Game 33, Serie A
Sunday, June 29, 1930
Stadio Rondinella, Rome
Lazio Pro Vercelli 3-2
A good win against a battling Pro Vercelli almost gets Lazio out of danger
So far Lazio had struggled in the first year of Serie A. They were on 26 points, in 16th place and only two above 17th place Padova.
With only two games to go, a win would be solid gold today.
The match
A 3.30 start and it was still 31 degrees at kick-off but hazy.
Lazio had more to play for and started energetically. The Biancocelesti took the lead after ten minutes. Carlo Cevenini V crossed into the middle where defender Achille Dellarole failed to head clear, the ball reached Mario Malatesta who took a couple of strides forward and beat Egidio Scansetti. Lazio 1 Pro Vercelli 0.
The Piedmontese reacted and put constant pressure on the Lazio back line. They were then hampered by an injury to Luigi Casalino who came out worse for wear from a challenge by Orlando Tognotti. The forward stayed on the field but was limping visibly.
Lazio doubled their lead in the 30th minute. Piero Pastore picked up an Aldo Spivach pass, ran toward the right and let off an unstoppable long-range strike. Lazio 2 Pro Vercelli 0.
Pro Vercelli were by no means passive but Lazio got to the break with a reassuring score line.
Lazio started on the front foot in the second half too, keen to wrap the game up. Scansetti was superb on a long-range Malatesta strike.
Pro Vercelli however had other ideas and continued to be lively. In the 58th minute they pulled a goal back. Casalino despite his injury did well on the by-line and crossed for Giuseppe Seccatore who had an easy header to make it 2-1.
Lazio needed this win at all costs and pushed forward again. They got a third goal in the 66th minute. From an Odoacre Pardini cross, Luigi Ziroli got a shot in but it was parried by Scansetti, only as far as Pastore who had no problem slotting it in. Lazio 3 Pro Vercelli 1.
Any hopes of a relaxing end to the game were soon dashed as ten minutes later the Neri were back in it. In the 76th minute Alfredo Bajardi scored to give the visitors hope, 3-2.
Lazio however could not afford to let the points slip away and held firm with a concentrated, no frills defensive effort and reached their objective. Final score Lazio 3 Pro Vercelli 2.
A deserved win for the Biancocelesti who had attacked more while the visitors had honoured the occasion despite having little to play for.
Lazio were up to joint 12th, with Modena, Triestina and Pro Patria, on 28 points. They were all but safe with Cremonese on 15, Padova, 26 and Livorno 27. Lazio however had a difficult away game at Juventus so still had to be careful.
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Molnár
Who played for Pro Vercelli
Scansetti, Beltaro, Dellarole I, Bajardi I, Ardissone, Ferraris I, Casalino, Gatti, Bajardi II, Seccatore, Ferraris II
Manager: Nagy
Referee: Gama
Goals: 14' Malatesta, 37' Pastore, 58' Seccatore, 66' Pastore, 76' Bajardi II
Sources
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