Game 19, Serie A
Sunday, January 21, 1934
Stadio PNF, Rome
Lazio Milan 4-0
A goal by Guarisi and a hat-trick by Fantoni III crush Milan
So far, Lazio had played 18 games, winning 6, drawing 6 (including Juventus 2-2 away) and losing 6. Lazio were in joint 9th position with Palermo on 18 points. In their last match Lazio had lost 0-1 away to the Sicilians.
Milan were currently joint 3rd with Bologna on 22 points. The Rossoneri had won 9 (including Lazio 4-2, Juventus 3-1 at home), drawn 4 and lost 5 (including derby 0-3). A week earlier the Diavolo had beaten Fiorentina 2-0 at home making it three wins in a row.
Milan were slight favourites today but there were only four points separating the two sides in the table.
The match
A slightly overcast day but dry and mild saw a crowd of about 15,000 congregate at the P.N.F stadium.
Lazio had defender Pedro Rizzetti missing, replaced by Marino Furlani, while Milan had no absences.
The game was lively from the start. In the first two minutes Alejandro Demaria completely mishit a Filó Guarisi cross and then a Guarisi freekick went high.
Milan answered but only earned a couple of corners. In the 10th minute Giuseppe Bonizzoni anticipated Leonízio Fantoni III before he could shoot from a good position.
In the 16th minute Lazio took the lead. Joāo Fantoni I surged forward and set up Guarisi in the middle, the Brazilian hit a precise shot which the keeper, covered by several defenders, could not save. Lazio 1 Milan 0.
The game continued to be entertaining and both sides had chances. In the 24th minute Ezio Sclavi saved on Luigi Cresta, in the 25th Pietro Arcari shot wide, in the 33rd Dario Compiani made a fortuitous save in a scramble and another good save on a Fantoni III header in the 35th, in the 36th Benedetto Stella fired over the bar. Towards the end of the half Lazio's Pietro Buscaglia came out worse for wear from a tackle with Bartoletti and was moved out to the left wing while De Maria came into the middle. In the 38th minute Sclavi made an excellent save on Mario Romani and a few minutes later on Arcari and then, for Milan, Compagni saved low on Guarisi. Half time Lazio 1 Milan 0.
An evenly matched and exciting first 45 minutes but Lazio were ahead.
The second half started with a bang and after only two minutes Lazio doubled their lead with Fantoni III. In the 47th minute from a De Maria cross both Fantoni III and Compagni jumped up but the Lazio striker got there first and his header put Lazio 2-0 up.
At this point Milan heads dropped, while Lazio were rampant. In the 55th minute the Biancocelesti scored again. De Maria found Guarisi whose shot was dangerous but when it took a further touch by Fantoni III it became lethal. Lazio 3 Milan.
Three goals down Milan had a reaction with shots by Arcari, Stella and Giovanni Moretti, in the 65th, 70th and 71st minutes, all well saved by Sclavi.
Lazio however were always dangerous on the break and scored again in the 78th minute. It was Fantoni III again who got his hat-trick with a close-range finish from another De Maria cross. Lazio 4 Milan 0.
Lazio pulled back, more than satisfied with the score line. Fantoni I with a head injury took refuge on the wing while Guarisi started showing off his skills with darting runs and dribblings.
Milan pushed forward for a consolation goal but apart from a few corners never really threatened again. Final score Lazio 4 Milan 0.
A great win for Lazio. The whole team had played well but special mentions for the two full-backs Enzio Serafini and Armando Bertagni who had been impeccable, goalkeeper Sclavi and of course hat-trick hero Fantoni III.
Lazio moved up to joint 6th with Fiorentina, Roma and Pro Vercelli on 20 points. Milan dropped down to joint 4th with Bologna on 22 points.
Who played for Lazio
Sclavi, Bertagni, Serafini, Furlani, Tonali, Fantoni II, Guarisi, Fantoni I, Fantoni III, Buscaglia, Demaria
Manager: Stürmer
Who played for Milan
Compiani, Rigotti II, Bonizzoni, Torriani, Bortoletti, Capitanio, Arcari III, Moretti, Romani, Stella, Cresta I
Manager: Viola
Referee: Bevilacqua
Goals: 16' Guarisi, 47' Fantoni III, 55' Fantoni III, 78' Fantoni III
Sources
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