Difference of category means nothing in a Roman derby

Season 1971-72

Coppa Italia, Group Phase, Game 1

Sunday, August 29, 1971

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Roma 1-0

Despite being in Serie B Lazio beat Roma with a goal by "Long John" Chinaglia

The league would start on September 26 but in the meantime, there was the Coppa Italia to play and straight up in the group phase was the derby. The group also included Atalanta and Perugia.

Roma were clear favourites today but it was a derby so a match different from any other.

The match: Sunday, August 29, 1971, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

A hot and sticky August evening brought a 70,000 crowd for this summer cup derby.

Lazio had more or less their best possible team while Roma were missing defender Sergio Petrelli, midfielders Francesco Scaratti and Ciccio Cordova plus forward Gianfranco Zigoni.

The Giallorossi also lost forward Renato Cappellini after only three minutes due to injury.

Lazio started brightly and had a Giorgio Chinaglia shot go just wide and then a Chinaglia goal disallowed for a handball.

After about fifteen minutes however Roma gained more control. The Lazio keeper was forced into three excellent saves on shots by Stefano Pellegrini and Walter Franzot plus a header by Amarildo. On the half hour mark a Giacomo La Rosa bicycle kick went just over the bar.

Lazio had a chance on a freekick but Chinaglia was not dangerous and then, three minutes from halftime, Pino Wilson acrobatically interrupted a La Rosa-Pellegrini combination. 0-0 at the break but Roma on top.

The second half started as it had finished with Roma attacking. Amarildo had a good effort but his swooping shot did not come down enough and flew over the bar.

In the 50th minute Lazio surprisingly took the lead. On a Pierpaolo Manservisi cross from the right the ball was unexpectedly and clumsily missed by Aldo Bet and Chinaglia did not have to be asked twice to take advantage of the gift. Lazio 1 Roma 0.

At this point Lazio were on a high and could have scored again. Giuliano Fortunato threatened but Alberto Ginulfi saved and Chinaglia became unstoppable for a bewildered Bet.

Roma had at least ten minutes in which they were all over the place but then settled. In the 62nd minute Claudio Bandoni saved with his feet on a close range La Rosa strike. A few minutes later an equaliser seemed inevitable but, on a Pellegrini shot, with the keeper beaten, Pino Wilson flew through the air and headed off the goal line.

Two penalty appeals then soured the atmosphere on the field. First Amarildo went down but Picasso gestured to play but the referee's masterpiece came a few minutes later when he denied Chinaglia a blatant penalty.

An irate Chinaglia was then taken off for Costantino Fava but tempers flared anyway and Giuliano Fortunato and then Amarildo were both sent off.

Lazio threw on local lad Giancarlo Oddi for the final five-minute Roma onslaught and the score line did not change. Lazio 1 Roma 0.

Huge celebrations amongst the Lazio fans who had seen their team win a local derby after six years and had done so playing in Serie B. They could thank keeper Bandoni in particular, who had played a superb game and match winner "Long John" Chinaglia.

Who played for Lazio

Bandoni, Facco, Legnaro, Wilson, Papadopulo, Martini, Manservisi (84' Oddi), Massa, Chinaglia (76' Fava), Nanni, Fortunato