January 16, 1938: Lazio Triestina 2-1

Simon Basten
Jan 16
4 min read

Good but difficult win for Lazio

Triestina played well but the Biancocelesti managed to win in the second half thanks to Busani

The season so far

The previous season Lazio had arrived second just three points behind scudetto winners Bologna. They had played exceptionally well and if it was not for the numerous injuries, they may have even won the scudetto. Leaders after the first half of the season, the Biancocelesti then fell back but later recovered to clinch a historic second place.

The manager, Jozsef Viola, had obviously been confirmed and there were just a few movements in the summer transfer window. In came defender Maximiliano Faotto (Palermo) and forward Emilio Capri (Vicenza) and out went Luigi Uneddu (Vigevano) and Walter D’Odorico (Torino).

Before the beginning of the season, Lazio had to play the final of the Central European Cup (or Mitropa Cup). They had reached it after beating Hungaria (4-3 on aggregate) and Grasshoppers (8-4 in the two games) just before the summer. They did not play the semi-final since Genoa and Admira had been excluded. On September 12, 1937, they played Ferencváros in Budapest and lost 4-2. The refereeing had not been up to par. In the return game in Rome under belting rain Lazio had even managed to go 4-2 ahead but in the end collapsed after Silvio Piola had missed a penalty, and lost 5-4.

For the moment in campionato, Lazio were following in the footsteps of the previous season and were fifth together with Roma, Milan and Torino but just one point behind second place. They had played well and lost just three matches (Inter at home, Napoli and Liguria away) and had thrashed Torino 6-0 and Atalanta 4-0 in the last two games of December.

The match: Sunday, January 16, 1938, Stadio PNF, Rome

Triestina started very well gaining control of play early on but apart from a couple of shots from Bruno Chizzo, did not create anything worthy of note. Once Lazio woke up they had a few Libero Marchini initiatives but nothing to write home about.

This however put the Biancocelesti in the game and in the 22nd minute they scored. Luigi Spanghero fumbled this favouring Umberto Busani who went into the penalty box. He however lost control of the ball allowing Antonio Tricarico and Giuseppe Geigerle to intervene. But they both went for it and clashed, so Busani was able to cross low for Silvio Piola who comfortably slotted it in.

After a probable penalty not given by the referee for a foul by Benedicto Zacconi on Guglielmo Trevisan, Lazio went close to a second with Bruno Camolese who missed a sitter in the 30th minute. But Triestina equalised in the 36th minute. Corner kick, cross in the middle and Luigi Busidoni rose higher than anyone to head the ball into the net.

On the waves of enthusiasm Triestina continued to have chances with Busidoni who arrived a fraction late on Chizzo cross, then Vincenzo Provera had to intervene with his foot to preventTrevisan from shooting. In the 40th minute the Lazio keeper was called to a difficult save by Busidoni.

In the second half the Biancocelesti put their foot on the accelerator and dominated play. But it took them half an hour to score. Marchini to Giovanni Costa who reached the by-line and crossed. Pila and Loschi jumped up but could not reach the ball, Busani did and with a powerful volley gave Lazio the lead.

The game virtually went to sleep until the last second of the game when Busidoni on a Piero Pasinati assist found himself a corridor towards the Biancoceleste goal, but Provera was able to come out of the goal and save the situation.

Good but difficult win for Lazio.

Who played for Lazio

Provera, Zacconi, Monza II, Dal Pont, Viani, Milano, Busani, Marchini, Piola, Camolese, Costa

Manager: Violak

Who played for Triestina

Tricarico, Geigerle, Loschi, Bortolutti, Rancilio, Spanghero, Pasinati, Grezar, Trevisan, Chizzo, Busidoni

Manager: Konrad

Referee: Curradi

Goals: 22’ Piola, 36’ Trevisan, 74’ Busani

What happened next

In the second half of the season Lazio did not do as well. They lost to weaker teams (Bari 5-1 is a prime example) and could not keep up the pace of the first part of the year. In the end the Biancocelesti finished 8th with a lot of “what ifs”.

The players with most appearances were Monza, Busani and Viani (33) and the leading scorer was obviously the great Silvio Piola with 18 goals.

Let’s talk about Ferdinando Dal Pont

Ferdinando Dal Pont was born on May 24, 1911 in Udine.

He started his career with Udinese where he played from 1929 to 1936. In 1936-37 he joined Triestina debuting in Serie A in the match lost to Lazio on September 27 1936.

In January 1938 he joined the Biancocelesti. On February 6 during the derby he fractured a rib, continued playing but in the 51st minute he was hit hard by a Roma player and broke his leg. He returned to play a year later but never again at the same level. He stayed three seasons in Rome playing just six games. He later went on to play for Alba, five years for Pro Gorizia, Maceratese and ended his career with Chieti.

After he quit active football he became a manager. He had already been player/manager for Maceratese winning the Serie C but was not promoted since they lost the play off. He continued in the double role with Chieti and then in 1951 was head coach for Rimini and later again at Macerata, Pro Gorizia and Itala.

He died in Udine on March 9, 1985.