Game 14, Serie B
Sunday, January 7, 1968
Stadio Flaminio, Rome
Lazio Padova 0-0
Lazio go close but scoring drought continues
So far, things were not going as hoped. Lazio had won 5, drawn 7 and lost 3. Lazio's last two games had both been 0-0 draws. Lazio were on 17 points, in 6th place but with a game in hand (Modena -Lazio of December 17 suspended after 20 minutes on 0-0 was to be played on January 27).
Considering neither team had scored in the last two games, today's clash was expected to be tight and unlikely to be a thriller.
The match
It was a freezing and exceptionally windy day in Rome with only 6,000 fans turning up at the Flaminio.
Lazio attacked with the wind behind them in the first half. For the first twenty minutes the visitors defence did not concede any openings to Lazio. Then from the 20th minute onwards the Biancocelesti had several chances.
In the 21st and 24th Piero Cucchi made good runs but finished poorly. In the 27th minute Giuliano Fortunato had a cracking shot but it was saved by Luigi Bertossi. In the 29th Cucchi again could not find the target from a favourable position. Just before halftime the Padova keeper came off his line to anticipate Romano Bagatti teed up by Cucchi and then in injury time Giuliano Fortunato fired over the bar. At the break Lazio 0 Padova 0.
Lazio had attacked constantly but would have to improve their shooting if they wanted to score.
In the beginning of second half despite now being against the wind Lazio continued to push forward. Their finishing however continued to be off target with Cucchi and Juan Carlos Morrone.
From the 55th minute onwards Padova occasionally showed their faces in Lazio's half but were never dangerous.
It was Lazio who then had two more chances to win the game. Morrone skilfully freed himself in the area but again shot wide. In the dying minutes Carlo Soldo almost clinched the two points but his header was blocked by Bertossi. Final score Lazio 0 Padova 0.
So, a third consecutive goalless draw for both sides. To be fair Lazio had tried hard to score and attacked for most of the game but inaccurate shooting and a good game by Bertossi denied them an altogether deserved victory.
Who played for Lazio
Substitutes: Girardi
Manager: Gei
Who played for Padova
Bertossi, Panisi, Gatti, Visentin, Barbolini, Sereni, Quintavalle, Fraschini, Morelli, Lanciaprima, Vigni
Substitutes: Ferroni
Manager: Rosa
Referee: Picasso
Sources
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