Game 26, Serie A
Saturday, April 21, 1973
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Milan 2-1
Despite injuries Lazio fend off the devil and dream on
After 25 games Lazio were second on 37 points, behind leaders Milan on 39. The Biancocelesti had won 14 (including both derbies), drawn 9 and lost 3. The Biancocelesti had won the last seven games in a row and had the least beaten defence in Serie A (only 12 goals conceded).
Today however, was a massive title clash in Rome. The game had been the talk of the town all week in the capital and Italy in general. The majority of Roman clothes shops and boutiques had even combined light blue and white items in their window displays in support or more likely to try and increase their sales. Either way it was a huge game.
The match
A rainy day in Rome but a massive sell-out crowd, a reported 80,000 despite some controversy over the ticket prices. It was played on Saturday as the next day was Easter Sunday. This game was also shown in a tape-delayed broadcast on national television.
Lazio had some injury worries coming into the game as Pino Wilson and Franco Nanni were in doubt until the last minute but in the end were available. Milan on the other hand were without Romeo Benetti, Giuseppe Sabadini and Pierino Prati.
The grass was slippery due to the rain but playable. Lazio attacked furiously from the start. Giorgio Chinaglia immediately put Dario Dolci in difficulty and in the 5th minute Lazio went ahead. "Long John" charged into the area on the left, went past Dolci and shot a powerful left foot, the ball took a deflection off Karl-Heinz Schnellinger and beat Pierangelo Belli. Lazio 1 Milan 0. Wild scenes at the Olimpico, two fans had heart attacks and were taken away by ambulances while many others fainted.
Lazio dominated and continued to attack. In the 22nd minute though the game was interrupted as a linesman twisted his ankle but after a few minutes was able to continue.
In the 35th minute Lazio were awarded a central freekick just outside the area. During the week Chinaglia had allegedly demolished the bench at the training ground with the power of his shots. He still had strength left as his thundering shot bent the keeper's hand and went in. Lazio 2 Milan 0. The Milan keeper had to be replaced as the ball, hit with tremendous force and full of water, had fractured his finger. Villiam Vecchi came on to defend the nets.
Milan were in difficulty. Maestrelli's tactic of placing Pierpaolo Manservisi to mark danger man Gianni Rivera seemed to be working. The first half came to an end and the weather changed too as suddenly there were blue skies and sun. At the break Lazio 2 Milan 0.
The second half began with Lazio seemingly in control but that all changed in the 56th minute. Chinaglia exaggerated and tried to dribble a couple of opponents near the area, he was dispossessed by Alberto Bigon and the ball quickly arrived to Rivera, inside the area on the right and his low crisp shot beat Felice Pulici. Lazio 2 Milan 1. The goal had come out of the blue but suddenly Milan were back in it.
In the meantime, a minute before the goal, the Rossoneri had replaced midfielder Riccardo Sogliano with defender Maurizio Turone.
Milan were transformed and started to push forward with more conviction. In the 67th minute Lazio were forced to replace an injured Luciano Re Cecconi with Giambattista Moschino.
Lazio looked tired and worried the win could be taken away from them and pulled back. They defended well however and Milan had no major chances until the 89th minute.
A Giulio Zignoli cross was prolonged by a Bigon header and reached Luciano Chiarugi who scored. The referee and the linesman however both agreed he was in offside and the goal was ruled out. The Milanisti were seething and Nereo Rocco, following his excessive protests, was sent off. A huge sigh of relief for Lazio. Final score Lazio 2 Milan 1.
Massive celebrations broke out amongst the Lazio fans but Milan's anger continued in the tunnel and changing rooms with their President Albino Buticchi and Gianni Rivera particularly agitated (Rivera would be suspended for 4 matches then reduced to 2).
A great win for Lazio. It was their 8th consecutive win and they caught up with Milan at the top of the table; Lazio and Milan 39, Juventus 37 with four games to go. Lazio were in dream land.
Who played for Lazio
Pulici, Polentes, Martini, Wilson, Oddi, Nanni, Garlaschelli, Re Cecconi (67' Moschino), Chinaglia, Frustalupi, Manservisi
Substitute: Moriggi
Manager: Maestrelli
Who played for Milan
Belli (36' Vecchi), Anquilletti, Zignoli, Dolci, Schnellinger, Rosato, Sogliano (55' Turone), Biasiolo, Bigon, Rivera, Chiarugi
Manager: Maldini
T.D: Rocco
Referee: Lo Bello
Goals: 5' Schnellinger (og), 35' Chinaglia, 56' Rivera
Sources
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