Game 9, Serie A
Sunday November 22, 1936
Stadio PNF, Rome
Lazio Sampierdarenese 1-0
A Piola goal allows Lazio to top Serie A
There was great optimism for this season and the start was very good. In the first eight games of the season Lazio had beaten Milan and Juventus, alas lost the derby, but were second in the Campionato alongside Bologna and one point behind leaders Torino.
A win against Sampierdarenese could take them top.
The match
Sampierdarenese started well but slowly Lazio took over with early chances for Bruno Camolese and Silvio Piola. The Ligurians tried an attack in the 10th minute with Giulio Rossi but his shot was well saved by Giacomo Blason. A moment later, the Biancocelesti scored. Following a Giuseppe Baldo throw-in, Busani passed to Giovanni Riccardi who sent a long pass to Piola. The Lazio and Italy centre-forward picked up the ball and ran towards goal. It was too easy to beat Vittorio Profumo and the Biancocelesti were in the lead.
Sampierdarenese reacted and the Lazio goalkeeper was brilliant in saving an Angelo Bollano volley. Piola squandered two opportunities in the 21st and 23rd minute and then again in the 30th when his shot was only just wide. A minute later the Lazio forward was again all alone in front of the goalkeeper but Profumo rushed out and scared the great Silvio, disorientating him. Giovanni Costa also had a chance in the 34th minute when Profumo saved a Riccardi shot deflected by Piola. It was an open goal chance but the ball went out.
In the 42nd minute the Ligurians almost scored. Giuseppe Viani was clever in heading a Renato Bodini free kick over the crossbar.
Things did not change in the second half. The Biancocelesti attacked even more but Sampierdarenese parked the bus in front of their goal and it became increasingly difficult for Lazio to score their second. Piola had less freedom of movement. The Ligurians had chances with Bruno Biagini and Renato Cappellini. After a scuffle in front of the Sampierdarenese goal, Giovanni Battistoni punched Piola in the face. The referee did nothing. Later Bodini kicked Piola intentionally but even then the referee looked the other way.
The match ended with a couple of brilliant saves by Profumo, one of which was nothing short of miraculous on a Piola shot in the 88th minute.
Lazio won, as did Bologna, and Torino lost. Lazio were top of the table, together with the Rossoblu.
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Viola
Who played for Sampierdarenese
Profumo, Rigotti, Bodini (II), Lancioni, Battistoni, Malatesta, Mascheroni, Cappellini, Bollano, Rossi, Biagini
Manager: István Mészáros
Referee: Salvagno
Goal: 10’ Piola
Sources
Comments