Crushed!!!
Lazio destroy Roman thanks to Fioranti, Cella, Raffo and Giubertoni
Also on this day: January 9, 2000, Lazio Bologna 3-1. A great victory to celebrate Lazio's 100 years. Far from easy and not without tense moments but knowing Lazio it could not have been any other way. Player of the day: Fabrizio Ravanelli
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had played the National Championship Rome group and had arrived third, missing out on the semi-final group. The adamantly amateur nature of the club could not compete with Fortitudo, who had loads more money and were professional, and Lazio had been overtaken also by Audace. They had however won the Canalini Tournament (beating Audace and Juventus Audax but losing to US Romana) and the Lazio Tournament (beating both Audace and Pro Roma).
The only player who joined Lazio in the summer of 1920 was Odoacre Parboni even if he had already played a few friendlies the previous season. Young Dante Filippi was promoted to the senior team. The manager was still Guido Baccani.
So far in the National Championship Lazio had played four games winning all four.
Today’s opponent Roman was one of the Rome based teams that later merged with Alba Audace and Fortitudo Pro Roma to form As Roma in 1927. When Roma was formed, they chose the Yellow and Red colours of Roman.
The match: Sunday, January 9, 1921, Campo della Rondinella, Rome
The game was very intense right from the start and the two teams attacked continuously with the goalkeepers, Fulvio Bernardini and Grassi, forced to make several brilliant saves. In the 21st minute Lazio scored. Giuseppe Fioranti’s volley gave the Biancocelesti the lead. Four minutes later Alfredo Cella scored Lazio’s second with a header off an Alessandro Varini cross. Towards the end of the first half Fioranti scored his brace.
Despite the 3-0, the Biancocelesti in the second half continued to put their foot on the accelerator and the match became a siege on the poor fort of Roman. Grassi did everything he could but had to capitulate twice on two shots by Mario Raffo in the 57th and 64th minutes. In the 77th Giubertoni scored Lazio’s sixth.
Another great win for the Biancocelesti.
Who played for Lazio
Bernardini, Saraceni I, Maranghi, Faccani, Maneschi, Orazi II, Cella, Fioranti, Raffo, Giubertoni, Varini
Manager: Baccani
Who played for Roman
Grassi, Cerruti, Pannella, Meda, De Giuli (I), Bechis, Parmegiani, Donati, Meille, De Giuli (II), Del Duca
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Referee: Unknown
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Goals: 21’ Fioranti, 25’ Cella, 43’ Fioranti, 57’ Raffo, 64’ Raffo, 77’ Giubertoni
What happened next
Lazio managed to achieve second place in the Rome National Championship group, five points behind Fortitudo, who had won all of the games except one, and five ahead of Juventus Audax. The Biancocelesti had won 10 games, lost only twice (Fortitudo at home and Juventus Audax away), and drawn twice (Fortitudo away and Vittoria). They qualified for the centre-south semi-final group and were paired with Livorno and Naples. They came last losing all of their games except one (a 4-4 draw at home with Naples). It was however a good performance overall and the team did the best they could.
The player with most appearances was goalkeeper Fulvio Bernardini (18) and the top scorer was Giuseppe Fioranti with 12 goals.
Lazio 1920-21
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
National Championship | 18 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 49 |
Canalini Tournament | 5 | 3 | 2 | - | 14 |
Total | 23 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 63 |
Top five appearances
Player | National Championship |
Bernardini | 18 |
Orazi I | 17 |
Dosio | 16 |
Raffo | 16 |
Saraceni I | 16 |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Goals |
Fioranti | 12 |
Raffo | 7 |
Filippi | 7 |
Cella I | 7 |
Giubertoni | 3 |
Let's talk about Giuseppe Fioranti
Giuseppe Fioranti, nicknamed Pino, was born in Dignano d’Istria (modern day Vodnjan in Croatia) on December 26, 1888.
He played for Lazio from 1909 to 1922 with 103 appearances and 45 goals in all competitions (the real numbers are probably higher because little is known of many of the early games). At that time Lazio played both the Rome group of the National Championship as well as numerous other tournaments. With the Biancocelesti he reached the finals of the Championship three times and won many other trophies such as the Tosti Cup and the Bacelli Cup. He could not play too regularly because he worked in Genoa and it was difficult at the time to go back and forth. He also participated in World War I. His brother Primo played for Lazio too, in 1913-14.
Fioranti was also famous for his bet with Sante Anchrani. Giuseppe claimed that Sante did not have the speed he used to and challenged him to a race. Ancherani agreed but on condition that he would run on the parapet of the Tiber and with a five-metre handicap whereas Fioranti would run on the pavement. Ancherani won and Fioranti was forced to offer cakes to everybody.
Fioranti died in Turin on May 23, 1969.
He was probably one of the players with the greatest talent in those years. He could play anywhere, usually as a forward or midfielder, but it is known that he was also a ruthless defender.
Lazio Career
Season | Total games (goals) | Lazio Third Category Championship | Roman Third Category Championship | National Championship | Other Tournaments |
1910 | 6 | 4 | - | 2 | |
1911 | 4 | 2 | - | 2 | |
1912 | 12 (5) | - | 10 (4) | 2 (1) | |
1912-13 | 19 (8) | - | - | 13 (5) | 6 (3) |
1913-14 | 17 (12) | - | - | 15 (12) | 2 |
1914-15 | 5 (1) | - | - | 5 (1) | - |
1918 | 2 | - | - | - | 2 |
1919-20 | 15 (4) | - | - | 12 | 3 (4) |
1920-21 | 15 (12) | - | - | 15 (12) | - |
1921-22 | 10 (3) | - | - | 8 (3) | 2 |
Total | 103 (45) | 6 | 10 (4) | 68 (33) | 21 (8) |
Sources