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Writer's pictureSimon Basten

February 12, 1967: Lazio Lecco 2-0

A vital win


Lazio close this important game in the second half




Source Lazio Wiki

The season so far


The previous season Lazio arrived 12th. It had been a disappointing season even if there had been a derby win and victory in Milan. However, once relegation had been avoided the Biancocelesti stopped playing, only getting one point in the last four games.


Manager Umberto Mannocci had been confirmed and new entries had been Sergio Castelletti, Rino Marchesi and the return of Giancarlo Morrone, all from Fiorentina, Arrigo Dolso (Udinese), Giuseppe Massa (Internapoli), Romano Bagatti (Varese) and Enrico Burlando (Massese). Leaving the Biancocelesti were Vincenzo Gasperi (Varese), Gianpiero Vitali (Fiorentina), Nicola Ciccolo (Vicenza), Antonio Renna (Varese), Orlando Rozzoni (Spal) plus the loan of Nello Governato to Inter. In the autumn, Pietro Adorni arrived from Napoli and Governato, who had not fitted in at Inter, was loaned to Vicenza.


In Coppa Italia Lazio had been eliminated by Lecco in the second round. In the Mitropa Cup the Biancocelesti had eliminated Red Star Belgrade 4-2 on aggregate.


In Serie A, the Biancocelesti had been even more disappointing than last year. They were 13th, just one point above the relegation zone (four would go down to Serie B due to the decision to reduce the Serie A teams to 16 following the 1966 World Cup debacle against North Korea) and had a long way to go to get out of the troubled waters. Mannocci was sacked in November and replaced by Maino Neri.


A win in today’s match was vital.


The match: Sunday, February 12, 1967, Stadio Olimpico, Rome


Lazio came from three consecutive draws against Juventus, Fiorentina and Torino and were hoping to cash in two points especially because Lecco were bottom and also had Antonio Angelillo, Antonio Pasinato and Sergio Clerici out injured. Neri put in three forwards plus Giancarlo Morrone, a clear indication of intent.


Bagatti had the first chance in the beginning of the match with a header that went wide and another shot that Meraviglia saved on the second attempt. In the 26th minute Vito D’Amato dribbled past a couple of defenders and tried a shot which was only slightly too high. In the 31st minute he went off on the right past Attilio Bravi and sent in a perfect low cross that Morrone volleyed into the net. Lazio 1 Lecco 0.


Five minutes later there was a free kick for the Biancocelesti. Morrone tapped it to Bagatti who whacked the ball towards the goal, but he hit the woodwork.


In the second half Lazio continued to dominate and in the 55th minute scored again. Bagatti crossed in the box, Saul Malatrasi tried to head the ball away but it was short and in came Antonio Maggioni who with an impressive and powerful volley scored the Biancocelesti’s second.


Practically game over with 35 minutes left. Lazio controlled the rest of the match and should have been given a penalty in the 85th minute when Arrigo Dolso was fouled in the box, but the referee took pity on Lecco and closed both eyes.


Good two points for the Biancocelesti, a little more room for optimism now.


Who played for Lazio


Manager: Neri

 

Who played for Lecco

 

Meraviglia, Facca, Bravi, Schiavo, Malatrasi, Bacher, Canella, Azzimonti, Incerti, Ferrari, Bonfanti.

Manager: Piccioli

 

Referee: De Robbio

 

Goals: 31’ Morrone, 55’ Maggioni


What happened next


With four games to the end, the Biancocelesti were 12th together with Spal and Brescia and one point ahead of Vicenza. Foggia, Venezia and Lecco were already doomed. Lazio played at home to Brescia knowing that a victory would probably get them out of the relegation battle. They lost as they did the next game at Bologna too. With two games to go, Brescia 28 points, Vicenza 27, Spal 26, Lazio 25.


In the last match at home the Biancocelesti managed to beat Foggia while Vicenza and Brescia lost and Spal drew. With one game to go, Spal, Vicenza and Lazio had 27 points and Brescia 28. Final games: Juventus-Lazio, Brescia-Cagliari, Vicenza-Bologna and Spal-Venezia.


At the end of the first half Vicenza and Lazio were 0-0, Spal and Brescia were losing. There was still hope, but in the second half Lazio collapsed and Spal turned the game around. The Biancocelesti were relegated by one point.


The worst thing about this season were the 10 goalless draws. Which really showed that the attack in particular was greatly under par.


The players with most appearances were Carosi and Morrone (38), top scorer was Bagatti with 7 goals.


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 Antonio Maggioni



Source Lazio Wiki

Antonio Maggioni was born on October 18, 1946 in Bergamo. He started his footballing career in the youth teams of Juventus and in November 1966 was sent on loan to Lazio. A right back, he did not have much playing time in a pretty dismal year for the Biancocelesti which saw them go down to Serie B at the end of the season. He made 8 appearances and scored his only Serie A career goal against Lecco on February 12 at the Olimpico.


Back at Juve, he was again sent on loan to Verona in Serie B, but even there he made just a few appearances (12). The club however had an exceptional year and were promoted to Serie A.


In 1968 he signed for Palermo in Serie A and was one of the first eleven. The Rosanero avoided relegation but he moved back to his home town and signed for Atalanta. He played four years there totalling 115 league appearances. In his second year the Dea was promoted to Serie A after a playoff in which Maggioni scored the winning goal.


In 1973 he signed for Genoa still in Serie A but in the two following seasons he was sent on loan first to Arezzo and then Avellino, both in Serie B. Back at Genoa in 1976 he played for the Rossoblu another two years before ending his career in 1978 with Varese.


When he arrived at Lazio he was just a kid, but his athleticism and professionality allowed him to debut in Serie A. He was unlucky, arriving in a season everybody would want to forget, quickly.


Lazio Career

Season

Appearances Serie A

1966-67

8

Sources




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