A significant victory
Game 5, Serie A
Sunday, October 18, 1931
Campo Natale Palli, Casale Monferrato
Casale Lazio 0-1
Lazio withstand Casale's early pressure before a second-half goal gives them a deserved victory on an awkward afternoon
In the first four games Lazio had collected just one point and today they had to play against Casale who were second behind Bologna.
The match
Lazio began their 1931-32 campaign with an important 1-0 victory away to Casale, overcoming a difficult opening spell before gradually imposing their more organised and technically polished football on the “Nero-Stellati”.
The opening stages belonged firmly to the home side. Playing with the sun behind them, Casale attacked with considerable energy and forced Ezio Sclavi into four saves during the first few minutes. Their movement was quick and direct, and Lazio initially found themselves pinned back inside their own half.
The visitors, however, refused to panic. Once the initial storm had passed, their defence began to settle, with Armando Del Debbio and Augusto Mattei II particularly effective in breaking up Casale's attacks. In midfield, Marino Furlani played an important tactical role, keeping a close watch on Piero Castello, the home side's powerful centre-half and principal organiser.
The contest was physical and fiercely fought, but Lazio gradually began to match Casale's intensity with greater order. Their football was less continuous than that of their opponents, but it was more controlled. Anfilogino Guarisi provided quality on the ball, while José Castelli repeatedly found space between the Casale lines.
Lazio came close to taking the lead in the first half. On the half-hour mark, Guarisi struck a free-kick against the post after Del Debbio had launched an attack and Castelli had been brought down. Casale continued to threaten too and Sclavi was again called upon to make important interventions.
The hosts had their chances. Enrico Migliavacca was denied after finding himself in a promising position, while Mattei II produced several perfectly timed challenges to prevent the Casale attack from breaking through. By half-time, neither side had found the decisive opening.
Casale resumed the second half at full speed. Mario Gardini soon saw a fierce cross-shot rebound off the far post, while the home side continued to put Lazio's defence under pressure.
But this time Lazio were beginning to take control.
Their attacks became more purposeful, with Guarisi and Castelli increasingly influential. Joao Fantoni I also came close after being released into the area, only for Vincenzo Provera to make a fine save.
Then, after 23 minutes of the second half, Lazio finally found the breakthrough.
Guarisi delivered a dangerous cross into the Casale penalty area, catching the home defence out of position. Castelli collected the ball and finished accurately, sending it just inside the post to put Lazio 1-0 ahead.
The goal transformed the mood of the match. Casale immediately threw themselves forward, encouraged by the home crowd, but their attacks became increasingly frantic. They had enjoyed the greater territorial pressure for long periods, but now their lack of organisation began to show.
Lazio's defence held firm. Del Debbio was particularly impressive, repeatedly stepping forward to intercept and clear, while Mattei continued to read the danger. Sclavi remained calm in goal and produced another excellent save late in the match when Casale came closest to an equaliser.
The home side struck the post again through a header from Attilio Leporati, while Mario Gardini and Luigi De Marchi both tested Sclavi. Lazio, however, survived the final assault and even finished the match on the front foot as Casale began to tire.
The final whistle confirmed a 1-0 victory that was both hard-earned and significant. Lazio had not overwhelmed their opponents, but they had shown the qualities needed to win a difficult away match: discipline, resilience and greater clarity when the decisive moments arrived.
It was Lazio's first victory of the new season and, importantly, their first win on a ground where Casale had recently proved capable of frustrating even the strongest opposition. The “Nero-Stellati” had begun the afternoon with tremendous enthusiasm, but Lazio absorbed the pressure, waited for their opportunity and left the Natal Palli with both points.
Who played for Casale
Provera, Roggero, Mazzucco, Leporati, Castello, Volta, Migliavacca, Gardini, Borel I, Demarchi, Isacco
Manager: Mattea
Who played for Lazio
Sclavi, Mattei II, Del Debbio, Pardini, Furlani, Fantoni II, Guarisi, Malatesta, Fantoni I, Spivach, Castelli
Manager: Barbuy
Referee: Gonani
Goal: 68’ Castelli
What happened next
A lot was expected for the 1931-32 season but on the whole it was disappointing. The Brazilians’ difficulty in coming to terms with life in Europe plus problems in having to follow stricter tactical indications, translated into a 13th place. Lazio lost both derbies, but won against Juventus away and beat Bologna at home, the top two teams of the table. Towards the end of the season, the Biancocelesti got dangerously close to the relegation zone but a draw against Giuseppe Meazza’s Ambrosiana Inter at home, another draw against Silvio Piola’s Pro Vercelli away had taken them to safer waters. Lazio finished 13th, two points more than Brescia and five more than Modena who both ended up relegated.
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