June 2, 1940: Triestina Lazio 2-3

Simon Basten
2 days ago
3 min read

Fourth place

Lazio secure win with two goals in two minutes and close in fourth place

Also on this day:

June 2, 1935, Lazio Ambrosiana Inter 4-2. By beating Ambrosiana Inter in the last game of the season, Lazio contribute to Juventus’ scudetto. They will do the same in 2002.
June 2, 1929, Lazio Reggiana 4-0.Lazio beat Reggiana and continue in their quest for eighth place, necessary to participate in next year’s first Serie A.

The season so far

Lazio, as usual, did not have much money for the summer transfers. All the same, three interesting players arrived from South America: Evaristo Barrera, Silvestro Pisa plus Enrique Flamini. They all arrived via boat in February of 1939 together with many other “oriundi” trying to be signed by an Italian club. The three could not play in the 1938-39 season so they were signed for the next one.

The Biancocelesti had also a new manager, Geza Kertesz, who substituted Luigi Allemandi.

Lazio did pretty well in the first half of the season, beating Milan, Napoli and Juventus and drawing against the formidable Ambrosiana Inter. They were fourth, just two points off leaders Bologna. They continued to do well in the second part but could not keep up with Ambrosiana and Bologna. There was one game left to play and the Biancocelesti were joint fourth with Genoa.

The match: Sunday, June 2, 1940, Stadio Littorio, Trieste

For incomprehensible reasons there was a lot of tension between the teams but all in all it was a spectacular game.

Lazio scored first in the 19th minute. Luigi Vettraino collected an Evaristo Barrera pass and, in rather blatant offside, beat Enrico Costanzo.

Around the half hour Remo Costa was sent off for a dangerous attack on Corrado Giovannini followed by a heated argument with Alfredo Monza II and Massimiliano Faotto.

The hosts equalised towards the end of the first half. In the 42nd minute fantastic three man play Luigi Sumberaz-Giuseppe Grezar-Guglielmo Trevisan allowed the latter to deposit the ball behind Giovannini.

In the 48th minute Triestina went ahead. Ruggero Salar to Emilio Rancillio, splendid ball for Grezar, 2-1.

Four minutes later the Biancocelesti equalised. Vettraino passed to Enrique Flamini who tried a shot but hit the woodwork. Barrera got hold of the ball which was contested by five players before Vittorio Dagianti made it 2-2.

A minute later Grezar hit the woodwork, Vettraino went off, dribbled past Giuseppe Geigerle, and beat Costanzo for his brace.

The two teams continued to be on edge with numerous fouls. Triestina could have got an equaliser but Sumberaz hit the woodwork.

Good win for Lazio and excellent final fourth position.

Who played for Triestina

Costanzo, Geigerle, Loschi, Salar, Rancilio, Grezar, Sumberaz, Valcareggi, Costa, Trevisan, Colaussi

Manager: Monti

Who played for Lazio

Giovannini, Faotto, Monza II, Milano, Ramella, Ferri, Busani, Dagianti, Barrera, Flamini, Vettraino

Manager: Kertesz

Referee: Conticini

Goals: 18’ Vettraino, 42’ Trevisan, 48’ Grezar, 52’ Dagianti, 54’ Vettraino

What happened next

Alfredo Monza and Luciano Ramella topped the appearances (33) whilst Silvio Piola was the top goal scorer with 10 goals. Unfortunately, the great Silvio had been plagued by injuries this season otherwise Lazio could have competed for even higher positions.

Eight days after the end of the season Benito Mussolini declared war on Great Britain and France.

Lets talk about Corrado Giovannini

Corrado Giovannini was born in Rimini on October 5 1917. He started playing football as a goalkeeper for Libertas Rimini in Serie C and made 44 league appearances between 1936 and 1939.

In the summer of that year, he signed for Lazio. He was second goalkeeper as in front of him he had the legendary Giacomo Blason. He made two appearances that season. His debut was in the second derby where he saved a penalty in the second half with the Biancocelesti leading 1-0.

In the following season he made 5 appearances. He stayed another two years, though never playing.

After the war he came back briefly and then went to finish his career with Rimini in Serie C.

He died in Rimini on Christmas Day, 1988.