Game 12, Serie A
Sunday, January 5, 1974
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Juventus 1-0
Lazio defeat Juventus and narrow gap at top
The league had started well and Lazio won their first three games. Since then, they had slowed down a bit with 3 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats (derby 0-1 and Inter 1-2 at home). Lazio were currently in 2nd place on 15 points, 3 points behind leaders and today's opponents Juventus.
Today was a big match. It was only early January but if Juventus won, they would have a five-point advantage plus a huge psychological boost. For Lazio it was a chance to go within a point of the leaders and remind everyone they were still the Champions.
The match
A sunny but cold day in the capital. The stadium was sold out with a new record amount for ticket money income, just over 308 million Lire.
Lazio had no injury problems while Juventus were without forward Pietro Anastasi. Lazio chose Roberto Badiani over Franco Nanni in midfield.
Lazio pushed forward in the early stages while Juventus were content to sit deep.
Lazio attacked constantly but wasted several good opportunities. There followed some controversy with both sides dissatisfied with the referee Michelotti. In the 19th minute he waved away what looked like a foul by Luciano Re Cecconi on Oscar Damiani inside the area. In the 20th minute he disallowed a Claudio Gentile own goal for a supposed foul by Renzo Garlaschelli and a minute later ignored a Francesco Morini trip on Giorgio Chinaglia inside the box.
Lazio continued to attack, interrupted only by a José Altafini header in the 41st minute, comfortably saved by Felice Pulici.
A minute later Lazio’s pressure paid off. "Long John" Chinaglia found Pietro Ghedin unmarked and the defender tried his luck, the ball took a deflection off Gaetano Scirea's back and beat Dino Zoff. A lucky goal but deserved. Lazio 1 Juventus 0.
For the second half the Bianconeri replaced Morini, who was feeling unwell, with another defender Silvio Longobucco.
In the 49th minute the referee let Wilson off lightly without a booking for a rough foul on Damiani. The Juventus forward was not treated well by the Lazio defence probably in revenge for his behaviour in the decisive match between Napoli and Lazio two years earlier (Napoli had played as if their lives depended on it, "incentivised" by Juventus and crushing Lazio's title hopes with a last minute Damiani goal handing the Scudetto to the Bianconeri).
The game meanwhile was balanced but Lazio again missed several chances to double the score.
In the 78th minute came a potential game changer. Longobucco intentionally elbowed Garlaschelli in the jaw and the Lazio winger reacted angrily. Michelotti decided to send him off, probably the right decision but the Juventus defender should definitely have been given a direct red card too.
The fact was Lazio had to face the last twelve minutes with ten men. Juventus pushed forward but their only big chance came in the 82nd minute when on a Giuseppe Furino header Pulici pulled off a spectacular save.
In the 84th minute Lazio buttoned up by taking off Vincenzo D'Amico and putting on another defender, Luigi Polentes.
Lazio spent the last minutes in their own half but resisted and clinched the win. Lazio 1 Juventus 0.
It had been an evenly balanced game. Lazio had been better in the first while Juventus had logically attacked more in the second.
At the end of the day however it was the Biancocelesti who earned the hugely satisfying and important victory.
Lazio moved up to within one point of leaders Juventus.
Who played for Lazio
Pulici, Ghedin, Martini, Wilson, Oddi, Badiani, Garlaschelli, Re Cecconi, Chinaglia, Frustalupi, D'Amico (84' Polentes)
Manager: Maestrelli
Who played for Juventus
Zoff, Gentile, Cuccureddu, Furino, Morini (46' Longobucco), Scirea, Damiani, Causio, Altafini, Capello, Bettega
Manager: Parola
Referee: Michelotti
Goal: 42' Scirea (og)
Red Card: 78' Garlaschelli
Sources
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