Game 10, Serie A
Sunday December 23, 1973
Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi, Verona
Verona Lazio 0-1
Lazio suffer but win with a Garlaschelli goal and now top Serie A
Lazio had played 9 games and won 5 (including derby 2-1), drawn 3 and lost 1 and were joint top with Juventus and Napoli on 13 points.
Today it was a league game against lowly Verona. A good opportunity to keep up with the front runners (both had difficult games, the Bianconeri away at Cagliari while the Neapolitans had Milan at home).
The match
A rainy day in Verona but the pitch held up well. The spectators were about 22,000.
Verona could not play defender Glauco Cozzi, midfielder Pierluigi Busatta or forwards Livio Luppi and Gianfranco Zigoni while Lazio fielded their best team.
Verona had two tame early shots by Sergio Maddė and Giuseppe Fagni but then Lazio dominated. In the 16th minute Renzo Garlaschelli headed just over the bar and two minutes later "Garlasca" was just a fraction late on a Giorgio Chinaglia cross. In the 23rd minute Chinaglia was brilliantly teed up by Vincenzo D'Amico but blocked roughly by Aldo Bet, the referee gestured to continue.
The goal was coming and it came in the 36th minute. Roberto Mazzanti messed up a ball control and Franco Nanni put in a through ball which Garlaschelli hit first time beating Pierangelo Belli low to his right. Verona 0 Lazio 1.
Lazio then controlled the game well and Verona only had two long range shots by Giuseppe Fagni but they were both off target. Half time Verona 0 Lazio 1.
For the second half the Scaligeri replaced Bruno Pace with Rosario Castronovo, a role for role substitution.
Verona then practically attacked non-stop. The Gialloblu had endless shots off target or comfortably saved by Felice Pulici. They did however have three real chances. In the 63rd Paolo Sirena and in the 69th Castronovo missed from favourable positions. The biggest of all fell to Renato Zaccarelli in the 70th but despite being completely unmarked he incredibly headed the ball wide from a Fagni cross.
In the 80th minute Lazio replaced goal scorer Garlaschelli with Paolo Franzoni.
Verona's energy slowly faded but in the 88th minute came a moment of controversy. In a scramble in Lazio’s area Walter Franzot tried a shot but it clearly hit Sergio Petrelli's arm. The referee Gonella saw nothing in it or just an unintentional touch and the game went on. Verona were furious but this would be their last attempt. Final score, Verona 0 Lazio 1.
A precious win for Lazio although in all fairness Verona would have deserved a point. Lazio had played well in the first half but then sat back too much in the second and were a touch lucky to leave the Bentegodi with both points.
The table however was looking good: Lazio 15, Fiorentina 13, Juventus 13, Napoli 13. Fiorentina had drawn 0-0 away to Roma, Juventus had lost 1-2 in Cagliari and Napoli had lost 1-2 at home to Milan. Lazio were solitary leaders at the top of Serie A!!
Who played for Verona
Belli, F.Nanni, Sirena, Zaccarelli, Bet, Mascalaito, Franzot, Maddė, Fagni, Mazzanti, Pace (46' Castronovo)
Substitutes: Porrino, Ranghino
Manager: Cadè
Who played for Lazio
Pulici, Petrelli, Martini, Wilson, Oddi, Nanni, Garlaschelli (80' Franzoni), Re Cecconi, Chinaglia, Frustalupi, D'Amico
Manager: Maestrelli
Referee: Gonella
Goal: 36' Garlaschelli
Sources
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