Lazio outclass Vicenza and keep dream alive

Updated: Sep 13

Season 1973-74

Game 16, Serie A

Sunday, February 3, 1974

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Vicenza 3-0

A 3-0 which does not tell the full extent of Lazio’s superiority

Lazio had 23 points and were top of the table. If they wanted to continue chasing their dream were expected to get the two points today.

The match

It was a grey, rainy day in Rome and the match was played on a heavy, muddy pitch in front of a 30,000 crowd.

The pattern of the game was clear right from the kick-off, Lazio attacking and Vicenza on the back foot.

Lazio had their first chance after only two minutes when a Giorgio Chinaglia solo run and shot was well saved by Bardin. A few minutes later a Sergio Petrelli shot from about 20 metres out shaved the post. Lazio's pressure continued and they were rewarded in the 10th minute. Renzo Garlaschelli won a challenge with a defender and beat the keeper. Lazio 1 Vicenza 0.

On the waves of enthusiasm Lazio started to play even better and had more chances. Chinaglia in particular went extremely close on several occasions.

Vicenza did very occasionally venture out of their half and Felice Pulici had to dive acrobatically to stop a Giorgio Bernardis effort from going into the top hand corner. From then on however it was again one-way traffic. Lazio piled forward, a Chinaglia freekick almost doubling their lead.

At half time Lazio still only led by the single goal, as they had been wasteful of their several chances.

The second half saw no change and in the early stages Chinaglia had a header parried off the goal line and onto the post by Adriano Bardin. In the 61st minute Vicenza were reduced to ten men as Alessandro Vitali was sent off for dissent after Lazio were awarded a penalty (Mario Perego foul on Garlaschelli). Vitali can't have minced his words as he was subsequently banned for eight matches, then cut to six.

So in the 62nd minute a penalty for Lazio. Chinaglia stepped up and the keeper saved it but the referee had seen something irregular in the build up and ordered for a repetition of the kick. Chinaglia again took on the responsibility but again had his shot saved.

Despite this set back Lazio were still well in control and after all were 1-0 up against 10 men. The Biancocelesti finally managed to double their lead in the 69th minute. A Vincenzo D'Amico cross was met by Chinaglia who shot and, helped by a deflection, beat Bardin. A little lucky but well deserved.

Vicenza to be fair had more chances in 10 men than in the first half and Pulici was kept on his toes with shots by Bernardis, Giuseppe Longoni, Luciano Speggiorin and Perego.

It was however Lazio who went closer and a goal by Chinaglia was disallowed for offside and another Long John effort was cleared off the line but the third goal was on its way.

Ten minutes from time, on a rebound after an Fausto Inselvini post, Chinaglia hammered in a powerful low shot to put Vicenza out of their misery. Franco Nanni then had a goal disallowed for offside and Lazio were denied a clear penalty five minutes from time but the match was already dead and buried.

A convincing win for the Biancocelesti who had outclassed Vicenza and could have scored several more goals.

Lazio had put on a good collective effort and played at a high tempo despite the heavy pitch. They certainly did no harm to their title credentials and had pundits starting to think they maybe had a realistic chance of breaking the northern dominance.

The table was looking healthy; Lazio 25, Napoli 22, Juventus and Fiorentina 21.

Who played for Lazio

Pulici, Petrelli, Martini, Wilson, Oddi, Nanni, Garlaschelli, Inselvini, Chinaglia, Frustalupi, D'Amico