July 5, 1914: Casale-Lazio 7-1, Scudetto Final
- Dag Jenkins
- Jul 5
- 5 min read
One half not enough
Lazio battle well for 45 minutes but crumble in second half
Also on this day:
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had reached the Scudetto final but lost 0-6 to Pro Vercelli in Genoa. Lazio had won the Laziale regional group with 6 wins (including Pro Roma 13-1, 9-0 and Juventus Roma 9-2) and 2 draws. In the Central Italy semi-final the Biancocelesti had beaten Virtus Juventusque (Livorno) 6-1 on aggregate and then Naples 3-2 on aggregate in the final, thus qualifying for the grand finale. The Piedmontese however were too good and won their 5th title and 3rd consecutive.
The Lazio manager was Guido Baccani and the top scorer was Fernando Saraceni I with 19 goals.
This season Baccani was still head coach. Lazio had again won the Laziale regional group with 10 wins out of 10 (including Fortitudo 7-0 and 9-0, Pro Roma 6-1 and 9-0). In the Central Italy semi-final Lazio had defeated SPES Livorno 4-0 on aggregate and then Internazionale Napoli 9-0 on aggregate. Lazio were in the final again, this time against Casale home and away.
Casale had finished 2nd in the Piedmont group the previous season (behind eventual champions Pro Vercelli).
This season the "Nerostellati" (Black Stars), under Oreste Simonotti, had won the Piedmont-Liguria group with 15 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats. In the next Northern group phase, they had won 8 and lost 2 and qualified for the national final (ahead of Genoa, Inter and Juventus).
Today in Casale Monferrato was the first leg and Casale were considered the overwhelming favourites.
The match: Sunday, June 5, 1914, Campo Sportivo Viale Priocco, Monteferrato
A 17.45 kick-off and fair weather brought a good crowd to the small ground.
Lazio had three important absences in forward and captain Giuseppe Fioranti I, forward Camillo Bona and midfielder Leonardo Luigi Di Napoli II replaced by youngster Arnaldo Perugini.
Casale had midfielder and captain Barbesino (suspended) plus defender Attilio Maggiani missing.
Lazio played an excellent first half. They were solid in defence and quick to counterattack. Casale were superior technically and tactically but Lazio surprisingly held their own.
In the 26th minute however the hosts scored. Amedeo Varese burst down the right wing, cut in and looked as if about to cross but instead shot at goal and managed to beat Clemente Serventi.
Lazio reacted well and attacked until halftime but without equalising. The Romans were applauded off the pitch at the break as a confirmation of the admiration of the home crowd for their efforts.
The second half was a completely different story. The Blacks pushed forward constantly while Lazio tired and collapsed.
In the 51st minute Varese got his brace from close range, 2-0.
In the 54th minute Varese was the assist man for Pietro Alfredo Ferraris, 3-0.
In the 62nd minute Pietro Ravetti finished off a superb vertical team move by the "Neri", 4-0.
In the 65th minute Ravetti scored again, this time with a powerful strike, 5-0.
In the 73rd minute Lazio salvaged some pride with an Angelo Zucchi goal following a corner, 5-1.
It was short lived however as the "Nerostellati” got two more goals with Giovanni Gallina II and Angelo Mattea.
A heavy defeat for Lazio. In the first half they had made up for the gap between the teams with fierce determination. In the second however, as their athleticism waned, the difference in quality between the sides clearly emerged.
The Scudetto was gone but there was still a return leg in Rome to honour in a week's time.
Who played for Casale
A. Gallina I, Scrivano, Busancano, Rosa, Mattea, Parodi, Bertinotti, Varese, Ravetti, G. Gallina II, Ferraris I
Manager: Simonotti
Who played for Lazio
Serventi, Levi II, Monetti, Maranghi, Faccani, Zucchi II, Coraggio, Saraceni I, Consiglio, Corelli, Perugini
Manager: Baccani
Referee: Scamoni
Goals: 26' Varese, 51' Varese, 54' Ferraris I, 62' Ravetti, 65' Ravetti, 73' Zucchi II, 82' Gallina II, 87' Mattea
What happened next
Casale also prevailed in the return game 2-0 and won their first Scudetto. The game was quite balanced and the result a little flattering for the visitors. Casale however were more than deservedly champions. The top scorer was Amedeo Varese with 23 goals while Angelo Mattea got 22 and Giovanni Gallina 11. Casale then played in Serie A in the 1930's but have then spent most of their history in the 3rd and 4th tiers. They are currently in the 5th tier.
Lazio were runners-up again but it was still a prestigious result. They confirmed to be the best team in the centre-south of Italy but the northern clubs were still too superior. Top scorer was Fernando Saraceni I again, with 16 goals.
Let’s talk about Clemente Serventi
Clemente Serventi was born in Rome on September 7, 1889. He was of aristocratic descent and his family had a villa and land near Porta Maggiore (Pigneto).
He played his youth football with Roman but in 1913 joined Lazio.
In the 1913-14 season he played 16 games out of 16 and Lazio reached the Scudetto final but were defeated by Casale.
He was an influential figure at Lazio and was also involved as a director. The following year WW1 broke out and he left for the front as a Corporal in the army.
After the war he did not continue playing football but started a successful tennis career.
He won six Italian Championships, two singles and four doubles (one with his brother Alfonso).
He then took part in the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris. He was eliminated in the first round in singles and in the third in doubles (against eventual silver medallists Brugnon-Cochet from France)
In 1925 and 1926 he participated in two editions of the International Lawn Tennis Challenge (the current Davis Cup), reaching the quarter finals twice.
In 1929 he played at the French International Grand Slam tournament (then played at the Racing Club de France in Paris) reaching the 2nd rounds in singles and doubles.
He is also one of the founder members of the famous and prestigious Tennis Club Parioli in Rome.
On retiring from sport, he became an entrepreneur with his brother. One of his projects was the construction of the, extremely modern for the times, "America" cinema in Trastevere.
As a footballer Serventi was a good goalkeeper helping Lazio reach a prestigious 2nd place in 1914. He was even more successful as a tennis player.
Serventi died in Rome on January 19, 1974.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances | National League | Other competitions |
1912 | 1 | - | 1 |
1913-14 | 20 | 16 | 4 |
1914-15 | 7 | 6 | 1 |
Total | 28 | 22 | 6 |
Sources
Comments