Game 5, Serie A
Sunday, October 10, 1937
Stadio San Siro, Milan
Milan Lazio 2-2
Lazio manage to draw thanks to an incredible own goal
So far, in Serie A the Biancocelesti had drawn three, including the derby, and won one. Today was game five.
The match
There was barely time for the spectators to sit down and Lazio were already ahead. Silvio Piola inside the box passed the ball to Benedetto Stella just outside the area, big whack, Milan 0 Lazio 1.
The early goal determined the Biancocelesti’s tactical approach: stay back. It took Milan a little bit to get organised and in the 8th minute a Giovanni Moretti shot was comfortably saved by Vincenzo Provera. The Rossoneri started to increase their rhythm but in the 12th and 19th minutes Aldo Boffi wasted the good team work. In the 24th minute Stella forced Mario Zorzan to make a difficult save and two minutes later Lazio should have made it two. Umberto Busani crossed into the box, Zorzan missed the catch, Piola promptly volleyed the ball into goal but it hit the keeper's ankle while in the 29th minute Boffi missed a chance shooting wide from favourable position. Two minutes later Provera made the first real save of the day on a Vicente Arnoni shot. After another failed attempt by Boffi, Provera saved on an Elisio Gabardo shot in the 36th minute.
The seemingly weak Milan attack prompted Lazio to go on the attack in the final minutes of the first half. Giuseppe Viani crossed for Emilio Capri whose shot was however too weak. A few seconds later Capri himself crossed into the box but Piola’s shot was parried by the keeper.
In the second half after two minutes Moretti had a chance but squandered it. But in the 55th Milan equalised. Moretti to Baffo to Gabardo, powerful shot, nothing Provera could do.
The hosts put their foot on the accelerator but their forcing was confused and the Biancocelesti survived. Between the 67th and 73rd minute Lazio had four corners but were unable to create anything dangerous. After both Capri and Moretti had missed chances, in the 80th minute Milan went ahead. Gabardo started the move and passed to Arnoni who crossed low into the middle of the box where Moretti was waiting and did not miss.
Lazio no longer seemed to have the energy left to try to equalise. In the 84th minute Viani to Busani who crossed towards the centre. Piola was too far behind so all Luigi Perversi had to do was to protect his goalkeeper who had come out of the goal to collect the ball. But the Milan player decided to head the ball back to the keeper who was certainly not expecting it. It beat Zorzan and slowly went into the net. A marvellous gift for the Biancocelesti.
Lazio then almost scored a winner on the cusp of the game when Piola tried a shot but Zorzan saved Milan.
A good draw for the Biancocelesti while the Rossoneri had thrown the win away.
Who played for Milan
Zorzan, Perversi, Bonizzoni, Rigotti II, Bortoletti, Loetti, Capra II, Moretti, Boffi, Gabardo, Arnoni
Manager: József Bánás
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Violak
Referee: Scotto
Goals: 3’ Stella, 55’ Gabardo, 80’ Moretti, 84’ Perversi (og)
Sources
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