Lamon gives hope for new Serie A
A Lamon second half goal hands Lazio victory in Turin and keeps them on course for the future single Serie A tournament
Also on this day: June 9, 1970, Young Boys-Lazio 0-2, Cup of the Alps. Lazio score twice early on while the Swiss then hit the woodwork three times. A look at the history of the Cup
The season so far
The previous season had not been great. Under Austrian coach, Franz Sedlacek, the Biancocelesti had finished 10th in the National A group (A and B - top 4 from each played final group). Technically they would have been relegated but were kept up as the league was to be expanded.
Sedlacek had started the season but had been replaced by Fernando Saraceni after the fourth match. Then after the fourteenth game Augusto Rangone came in but he too was replaced by Hungarian Ferenc Molnár after the twenty-third match. So it was the Magyar who sat on the bench today.
Lazio had bought some decent players in the summer. Among them were midfielders Leopoldo Caimmi (Livorno), Marino Furlani (Pro Gorizia), Silvio Griggio (Vicenza), Francesco Rier (Modena) and Aldo Spivach (Udinese).
The main player leaving was striker Dante Filippi (Pontedera - after 67 goals for Lazio).
So far Lazio had won 12, drawn 2 and lost 14 (including Juventus 1-2). A week earlier they had beaten Reggiana 4-0, with a Spivach hat-trick. They needed points today to qualify for the next season's first ever single national league (top 8 from each of the two groups).
Juventus had finished second in group B and third in the final group the previous season, under Hungarian coach József Viola.
This season the manager was Scottish William Aitken. So far, the Bianconeri had won 16 (12 consecutive at one point, including Lazio), drawn 8 and lost 4. Three defeats, however, had come in the last 6 games and Juve had not won since March 31. Juventus were second but could not catch Bologna; with only two games to go the "Felsinei" were seven points ahead.
Lazio had more to play for but Juventus were clearly superior, despite recent poor form. An unpredictable outcome.
The match: Sunday, June 9, 1929, Campo di Corso Marsiglia, Turin
The match was played in the morning as in the afternoon there was a religious event for the canonization of Don Bosco ... different times. Nowadays it would probably be the opposite … they do say football is the new religion.
Lazio were tense due to the importance of the game, while Juventus were resting some players (two were Antonio Vojak and Luigi Cevenini III) in view of the imminent Central European Cup and played with less urgency.
Lazio attacked for the best of the first half but could not find any openings in the Bianconeri's defence. Juventus' Mario Varglien suffered an injury and was forced out on the wing (no substitutions allowed yet). The hosts were dangerous but more thanks to Lazio's backs. On one occasion Luigi Saraceni II miskicked and hit his own crossbar. Halftime Juventus 0 Lazio 0.
An even game, Juventus slightly distracted by future fixtures and Lazio unable to threaten.
In the second half Juventus continued to "experiment" new tactical solutions and changed several players' positions. The "zebras' then lost two players to injury as Carlo Crotti and then Renato Sanero were forced off.
The game seemed to be heading for a goalless draw when in the 70th minute Lazio scored. Silvio Griggio put Gino Lamon through on goal and the forward, despite appeals for offside, beat Gianpiero Combi with a shot in the top right hand corner. Juventus 0 Lazio 1.
Juventus reacted but Lazio were determined to preserve the lead and resorted to a very physical approach with several fouls too, much to the annoyance of the sparse home crowd who thought the referee should be stricter with the Romans.
Anyway the game got dirty and scrappy. Lazio’s physio was sent off and tempers flared. Lazio managed however to resist and win the game. Full-time Juventus 0 Lazio 1.
Not a spectacular game but an important two points for Lazio who still had hope to gain access to next year's first ever Serie A.
Who played for Juventus
Combi, Rosetta, Caligaris, Barale, Varglien, Mosca, Munerati, Galuzzi, Sanero, Crotti, Barisone
Manager: Aitken
Who played for Lazio
Sclavi, Saraceni II, Bottacini, Caimmi, Furlani, Pardini, Cevenini V, Lamon, Spivach, Bodrato, Griggio
Manager: Molnár
Referee: Rovida
Goals: Lamon 70'
What happened next
A week later Lazio drew 0-0 at home against Napoli. This meant they both finished on the same points in joint 8th place. They therefore had to go to a playoff match to decide who would take the last slot from group B in the following year's new single A format.
The match was played in a neutral venue, San Siro, Milan. The game finished 2-2 after extra-time (Lazio went up with Spivach and then equalised in the 80th minute with Carlo Cevenini V). They would have to play again as this was before penalty shoot outs. Then the FIGC (Italian Football Federation) decided to enlarge the format and let them both into the new tournament and so that was it, no need of another match.
Lazio would play in the first ever single national Serie A tournament in 1929-30.
A week later Juventus drew 0-0 away against Cremonese and finished 2nd in group B.
In the Central European Cup they played Ambrosiana (Inter) in the first round and won 1-0. In the quarterfinals they played Slavia Prague but were eliminated (1-0, 0-3). Eventual winners were Hungarian Újpest.
In Italy the Scudetto final would be Torino vs Bologna. The Rossoblu triumphed 3-1 at home but then lost 0-1 in Turin. The two teams then played a third match in Rome and Bologna won 1-0, to earn their second Italian title.
Lazio 1928-29
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
National Division | 30 | 13 | 3 | 14 | 47 |
Serie A Qualification play off | 1 | - | 1 | - | 2 |
Total | 31 | 13 | 4 | 14 | 49 |
Top five appearances
Players | Total | National Division | Serie A Qualification Play off |
Bottacini | 30 | 29 | 1 |
Spivach | 30 | 29 | 1 |
Sclavi | 29 | 28 | 1 |
Caimmi | 28 | 27 | 1 |
Furlani | 28 | 27 | 1 |
Top five goalscorers
Players | Total | National Division | Serie A Qualification Play off |
Spivach | 13 | 12 | 1 |
Lamon I | 9 | 9 | - |
Griggio | 7 | 7 | - |
Cevenini V | 7 | 6 | 1 |
Furlani | 4 | 4 | - |
Let's talk about Gino Lamon
Gino Lamon was born in Castelfranco Veneto, on May 18, 1903.
He was known as Lamon I as he had three younger brothers who all played football.
He started playing football with Giorgione between 1921-23.
In 1923 he joined Andrea Doria (a team from Genoa which would later merge into Sampdoria) in the first division B group. He played 17 games and scored 1 goal.
In 1924 he moved across town to Genoa in the first division group A. He played 13 games with 2 goals over two seasons. In 1925 the "Grifoni", who were reigning champions, lost the Scudetto final against Bologna.
In 1926 he joined Treviso in the first division group B. He made 18 appearances with 4 goals.
In 1927 he arrived in the capital to play for Lazio. In his first season, under Franz Sedlacek, Lazio came 10th in the A group but avoided relegation as the league format was to be expanded. Lamon scored 4 goals (including a brace against Milan) between League and Coppa Coni.
In 1928-29, under four different managers (Sedlacek, Saraceni, Rangone and Molnár), Lazio finished 8th and gained access to the following year's first single Serie A competition. Lamon had a good season and scored 9 goals (including winners against Ambrosiana and Juventus).
In total in his two seasons with Lazio he played 38 games and scored 13 goals.
In 1929 he joined Padova in Serie A. The "Euganei" had an English manager Herbert Burgess but he was sacked after seven games and in came Aldo Fagiuoli. The "Patavini" however got relegated with 17th place. Lamon played 33 games and scored 8 goals (Brescia, Alessandria, Pro Patria, Livorno, Pro Vercelli x2, Juventus, Napoli).
In 1930 he returned to Lazio for a season. Lazio had a decent season and finished 8th. Managers came and went; Molnár to Cesare Migliorini to Amilcar. Lamon played 18 league games but with no goals.
In 1931 he joined Robur (Siena) in the first division (below Serie A). He played 15 games and scored 1 goal. Robur came 9th in the E group.
In 1932 he joined Serenissima (Venezia) in Serie B. The "Lagunari" (The Lagooners) finished 11th. Lamon played 25 games and scored 2 goals.
At 30 he retired. He returned to Rome where he opened a tailor's shop.
Lamon was a midfielder but could score goals, 28 in his career. He enjoyed good spells especially at Lazio where he scored winners against Juventus and Inter plus a brace against Milan. He also had the satisfaction of playing in the first ever Serie A in his year with Padova.
Gino Lamon died at 72 on May 15, 1975, in Castelfranco.
Lazio career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie A | National Division | Coppa Coni |
1927-28 | 20 (4) | - | 13 (2) | 7 (2) |
1928-29 | 25 (9) | - | 25 (9) | - |
1930-31 | 18 | 18 | - | - |
Total | 63 (13) | 18 | 38 (11) | 7 (2) |
Sources
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