A Promising Start at the Arena
Game 1, Serie A
Sunday, September 18, 1938
Arena Civica, Milan
Inter Lazio 1-1
Lazio hold reigning champions Ambrosiana to a 1-1 draw in Milan after taking an early lead through Piola
Today was the first game of the season and a difficult one, away to the league champions Ambrosiana Inter
The match
Lazio began the 1938-39 Serie A season with an encouraging 1-1 draw against reigning champions Ambrosiana at the Arena Civica, leaving Milan with a valuable point from a match in which the visitors arguably had the better of the first half and could even have claimed victory.
More than 26,000 spectators filled the Arena on a bright September afternoon, expecting the champions to make a strong start to their title defence. Instead, it was Lazio who settled more quickly and looked the more harmonious of the two sides. The visitors were well organised, balanced throughout the team and dangerous whenever Silvio Piola found space in attack.
Ambrosiana made the brighter opening, but their early pressure was short-lived. Lazio gradually took control and began troubling the home defence. At the eighth minute, they took the lead.
An attack appeared to have broken down in the crowded Ambrosiana penalty area, but Piola reacted quickest when a gap opened in front of him. The Lazio centre-forward struck a low shot from around ten metres which took a slight deflection off Setti before evading goalkeeper Giuseppe Peruchetti and finding the bottom corner.
The goal unsettled the Italian champions. Piola soon came close to doubling Lazio's advantage, brilliantly working his way past several defenders before failing to take advantage of another excellent opportunity. Had he found the target, Lazio might well have established a two-goal lead against an Ambrosiana side that appeared strangely short of ideas.
The home side eventually recovered, but their attacking play lacked penetration. Pietro Ferraris II, having moved into a more central position, produced their best moment shortly before half-time, sending a low drive towards the corner. Giacomo Blason responded with an excellent diving save to preserve Lazio's lead.
The second half began with Ambrosiana attempting to change the shape of their attack. Attilio Demaria moved to the left wing, Giuseppe Meazza switched to right-half and Ferraris took over as centre-forward. The changes gave the champions greater attacking impetus, while Lazio increasingly adopted a cautious approach, retreating into a compact defensive shape.
Lazio's midfielders dropped deep, leaving Piola increasingly isolated. Nevertheless, the defence remained composed and Ambrosiana struggled to create clear chances.
The equaliser eventually arrived in the 62nd minute. Ugo Locatelli delivered a free-kick following a foul on Annibale Frossi. Blason came off his line to collect the ball but, with the sun affecting his vision, failed to hold it. Frossi recovered possession and laid it across to Meazza, who calmly rolled the ball into the unguarded net.
The goal brought the match back to life. Lazio immediately responded with a series of attacks, and Piola twice went close with headers as the visitors sought to regain the lead. Their attacking threat remained, but the intensity of the first half had disappeared and neither side could find the decisive breakthrough.
Ambrosiana were dealt another blow when Duilio Setti suffered an injury and was forced to leave the field. Antona dropped back into defence, with Demaria moving into midfield and the home side effectively continuing with four forwards.
Lazio continued to press late on, but the game eventually settled into a draw.
For Lazio, the result represented an excellent opening to the campaign. The visitors had demonstrated greater balance and tactical cohesion than the reigning champions, while Piola looked in outstanding form.
And amid the tens of thousands of spectators, there was even an unexpected interruption: a white cat wandered onto the pitch during the first half and stubbornly refused to leave, briefly becoming one of the afternoon's more memorable protagonists.
Who played for Ambrosiana Inter
Peruchetti, Buonocore, Setti, Locatelli, Olmi, Antona, Frossi, Demaria I, Meazza, Ferrari, Ferraris II
Manager: Cargnelli
Who played for Lazio
Blason, Zacconi, Monza II, Baldo, Ramella, Milano, Busani, Riccardi, Piola, Camolese, Costa Manager: Violak
Referee: Scorzoni
Goals: 8’ Piola, 62’ Meazza
Sources
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