Lazio savour late win but settle for first point
Lazio score five minutes from time but controversial freekick gives visitors immediate equaliser
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had finished 12th in Serie A, under manager Fulvio Bernardini. The Biancocelesti had reached the semi-finals of Coppa Italia but lost 0-3 to Juventus. Lazio then won the consolation final beating Torino 2-1. Top scorer was Orlando Rozzoni with 16 goals (13 in A).
This season Bernardini was still in charge. The financial situation at the club meant there was not much space to manoeuvre on the transfer market. The main new players were: defender Alfredo Napoleoni (Cirio - back from loan), forwards Paolo Ferrario (Milan - on loan), Gianni Bui (Cirio - back from loan) and an unknown Uruguayan, Homero Guaglianone (Montevideo Wanderers). Not a lot to get excited about. The main player leaving was striker Humberto Tozzi (Palmeiras, after four years and 45 goals).
Things were not going well in the league. Lazio had played two and lost two (Bologna 1-3 at home on debut and Juventus 1-3 away). Lazio were bottom of the table in the company of Bari, Udinese and Lecco.
Napoli had done even worse than Lazio the previous season and finished 13th. They had started the year under Annibale Frossi but he was replaced after three games by Amedeo Amedei. The Azzurri had drawn one and lost one against Lazio. Top scorer was Brazilian Emanuele Del Vecchio with 10 league goals.
This season Amedei stayed on but was joined by technical director, Argentine Renato Cesarini (famous for his late goals in his playing days hence the expression, to score in zona Cesarini). Some new players had arrived: midfielders Guido Gratton (Fiorentina), Luigi Bodi (Atalanta), Giorgio Maioli (Verona-on loan) plus forwards Gino Pivatelli (Bologna, after 107 goals), Juan Carlos Tacchi (Alessandria) and Santo Barbato (Crotone).
Leaving were midfielders Rodolfo Beltrandi (after 162 league games, to Salernitana), Bruno Pesaola (after 240 league games, to Genoa on loan) and forward Luis Vinicio (after 61 goals, to Bologna).
Napoli had started the league decently. The Partenopei had won 3-2 away at Vicenza on their debut and then drawn 1-1 at home to Torino. The Azzurri currently lay in joint 2nd place with Padova and Bologna.
The match: Sunday, October 9, 1960, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A good 50,000 crowd turned up for this classic central-southern Italian clash despite a grey, showery afternoon.
Lazio were without keeper Bob Lovati and Victor Homero Guaglianone was not considered ready for his debut yet.
Lazio started well. Ugo Pozzan and Paolo Ferrario combined well but Claudio Bizzarri messed up the finish. In the 6th minute Pozzan had a powerful low shot but Ottavio Bugatti blocked. In the 18th minute Napoli responded, a Beniamino Di Giacomo through ball to Gino Pivatelli was intercepted by Franco Janich and spun up onto the bar and out.
On the half hour Orlando Rozzoni's header was too weak to cause Bugatti any problems and then a few minutes later a Bizzarri effort was walled by Elia Greco.
The end of the half was then Napoli's. Juan Carlos Tacchi went close twice, his shots went just wide in the 36th minute, following a swift counter attack, and then in the 43rd minute. Half time Lazio 0 Napoli 0.
Lazio had more chances but Napoli had finished strongly.
Lazio again started better in the second half. Bizzarri forced Bugatti to make a difficult save and then Rozzoni caused havoc in the Neapolitan area but without finishing.
In the 54th minute a superb defensive tackle denied Emanuele Del Vecchio a potential chance and in the 60th a brilliant pass by Ferrario was not taken advantage of by Bizzarri.
As in the first half, Napoli grew into the game. In the 63rd minute the Lazio goalkeeper saved acrobatically on a threatening Pivatelli freekick and then in the 64th he saved low on an Antonio Girardo strike. In the 72nd minute Del Vecchio headed high on a Guido Gratton cross.
In the 85th minute Lazio scored. On a Pozzan cross Rozzoni sent a twisting header towards goal and beat a hesitant Bugatti. Lazio 1 Napoli 0.
Lazio did not have time to savour their lead for long. Not even a minute later Napoli were awarded a dubious freekick at the edge of the box, the Lazio players also protested there were two forwards in offside but to no avail. Tacchi then curled the freekick over the wall and in. Lazio 1 Napoli 1.
There was no time or energy left for either side to push for a winner and the game finished with a point apiece, 1-1.
Lazio had very briefly set their eyes on a win but had to settle for their first point of the season. All in all, a fair result but both sides would have to improve to hope to have a decent league campaign.
Lazio were now off the bottom and were now 14th with one point. Napoli were joint 5th on four points.
Who played for Lazio
Cei, Lo Buono, Del Gratta, Carradori, Janich, Fumagalli, Mariani, Pozzan, Rozzoni, Ferrario, Bizzarri
Manager: Bernardini
Who played for Napoli
Bugatti, Greco II, Schiavone, Posio, Mialich, Girardo, Di Giacomo, Gratton, Pivatelli, Del Vecchio, Tacchi
Manager: Amadei
Referee: Rebuffo
Goals: 85' Rozzoni, 86' Tacchi
What happened next
Both teams ended up relegated.
Lazio went down to Serie B. It was their first relegation. It was a disastrous season, after ten matches Bernardini was replaced by former player Enrique Flamini and after fourteen Jesse Carver arrived as technical director but Lazio ended up rock bottom on 18 points after 5 wins (including a derby 2-1), 8 draws and 21 defeats (including a derby 0-4). Top scorer was Rozzoni again with 13 goals (11 in A).
In Coppa Italia things went better. Lazio beat Como 4-0 at home in March, Inter 1-0 away in April and Torino on penalties in May, after a 1-1 home draw (Franco Carradori scored the goal and five penalties out of six). In the final however, on June 11 in Florence, Lazio lost 0-2 to Fiorentina.
Napoli too were relegated, in 17th place. This despite a decent first half of the season, halfway through they were 8th on 17 points. The Azzurri then faded and only earned 8 points in the next 17 games. With two matches to go Cesarini and Amedei were replaced by Attila Sallustro but it was too late. The Campani went down for the third time in their history. Top scorer was Beniamino Di Giacomo with 6 league goals (he had a trial with Lazio in 1955 but was rejected).
The Partenopei would bounce straight back up but not without controversy and unfortunately at Lazio’s expense but that's another story.
The Scudetto was won by Juventus for the 12th time. The other team going down with Lazio and Napoli was Bari who came out worse from a three-team playoff with Udinese and Lecco.
Lazio 1960-61
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals Scored |
Serie A | 34 | 5 | 8 | 21 | 30 |
Coppa Italia | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
Total | 38 | 7 | 9 | 22 | 36 |
Top Five Appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Carradori | 36 | 32 | 4 |
Rozzoni | 33 | 30 | 3 |
Eufemi | 31 | 28 | 3 |
Janich | 30 | 28 | 2 |
Molino | 29 | 26 | 3 |
Top Five Goal Scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Rozzoni | 13 | 11 | 2 |
Morrone | 6 | 4 | 2 |
Carradori | 3 | 1 | 2 |
Franzini | 2 | 2 | - |
Mariani | 2 | 2 | - |
Fumagalli | 2 | 2 | - |
Let’s talk about Paolo Ferrario
Paolo Ferrario was born in Milan on March 1 1942.
At eight years old he entered the Milan academy and in 1959-60 joined the first team squad while also winning two prestigious Viareggio youth tournaments in 1959 and 1960.
Milan were reigning champions but finished 3rd under Luigi Bonizzoni. Ferrario played 5 league games, 2 in Italo-French Friendship Cup with 1 goal (Toulouse) and 1 game in the European Cup with 1 goal (Barcelona at Camp Nou in 1-5 defeat).
In 1960-61 he played for Lazio on loan. The manager was first Fulvio Bernardini (1-10) and then Enrique Flamini (10-34) but it was a terrible season and Lazio were relegated for the first time. The best result was beating Roma 2-1. The Biancocelesti reached the final of Coppa Italia but lost 0-2 to Fiorentina. Ferrario played 7 league games with 1 goal (Juventus) and 1 game in Coppa Italia.
In 1961-62 he returned to Milan but almost immediately came back to Lazio on loan. In Serie B the managers were Paolo Todeschini (1-21), Bob Lovati (22-27) and then Carlo Facchin (28-38). Lazio narrowly missed out on promotion by one point and a fair amount of controversy. In March they had a perfectly good goal disallowed against Napoli when the referee, against all evidence, claimed the ball had not gone in but in and out through a hole in the net. Napoli later got promoted by one point. Ferrario again played 7 league games with 1 goal (winner against Messina away) and 1 game in Coppa Italia.
In 1962-63 he went to Simmenthal Monza on loan in Serie B. In Brianza he played more regularly, 27 league games and scored an impressive 17 goals. Monza finished 9th.
In 1963-64 he was ready to return to Milan where he stayed three seasons. The Rossoneri finished 3rd, 2nd and 7th. Ferrario played a total of 33 league games with 16 goals ,1 game in Coppa Italia and 1 in the Fairs Cup with 1 goal (his best year was 1964-55 when he played 20 league games and scored 12 goals). The managers were Luis Carniglia and then Nils Liedholm the first year, Liedholm the second and Liedholm and Giovanni Cattozzo alternated in the third. His teammates included Lazio connections Giuliano Fortunato (1967-72) plus greats such as Giovanni Trapattoni, Giovanni Lodetti, Cesare Maldini, Karl-Heinz Schnellinger, Gianni Rivera and José Altafini.
In 1966-67 he joined Cesena for a year. The Bianconeri were in Serie C and finished top and promoted. Ferrario played 22 league games and scored 13 goals.
In 1967-68 he spent a season at Bologna in Serie A. The Rossoblu finished 5th but Ferrario only played 6 league games with 2 goals (Cagliari, Vicenza). The managers were Luis Carniglia, Giuseppe Viani and then Cesarino Cervellati. His teammates included former Lazio, Franco Janich (1958-61) and future Lazio, Sergio Clerici (1977-78).
In 1968-69 he played for Perugia in Serie B. The Umbri finished 8th under Guido Mazzetti. Ferrario played 21 league games and was top scorer with 6 goals. His teammates included former and future Lazio. Costantino Fava (1967-68, 1970 and 1971) plus future Italian champion with Lazio, Luigi Polentes (1969-77).
In 1969 Ferrario went back to Cesena and stayed three seasons. The "Cavallucci" (Seahorses) were in Serie B and finished 11th, 16th and 6th. Ferrario played 73 league games with 21 goals plus 3 games in Coppa Italia. The managers included Cesarino Cervellati, Luigi Bonizzoni, Giovan Battista Fabbri and Luigi Radice. One of his teammates was future Lazio, Paolo Ammoniaci (1975-79).
In 1972-73 he spent a season at Ternana in Serie A but only played 4 league games and the Rossoverdi were relegated under Corrado Viciani. His teammates included Lazio connection, Giorgio Mastropasqua (1980-82) plus future world champion in 1982, Franco Selvaggi.
Ferrario then played for Bellaria (Rimini) in 1973-74 in the Serie C, playing 10 league games with no goals and then his last club was Novese (Novi Ligure) in Serie C where he played 24 league games with 9 goals but the Biancocelesti were relegated.
At 33 he retired.
In his youth he played 6 games for Italy U21's with 6 goals. He won the Mediterranean Games in 1963.
He then had a long managerial career. He started in the Cesena and Milan youth sectors. He then had spells at Messina (1979, C2, sacked), Teramo (1980-81, C2, 5th), Venezia (1982, 5th tier, sacked), Ravenna (1982-83, C2, 12th), Conegliano (1983, 5th tier, sacked), Ospitaletto (1983-85, C2, 3rd and 3rd), Rondinella (1985-86, C1, 12th), Trento (1986-88, C1, 9th and 9th), Modena (1988-89, C1, 5th), Rimini (1990, C2, sacked), Trento (1990-91, C1, relegation), Ospitaletto (1993-95, C2, 2nd and promotion, 17th in C1 and relegation), Novara (1995-97, C2, 1st and promotion, 17th in C1 and relegation), Brescia (1996-97, U19's), Brescia (1997-98, A, from 11th game to 31st, sacked), Triestina (1998, C2, sacked), Cesena (2000-01, C1, briefly between two other managers) and finally Olbia (2007, C2, sacked). Not a memorable career but with two promotions and could say he coached Andrea Pirlo (Brescia '97-98).
Ferrario was a striker. He was nicknamed "Ciapina" (after a famous partisan turned criminal, Ugo Ciapina) due to his goal poaching abilities (in Italian these types of opportunist goals are called "gol di rapina", literally robbery goals). His best season was with Milan in 1964-55 and he previously had the privilege of scoring at the famous Camp Nou in Barcelona. He played a total of 56 Serie A games with 19 goals and 128 in B with 46 goals.
He was with Lazio for two seasons on loan. They were difficult years with a relegation and a failed promotion chase (not helped by a bizarre refereeing decision). He failed to really leave a mark in the capital, playing a total of 16 games and scoring 2 goals.
Lazio Career
Season | Total games | Serie A | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
1960-61 | 8 (1) | 7 (1) | - | 1 |
1961-62 | 8 (1) | - | 7 (1) | 1 |
Total | 16 (2) | 7 (1) | 7 (1) | 2 |
Sources
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