia with 3 goals (Palermo, Cesena, Reggiana). His teammates included future Lazio derby hero, Aldo Nicoli.
In Serie A in 1976-7, under Balestri, Lorenzetti only played 4 league games. Foggia finished 13th, beating Milan, Roma and Lazio at home.
In 1977-78 Lorenzetti returned to Rimini in Serie B. The manager was Osvaldo Bagnoli who would later win a historic Scudetto with Verona. The Biancorossi finished 16th and Lorenzetti played 28 league games with 5 goals plus 2 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal. One of his teammates was left-wing cult hero Paolo Sollier.
In 1978-79 Lorenzetti was back at Foggia in Serie B. The manager was Brazilian Chinesinho and the Rossoneri finished 17th and were relegated. Lorenzetti played 10 league games with 1 goal plus 3 in Coppa Italia. His teammates included former Lazio Ernesto Apuzzo but more importantly future Lazio legend and saviour Giuliano Fiorini.
Lorenzetti stayed on in Serie C for one last season. The manager was first Giorgio Sereni and then former Bologna and Milan legendary player Ettore Puricelli. The "Diavolo del Sud" won promotion in 2nd place and Lorenzetti played 11 league games with 1 goal.
He then retired at almost 32. He spent his retirement on the island of Elba where he collaborated with Audace Portoferraio and trained the referees from the Livorno section. He died in 2003 at 65.
Lorenzetti was an attacking midfielder. He was extremely talented and creative with a lovely touch. His genius was weighed down by the lack of consistency in his performances and his stamina. He could however be brilliant and in Alessandria especially he is considered one of their greats.
At Lazio he only played 8 league games but was part of the promotion winning team of 1968-69. He played alongside Lazio greats such as Mario Facco, Carlo Soldo, Diego Zanetti, Piero Cucchi, Nello Governato, Rino Marchesi, Ferruccio Mazzola, Giuseppe Massa, Giuliano Fortunato, Gian Piero Ghio and "El Gaucho" Juan Carlos Morrone.
Lazio Career
Season | Total Serie B Appearances |
1967-68 | 4 |
1968-69 | 3 |
Total | 7 |
Sources
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