Three in a row
- Dag Jenkins
- Mar 11, 2024
- 3 min read
Game 21, Serie A
Sunday, March 11, 1973
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio-Roma 2-0
Lazio win second league derby too to make it third consecutive derby success
After 20 games Lazio had 27 points and were joint 3rd with Inter, three points behind leaders Milan. They were in a good position, the table read Milan 30, Juventus 28 Lazio and Inter 27.
Judging on current form Lazio were favourites today. It was a derby however and the Giallorossi were desperate to avenge the last two derby defeats (in the Coppa Italia the previous season and in the league in November).
The match: Sunday, March 11, 1973, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Light cloud and a strong northerly wind in the capital today. A sell-out crowd of 78,000 was present for this, as always, big game.
Lazio had no injury worries while Roma were without defender Walter Franzot.
In the first fifteen minutes both sides controlled each other but then gradually Lazio took the upper hand.
In the 18th minute a Luciano Re Cecconi-Giorgio Chinaglia combination set up Pierpaolo Manservisi but the winger's shot was weak and saved by Alberto Ginulfi.
In the 19th minute Re Cecconi was busy again and teed up Mario Frustalupi but his shot went high.
Roma were timid and Lazio continued to attack. The Biancocelesti took the lead just after the half hour mark. Sergio Santarini lost the ball in midfield to Renzo Garlaschelli, ball to Chinaglia then Frustalupi who crossed into the middle to an omnipresent Garlaschelli who headed past Ginulfi from about 7-8 metres out. Lazio 1 Roma 0. No-one could say it was not coming.
Four minutes later Lazio doubled their lead. In the 38th minute Franco Nanni hit a hopeful but seemingly innocuous ball over the Roma defence but Santarini then clumsily put it behind Ginulfi who was coming off his line to claim it.
There was no reaction from the Giallorossi and Lazio cruised to half time. Lazio 2 Roma 0.
For the second half Herrera replaced an injured defender Aldo Bet with midfielder Angelo Orazi. Roma now attacked more and looked more determined.
In the 55th minute Valerio Spadoni was wasteful from a decent position and a few minutes later a Renato Capellini header went past Felice Pulici but came back off the bar and conveniently fell into Felix' arms.
This was a sign it wasn't Roma's day and the Giallorossi's energies petered out. Chinaglia was particularly keen to get on the scoresheet but he was unable to this time.
In the 87th minute Lazio put on a defender, and former Roma, Sergio Petrelli for forward Manservisi but Lazio had nothing to worry about, Roma were beaten...again.
The Lazio fans celebrated wildly and mocked the Romanisti chanting "Serie B, Serie B"!! The Lazio players' euphoric singing could be heard far off from the changing rooms while the Roma manager Herrera had to be escorted by the police back to his house on the Aventine hill.
Lazio were now solitary 3rd. Milan and Juventus had won but Inter lost. The table now read: Milan 32, Juventus 30, Lazio 29, Inter 27.
Roma were down to joint 10th and now had only a two-point advantage on 3rd bottom Vicenza.
Who played for Lazio
Pulici, Facco, Martini, Wilson, Oddi, Nanni, Garlaschelli, Re Cecconi, Chinaglia, Frustalupi, Manservisi (87' Petrelli)
Substitutes: Moriggi
Manager: Maestrelli
Who played for Roma
Ginulfi, Morini, Peccenini, Bet (46' Orazi), Santarini, Liguori, Spadoni, Cappellini, Cordova, Scaratti
Substitutes: Quintini
Manager: Herrera
Referee: Panzino
Goals: 32' Garlaschelli, 38' Santarini (og)
Sources
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