Goalless draw confirms both teams' difficult moment
Lazio go close but scoring drought continues
Also on this day: January 7, 1979, Napoli Lazio 1-1 (0-2). Firecracker before match produces dull affair. Player of the day: Mauro Tassotti
The season so far
Lazio had been relegated to Serie B the previous season. The Biancocelesti had started with Umberto Mannocci as managed but he had been replaced by Maino Neri from November 7.
This season the manager was Renato Gei. Lazio’s main signings were goalkeeper Rosario Di Vincenzo (Potenza), defender Pierluigi Ronzon (Napoli), midfielders Piero Cucchi (Varese), Bruno Gioia (Varese), Nello Governato (Vicenza-end of loan) plus forwards Costantino Fava (Treviso) and Giuliano Fortunato (Milan). In the autumn Lazio had added defender Carlo Soldo (Inter).
Leaving were defenders Piero Gotti (Inter), midfielders Enrico Burlando (Varese), Aldo Anzuini (Vicenza- on loan), Antonio Maggioni (Juventus- end of loan), Can Bartu (Fenerbahçe) and forward Vito D'Amato (Inter).
So far, things were not going as hoped. Lazio had won 5, drawn 7 and lost 3. Lazio's last two games had both been 0-0 draws. Lazio were on 17 points, in 6th place but with a game in hand (Modena -Lazio of December 17 suspended after 20 minutes on 0-0 was to be played on January 27).
In Coppa Italia the Biancocelesti were already out. In September they had drawn 0-0 with Perugia and won the toss but then lost 1-0 away to Reggina in the second round.
Padova had finished 6th the previous season. They had also surprisingly reached the final of Coppa Italia (defeating Venezia, Palermo, Napoli and Inter on the way) but lost 0-1 to Milan. The Patavino manager was Argentine Humberto Rosa (he had played 150 league games for Padova). The Argentine had joined Lazio as a guest player when they had flown to Brazil in the summer of 1957 to play in the Murumbi Trophy, a tournament to inaugurate São Paulo's new stadium. He was however not kept on after the tour and joined Padova.
This season the Argentine was predictably confirmed. The Biancoscudati had some new players: keeper Luigi Bertossi (Pro Patria), defender Romano Nimis (Milan-on loan), midfielder Bruno Visentin (Cagliari), and forwards Faustino Goffi (Monza) and Angelo Paina (Milan-on loan).
Leaving were keeper Walter Pontiel (Udinese), midfielders, future Lazio, Alberto Bigon (Napoli, then SPAL), Rinaldo Frezzi (Brescia), Alberto Novelli (Sampdoria) plus forward Italo Carminati (Bologna).
So far, the Veneti had won 7, drawn 3 and lost 6. They were on 17 points, the same as Lazio. Padova's last two games had also ended up 0-0.
They had not repeated last year's cup run going out at the first hurdle 1-3 to Venezia
Considering neither team had scored in the last two games, today's clash was expected to be tight and unlikely to be a thriller.
The match: Sunday, January 7, 1968, Stadio Flaminio, Rome
It was a freezing and exceptionally windy day in Rome with only 6,000 fans turning up at the Flaminio.
Lazio attacked with the wind behind them in the first half. For the first twenty minutes the visitors defence did not concede any openings to Lazio. Then from the 20th minute onwards the Biancocelesti had several chances.
In the 21st and 24th Piero Cucchi made good runs but finished poorly. In the 27th minute Giuliano Fortunato had a cracking shot but it was saved by Luigi Bertossi. In the 29th Cucchi again could not find the target from a favourable position. Just before halftime the Padova keeper came off his line to anticipate Romano Bagatti teed up by Cucchi and then in injury time Giuliano Fortunato fired over the bar. At the break Lazio 0 Padova 0.
Lazio had attacked constantly but would have to improve their shooting if they wanted to score.
In the beginning of second half despite now being against the wind Lazio continued to push forward. Their finishing however continued to be off target with Cucchi and Juan Carlos Morrone.
From the 55th minute onwards Padova occasionally showed their faces in Lazio's half but were never dangerous.
It was Lazio who then had two more chances to win the game. Morrone skilfully freed himself in the area but again shot wide. In the dying minutes Carlo Soldo almost clinched the two points but his header was blocked by Bertossi. Final score Lazio 0 Padova 0.
So, a third consecutive goalless draw for both sides. To be fair Lazio had tried hard to score and attacked for most of the game but inaccurate shooting and a good game by Bertossi denied them an altogether deserved victory.
Who played for Lazio
Substitutes: Girardi
Manager: Gei
Who played for Padova
Bertossi, Panisi, Gatti, Visentin, Barbolini, Sereni, Quintavalle, Fraschini, Morelli, Lanciaprima, Vigni
Substitutes: Ferroni
Manager: Rosa
Referee: Picasso
What happened next
Lazio finished 11th. The Biancocelesti performed reasonably well at home but not away, where they did not win even once. The replayed match against Modena unsurprisingly ended 0-0. In the next five games Lazio only scored one goal, then finally scored three in a 3-0 home win against Monza. In the end Lazio won 10, drew 18 and lost 12. After 24 games and a 0-2 away defeat at Novara, Gei was replaced by Roberto Lovati. Things did not improve, in fact Lazio did not score a single goal in "Bob's" first five games in charge. A disappointing season for Lazio, in mid-table limbo for much of the campaign. Top scorer was Giuliano Fortunato with 5 league goals (Lazio only scored 27 in 40 league games).
Luckily Juan Carlos Lorenzo was on his way, the earlier sane version...
Padova finished joint 12th, one point behind Lazio. The Euganei won 10, drew 17 (including Lazio 1-1) and lost 13. Top scorer was Paolo Morelli with 14 league goals.
The three teams going up to the big time were Palermo, Verona and Pisa. The four leaving on a downwards journey were Venezia, Messina, Novara and Potenza ("U Putenz" have never been back in B since).
Lazio 1967-68
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie B | 40 | 10 | 18 | 12 | 33 |
Coppa Italia | 2 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 |
Total | 42 | 11 | 18 | 13 | 34 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
Ronzon | 42 | 40 | 2 |
Fortunato | 36 | 34 | 2 |
Gioia | 36 | 34 | 2 |
Zanetti | 31 | 31 | - |
Governato | 31 | 30 | 1 |
Top Goal Scorers
Player | Serie B |
Fortunato | 5 |
Morrone | 4 |
Massa | 3 |
Let's talk about Pietro Adorni
Pietro Adorni was born in Fidenza (Parma) on June 27, 1938.
His first club was his hometown team between 1954 and 1957. The Bianconeri were in Serie D and finished 10th, 11th and 18th (relegated). Adorni played 22 league games with 1 goal.
In 1957 he joined Simmenthal Monza in Serie B and stayed five seasons. In the first two he only played 8 total league games and the Brianzoli finished 4th and 7th. From his third year he started to play more regularly and over three seasons played 89 league games. Monza finished 16th under Attillio Kossovel, 5th under Argentine Hugo Lamanna and 8th again under Lamanna. A curious fact is that Adorni played with future Lazio president Gianmarco Calleri and sports director Carlo Regalia. His teammates also included future Lazio player Carlo Facchin (71-72).
In 1962 Adorni joined Palermo in Serie A. The Rosanero got through three managers, Giovanni Ballico (1-3), Fioravante Baldi (T.D, 4-16) and Oscar Montez (17-34) and were relegated. Adorni made his Serie A debut on September 19 against SPAL. He then played 15 league games. One of his teammates was future Lazio keeper Claudio Bandoni (71-72).
In 1964 he signed for Napoli in Serie B. He stayed two seasons. In the first, under Bruno Pesaola, the Partenopei were promoted and he played 30 league games with 1 goal (Verona) and 4 games in Coppa Italia. In his second the Azzurri finished an excellent 3rd in Serie A and won the Alps Cup. Adorni played 5 league games and 2 in Coppa Italia. His teammates included future Lazio, Pierluigi Ronzon (67-68) and again future Lazio keeper Bandoni plus the great Omar Sivori (unfortunately no Lazio connection).
In November 1966 Adorni joined Lazio in Serie A. The manager was first Umberto Mannocci and then Maino Neri and he played 21 league games and 2 in the Mitropa Cup. Unfortunately, Lazio were relegated.
In 1967-68 Renato Gei was manager for the first 24 games and then replaced by Bob Lovati. Lazio had an indifferent season and finished 11th. Adorni played 28 league games and 1 in Coppa Italia.
In 1968-69 Juan Carlos Lorenzo arrived as manager but Bob Lovati sat on the bench on match days, at least until the end of March, as the Argentine did not have the necessary paper work (Italian Passport). Lazio won promotion and Adorni played 2 league games.
In 1969 Adorni left Lazio and joined Piacenza in Serie B. He only played 2 league games under Enrico Radia and then Bruno Arcari. The Biancorossi were relegated. One of his teammates was future Lazio and Italian champion, Paolo Franzoni.
In 1970-71 he played one last season back at Fidenza at regional level, making 17 appearances.
He then retired at 33.
Adorni was a right full-back. He was 1.76 and 75 kilos and was a classic man to man marker. He was tough defender and made life difficult for the opponent he was allocated to. Towards the end of his career, he was also employed as a "libero".
He played 265 career games, 41 in Serie A. At Lazio he made 52 total appearances and won a promotion to Serie A in 1969.
Pietro Adorni died in Fidenza on March 14, 2002
Lazio Career
Season | Total games (goals) | Serie A | Serie B | Coppa Italia | Mitropa Cup |
1966-67 | 23 | 21 | - | - | 2 |
1967-68 | 27 | - | 26 | 1 | - |
1968-69 | 2 | - | 2 | - | - |
Total | 52 | 21 | 28 | 1 | 2 |
Sources
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