Lazio shine then fade but earn useful point
After an excellent first half, Lazio struggle, thank the woodwork and find last minute equaliser
Also on this day: May 29, 2005, Palermo Lazio 3-3. A six-goal draw pleases both teams as they reach their respective targets. Player of the day: Roberto Muzzi
The season so far
Lazio the previous year had come in 8th. They had started the season with Hungarian Ferenc Molnar as manager but he was then replaced by Cesare Migliorini. This year they had a new player/manager in Brazilian Amilcar. They had lost top scorer Pietro Pastore (13 goals) who had left for Milan.
The new manager Amilcar was not the only Brazilian connection as Lazio had gone shopping in Brazil big time. In had come defenders Armando Del Debbio (Corinthians), Ezio Enrique Serafini (Palmeiras), Pedro Rizzetti (Palmeiras), midfielder José Castelli (Corinthians) and forwards Alejandro Demaria (Corinthians), Anfilogino Guarisi (Corinthians) and André Emanuel Tedesco (Santos). Lazio now had seven Brazilian players and were called "Brasilazio".
Leaving Lazio were Pastore, as mentioned, as well as defender Alfredo Foni (Padova), midfielder Leopoldo Caimmi (Atalanta) plus forward Luigi Ziroli (Palermo).
This season had not been a great one, far from it. They were currently in joint 14th place, with Bari on 23 points, only one above the drop zone. They also came from four consecutive defeats. The Biancocelesti had won 9, drawn 5 and lost 17 (including both derbies). Top scorer was Anfilogino "Filó" Guarisi with 9 league goals.
Ambrosiana Inter had finished 5th the previous season, under Hungarian Árpád Weisz. Top scorer was Giuseppe Meazza with 31 goals (24 in A).
This season the manager was Hungarian, István Tóth. The Nerazzurri had also made a few changes to the squad. Arriving were defenders Giuseppe Ballerio (Bari-end of loan), Antonio Perduca (Legnano), midfielder Atilio Demaria (Gimnasia La Plata) plus forward Hector Scarone (Nacional de Montevideo).
Leaving were defender Guido Gianfardoni (Lecce), midfielder Antonio Blasevich (Palermo) and forward Leopoldo Conti (Pro Patria after 73 league goals).
The squad included three future Lazio players Giuseppe Viani (1934-38), Umberto Visentin (1935-36) and Luigi Allemandi (1938-39).
Ambrosiana Inter were currently joint 3rd with Fiorentina and Alessandria, on 36 points. The Nerazzurri had won 15 (including Lazio 2-0, Napoli 6-1, Milan 3-2, Bologna 4-3) drawn 6 (including Milan 0-0) and lost 10 (including Juventus 2-6 away). Top scorer was Meazza with 18 league goals.
Ambrosiana were favourites today but Lazio desperately needed points.
The match: Sunday, May 29, 1932, Stadio PNF, Rome
A warm spring day saw about 20,000 spectators present at the P.N.F Stadium.
Lazio started promisingly and took the game to the Milanese. Lazio immediately forced a series of corners and attacked constantly.
In the 9th minute Octavio Fantoni II floated a freekick into the area where the keeper Bonifacio Smerzi and Joāo Fantoni I went for it in the air, the ball then rolled loose and into the net. The goal however was disallowed as Fantoni I was judged to have used his hands excessively in the challenge.
From the subsequent long ball from keeper Smerzi Inter scored. The ball reached Atilio Demaria who was pushed by Armando Del Debbio for a freekick. Armando Castellazzi sent it into the box where Umberto Visentin headed on to Giuseppe Meazza who nodded it past Ezio Sclavi from close range. Lazio 0 Inter 1.
Completely against the run of play but Meazza was a goal machine.
At this point Lazio had a few minutes of confusion and Meazza again as well as Visentin had shots saved by Sclavi.
Then Lazio regrouped and started to push forward again. In the 20th minute Filó Guarisi forced Smerzi into an excellent save and Lazio had more efforts with Alejandro Demaria in the 26th and 27th minutes. More corners followed and on one of these Lazio were awarded a penalty. In the 29th minute Smerzi miscalculated his jump and the goal was unguarded, Demaria shot but Antonio Peduca saved with his hands. Del Debbio took it but missed, Smerzi redeeming himself and saving with his foot.
In the 40th minute Lazio finally found the deserved equaliser. José Castelli passed to Fantoni I who scored with a low strike in the right corner. Lazio 1 Inter 1.
Lazio were playing well and could and should have been in front.
Things changed in the second half. After a lame effort by Lazio's Demaria, Inter took control of the game. Lazio faded, not helped by Odoacre Pardini being limited by a head wound for which he was heavily bandaged.
In the 58th minute Inter hit the bar with a Piero Mariani shot. A few minutes later Sclavi had to rush off his line and dive low to deny Meazza and in the 69th minute Mariani hit the woodwork again, this time a post.
The goal came in the 72nd minute. Meazza picked up a Demaria through ball, beat Del Debbio and struck a venomous shot which went in off the post. Lazio 1 Inter 2.
In the 83rd minute both sides were reduced to ten men. Del Debbio fouled Meazza who reacted nervously and the referee decided they should both go off.
The game seemed over and some fans were even leaving when, in the 90th minute, Luigi Allemandi gave away a cheap corner. On the high ball into the area Demaría got a header in which Smerzi saved but seemingly over the line. The referee thought so and gave the goal. The visitors protested at the decision but the goal stood. Lazio 2 Inter 2 and full time.
Lazio had played an excellent first half but a poor second. They could be satisfied with the point however as they now had a two-point cushion on the second bottom team with only two games to go. The standout players were Sclavi for Lazio and Meazza for Inter.
Inter were now joint 4th with Milan and Alessandria.
Who played for Lazio
Sclavi, Mattei II, Del Debbio, Serafini, Pardini, Fantoni II, Guarisi, Malatesta, Fantoni I, Castelli, Demaría
Manager: Barbuy Amilcar
Who played for Ambrosiana-Inter
Smerzi, Perduca, Allemandi I, Rivolta, Viani Castellazzi, Visentin, Serantoni, Meazza, Demaría, Mariani
Manager: Tóth
Referee: Scorzoni
Goals: 10' Meazza, 40' Fantoni I, 72' Meazza, 90' Demaría
What happened next
Lazio managed to avoid relegation. In the next game Lazio drew 2-2 away at Pro Vercelli and then thrashed Modena 9-1 at home. The Biancocelesti finished joint 13th, with Triestina and Pro Vercelli on 27 points, two points above the drop zone. Top scorer was Guarisi with 12 league goals. A disappointing season for Lazio.
Inter lost the next game 2-4 at home to Juventus and then drew 1-1 away at Pro Patria. The Nerazzurri finished joint 6th with Alessandria. Top scorer was Meazza with 21 league goals.
The Scudetto was won by Juventus for the 4th time. The clubs going down were Modena and Brescia (after a playoff defeat against Bari, 1-2 in Bologna)
Lazio 1930-31
Competition | Played | Won | Drew | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 34 | 15 | 5 | 14 | 45 |
Top five appearances
Player | Serie A appearances |
Augusto Mattei II | 34 |
Ezio Sclavi | 33 |
Orlando Tognotti | 32 |
Odoacre Pardini | 32 |
Piero Pastore | 29 |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Goals |
Piero Pastore | 13 |
Mario Malatesta | 6 |
Joao Fantoni | 6 |
Carlo Cevenini V | 4 |
Aldo Spivach | 4 |
Let's talk about Armando Del Debbio
Armando Del Debbio was born in Santos, Brazil on November 2, 1904. Like many South-Americans he had Italian origins, from Viareggio (Tuscany)
His first club was São Bento between 1919 and 1921. He then played for Corinthians for ten years, playing 219 league games with 2 goals. He won 6 Paulista league titles with the "Timão" (Superteam).
In 1931, at 26, he arrived in Europe and joined Lazio. He was not the only Brazilian arriving: Pedro Rizzetti, Enzio Enrique Serafini, Amilcar, José Castelli, Alejandro Demaria, Anfilogino Guarisi and André Emanuel Tedesco all joined Lazio who already had the two Fantoni's in the squad. These were the years of "Brasilazio". In Rome he was nicknamed "Nerone".
In 1931-32 the player-manager was Amilcar and Lazio finished 13th. The highlight was beating Juventus 2-1 away. Del Debbio played 31 league games with 2 goals (Torino, Casale, both penalties).
In 1932-33 the manager was Austrian Karl Stürmer and Lazio finished 10th. Lazio won a derby and also beat Juventus and Milan at home. Del Debbio played 29 league games.
In 1933-34 the manager was still Stürmer and Lazio finished 10th again. Lazio beat Milan 4-0 and drew a derby 3-3 after being 0-3 down. Del Debbio played 16 league games.
In 1934-35 the manager was Czech Walter Alt and Lazio finished 5th also due to the signing of the great Silvio Piola. The highlights were beating Juventus 5-3 and Inter 4-2 while both derbies were draws. Del Debbio played 12 league games.
In 1935 he returned to Brazil and Corinthians. He played another four seasons, winning two more Paulista titles although he played less, only 10 league appearances.
He then retired at 34 and went into coaching.
As a player he also won 3 caps for Brazil, between 1929 and 1931, scoring 1 goal.
As a manager he had spells at Corinthians (1940-42), Palmeiras (1942-44, 1945), Corinthians (1947 and 1963).
Del Debbio was a defender. He was a tough player, one of those who always gives 100% and sometimes more, as his five red cards for Lazio show. He was popular at Lazio for his gritty style of play and dedication to the cause. He was part of the famous "Brasilazio" years.
Del Debbio died on May 8 1984, in São Paulo
Appearances and goals for Lazio
Season | Appearances Serie A | Goals Serie A |
1931-32 | 31 | 2 |
1932-33 | 29 | - |
1933-34 | 16 | - |
1934-35 | 12 | - |
Total | 88 | 2 |
Sources
Comments