Game 3, Serie A
Sunday, October 9, 1960
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Napoli 1-1
Lazio score five minutes from time but controversial freekick gives visitors immediate equaliser
Things were not going well in the league. Lazio had played two and lost two (Bologna 1-3 at home on debut and Juventus 1-3 away). Lazio were bottom of the table in the company of Bari, Udinese and Lecco.
Napoli instead had started the league decently. The Partenopei had won 3-2 away at Vicenza on their debut and then drawn 1-1 at home to Torino. The Azzurri currently lay in joint 2nd place with Padova and Bologna.
The match
A good 50,000 crowd turned up for this classic central-southern Italian clash despite a grey, showery afternoon.
Lazio were without keeper Bob Lovati and Victor Homero Guaglianone was not considered ready for his debut yet.
Lazio started well. Ugo Pozzan and Paolo Ferrario combined well but Claudio Bizzarri messed up the finish. In the 6th minute Pozzan had a powerful low shot but Ottavio Bugatti blocked. In the 18th minute Napoli responded, a Beniamino Di Giacomo through ball to Gino Pivatelli was intercepted by Franco Janich and spun up onto the bar and out.
On the half hour Orlando Rozzoni's header was too weak to cause Bugatti any problems and then a few minutes later a Bizzarri effort was walled by Elia Greco.
The end of the half was then Napoli's. Juan Carlos Tacchi went close twice, his shots went just wide in the 36th minute, following a swift counter attack, and then in the 43rd minute. Half time Lazio 0 Napoli 0.
Lazio had more chances but Napoli had finished strongly.
Lazio again started better in the second half. Bizzarri forced Bugatti to make a difficult save and then Rozzoni caused havoc in the Neapolitan area but without finishing.
In the 54th minute a superb defensive tackle denied Emanuele Del Vecchio a potential chance and in the 60th a brilliant pass by Ferrario was not taken advantage of by Bizzarri.
As in the first half, Napoli grew into the game. In the 63rd minute the Lazio goalkeeper saved acrobatically on a threatening Pivatelli freekick and then in the 64th he saved low on an Antonio Girardo strike. In the 72nd minute Del Vecchio headed high on a Guido Gratton cross.
In the 85th minute Lazio scored. On a Pozzan cross Rozzoni sent a twisting header towards goal and beat a hesitant Bugatti. Lazio 1 Napoli 0.
Lazio did not have time to savour their lead for long. Not even a minute later Napoli were awarded a dubious freekick at the edge of the box, the Lazio players also protested there were two forwards in offside but to no avail. Tacchi then curled the freekick over the wall and in. Lazio 1 Napoli 1.
There was no time or energy left for either side to push for a winner and the game finished with a point apiece, 1-1.
Lazio had very briefly set their eyes on a win but had to settle for their first point of the season. All in all, a fair result but both sides would have to improve to hope to have a decent league campaign.
Lazio were now off the bottom and were now 14th with one point. Napoli were joint 5th on four points.
Who played for Lazio
Cei, Lo Buono, Del Gratta, Carradori, Janich, Fumagalli, Mariani, Pozzan, Rozzoni, Ferrario, Bizzarri
Manager: Bernardini
Who played for Napoli
Bugatti, Greco II, Schiavone, Posio, Mialich, Girardo, Di Giacomo, Gratton, Pivatelli, Del Vecchio, Tacchi
Manager: Amadei
Referee: Rebuffo
Goals: 85' Rozzoni, 86' Tacchi
Sources
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