Chinaglia leads the way towards Serie A
An inspired "Long John" and a goal by Gritti give Lazio 2-0 win and close in on promotion.
Also on this day: June 11, 1933, Lazio Padova 4-0. Four first half goals, a referee mistake and an opponent's injury give the Biancocelesti one last satisfaction. Player of the day: Enzio Enrique Serafini
The season so far
The 1970-71 season had been disastrous for Lazio. There had been ongoing divergences between president Lenzini and manager Juan Carlos Lorenzo over various issues including market strategies. The Argentine was sacked a few times only to be brought back following protests by a particularly loyal group of fans. The problems on the field and off had resulted in relegation to Serie B with only 4 wins in 30 matches. The initial shock would however later result to be a blessing in disguise.
This year the manager problem had been resolved with the appointment of Tommaso Maestrelli, who had impressed in charge of Foggia.
The new manager had also brought some novelties to the squad. In the summer Lazio had signed three new players; goalkeeper Claudio Bandoni (Fiorentina) plus defenders Luigi Martini (Livorno) and Giancarlo Oddi (Massese). In the autumn session another three had arrived: midfielder Giambattista Moschino (Verona) plus forwards Alessandro Abbondanza (Napoli) and Carlo Facchin (Almas).
Five players left Lazio in the summer: goalkeeper Michelangelo Sulfaro (Fiorentina-loan), midfielders Nello Governato (Savona), Rino Marchesi (Prato), Ferruccio Mazzola (Fiorentina-loan) and forward Juan Carlos Morrone (Foggia). In November two more midfielders had gone: Arrigo Dolso (Varese-loan) and Pierpaolo Manservisi (Napoli-loan).
So far Lazio had performed well. The Biancocelesti had won 17, drawn 12 and lost 7. They were in second place on 46 points. The table read: Ternana 48, Lazio 46, Palermo 45, Como 44, Reggina 43, Cesena 41, Perugia 41. There were two games to go and they were both away, starting from today's in Genoa, "La Superba". The promotion slots were three, so Lazio needed three more points, a win today would be fundamental. Hopes were on Giorgio Chinaglia and Giuseppe Massa who had already scored 20 and 12 league goals respectively.
Chinaglia, however was an injury worry, as he had had some problems four days earlier in the Coppa Italia game against Napoli. He would do a fitness test on the day of the game.
Lazio had also done well in the Coppa Italia. In August 1971 they had defeated Roma 1-0, in September drawn 0-0 with Atalanta and beaten Perugia 3-1 and Ternana 2-0. The second round had started on May 31 and Lazio had defeated Fiorentina 1-0. From June 8 they would play Napoli twice, Bologna twice and Fiorentina again. The priority however was promotion back to Serie A.
Genoa were considered one of the favourites for promotion but they had disappointed. The manager was Arturo Silvestri who as a player had won two scudetti with Milan and then coached them for a year in the 1966-67 season, winning a Coppa Italia.
Genoa had some interesting players in their squad. From a Lazio perspective, future manager Gigi Simoni (1985-86) and future player Walter Speggiorin (1981-82). In a Roma connection, Maurizio "Ramon" Turone whose disallowed goal against Juventus in 1981-82 is still talked about by the Giallorossi and has even become the subject of a documentary film.
So far, as mentioned, the "Grifoni" had underperformed. The Rossoblu had won 13, drawn 13 and lost 10. They were in 10th position. Top scorer was Sidio Corradi with 9 league goals.
Genoa were keen to finish the season well in front of their home fans while Lazio had come up with a large away support determined to take the two points.
The match: Sunday, June 11, 1972, Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa
The main news on match day was that "Long John" Chinaglia had passed the morning fitness test and would be in the starting line-up.
A grey, drizzly day welcomed Lazio to the "Città della Lanterna" (Lantern city). Lazio had plenty of support as 3,000 fans had followed the team from Rome.
Genoa came out strongly despite having nothing to play for. It was clear Genoa were up for a fight but Lazio seemed ready, concentrated and dynamic.
Chinaglia was lively and in the 17th minute, after beating Alberto Benini, tried his luck from the long range but his powerful strike went wide. "Long John" had the extra motivation of a possible call up by Ferruccio Valcareggi, the Italy national coach.
In the 26th minute "Giorgione" won the ball, danced past Benini and Giorgio Garbarini and hammered the ball towards the top hand corner, the Genoa keeper Armando Buffon (no relation..) however flew and saved into corner.
Three minutes later Chinaglia again, set up by Rino Gritti, had a low left shot saved by Buffon. Lazio were in complete control.
On the half hour Lazio took the lead. Roberto Derlin committed a foul about twenty metres out, Gritti took the free kick and it went through the wall and sneaked in near the post. Genoa 0 Lazio 1.
Genoa barely had time to regroup before Lazio doubled their advantage. Only sixty seconds had passed when Luigi Polentes anticipated Vincenzo Traspedini and fed Luigi Martini who set up Chinaglia, the big number nine powered forward, lobbed Benini, nodded the ball past Garbarini and beat Buffon coming out. A fantastic goal which even the home crowd appreciated and applauded. Genoa 0 Lazio 2.
Half time came with Lazio two nil up and basically too good for "Zena" (Genoa in local dialect - from Arabic word, the beautiful)
In the second half after eight minutes Chinaglia went off, replaced by the experienced midfielder Carlo Facchin. Genoa pushed forward but rarely threatened Bandoni. The main danger man was Corradi and he was man marked by Giuseppe Papadopulo. The duel became increasingly physical and tense and in the 80th minute Papadopulo, already on a yellow, was sent off for elbowing the striker. The rossoblu lost blood, he would later need five stitches, and the home fans were furious, two even invading the pitch before being blocked by the police. The two sets of opposing fans also came into contact with some old-style brawls.
The game came to an end in a hostile atmosphere but the important thing for Lazio were the two points. The win had been legitimate and Lazio had shown a clear superiority with a superb Chinaglia, despite his injury. The attention could now turn to the results coming from the radio.
Ternana had lost 1-0 at Brescia, Palermo beaten Cesena 2-0, Como beaten Novara 1-0 and Reggina drawn 0-0 with Livorno. The new table read Lazio and Ternana 48, Palermo 47, Como 46. Four teams for three places but Lazio now needed only one point in next week's away game at Bari.
Who played for Genoa
Buffon, Manera, Rossetti, Derlin, Benini, Garbarini, Corradi, Perotti (65' Piccioni), Traspedini, Bittolo, Speggiorin
Substitutes: Lonardi
Manager: Silvestri
Who played for Lazio
Bandoni, Papadopulo, Facco, Wilson, Polentes, Martini, Massa, Gritti, Chinaglia (53' Facchin), Nanni, Moschino
Substitutes: Di Vincenzo
Manager: Maestrelli
Referee: Giunti
Goals: 31' Gritti, 32' Chinaglia
What happened next
Lazio and thousands of travelling fans clinched promotion in the old city of Bayrìa, in Apulia.
Maestrelli had been brought up in Bari, played ten years for the "Galletti" and coached them. It was a sort of homecoming and a triumphant one. In a Bari invaded by Lazio fans the Biancocelesti drew 0-0. It was no formality but they could finally relax when the radios brought the news of Reggiana's double lead against Como.
Lazio won promotion, above all thanks to Maestrelli who despite initial difficulties and scepticism guided the Romans back to Serie A. Lazio came 2nd and top scorer was Chinaglia with 26 goals (21 in league) but Massa with 12 league goals and Giuseppe Abbondanza with 7 also gave good contributions.
In the Coppa Italia, in June and July, Lazio did not manage to qualify as they won 2 (Napoli 3-0, Fiorentina 1-0), drew 1 (Fiorentina 1-1) and lost 3 (Napoli 1-5, Bologna twice 0-1 and 1-2). Not to worry, the priority was Serie A.
Genoa won their last match 2-0 away at Perugia. The "Grifoni" finished 10th and top scorer was Corradi with 10 goals (9 in league).
Lazio 1971-72
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals Scored |
Serie B | 38 | 18 | 13 | 7 | 48 |
Coppa Italia | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 13 |
Total | 48 | 23 | 15 | 10 | 61 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
Wilson | 48 | 38 | 10 |
Massa | 44 | 38 | 6 |
Bandoni | 43 | 36 | 7 |
Martini | 42 | 34 | 8 |
Chinaglia | 41 | 34 | 7 |
Top goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
Chinaglia | 26 | 21 | 5 |
Massa | 12 | 12 | - |
Abbondanza | 7 | 7 | - |
Nanni | 3 | - | 3 |
Let's talk about Rino Gritti
Rino Gritti was born in Verdello (Bergamo), on December 3, 1948.
He began playing football for his local village. In 1967 he joined Lecco in Serie B but did not make his debut for the Lombards.
In 1968 he was loaned to Pavia in Serie D. He played 24 games and scored 3 goals. The Azzurri came 9th in the B group.
In 1969, Gritti was back at Lecco in Serie C. He played 41 games for the Biancocelesti over two seasons and scored 7 goals. The Eagles finished 2nd and 8th.
In 1971 he was loaned to Lazio in Serie B. He played alongside Chinaglia and under legendary manager Tommaso Maestrelli and Lazio won promotion. Gritti played 13 league matches with 1 goal (Genoa) and 7 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Napoli). His league goal against Genoa was vital as it gave Lazio the lead in the crucial penultimate game of the season. His goal against Napoli in the cup was a brilliant 30-metre free kick which beat the opposing keeper, no less than Dino Zoff.
The following season he returned to Lecco in Serie B. He played 24 games with 5 goals but the Lecchesi were relegated to Serie C.
In 1973-74 he joined Ternana in Serie B. The Rossoverdi, under Enzo Riccomini, were promoted to Serie A with a 3rd place. Gritti played 38 league games with 7 goals (Arezzo, Reggiana, Palermo, Brescia, Perugia, SPAL, Avellino) plus 4 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Cesena).
The following year in Serie A he played 22 league games with 2 goals (Varese, Sampdoria) plus 4 games in Coppa Italia. The Umbri however, again under Riccomini, were relegated with a 15th place. The "Fere" (The Beasts) drew both games against Lazio.
In 1975-76 he moved to Irpinia and joined Avellino in Serie B. He played 30 league games with 4 goals. The "Lupi" finished 9th.
The following year he stayed with the Biancoverdi. Avellino finished 14th and Gritti played 31 league games with 3 goals, plus 4 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal. The next season the Irpini would win a historic promotion to Serie A but Gritti had already moved on.
In 1977 he joined Piacenza in Serie C. He played for "Il Piace" for three seasons, making 94 league appearances with 17 goals.
In 1980 Gritti played a year for Riccione in Serie D and then one more year with regional team Ponte San Pietro, in his home province of Bergamo.
At 33 he retired after 22 games in Serie A (2 goals) and 142 in B (22 goals).
Gritti was a midfielder who had a particularly powerful long-range shot. His spell at Lazio was brief but successful. He arrived in the capital directly at the request of Maestrelli. He made a good contribution to the promotion of the 1971-72 season; his goal in Genoa was of great importance in the final promotion push.
Unfortunately, he would never get to tell his grandchildren he played for Lazio under Maestrelli and alongside the great Chinaglia, as he died prematurely at 34. He died on November 20, 1983, from pleural mesothelioma. The football ground in Verdello is now named after him.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
1971-72 | 24 (2) | 17 (1) | 7 (1) |
Sources
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