Good start
The Biancocelesti score four goals in a match for the first time in more than five years to beat Genoa at the Olimpico
The season so far
The Biancocelesti in the previous Serie B season had been terrible and only managed a dismal 11th place, scoring only 27 goals. For 1968-69 there had been changes. Juan Carlo Lorenzo came back as manager following his betrayal in 1964 when he joined Roma. As he was a foreigner he could not officially be manager so Bob Lovati sat on the bench during the games.
Many players came and many left. New arrivals included defenders Mario Facco from Inter, Guido Onor from Juventus, midfielders Ferruccio Mazzola, brother of Sandro, again from Inter, Elio Rinero from Juventus and forward Gian Piero Ghio from Avellino. Leaving Lazio were two legends, goalkeeper Idilio Cei (Palermo) and midfielder Paolo Carosi (Catania). Pierluigi Ronzon had retired. There were promotion hopes.
In Coppa Italia in September Lazio had lost the derby and drawn twice against Bologna and Spal and been eliminated.
In the first game of the season the Biancocelesti had drawn 1-1 at Catanzaro.
The match: Sunday, October 6, 1968, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
The first game at the Olimpico was a test to see if Lazio could really have a go at promotion. And the Biancocelesti showed exactly what type of season could be ahead of them. In the 14th minute, a free kick for Lazio. Ferruccio Mazzola faked a shot and passed to Giuliano Fortunato whose shot beat William Negri.
In the 24th minute it was 2-0. Fortunato took a corner, Ghio missed the ball, in came Carlo Soldo and Renato Falcomer headed the ball into his own net.
In the 45th minute another free kick for Lazio. Mazzola gave the ball a big whack and Soldo was able to put his foot in the way and make it 3-0 at the end of the first half.
Seeing that the game was virtually over, the Biancocelesti slowed down and Genoa had control of the game. But it took them 43 minutes to score. Riccardo Mascheroni was fouled in the box and the referee gave the Ligurians a penalty. Antonio Angelillo made no mistake.
Lazio made it four two minutes later. Box-to-box by Arrigo Dolso who beat Negri with a clinical shot.
Great win for Lazio!!!!
Who played for Lazio
Di Vincenzo, Zanetti, Onor, Rinero, Soldo, Marchesi, Massa (77’ Dolso), Mazzola II, Fortunato, Ghio, Cucchi
Substitute: Fioravanti
TD: Lorenzo
Manager: Lovati
Who played for Genoa
Negri, Bittolo, Caocci, Ostermann, Falcomer, Derlin, Perotti, Angelillo, Balestrieri, Mascheroni, Brambilla.
Substitutes: Grosso, Quintavalle.
Manager: Campatelli
Referee: Possagno
Goals: 14’ Fortunato, 24 Falcomer (og), 45’ Soldo, 88’ Angelillo (pen), 90’ Dolso
What happened next
In 1968-69 it always looked like promotion was on the cards. After the first half of the season the positions were Lazio joint second with Bari and Brescia top They had won 8, drawn 8 and lost 3. Despite Nello Governato and Giancarlo Morrone having difficulty in reaching a decent level of form, Ferruccio Mazzola and Gian Piero Ghio were playing well and new entry Mario Facco was not only great in defence but also in attack
In the second half of the season Lazio only lost two matches, Genoa in February and Monza in June, but by that time had already secured promotion. It was a battle with Brescia the entire season but the Biancocelesti managed to secure first place in the last game with a draw against Reggiana at the Olimpico.
Mazzola and Ghio had the most appearances this season (40) and the latter was also top scorer with 11 goals.
Lazio 1968-69
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie B | 38 | 17 | 16 | 5 | 55 |
Coppa Italia | 3 | - | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Total | 41 | 17 | 18 | 6 | 57 |
Top five appearances (complete player statistics)
Player | Total | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
40 | 37 | 3 | |
40 | 37 | 3 | |
39 | 36 | 3 | |
38 | 38 | - | |
37 | 35 | 2 |
Top five goal scorers (complete player statistics)
Player | Total | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
Gian Piero Ghio | 11 | 10 | 1 |
Ferruccio Mazzola II | 8 | 8 | - |
Giuliano Fortunato | 8 | 8 | - |
7 | 6 | 1 | |
6 | 6 | - |
Let’s talk about Elio Rinero
Elio Rinero was born in Beinasco on April 8, 1947. He started his football career in the Juventus youth team and debuted in Serie A on January 15 1967, in the game against Vicenza. He appeared in five games that season and Juve won the scudetto. In 1967-68 he was loaned to Verona in Serie B and the Gialloblu were promoted to Serie A.
In 1968 he was loaned to Lazio who were in Serie B. He played 21 games that season (19 in Serie B and 2 in Coppa Italia) and the Biancocelesti were promoted to Serie A. He returned to Juventus but after appearing in one game in the autumn transfer window he was sold to Genoa. The 1969-70 season was a terrible one for the Ligurian side and they were relegated to Serie C. The following year he signed for Reggina in Serie B and after a year moved to Spal where he played for three years winning promotion to Serie B in 1973-74.
His last two years of active football were played at Salernitana and Bari, both in Serie C. He stopped playing in 1977. He then started a coaching career and for five years was manager for a few minor Piedmontese teams.
Rinero was an important part of the side which managed to get promoted and win the Serie B in 1968-69.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
1968-69 | 21 (3) | 19 (3) | 2 |
Sources
Comments