July 15, 1923: Genoa -Lazio 4-1
- Dag Jenkins
- Jul 15
- 6 min read
Genoa too good, especially in 12…
A superior Genoa crush Lazio in first Scudetto tie but did not really need extra help from referee
Also on this day: July 15, 2020: Udinese Lazio 0-0. A lacklustre performance means Lazio must start looking over their shoulders to at least salvage a Champions League place
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had finished 4th in the Lazio regional group so did not qualify for the next stage of the First Division Championship. Lazio's manager was Guido Baccani who had been manager since 1908 and had been technical director for two years before that. Serie A was won by Pro Vercelli for their 7th title.
This season Baccani had been confirmed as usual. The new players arriving were keeper Ettore Agazzani (Reggiana) and midfielder Carlo Nesi (from Lazio youth sector), while leaving were forwards Corrado Corelli (retiring), Raffaello Furia (Brescia) and Carlo Maranghi (retiring to become assistant manager).
This season things were going better. Lazio had won their regional group with 8 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat. They had therefore progressed to the Lega Sud Interregional Semifinal group consisting of four teams (Internaples, Libertas Palermo and Ideale Bari). Lazio had won all six matches (Napoli 4-0 and 3-0, Libertas Palermo 3-2 and 10-2 and Ideale Bari 3-0 and 6-0). Lazio then played the Lega Sud Final to get to the National Final for the Scudetto. They defeated Savoia 7-4 on aggregate (3-3 and 4-1) and so now had a crack at the Scudetto, albeit against the strongly fancied winners Genoa.
Genoa were already the winners of 7 league titles. One in 1915 however was highly controversial as the final against Lazio was never played due to the developments in WW1, the Scudetto was handed to Genoa anyway as they were considered stronger… Lazio are still to this day trying to obtain some justice.
In the previous 1921-22 season the Rossoblu won 10, drawn 1 and lost 1 in Girone B North. They had then lost the Lega Nord final 1-2 on aggregate to eventual Scudetto winners Pro Vercelli. The manager was Englishman William Garbutt and top scorer was Enrico Sardi with 21 goals.
This season the manager was still Garbutt. The Genoese had made a few changes to the squad. Arriving were: goalkeeper Ferdinando Pomati (Santa Margherita), defender Delfo Bellini (Sestrese), midfielder Giovanni Traverso (Andrea Doria) plus forwards Ettore Neri (Novese) and Aristodemo Santamaria (returned from Novese).
Leaving were: defender Ruggero Maineri (Andrea Doria), Rinaldo Morchio (Sestrese), midfielders Giovanni Rebuffo (Novese), Mario Capurro (Grifone Ausonia) plus forwards Mario Bussich (Sampierdarenese) and Luigi Tabacco (Spes Genova).
The Rossoblu had gone unbeaten in their northern group with 16 wins and 6 draws. In the Semi-final group they had then got revenge on Pro Vercelli (1-1 away and 1-0 at home) and beaten Padova twice (3-1 and 3-0). They were therefore back in the national final for the Scudetto.
The match: Sunday, July 15, 1923, Stadio Marassi, Genoa
A hot summer day in the Marassi area of Genoa for this first Scudetto final leg.
Genoa were missing left winger Augusto Bergamino while Lazio had no real absences.
In the first half Lazio seemed blocked by the importance of the occasion and Genoa dominated.
The Rossoblu took the lead in the 19th minute when Edoardo Catto weaved his way into the area and beat Ettore Agazzani. Genoa 1 Lazio 0.
Lazio’s response was more physical than technical and the Biancocelesti resorted to frequent fouls to block the hosts.
All these fouls may have influenced the referee to give a generous penalty to Genoa in the 33rd minute. Fortunately for Lazio, Renzo De Vecchi blasted it against the crossbar.
In the 38th minute the "Grifoni" doubled their lead when following a corner by Ettore Neri, Edoardo Mariani scored from close range. Genoa 2 Lazio 0.
In the 43rd minute Genoa were awarded another dubious penalty and this time Ottavio Barbieri made no mistake, 3-0. Genoa were far too good so far, albeit helped by the referee.
At the beginning of the second half Genoa were handed yet another penalty which De Vecchi this time put away. Genoa 4 Lazio 0.
With the four-goal advantage the Ligurians relaxed a little and the game became a lot more balanced. Lazio finally started to find some attacking combinations with Dante Filippi-Pio Manescchi-Fulvio Bernardini.
In the 70th minute Lazio saved their honour with what the Italians call "il gol della bandiera". It was a quality goal too, according to the reports of the times and scored by Filippi.
The Romans tried to build on the goal but Genoa managed to control the rest of the game without too many problems. Final score Genoa 4 Lazio 1.
Despite the three penalties the Genoese had looked the superior side and Lazio would need a miracle to overturn the result in a week's time.
Who played for Genoa
De Prà, Moruzzi, De Vecchi, Barbieri, Burlando, Leale, Neri, Sardi, Catto, Santamaria, Mariani
Manager: Garbutt
Who played for Lazio
Agazzani, Saraceni I, Dosio, Faccani, Parboni, Orazi I, Fraschetti, Filippi, Bernardini, Maneschi, Saraceni II
Manager: Baccani
Referee: Bertazzoni
Goals: 19' Catto, 38' Mariani, 43' Barbieri (pen), 49' De Vecchi (pen), 70' Filippi
What happened next
A week later Genoa won again, 2-0 in Rome. Lazio played well but were beaten by goals from Santamaria and Catto, at least with no penalties this time.
A positive season for Lazio with a Scudetto final but Genoa were too good. Top scorer was Fulvio Bernardini with 24 goals.
Genoa won their 8th Scudetto. A fantastic season which they ended unbeaten with 22 wins and 6 draws, 75 goals scored and 21 conceded. Top scorer was Edoardo Catto with 19 goals.
In the summer Genoa went on a tour of South America and their matches included a 1-1 draw against Argentina.
Genoa would then also win the Scudetto the following season for their 9th and so far last Scudetto.
Going down were, from the 3 Lega Nord groups: Mantova, US Torinese, Petrarca Padova, Speranza Savona, Derthona, Rivarolese (GE) Esperia (CO) Udinese, Lucchese, US Milanese, Pastore (TO) and Savona and from the Lega Sud, Roman.
Let’s talk about Aldo Fraschetti
Aldo Fraschetti was born in Rome on November 9, 1898.
He spent his youth career with Juventus Roma and then at 20 joined Lazio.
He became a first team player from the 1922-23 season. Lazio had a good year reaching the Scudetto final where they were beaten by Genoa 6-1 on aggregate. Fraschetti scored 3 goals (Juventus Audax, Libertas Palermo x2).
In 1923-24 Lazio finished 2nd in the Lega Sud and qualified for the Interregional Semi-final where they were runners-up to Savoia. Fraschetti scored 9 goals (US Romana, Tivoli, Fortitudo, Tivoli x2, Alba Roma, Juventus Audax x2, Ideale Bari).
In 1924-25 Lazio reached a playoff for the Lega Sud final but lost 0-1 to Anconitana in Naples. The manager was no longer Baccani but Hungarian Dezső Kőszegi. Fraschetti scored 2 goals (Alba Roma, Savoia).
In 1925-26, still under Koszegi, Lazio finished 3rd in the Lazio group. Fraschetti scored 3 goals (Roman x2, Audace Roma).
The 1926-27 season would be Fraschetti's last with Lazio. The Biancocelesti played in Prima Divisione, group D. The player-manager was another Hungarian, Jenő Löwy, and Lazio won the group thus going up to the Divisione Nazionale. Fraschetti played 8 games and scored 2 goals (Liberty Bari, Foggia).
Fraschetti then retired.
He was a forward who played in a period where Lazio dominated Roman football. He was a quick and sharp winger who was known for his strong character and wisdom (his nickname was "Papà"). He played 59 plus league games for Lazio and scored at least 20 goals.
On retiring he graduated in engineering and had a successful career. In the 1950s and 1960s he held important positions such as director general manager of ANAS (Azienda Nazionale delle Strade Statali- in charge of the national road system) and general manager of public works. The construction of several parts of the Autostrada del Sole (Milan-Naples motorway) were also thanks to him.
Fraschetti died in Rome on January 31, 1979.
Lazio Career
Sources
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