April 23, 1972: Lazio-Livorno 3-1

Dag Jenkins
Apr 23
8 min read

Eagles enjoy first half Cacciucco feast

Three goals in the first 32 minutes mean Lazio win is never in doubt

The season so far

The 1970/71 season had been disastrous for Lazio. There had been ongoing divergences between president Lenzini and manager Juan Carlos Lorenzo over various issues, including market strategies. The Argentine was sacked a few times only to be brought back following protests by a particularly loyal group of fans. The problems on the field and off had resulted in relegation to Serie B with only 4 wins in 30 matches. The initial shock would however later result to be a blessing in disguise.

This year the manager problem had been resolved with the appointment of Tommaso Maestrelli, who had impressed in charge of Foggia.

The new manager had also brought some novelties to the squad. In the summer, Lazio had signed three new players: goalkeeper Claudio Bandoni (Fiorentina) plus defenders Luigi Martini (Livorno) and Giancarlo Oddi (Massese). In the autumn session another three had arrived: midfielder Giambattista Moschino (Verona) plus forwards Alessandro Abbondanza (Napoli) and Carlo Facchin (Almas).

Five players left Lazio in the summer: goalkeeper Michelangelo Sulfaro (Fiorentina-loan), midfielders Nello Governato (Savona), Rino Marchesi (Prato), Ferruccio Mazzola (Fiorentina-loan) and forward Juan Carlos Morrone (Foggia). In November two more midfielders left: Arrigo Dolso (Varese - loan) and Pierpaolo Manservisi (Napoli - loan).

Lazio had a decent start to the season and now going into the final straight were still up among the frontrunners for the promotion places. Lazio were 3rd, on 36 points after 13 wins (including Livorno 1-0), 10 draws and 6 defeats. Giorgio Chinaglia had already scored 15 league goals. Lazio were unbeaten since February 27 and came from a 1-0 home win against promotion rivals Reggiana who they had overtaken to gain 3rd place.

In the Coppa Italia, in August and early September, Lazio had got through the first group phase by winning 3 (including Roma 1-0) and drawing 1. The next group phase would not be until the end of May and June 1972.

Today's opposition Livorno had finished 14th in Serie B the previous season. The manager was Costanzo Balleri and top scorers were future Lazio Roberto Badiani and Bruno Baiardo with 5 goals each. An interesting player in the squad was Gigi Martini who would go on to become a Lazio legend. There was also a former Lazio player, goalkeeper Roberto Gori (1964-67).

This season the manager was initially Domenico Rosati, then Costanzo Balleri was called back but now Dino Bonsanti was in charge. The main new signings were goalkeeper Ugo Tani (up from youth team), defender Guido Onor (Monza and previously Lazio in 1968-69), midfielders Franco De Cecco (Mantova), Leopardo Pardini (Pistoiese), Lorenzo Righi (Treviso) and Mauro Vaiani (Prato) plus forwards Marco Achilli (Inter - on loan) and Giorgio Blasig (Mantova).

Leaving Leghorn were: goalkeeper Renato Bellinelli (Ravenna, after 237 league games), defenders Gigi Martini (Lazio) and Giuseppe Unere (Torino - end of loan, then Novara on loan) plus forwards Giovanni Picat Re (Novara), Enrico Albrigi (SPAL) and Luciano Zanardello (Prato), Bruno Santon (Lucchese).

Livorno were in trouble at the moment. The Amaranto were 18th on 17 points and five points from safety (Monza on 22). They had won 4, drawn 9 and lost 16. Their most recent game was a 0-0 home draw against Palermo while their last win was on February 20 (Monza 1-0 at home).

In Coppa Italia the Triglie (Mullets) had been eliminated in the first phase after 1 win (Foggia 2-1 at home), 1 draw (Arezzo 0-0 away) and 2 defeats (Fiorentina 0-3 at home and Cagliari 0-3 away).

Football aside, an interesting fact is the English name for the Tuscan town, Leghorn. It derives from the anglicized pronunciation of Livorno but the town was also called Ligorno or Legorno in Genoese. The word Leghorn is also associated with Leghorn chickens, a Tuscan breed first exported from Livorno in the mid-1800s. It is also a type of straw used for hats, which was traditionally imported from the Italian port city.

Lazio were clear favourites today. Livorno were fighting for their lives but the Biancocelesti on paper were far superior.

The match: Sunday, April 23, 1972, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

A grey, dry day but previous rain had left the pitch a little heavy. There was a crowd of about 25,000 in attendance.

Lazio had to do without midfielder Franco Nanni while Livorno were missing defenders Bruno Baiardo and Vittorio Calvani, midfielder Zino Zani and forward Marco Achilli.

Lazio came out of the blocks firing. Giuseppe Massa presented himself in front of Roberto Gori but the Tuscan-born keeper dived at his feet and averted the danger.

A few minutes later however Lazio scored. In the 7th minute Giorgio Chinaglia raced down the right, beating two defenders and then squared to Mario Facco who with the inside of his foot put the ball past Gori, 1-0.

Lazio insisted and first had a Chinaglia goal disallowed and then Giambattista Moschino missed a favourable chance.

On the half hour mark however, Lazio got their second. Moschino put forward a good through ball which Massa ran on to and chipped Gori coming off his line, 2-0.

Two minutes later the game was practically over. In the 32nd minute Giuliano Fortunato slalomed his way into the box and was tripped by Mauro Vaiani for a clear penalty. Chinaglia took it and sent the keeper the wrong way, 3-0.

For the first time in the season the fans started to chant the magic words "Serie A, Serie A".

Lazio were not fully satisfied yet and Gori had to make good saves on Fortunato and Massa to limit the score line.

For the second period the Tuscans changed a forward and brought on Angelo Raffaeli who replaced Ulisse Gualtieri.

Lazio started the second half on the attack too and had more chances but then gradually started to ease off.

In the 61st minute the visitors pulled a goal back. Vaiani crossed and the Lazio defenders lost Giorgio Blasig who headed past Claudio Bandoni, 3-1. The keeper's 580-minute unbeaten record was over.

Five minutes later Lazio made their one and only substitution replacing Fortunato with Carlo Facchin.

The win was never in doubt although the Mullets went close again late on when a Blasig effort was just wide.

Lazio too could have increased their lead but a Chinaglia goal was ruled out due to Massa being offside. Final score: Lazio 3 Livorno 1.

Lazio had blown Livorno away in the first half and then slowed down the pace without risking excessively. The Lazio players were applauded off the field to the shouts of "Tutti a Salerno" (Everyone to Salerno), the venue of Lazio's next game away to Catania who were temporarily banned from playing at their Cibali ground.

Lazio were still 3rd, on 38 points, but now two points ahead of 4th placed Reggiana, who had drawn 1-1 at Arezzo.

Livorno were now 19th, on 17 points with Sorrento. The last safety slot had moved another point away, now 6 (Monza on 23).

Who played for Lazio

Bandoni, Facco, Papadopulo, Wilson, Polentes, Martini, Massa, Fortunato (66' Facchin), Chinaglia, Moschino, Abbondanza

Substitutes: Di Vincenzo

Manager: Maestrelli

Who played for Livorno

Gori, Chesi, Onor, Vaiani, Bruschini, Maggini, Parola, De Cecco, Gualtieri (46' Raffaeli), Righi, Blasig

Substitutes: Tani

Manager: Bonsanti

Referee: Porcelli

Goals: 7' Facco, 30' Massa, 32' Chinaglia (pen), 61' Blasig

What happened next

Lazio would be successful in their promotion chase. They came in second on 49 points, one behind champions Ternana. On the 18th of June, with a 0-0 draw against Bari, Maestrelli's boys were back in Serie A.

A week later Lazio would win 2-1 away at Perugia and with the help of another 5 Chinaglia league goals the Biancocelesti would win 4 games, draw 3 and lose 1. In the season overall Chinaglia got a total of 26 goals and Massa 13 (plus several assists for Long John). Chinaglia was also top Serie B scorer with 21 league goals.

In Coppa Italia, after having had the satisfaction of knocking out Roma (1-0), Lazio were then were eliminated in the second phase, after 2 wins (Fiorentina 1-0 and Napoli 3-0 at home), a draw (Fiorentina 1-1 away) and 3 defeats (Bologna 0-1 at home, Napoli 1-5 and Bologna 1-2 away). The main thing however was to return to the top flight. Lazio were back and even better times were on the way.

Livorno finished 18th and relegated. In the last eight games the Labronici would win 3, draw 3 and lose 2. They ended with 26 points and two from safety. The top scorers were Achilli and Blasig with 5 league goals each.

Going up to Serie A with Lazio were champions Ternana and Palermo. The other unlucky two going down to Serie C with Livorno were Modena and Sorrento.

Let's talk about Roberto Gori

Roberto Gori was born in Piombino (Livorno) on June 19, 1938.

His first club as a youngster was Cinisia (Torino) and he then played for the first team between 1956 and 1958, making 30 appearances in Serie D.

In 1958 he moved to Piedmont and joined Biellese in Serie C. He stayed six seasons and the Lanieri finished 4th, 3rd, 2nd twice, 4th and 15th. He made 158 league appearances.

In 1964 he signed for Lazio in Serie A. The manager was Umberto Mannocci and the Biancocelesti finished 14th. The main goalkeeper was Idilio Cei and Gori played 3 league games and 1 in Coppa Italia.

In 1965-66 Mannocci stayed on and Lazio finished 12th. The highlight was beating Roma 1-0 and Milan 2-0 away. Cei was still first choice but Gori played 5 league games.

In 1966-67 Lazio were relegated. Mannocci started but was replaced by Maino Neri in early November. The best result was defeating Inter 1-0 at home. Gori played 3 league games.

In 1967 he left Lazio and went closer to home, joining Livorno in Serie B. He stayed five seasons in Leghorn with a 7th place, 11th, 9th, 14th and finally 18th with relegation. He played 104 league games. His managers included Leandro Remondini, Lazio legend Aldo Puccinelli, Costanzo Balleri and Domenico Rosati. He played with Lazio connections Paolo Franzoni (1973-75), Giuseppe Papadopulo (1969-72, 2004 as manager), Gigi Martini (1971-79), Roberto Badiani (1974-79, 1981-83) and Guido Onor (1968-69).

His last club was his hometown club of Piombino in 1972-73. The Topolini Nerazzurri were in Promozione Toscana (5th tier) and finished 5th. Gori only played 5 league games.

He then retired at 35 and went into coaching.

He started back at Biellese from 1977 to 1979 in Serie C. The Lanieri finished 8th and then 7th in the new C1 format.

In 1980 he joined Omegna (Verbano -Piedmont) in C2 and finished 12th.

He then had a year off but returned to Omegna for the 1982-83 season. The Lupi finished 10th.

In 1983 he joined Monza as assistant manager in Serie B. He stayed three seasons working with Guido Mazzetti, Alfredo Magni and former Lazio, Paolo Carosi. The Bagai finished 13th, 9th and 20th (relegated). There were some Lazio connections in the squad: Lorenzo Marronaro (1980-81), Marco Saltarelli (1982-83), Claudio Ambu (1982-83) and a young Gigi Casiraghi (1993-98).

Gori was a goalkeeper. His two main teams, where he played regularly, were Biellese and Livorno.

At Lazio he was bought as a backup keeper and that is what he was, reserve to Idilio Cei. Over three seasons however he did get the satisfaction of getting 11 league games.

Roberto Gori died on May 21, 2024, in Occhieppo Inferiore (Biella-Piedmont).