Comfortable finish
Lazio close the season with a good win over Modena
Also on this day: June 28, 1972, Lazio Napoli 3-0, Coppa Italia. In the last match of the season at home, Lazio celebrate by beating Napoli 3-0 in Coppa Italia. Player of the day: Claudio Bandoni
The season so far
The previous season had not been a good one. Lazio had managed to avoid relegation in the last game despite losing to Juventus.
For 1930-31 the club had confirmed Ferenc Molnar as manager. He had started the previous year but had been replaced by Pietro Piselli after just three games, to come back towards the end of the campionato. There was, as usual, not much money so the only real significant purchase during the summer transfer window was midfielder Gino Lamon from Padova. Leaving Lazio were Francesco Rier (Juventus), Dino Sbrana II (Lecce) plus Luigi Saraceni II and Ugo Ciabattini that had retired. Two oriundi joined Lazio in April: Joao Fantoni I (forward) and Octavio Fantoni II (midfielder) from Cruzeiro.
This season had certainly been better than the previous. After the first half of the campionato Lazio were sixth together with Modena. Both derbies had been drawn, they had beaten Juventus and Ambrosiana Inter at home plus Milan away. Ferenc Molnar nevertheless had been sacked and replaced by Cesare Migliorini who in turn, for the last three games, had been substituted by Amilcar Barbuy, with a look towards the next season. Today was the last game of the season. The Biancocelesti were eighth, together with today’s opponent, Modena.
The match: Sunday, June 28, 1931, Stadio PNF, Rome
The season was practically over for both teams and all that was at stake was the 8th place. As a consequence, not much anxiety and both teams tried to win.
Lazio started well with a free kick taken by Orlando Tognotti saved by Arturo Policaro. In the 11th minute the first goal. Luigi Ziroli dribbled past a number of Modena players and once inside the penalty area passed to Mario Malatesta who with a powerful shot gave the Biancocelesti the lead.
The Canarini replied immediately with a Venuto Lombatti shot that hit the post, ball back to Arrigo Morselli but Ezio Sclavi saved. In the 22nd minute another opportunity for the visitors. Mazzoni tried a shot that Sclavi parried, Morselli was ready for the tap in but sent the ball into the stands. In the 42nd minute Sclavi managed to anticipate Lombatti and a minute later the Lazio goalkeeper was fantastic with a low save to stop a Morselli shot. The first 45 minutes ended with a Ziroli shot saved with difficulty by Policaro.
In the 52nd minute Modena hit the woodwork with Morselli, all that Alfredo Mazzoni needed to do was to head the ball in, but Sclavi, no short of miraculous, managed to save. In the 78th minute, Odoacre Pardini took a free kick in the centre of the pitch and passed to Ziroli. Fantoni I had followed what was happening and advanced towards the wing, received the ball from Ziroli and with a marvellous shot made it 2-0 for Lazio.
The match ended with more chances for the Biancocelesti but neither Aldo Spivach nor Gino Lamon were lucky.
A good win for Lazio to close a decent season.
Who played for Lazio
Scalvi, Tognotti, Mattei II, Pardini, Furlani, Fantoni II, Ziroli, Fantoni I, Spivach, Malatesta, Lamon I
Manager: Barbuy
Who played for Modena
Policaro, Setti, Sabbadini, Dugoni, Guandalini, Manzotti, Nicolini, Lombatti, Morselli, Mazzoni, Piccaluga
Manager: Forlivesi
Referee: Barlassina
Goals: 14’ Malatesta, 78’ Fantoni I
What happened next
Lazio finished a comfortable eighth. Not a bad season considering the limited resources. Augusto Mattei was the player with most appearances (34), Pietro Pastore the top goal scorer (13).
Lazio 1930-31
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 34 | 15 | 5 | 14 | 45 |
Top Five Appearances
Players | Serie A |
Mattei II | 34 |
Sclavi | 33 |
Pardini | 32 |
Tognotti | 32 |
Pastore | 29 |
Top Five Goal Scorers
Players | Serie A |
Pastore | 13 |
Malatesta | 6 |
Fantoni | 6 |
Cevenini V | 5 |
Spivach | 4 |
Let's talk about Augusto Mattei II
Augusto Mattei was born in Rome on June 7 1910. A defender, he started playing football with Juventus Roma and in 1928 he signed for Lazio. He played for five seasons with the Biancocelesti with 76 appearances. In his first he did not play any games for the first team, but starting from his second he began to find more playing time and became part of the first eleven.
Mattei had three brothers: Attilio, who played for Roma from 1927 to 1933, Aldo, who made 7 league appearances for Lazio, and Amerigo, who played in the Biancoceleste youth teams.
In 1934 he signed for Aquila in Serie B, where his brother Attilio was playing, and stayed until 1937. After a brief stint with Roma in the 1937-38 season, he ended his career playing for Alba.
He died in Rome on April 1, 1974.
Lazio Career
Season | Appearances Serie A |
1929-30 | 7 |
1930-31 | 34 |
1931-32 | 29 |
1932-33 | 6 |
Total | 76 |
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