One step closer to home
Lazio beat Foggia 2-0 with goals by Massa and Chinaglia and can almost touch Serie A paradise
Also on this day: June 4, 1933, Lazio Milan 2-0. Lazio beat Milan with two goals from their Brazilian oriundi. Player of the day: Armando Bertagni
The season so far
The 1970-71 season had been disastrous for Lazio. There had been ongoing divergences between president Umberto 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 16, drawn 12 and lost 7. They were in second place on 44 points. The table read: Ternana 46, Lazio 44, Palermo 44, Como 43, Reggina 42, Cesena 39, Perugia 39. There were three games to go and this was Lazio's last home fixture. The promotion slots were three so it does not take a mathematician to understand today's two points were essential. Hopes were on Giorgio Chinaglia and Giuseppe Massa who had already scored 19 and 11 league goals respectively.
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.
Today's opposition in Serie B were Tommaso Maestrelli's former team Foggia. The "Satanelli" had played a good season and were safe in mid-table. The Rossoneri from Puglia were on 38 points after 12 wins (including Lazio 1-0), 14 draws and 9 defeats. Their coach was Uruguayan Ettore Puricelli and their top scorer was Nello Saltutti. The most interesting player on the Foggia books, in a future Lazio perspective anyway, was the blonde midfielder Luciano Re Cecconi. For nostalgia Juan Carlos "El Gaucho" Morrone was also playing for Foggia (259 games and 53 goals for Lazio). The Foggia manager was Uruguayan Héctor Puricelli who had won two Scudetti as a player with Bologna and scored 55 league goals for Milan.
Foggia had no end of season worries at all and came to Rome relaxed but were devils after all so not to be trusted completely.
The match: Sunday, June 4, 1972, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
It was a hot June day in Rome but Lazio had to be willing to push themselves for the two points. A good crowd of 40,000 chose the stadium over the sea.
Lazio started the game a bit tense and Foggia, with no anxiety whatsoever, controlled the midfield in the early stages. Morrone, Paolo Garzelli and especially Re Cecconi were playing well.
The first chance in fact fell to Foggia. Former and future Lazio, Morrone perfectly teed up Giuseppe Pavone in front of goal but Bandoni rushed off his line and blocked the shot.
Lazio gradually shook off their nerves and grew into the game. Massa in particular was lively and in the 23rd minute skipped through several defenders but his shot shaved the post. "Peppiniello" was dangerous again six minutes later when, set up by a Mario Facco header, his went high. Chinaglia too stirred and had a header cleared off the line by Re Cecconi.
Just before halftime Lazio finally scored. A brilliant move by Massa who danced past Pellegrino Valente, Re Cecconi and Giovanni Pirazzini and, with only Raffaele Trentini to beat, hammered the ball under the crossbar. Lazio 1 Foggia 0. After a tentative start a well deserved lead for the Biancocelesti.
In the second half Lazio soon eased their worries and doubled their lead. Pino Wilson came out of defence on one of his classy attacking forays and passed to Chinaglia storming in on the right, "Long John" turned and with a cross goal, low shot beat Trentini. Lazio 2 Foggia 0.
From this point on Lazio were in complete control. Cheered on by a rampant home crowd the "Eagles" had several more chances with Chinaglia and Abbondanza but the score line did not change. Final score Lazio 2 Foggia 0.
An ultimately comfortable win for Lazio after an uneasy start. For Foggia, Re Cecconi had impressed in midfield.
Lazio gathered at midfield to thank and bid farewell to their fans. The players then went under the Curva Sud (the switch to Nord was still a few years off) to wave goodbye to the more passionate sector. Hopefully they would meet again in Serie A.
New table Ternana 48, Lazio 46, Palermo 45, Como 44, Reggina 43, Perugia 42, Cesena 42. Things were looking even better but still three points were needed in the last two away games to definitely clinch promotion.
Who played for Lazio
Bandoni, Facco, Papadopulo, Wilson, Polentes, Martini, Massa, Nanni, Chinaglia, Moschino (83' Gritti), Abbondanza
Substitutes: Di Vincenzo
Manager: Maestrelli
Who played for Foggia
Trentini, Cimenti, Valente, Pirazzini, Lenzi, Re Cecconi, Saltutti, Garzelli, Rognoni, Morrone, Pavone
Substitutes: Crespan, Berta
Manager: Puricelli
Referee: Moretto
Goals: 45' Massa, 49' Chinaglia
What happened next
The following week Lazio won 2-0 away at Genoa with goals by Gritti and Chinaglia. The table now read Lazio 48,Ternana 48, Palermo 47, Como 46. This meant Lazio needed a point in the last fixture away to Bari.
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 Abbondanza with 7 also gave good contributions.
Luciano Re Cecconi impressed enough for Lazio to sign him the following season and he and six of the Lazio players on the field today would go on, two years later, to win the biggest prize of all, the Scudetto!
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.
Foggia ended up 8th. In the last two matches the Rossoneri drew 0-0 away to Catania and then hammered Modena 4-1 at home. Their top scorer was Nello Saltutti with 12 goals (11 in league). The following season they would change manager to Lauro Toneatto and get promoted, leading to another dramatic clash with Lazio… but that's another story.
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 Giambattista Moschino
Giambattista Moschino was born in Vigevano (Lombardy), on March 28, 1938.
He began his youth career at Novara in Piedmont. In 1955 he made his debut for the "Gaudenziani" (The Gaudentians) in Serie A. He stayed four seasons with the Azzurri and played 80 league games with 20 goals. The first was in Serie A but the next three in Serie B.
In 1959 he joined Torino in Serie B. The Granata were promoted, winning the league and Moschino played 13 league games and scored 2 goals (Cagliari, Parma). One of his teammates and captain was legendary future Italy coach Enzo Bearzot.
The following year in Serie A unfortunately Moschino was kept out for the whole season with a serious injury.
In 1961-62 he was back at Novara in Serie B. Moschino played 15 league games with 1 goal (Sambenedettese). Novara came 11th but were then relegated to C1 for accusations of fraud (made by a Sambenedettese player).
In the Autumn transfer session of 1962, he was loaned to Lazio in Serie B. At the same time a certain Gianmarco Calleri arrived from Monza. The Biancocelesti had a good season and were promoted to Serie A, first under Carlo Facchin (1-4) and then the Lovati/ Lorenzo duo (5-38). Moschino had a positive season with 20 league games and 5 goals (Cagliari, Brescia, Messina, Padova,Triestina).
In 1963-64 he was back at Torino. This time he stayed with "Toro" for seven seasons.
In his first three years he played under Nereo "El Paron" Rocco (who had won, and would win more, scudetti and European Cups with Milan). The legendary manager from Trieste a few years earlier, prior to a Padova- Juventus game, in reply to the phrase "Che vinca il migliore" (may the best team win), had coined the immortal answer "Sperèmo de no" (let's hope not). Torino came 7th, 3rd (plus European Cup Winners semi-finalists) and 7th.
In 1966-67 he played under Marino Bergamasco and Toro came 7th.
The next season under Edmondo Fabbri, the Granata again came 7th but won the Coppa Italia and both derbies (2-1, 4-0).
In 1967-68 Fabbri stayed on and Toro came 6th (plus Cup Winners Cup quarter finalists). He played alongside future Torino managers Aldo Agroppi and Emiliano Mondonico plus Bruno Bolchi.
The 1968-69 season would be his last in Turin. Under new manager Giancarlo Cadé, "Il Vecchio Cuore Granata" finished 7th.
Moschino was a regular first choice in his seven years under the Mole Antonelliana. He played 178 league games with 15 goals, 44 in Coppa Italia with 5 goals, 4 games in the Cup Winners Cup and 5 in the Alps Cup. So a grand total of 231 games with 20 goals (A- Brescia 4, Fiorentina 2, Lazio 2, Sampdoria 2, Vicenza, Roma, Atalanta, Mantova, Inter/CI- Reggiana, Catanzaro, Varese, Verona, Inter)
In 1970-71 he joined Verona. The Scaligeri, first under Renato Lucchi and then Ugo Pozzan (former Lazio player), came 11th in Serie A. Moschino only played 7 league games with 1 goal (Lazio) and 3 games in Coppa Italia.
In 1971-72 in the Autumn transfer session he returned to Lazio in Serie B. The Biancocelesti were looking for an experienced midfielder with good feet and Moschino was the man. Under new manager Tommaso Maestrelli, Lazio had a good season and won promotion. Moschino performed well, making 26 league appearances with 1 goal (Perugia).
He stayed on at Lazio for the 1972-73 season but with the arrival of Luciano Re Cecconi he only played 3 league games.
At 34, and having battled with knee problems for much of his career, Moschino retired.
He became a manager briefly. In 1973-74 he was coach at Reggina but was sacked after 19 matches. The Amaranto ended up being relegated to C1. He had an experience as sports director at Albese in Serie C in 1975-76. In 1983-84 he was assistant manager at Alessandria.
As a player Moschino was a talented left-footed midfielder. He was excellent tactically and as a midfield playmaker would dictate the rhythm, accelerating or slowing things down when needed. He was intelligent with great vision. The great Nereo Rocco (possibly the inventor of catenaccio) once described him as "a brain in the middle of the field and a footballing genius". In fact, many claim he deserved a call up by the national team when he was at his prime. He also possessed human and sportsman like qualities, once in a match between Torino and Pro Vecelli he involuntarily broke an opponent’s nose when going for a bicycle kick and abandoned the pitch himself he was so upset. On the Granata side of Turin he is considered one of the greats.
At Lazio he had two good seasons. He will be remembered for his positive contribution to the 1971 -72 promotion, with some of the players who only two years later would become immortal. Moschino was an integral part of the build-up, as without that promotion history could have been very different.
Lazio Career
Season | Toal appearances (goals) | Serie A | Serie B | Anglo Italian Cup |
1962-63 | 20 (5) | - | 20 (5) | - |
1971-72 | 26 (1) | - | 26 (1) | - |
1972-73 | 5 | 3 | - | 2 |
Total | 51 (6) | 3 | 46 (6) | 2 |
Sources
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