Game 23, Serie A
Sunday, March 5, 1967
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Roma Lazio 0-0
A derby which could have gone either way ends with a point each
The Biancocelesti were currently 14th, on 18 points, only two from the last relegation slot. The main problem and not a minor one, was scoring goals, only 13 so far in 22 games.
Today's game was important for points, but in the Roman derby the points are just a consequential detail while the prerogative is to defeat the historic rivals.
The match
A nice, sunny day brought about 60,000 to the Olimpico for this "Stracittadina".
Lazio had a last-minute absence as keeper Idilio Cei had a problem with his thigh in the morning and was replaced by Roberto Gori. Roma had Giacomo Losi and Nevio Scala fit again but were missing Fabio Enzo who was out for disciplinary points.
Roma started better than Lazio with Sergio Pellizzaro particularly active. He put the Lazio defence in constant difficulty and in the 5th minute teed up Paolo Barison but he missed the target.
Lazio stirred in the 10th minute. Romano Bagatti put a perfect through ball to Vito D'Amato who struck it well but Pier Luigi Pizzaballa pulled off an excellent save.
Pellizzaro continued to be rampant and Piero Dotti was booked for hacking him down and a few minutes later Pellizzaro shot wide after combining with Barison. At this point Lazio changed around the markers; Antonio Maggioni took Pellizzaro, Dotti on Giordano Colausig and Pierluigi Pagni on Joaquin Peirò.
It seemed to work as Lazio started to get the upper hand. There were several scrambles in the Roma area and then Juan Carlos Morrone had a dangerous effort go just over the bar. Halftime Roma 0 Lazio 0.
A lively game despite the score line with Roma superior in the early stages and Lazio in the second part.
The second half started with Pellizzaro charged up again. He went down to the by-line and pulled back a lovely ball for Peirò but the Spaniard incredibly missed the ball.
Roma insisted and defender Paolo Sirena stormed down the wing, cut inside, beat Dotti and suddenly had only Gori in front of him but the reserve keeper charged off his line and saved well.
At this point Roma started to tire and Lazio tried to take advantage. Bagatti had a thundering long range shot which Pizzaballa punched away. Then Lazio had a similar chance to Roma's in the first half, Morrone went down the right and from the by-line squared for Bagatti but he stumbled on the ball when he had simply to bury it. Lazio had one last chance to win it but D'Amato's strike from 20 metres out hit the post. Full time Roma 0 Lazio 0.
An entertaining derby, a lot more than the score line would lead one to believe. Both sides could have won, so a point each was probably the fairest outcome. That is if anyone cares about fairness in a local derby.
The point was useful to Lazio who moved up to 19 points but still only two points above the last relegation place, Vicenza on 17.
Who played for Roma
Pizzaballa, Sirena, Sensibile, Scala, Losi, Carpenetti, Pellizzaro, Colausig, Peirò, Tamborini, Barison
Manager: Pugliese
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Neri
Referee: Lo Bello
Sources
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