Last second vital win
Thanks to a Flamini header five minutes from the end, Lazio beat Livorno
Also on this day: March 2, 2003, Perugia Lazio 2-2. A Paolo Negro strike almost at the death gives Lazio a well-earned point in Perugia. Lazio Hero of the day: Luca Marchegiani
The season so far
Lazio came 4th the previous season. They had been very consistent and that had been the key to the excellent campionato. There was hope that the position could be repeated since there had been quite a number of new signings: future legend Uber Gradella (goalkeeper from Verona), defender Italo Romagnoli II (Napoli), Argentinian midfielders Alberto Fazio and Salvador Gualtieri (both from San Lorenzo) plus Anselmo Pisa (Banfield), and forwards Aldo Puccinelli (Pontedera) and Otello Zironi (Modena). Lazio said goodbye to Umberto Busani, Luigi Milano, Maximiliano Faotto, Bruno Camolese, Giovanni Costa, Alessandro Capponi and Evaristo Barrera.
The beginning of the season had not been a good one and after 6 games they were second from last. Manager Geza Kertesz relied too heavily on Silvio Piola but did not organise a game plan so the players found themselves lost. He was sacked and replaced by compatriot Ferenc Molnar but in the next 11 matches Lazio only earned 8 points and were still in 15th place. They had won just three games. Molnar too was sacked and in came Dino Canestri, former player. In the next three games the Biancocelesti won one and drew two, the last game against the mighty Ambrosiana Inter who were second in the league. Lazio were still second from last but at least there was a little bit of optimism now.
The match: Sunday, March 2, 1940, Stadio PNF, Rome
This match was a must win for Lazio. Whatever it took.
The game opened in the 19th minute when Vittorio Dagianti, who had moved to the right wing due to injury, sent a long ball into the box, which reached Enrique Flamini. Portus Silingardi tried to anticipate the Lazio forward but the Argentine went left and had an open goal opportunity. But Silvio Piola clumsily fell on top of El Flacco and the goalkeeper was able to clear. In the 30th minute chance for Livorno when Sergio Angelini arrived face to face with Uber Gradella but his shot was saved by the Biancoceleste keeper.
In the second half, in the 48th minute Dagianti crossed towards the left, Luigi Vettraino headed the ball to Piola who with another header hit the top of the crossbar. In the 57th minute Otello Zironi had the chance after Silingardi found himself in no man’s land after a clearance, but his shot was wide. In the 62nd minute Gradella was nothing short of miraculous on a shot from outside the box from Pietro Del Buono. In the 77th minute, big whack from Mario Zidaric, Gradella saved but allowed for a simple tap-in for Giovanni Civili who instead stopped to admire a flock of birds passing in the sky and Alfredo Monza was able to clear.
With five minutes to go, Gualtieri tried one last desperate cross in the box. There were 19 players in the penalty area, all Livorno and all Lazio except Gradella and two defenders. Silingardi tried to come out and punch the ball away but there were so many bodies that he missed. Flamini was the quickest to react and headed the ball in.
Game over and very precious victory for Lazio.
Who played for Lazio
Gradella, Ferrarese, Monza II, Gualtieri, Romagnoli II, Ferri, Zironi I, Dagianti, Piola, Flamini, Vettraino.
Manager: Canestri
Who played for Livorno
Silingardi, Del Bianco, Del Buono, Spagnoli, Rossi, Bonino, Angelini, Stua, Civili, Zidarich, Cattaneo
Manager: Viola
Referee: Moretti
Goal: 85’ Flamini
What happened next
After this game the positive run continued until five matches to the end. Then a loss against Venezia, a disastrous home draw with Bari, who were last, and defeat in Milan, meant that Lazio were back to square one again. With two games to go, the Biancocelesti were 15th on 24 points (goal difference -7), preceded by Novara on 25 (-8) together with Torino (-1), Genoa (-3) and Venezia (-8) while Livorno were on 26 (-13). In the case of a tie between two or more teams, goal difference counted. Bari were already relegated.
The dramatic last match at the Olimpico saw Lazio beat Fiorentina 4-1. Two fantastic points and a major improvement in goal difference, now -4. But they were still 15th on 26 points and were preceded by Venezia (-8) and Novara on 27 (they had won 5-1 therefore on -4).
Lazio had to play at Bologna, who had just won the title, and there was the big clash between Venezia and Novara.
A win would have given safety to Lazio, but even a draw could have been enough.
In Bologna the Biancocelesti went 2-0 up but in the second half the Rossoblu equalised. Despair for Lazio, but then Venezia scored. Lazio and Novara had 27 points but the Biancocelesti had a better goal difference. All they needed to do was to hang on to the draw and hope. And this is exactly what happened. Venezia scored a third and Lazio avoided relegation.
Lazio 1939-40
Comeptition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 30 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 36 |
Coppa Italia | 3 | 2 | - | 1 | 5 |
Total | 33 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 49 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Monza | 33 | 30 | 3 |
Ramella | 33 | 30 | 3 |
Baldo | 31 | 28 | 3 |
Milano | 30 | 28 | 2 |
Vettraino | 30 | 27 | 3 |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Piola | 10 | 9 | 1 |
Pisa | 9 | 9 | - |
Vettraino | 8 | 7 | 1 |
Barrera | 7 | 6 | 1 |
Flamini | 5 | 5 | - |
Busani | 5 | 5 | - |
Lets talk about Renato Ferrarese
Renato Ferrarese was born on January 18, 1918, in Rome. He grew up at Lazio and in 1934-35 he won the Roman Boys Championship. He started playing with the first eleven on May 26 1940. And what a debut it was, a derby, resolved by a Flamini goal in the first half. In the 1940-41 season he made 17 appearances between Serie A and Coppa Italia but only five the following season.
In 1942 he signed for Pisa but during 1943-45 he moved back to Rome and played for Lazio in the Roman Championships. The Biancocelesti won the first one of 1943-44 and came second in 1944-45.
After the war he moved to Nocera Inferiore and played for Nocerina until 1950.
He died in Rome on February 27, 1981.
Ferrarese made 35 appearances for Lazio: 20 in Serie A, 3 in Coppa Italia, 8 in the Roman War Championship and 4 in the City of Rome trophy. He was a good backup defender.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Roman War Championship | Other competitions |
1939-40 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - |
1940-41 | 17 | 14 | 3 | - | - |
1941-42 | 5 | 5 | - | - | - |
1943-44 | 4 | - | - | 4 | |
1944-45 | 8 | - | - | 4 | 4 |
Total | 35 | 20 | 3 | 8 | 4 |
Sources
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