Garlasca conquers Florence
Updated: 3 days ago
Game 2 Serie A
Sunday, October 1, 1972
Stadio Comunale, Florence
Fiorentina Lazio 0-1
A Garlaschelli first half goal gives Lazio important win
In Serie A Lazio made their debut a week earlier and had drawn 0-0 at home to Inter but played well.
Fiorentina had won on their debut, defeating Sampdoria 1-0 away with an Orlandini winner.
A difficult game to predict today between a solid Serie A side against an ambitious and enthusiastic newly promoted one.
The match
A mild and sunny day in the "Città nobile", ideal for a game of football with about 40,000 spectators.
Lazio had not won in Florence for 15 years but would also take a point today. The Biancocelesti were still without Vincenzo D'Amico injured while the hosts had no absences.
The game started and the first chance was for Fiorentina. In the 2nd minute a Nevio Scala initiative found Sergio Clerici whose shot was saved acrobatically by Felice Pulici.
Lazio then took control and dominated the midfield with the Luciano Re Cecconi-Mario Frustalupi-Franco Nanni trio.
In the 14th minute Renzo Garlaschelli shaved the crossbar with the keeper beaten.
Fiorentina reappeared in the 17th minute when Claudio Merlo crossed and Nello Saltutti's header went just wide.
A minute later Lazio got the breakthrough. Re Cecconi found Garlaschelli on the vertex of the area, a position more suitable for a cross than a shot, the Lazio winger stopped the ball and volleyed it under the crossbar on the far post. A superb goal and Fiorentina 0 Lazio 1.
Lazio did not defend their lead but chose to attack. The Biancocelesti went close to doubling their lead with Giorgio Chinaglia and Pierpaolo Manservisi. Fiorentina were taken aback by Lazio's confidence and aggressive approach while their star striker Sergio Clerici was marked off the field by Giancarlo Oddi. Halftime Fiorentina 0 Lazio 1.
A more than deserved lead so far with a superlative box to box performance by Re Cecconi.
In the second half Fiorentina inevitably had to throw caution to the wind and throw themselves forward. They went close to equalising in the 61st minute when on a Clerici low cross both Saltutti and Giancarlo De Sisti were centimetres away from the tap-in.
The scare pushed Lazio to start attacking again which they did until the end of the game albeit not creating any really dangerous chances. Fiorentina disappeared and never threatened Lazio’s area again. Lazio saw out the game with surprising authority and were applauded off the field by their travelling fans. Final score Fiorentina 0 Lazio 1.
An impressive win by Lazio against one of the better Serie A sides in recent years. Lazio had been quicker, more agile and slicker than a disappointing Viola. The first half in particular had shown Lazio were a quality team. In the second they had continued to be in control and were never put in difficulty by the Gigliati.
Next up was a big home game against the "Old Lady" of Italian football and reigning champions Juventus.
Who played for Fiorentina
Superchi, Galdiolo, Longoni, Scala, Brizi, Orlandini, Merlo, Sormani, Clerici, De Sisti, Saltutti
Substitutes: Migliorini, Perego
Manager: Liedholm
Who played for Lazio
Pulici, Facco, Martini, Wilson, Oddi, Nanni, Garlaschelli, Re Cecconi, Chinaglia, Frustalupi, Manservisi
Manager: Maestrelli
Referee: Casarin
Goal: 18' Garlaschelli
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