Against all odds
- Dag Jenkins
- Mar 19, 2024
- 5 min read
Game 24, Serie A
Sunday, March 19, 1961
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Roma-Lazio 1-2
Lazio shock Roma and unexpectedly win the derby
Lazio were currently bottom of the table on 12 points. The season was going very badly and the safety zone was six points away (three teams on 18). After nine games, and only two points, Bernardini had been replaced by club legend Enrique Flamini. (with Jesse Carver as technical director from game 15). The Biancocelesti now came from three consecutive defeats including Inter 0-7 and most recently Sampdoria 0-1 at home. In total Lazio had won 3, drawn 6 and lost 14 (including the first derby 0-4 under Bernardini). Things were looking desperate.
In Serie A the Giallorossi were in 4th place on 30 points. They had won 12 (including Juventus 2-1 at home and Lazio 4-0), drawn 6 and lost 5.
Roma were strong favourites today, to put it mildly, against a Lazio team in such difficulty. It was a derby so it was always unpredictable but very few thought Lazio had much chance and it was more a question of how Roma would put past them.
The match
A cloudy but dry day with about 65,000 spectators at the Olimpico for the "Derby del Cupolone".
For Lazio, Franco Pezzullo was back in goal after a long absence but defender Franco Janich was missing and was replaced by Alfredo Napoleoni for his season's debut. Roma were without keeper Fabio Cudicini and midfielder Juan Alberto Schiaffino.
Roma started on the front foot and in the 4th minute Napoleoni risked friendly fire with a very risky back pass.
Lazio gradually grew into the game. First Orlando Rozzoni fired high and then in the 10th minute Juan Carlos Morrone shaved the crossbar from middle distance.
Roma replied with a couple of free kicks, by Pedro Manfredini and even more dangerously by Luigi Giuliano whose shot went close to the post.
In the 16th minute the Giallorossi had another free kick. Francisco Lojacono crossed into the box, Giovanni Molino kicked it away but only as far as Giuliano who with a run up placed a low shot past Pezzullo. Roma 1 Lazio 0.
The game was moving toward the outcome predicted by most and the Roma fans jubilantly chanted "Serie B, Serie B" to the Laziali.
Things went wrong for the Romanisti six minutes later as Lazio equalised. In the 22nd minute Franco Carradori took a quick free kick in midfield, surprising the opposition, Rozzoni sprinted forward and was one-on-one with Luciano Panetti who he beat with a thundering shot under the crossbar. Roma 1 Lazio 1.
Lazio were galvanised and insisted. Morrone went on a run down the right, cut inside and hit a low powerful shot which Panetti saved into corner. On the subsequent corner by Morrone, the ball bounced and reached Rozzoni who blasted a header past Panetti. Roma 1 Lazio 2.
Roma were in shock and Lazio almost made it three immediately when a Bruno Franzini cross come shot forced Panetti to dive backwards and tip over the bar.
In the 31st minute Roma had another freekick but Lojacono fired high.
In the 34th minute it was Lazio again. A Paolo Carosi-Rozzoni one-two gave the defender a shooting opportunity but his effort went just wide.
In the last ten minutes Roma pushed forward, Giuliano hit the wall with a free kick, Pezzullo was safe on a Lojacomo high cross and Arne Selmosson weaved his way through the defence but shot high. Half time Roma 1 Lazio 2.
An unpredictable score line at the break but not undeserved.
Roma came back on determined to put things right. In the first fifteen minutes they put Lazio under siege. Roma had attempts by Giulio Corsini, a dangerous long range shot by Giuliano, saves by Pezzullo on Alfio Fontana and Gian Paolo Menichelli plus a Manfredini effort which hit the side netting but Lazio resisted.
In the 60th minute Lazio came out of their shell and almost scored a third. Franzini crossed to Rozzoni whose header anticipated Panetti, the ball reached Ugo Pozzan who had an open goal but he incredibly put a weak shot into the keeper's arms. A few minutes later Franzini did well but was off target from a good position.
In the last 25 minutes Roma forced Lazio in their own half. Lazio’s defence systematically made last ditch tackles or arrived first on high crosses into the area.
Roma did manage to score but it was disallowed. On a Lojacono freekick Pezzullo and Alberto Orlando jumped up, the ball was caught by the keeper who then fell over the goal line, pushed by Orlando according to the referee so no goal.
More free kicks followed for the Lupi, Lojacono over the bar and his second saved low by Pezzullo.
Lazio then scored but Rozzoni was in blatant offside.
Roma continued to attack head down, Giuliano, Menichelli and Lojacono were all off target.
In the 78th minute superb defending by Pozzan resolved a threatening scramble in Lazio's area.
Roma's attacks became increasingly desperate and muddled and Lazio began to believe in a major upset.
The last two chances were one each. Menichelli's low, cross goal strike went wide while a Rozzoni attempt went over the bar.
The full-time whistle saw reactions of shock by both sides. Roma could not believe they had lost and Lazio had to pinch themselves to remind themselves they had won.
A heroic performance by Lazio. They had shown resilience and passion. A pity they had not shown it more often this season. Despite probably going down they had managed to give their fans possibly the biggest satisfaction in a disappointing season, a derby win.
Lazio were now on 14, Bari 17, Torino and Lecce 18, Napoli, Udinese and S.P.A.L 19. Things were still dramatic but there was a slight bit of hope.
Roma were still 4th but now two points behind 3rd placed Milan and only two points ahead of 5th placed Fiorentina and Sampdoria.
Who played for Roma
Panetti, Fontana, Corsini, Pestrin, Losi, Giuliano, Orlando, Lojacono, Manfredini, Selmosson, Menichelli
Manager: Foni
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Flamini
T.D: Carver
Referee: De Marchi
Goals: 16' Giuliano, 22' Rozzoni, 26' Rozzoni
Sources
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