Lazio have to settle for a point in Tuscany
Despite dominating for long periods, a penalty and an own goal mean Lazio are unable to give win to 4,000 travelling faithful.
Also on this day: November 7, 1993: Napoli Lazio 1-2. A good win sees Lazio leapfrog Napoli and forget European disappointment. Player of the day: Luciano De Paola
The season so far
Lazio had been relegated the season before so were back in Serie B. The main change however was the arrival of new manager Tommaso Maestrelli from Foggia to substitute Roberto Lovati, who in turn had taken over from Juan Carlos Lorenzo during the previous disastrous season. Maestrelli was from Pisa, in Tuscany, and during his career in his younger days, had played 95 games for hated city rivals Roma. Certainly not the best visiting card on this side of the Tiber but little did people know then he would later become Lazio's favourite manager ever, to this day.
There had also been some changes to the squad. A new goalkeeper had arrived, Claudio Bandoni (Fiorentina) plus defenders Luigi Martini (Livorno) and Giancarlo Oddi (Massese). These two defenders would play a major role in Lazio's Scudetto a few years later. Just a few days earlier, in the November market window, Lazio had signed midfielder Giambattista Moschino (Verona) and forward Alessandro Abbondanza (Napoli-on loan).
Some players left of course: goalkeeper Michelangelo Sulfaro (Fiorentina on loan), midfielders Nello Governato (Savona), Rino Marchesi (Prato) and Ferruccio Mazzola (Fiorentina-on loan) as well as striker Juan Carlos Morrone (Foggia). Recently, in the autumn session keeper Avelino Moriggi (Arezzo-on loan) and midfielders Arrigo Dolso (Varese-on loan) and Pierpaolo Manservisi (Napoli-on loan) had also left.
In August and September, the Coppa Italia was good. Lazio won the derby 1-0 (Giorgio Chinaglia), drew 0-0 in Bergamo, won 3-1 at Perugia (Chinaglia x2, Pierpaolo Manservisi) and won 2-0 at home to Ternana (Franco Nanni, Giuseppe Massa).
The Serie B campaign had then started up and down for Lazio who obviously had promotion ambitions. So far, they had won 4 and lost 2, so had 8 points. The best news was that “Long John” Chinaglia was scoring goals, already 6 in 6 matches. The table read Perugia and Ternana 9, Lazio, Bari, Taranto and Palermo all on 8.
Arezzo had finished a positive 7th the previous season under Dino Ballacci. Top scorer was Gian Paolo Galuppi with 7 league goals. Their main signings were: keeper Avelino Moriggi (Lazio-on loan in November), defender Giovanni Bertini (Roma-on loan) plus midfielders Lorenzo Barlassina (Savona) and Bruno Beatrice (Solbiatese). Arezzo also had a young Francesco Graziani in their squad (he would later win a scudetto with Torino and world cup with Italy).
In the summer in Coppa Italia, Arezzo were knocked out after 3 draws (Cagliari 2-2 away, Livorno 0-0 at home and Foggia 2-2 away) and 1 defeat (Fiorentina 0-1 at home). Gianpaolo Incerti had scored 3 goals.
So far, the Aretini had struggled in Serie B. After 6 games they had 1 point, losing 4 (Bari, Livorno, Reggina and Taranto) and drawing 2 (Catania, Perugia). They had only scored one goal. A banana skin for Lazio?
The match: Sunday, November 7, 1971, Stadio Comunale, Arezzo
A sunny Tuscan day brought a crowd of 10,000 to the small Arezzo ground. The vicinity to Rome had also attracted 4,000 Lazio fans on a day trip up to the town of artists and poets.
Lazio's recent signing Alessandro Abbondanza was thrown straight on for his debut.
Lazio started strongly and had several chances. A Giuseppe Massa header went just wide and a thundering Giuliano Fortunato shot hit the crossbar. In the 9th minute Lazio's dominance was rewarded. Massa through ball found Abbondanza who beat the keeper coming off his line with a cool, low finish. Arezzo 0 Lazio 1.
The lead only lasted four minutes. In the 14th minute a sandwich by Mario Facco and Gaetano Legnaro on Incerti was considered a foul by the referee and he awarded a penalty. Incerti sent Claudio Bandoni the wrong way and scored but was then ordered to retake it as an Amaranto player had been inside the area, he obliged and scored again. Arezzo 1 Lazio 1.
Despite the setback Lazio continued to dominate and took back the lead in the 41st minute. A team move started by Pino Wilson, to Franco Nanni to Abbondanza who teed up Giorgio Chinaglia on the right, Long John sent a cross goal low missile into the opposite corner, giving the keeper no chance. Arezzo 1 Lazio 2. Lazio were well in control at halftime.
For the second half the Aretini brought on a midfielder, Lorenzo Barlassina, for defender, Elio Parolini.
Again, were it not for the break, Lazio's lead was short lived. In the 50th minute an unfortunate deflection by Luigi Polentes put the ball in his own net. Arezzo 2 Lazio 2.
Lazio attacked but were less confident and slick than the first half. They nevertheless had their chances. The biggest came in the 71st minute when a Wilson cross was headed by Mario Facco but cleared off the line by Luigi Tonani with a spectacular bicycle kick. Lazio pushed but could not get the winner. Final score Arezzo 2 Lazio 2.
A slight disappointment for Lazio and the big travelling support. The Biancocelesti had been by far the superior team, especially in the first half, but a penalty and an own goal had denied them the win. An away point however was never to be scoffed at and debutant Abbondanza had been positive. The table now read Bari, Palermo, Perugia, Taranto all on 10, Lazio 9 and Ternana 9.
Who Played for Arezzo
Grandini, Beatrice, Vergani, Camozzi, Tonani, Parolini (46' Barlassina), Galuppi, Pupo, Benvenuto, Farina, Incerti
Substitutes: Candussi
Manager: Ballacci
Who played for Lazio
Substitutes: Di Vincenzo, Oddi
Manager: Maestrelli
Referee: Lazzaroni
Goals: 9' Abbondanza, 13' Incerti, 41' Chinaglia, 50' Polentes (og)
What happened next
Lazio managed to get promoted. They maintained second place on 49 points, behind Ternana on 50, the third team to go up was Palermo. It was not easy and Lazio fell to five more defeats but their prolific attack helped them reach their objective. Giorgio Chinaglia got 21 goals (plus 5 in the Coppa Italia) and Giuseppe Massa got 12, meaning Lazio also scored more goals than any other team (48). Lazio won 18 (including Arezzo 2-0), drew 13 and lost 7.
Lazio's promotion was secured on the 18th June with a goalless draw away at Bari. Lazio, led by Maestrelli and Chinaglia, were back in Serie A and things were about to get even better.
In Coppa Italia Lazio did not get through the second group stage. They won 2 (Fiorentina 1-0, Napoli 3-0), drew 1 (Fiorentina 1-1 away) and lost 2 (Napoli 1-5 and Bologna 1-2, both away). Still not bad for a Serie B team. Napoli would eventually be runners-up (Milan 0-2, in Rome).
Arezzo managed to stay up. A week later the "Cavallino" (The Colt) won their first match (Modena 1-0 at home) and eventually finished 15th. Top scorer was Gianpaolo Incerti with 9 league goals (Graziani got 2).
The teams going down were Modena, Livorno and Sorrento (The Costieri have never been back since).
Lazio 1971-72
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals Scored |
Serie B | 38 | 18 | 13 | 7 | 48 |
Coppa Italia | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 13 |
Total | 48 | 23 | 15 | 10 | 61 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
Wilson | 48 | 38 | 10 |
Massa | 44 | 38 | 6 |
Bandoni | 43 | 36 | 7 |
Martini | 42 | 34 | 8 |
Chinaglia | 41 | 34 | 7 |
Top goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
Chinaglia | 26 | 21 | 5 |
Massa | 12 | 12 | - |
Abbondanza | 7 | 7 | - |
Nanni | 3 | - | 3 |
Let's talk about Gaetano Legnaro
Gaetano Legnaro was born in Cartura (Padova), on October 31, 1947.
He played his early football in the Alessandria youth sector. He then made his debut for the "Orso Grigio" (The Grey Bear) in 1965.
Alessandria were in Serie B and got through three managers: former Lazio Federico Allasio, Aristide Coscia and finally Hungarian László Székely. The Grigi finished 13th and Legnaro played 2 league games. A teammate was former Lazio Carlo Tagnin.
In 1966-67 Alessandria were relegated. Again, they shuffled managers around: Ettore Puricelli to Giulio Cappelli and then back to Székely. Legnaro played 13 league games and 1 in Coppa Italia. One of his teammates was a young Avelino Moriggi.
In 1967-78 Mario Pietruzzi was manager and Alessandria finished 9th in Serie C. Legnaro played regularly, making 31 league appearances.
In 1968-69, again under Pietruzzi, the "Mandrogni" came 7th. Legnaro only played 5 league games due to injury.
The 1969-70 season would be his last in Piedmont. The manager was Sergio Manente and Alessandria finished 9th. Legnaro had a good season playing 34 league games and scoring 5 goals.
In 1970 he signed for Lazio in Serie A. Lazio came from a good 8th place but this season there were problems between manager Juan Carlos Lorenzo and the owner Umberto Lenzini and the team suffered. The Biancocelesti ended up relegated. The consolation was winning the Alps Cup (Basel 3-1). Legnaro played 17 league games with 1 goal (Cagliari). This disappointing season was at least an excuse to change managers and what a change it turned out to be.
The following season Tommaso Maestrelli arrived at Lazio from Foggia. He would change Lazio’s history. For the time being they won promotion back to Serie A and won a derby in Coppa Italia. Legnaro played 16 league games and 8 in Coppa Italia. He was involved in the build-up but not to the actual glory as the following season he moved on. With the arrival of Sergio Petrelli, he was sold in November, also due to contractual disagreements.
In November 1972 he signed for Ascoli. He would play 7 seasons for the Piceni. When he arrived the "Picchio" was in Serie B and finished 4th under legendary Roman manager Carlo "Sor Carletto" Mazzone. Legnaro played 27 league games.
In 1973-74 Ascoli were promoted and Legnaro played 34 league games.
In Serie A in 1974-75 the Bianconeri finished 12th (beating Lazio and Inter). Legnaro played 25 league games and 4 in Coppa Italia.
In 1975-76 the Marchigiani changed managers to Enzo Riccomini and were relegated (despite beating Lazio and Inter again). Legnaro played 13 league games and 1 in Coppa Italia.
In 1976-77, under Riccomini, Giovanni Mialich and then Riccomini again, Ascoli finished 9th in B. Legnaro played 19 league games.
In 1977-78 Ascoli won the league under Antonio Renna. They totted up a record 61 points and scored 73 goals. Legnaro played 35 games with 1 goal (Cesena). His teammates included future Lazio Claudio Ambu and Giuseppe Greco.
The 1978-79 season would be his last with the Bianconeri; it was a positive one with Ascoli comfortably avoiding relegation with a 10th place finish. The "Picchio" drew 0-0 away to Milan, beat Juventus 1-0 at home and drew 1-1 away to Inter. Legnaro played 22 league games and 3 in Coppa Italia. Ascoli's keeper was Lazio legend Felice Pulici.
In 1979-80 he had one last season with Taranto in Serie B. The managers were Adelmo Capelli (1-14) and then former Lazio player Gianni Seghedoni (15-38), protagonist of the famous goal/ no-goal episode in March 1962 against Napoli. The Ionici finished 16th and just avoided relegation. Legnaro played 19 league games.
Legnaro, at almost 33, then retired.
Legnaro was a defender. At 1.74 tall and 72 kilos he was a solid full-back specialized in man-to-man marking. His main assets were his speed and his ability to anticipate the forwards to the ball. He won a Serie B title, two promotions and played 183 games with Ascoli. He still goes back regularly and is a popular character in Ascoli Piceno.
At Lazio he won a promotion to Serie A and an Alps Cup. He played 41 games for the Biancocelesti and was part of the build up to the team which would become Italian Champions in 1974.
Lazio Career
Season | Total games (goals) | Serie A | Serie B | Coppa Italia | Mitropa Cup | Cup of the Alps |
1970-71 | 23 (1) | 17 (1) | - | - | 1 | 5 |
1971-72 | 24 | - | 16 | 8 | - | - |
Total | 47 (1) | 17 (1) | 16 | 8 | 1 | 5 |
Sources
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