January 13, 1963: Triestina-Lazio 0-1

Dag Jenkins
8 hours ago
5 min read

Lazio join promotion race

A solid performance and a Rozzoni goal give Lazio away win

The season so far

The previous season Lazio had narrowly missed out on promotion. The Biancocelesti finished 4th and were not helped by a ridiculous disallowing of a goal against Napoli who eventually were promoted one point above Lazio. The manager was first Paolo Todeschini (1-21), then Bob Lovati (22-27) and finally Carlo Facchini (28-38). The top scorer was Juan Carlos Morrone with 15 goals (14 in B).

This season the manager was first Carlo Facchini (1-4) and then Bob Lovati but the main man was Juan Carlos Lorenzo who was officially technical director. The main new players were: defender Pierluigi Pagni (Cosenza - end of loan), midfielder Vito Florio (Catanzaro) and forward Paolo Bernasconi (Fanfulla). In the autumn more players arrived: defender Gianfranco Garbuglia (Sambenedettese), midfielders and future president Gianmarco Calleri (Monza), Giambattista Moschino (Torino) plus Orlando Rozzoni (Udinese).

Leaving Rome were defenders Giacomo Del Gratta (Arezzo), Gilberto Noletti (Milan - end of loan, then Juventus on loan), midfielders Guido Gratton (Impruneta) and Guglielmo "Mimmo" Mecozzi (Catanzaro) plus forward Paolo Ferrario (Milan - end of loan, then Monza on loan) and 1958 Coppa Italia hero Maurilio Prini (Prato). In the autumn three more players left: defender Alfredo Napoleoni (Sambenedettese), midfielder Paolo Carosi (Udinese - on loan) and forward Dimitri Pinti (Udinese).

So far Lazio were joint 9th, on 17 points. Not great but only three points from the last promotion slot (Bari, Brescia and Padova on 20). The Biancocelesti had won 4, drawn 8 and lost 4 (including recent 2-3 home defeat to Padova). Lazio had to improve if they wanted to catch the promotion train.

In Coppa Italia, Lazio had been eliminated immediately in early September losing 0-3 at home to Fiorentina.

Triestina were newly promoted as they had won the Serie C group A under manager and former player Enrico Radio. The top scorer was Sergio Sanelli with 9 league goals.

This season the manager was initially Radio again but he had been replaced after the 13th fixture (W3, D5, L5) by former Triestina legend Gino Colaussi. The main novelties in the squad were: goalkeeper Carlo Mezzi (Varese), defenders Giuliano Pez (Sangiorgina), Adriano Varglien (Rapallo Ruentes), future Lazio Giampiero Vitali (Fanfulla), midfielders Pietro Dalio (Varese), Fermo Ferrara (Sangiorgina), Luigi Porro (Casarsa) plus forward Giuseppe Orlando (Varese).

Leaving were goalkeeper Ferdinando Miniussi (Fondi) and midfielder Adelchi Brech (retiring).

Since the change of manager, the Giuliani had won 1, drawn 1 (recent 2-2 draw at Cagliari) and lost 1. They were currently joint 14th, on 14 points with Udinese and with a four-point cushion on the drop zone (Alessandria on 10).

Both sides needed a win today.

The match: Sunday, January 13, 1963, Stadio P.Grezar, Trieste

A dark winter day in Trieste. There were freezing northerly winds (the famous Bora) and the pitch had to be cleared of the snow before kick-off. There was a sparse crowd of about 4,000 present.

Triestina had no real absences.

Lazio had Giambattista Moschino suspended so placed Graziano Landoni further forward, Nello Governato on the wing and gave young defender Vittorio Pavone his debut.

Lazio dominated from start to finish. The Biancocelesti were superior tactically and technically. The defence was solid led by Vincenzo Gasperi, the midfield was fluid and the forwards Juan Carlos Morrone and Orlando Rozzoni were lively.

The winning goal for Lazio came in the 18th minute. Rozzoni picked up the ball in midfield, surged past two defenders, went around the keeper Carlo Mezzi and with a cross goal shot put the Biancocelesti in the lead. A superb solo effort, 0-1.

Lazio easily controlled the rest of the game. Triestina battled hard and had periods in which they pushed forward but their moves were too elaborate to surprise the Romans backline. Final score Triestina 0 Lazio 1.

A confident and authoritative win by Lazio albeit by a single goal. An important one too as they moved up to joint 6th, on 19 points with Verona. The promotion zone was now only two points away (Bari, Brescia, Padova and Foggia all on 21 while Messina were runaway leaders on 26.

Triestina were now 15th, on 14 points. The drop zone was only two points further down (Alessandria, Parma and Lucchese on 12 while Sambenedettese were bottom on 11).

Who played for Triestina

Mezzi, Frigeri, Vitali, Dalio, Merkuza, Sadar, Mantovani, Secchi, Vit, Porro, Santelli

Manager: Colaussi

Who played for Lazio

Cei, Zanetti, Pavone, Pagni, Garbuglia, Gasperi, Bizzarri, Landoni, Rozzoni, Morrone, Governato

Manager: Lovati

T.D: Lorenzo

Referee: Carminati

Goal: 18' Rozzoni

What happened next

Lazio managed to clinch promotion back to Serie A. The Biancocelesti finished joint 2nd on 48 points. In the following 21 games they won 13 (including Triestina 2-1), drew 4 and lost 4. The top scorers were Paolo Bernasconi, Juan Carlos Morrone and Orlando Rozzoni with 10 league goals each.

Triestina ended up 17th on 33 points (two points above relegation). The Alabardati then won 7, drew 5 and lost 9. The top scorer was Sergio Santelli with 10 league goals.

Lazio went up with champions Messina and Bari while Lucchese, Sambenedettese and Como descended to Serie C.

Let's talk about Vittorio Pavone

Vittorio Pavone was born in Rome, on May 11,1943. He was from the Tor Pignattara area of Rome and had worked as a plumber alongside his football training.

He arrived at Lazio from Artiglio San Lorenzo in the 1962-63 season. Lazio were in Serie B and the manager was first Carlo Facchini and then officially Bob Lovati with Juan Carlos Lorenzo as technical director. Pavone made his debut on January 13 in an away game at Triestina. Lazio had several injuries and Pavone got his chance. Lazio won 1-0 and he played two more league games that season which ended with Lazio clinching promotion back to Serie A.

The following season he stayed on initially but in November was loaned to Sambenedettese in Serie C. The Rossoblu finished 3rd under Mario Caciagli.

In 1964-65 he was loaned to Crotone in Serie C. He played 23 league games under Giovanni Zanollo and the Sharks finished 16th.

In 1965-66 he was back at Lazio. He only played in the De Martino league (Reserve league) under Bob Lovati.

In 1966-67 he signed for Frosinone in Serie C. The Canarini finished 18th and relegated, first under Umberto De Angelis and then Roma Inter and Napoli legend, Amedeo Amedei.

His last club was Formia in Serie D in 1968-69. The Biancazzurri finished 3rd in group F.

There are no further records of his career.

His main satisfaction was helping Lazio win promotion back to Serie A with his few but positive appearances. At the time he would have been the pride and joy of Tor Pignattara.