Lazio celebrate promotion with fans but shatter Reggiana's dream
An entertaining games ends 1-1, fine for Lazio in party mood, but fatal for Reggiana
Also on this day: June 22, 1952, Lazio Triestina 4-1. Lazio thrash Triestina to silence those who doubted the Biancocelesti would play at their best. Player of the day: Bruno Ispiro
The season so far
The 1967-68 season had seen Lazio come in 11th in Serie B. The manager Renato Gei had been replaced by former goalkeeper Roberto Lovati in February. They had a good home record but didn't win even once away and had the least prolific attack in the league.
This year Argentine Juan Carlos Lorenzo was in charge but as he was not in possession of the suitable documentation (Italian passport), he was officially called D.T (Technical Director) and on match days it was Bob Lovati who sat on the bench. From March onwards however "Toto" was finally allowed to leave the stands and take his proper place on the sidelines.
The main changes to the squad were the arrival of defenders Mario Facco (Inter) and Guido Onor (Juventus), midfielder Ferruccio Mazzola (Inter) and striker Gian Piero Ghio (Avellino). Leaving Lazio were goalkeeper Idilio Cei (Palermo), defenders Pierluigi Ronzon (retiring) and Alberto Mari (Sambenedettese).
Lazio were considered one of the favourites for promotion but the start had been slightly hesitant with two defeats in the first five games (Livorno and Ternana, both away). They had then picked up and come good. After the first round of fixtures they were third. The Biancocelesti then accelerated and went unbeaten between February 23 and June 15, a week earlier when they were already promoted anyway. Between those two defeats they had won 8 and drawn 7.
The "Aquile" had clinched promotion on June 8 by beating Lecco 3-0. They were currently top of the table after 17 wins, 15 draws and 5 defeats. Top scorer was Gian Piero Ghio with 11 goals (10 in the league).
Today was a celebration and a farewell to the fans but it was a proper match as the opposition still needed points.
Reggiana had finished 6th the previous season under Romolo Bizzotto. This year they were again competitive and fighting for promotion. They had won 17, drawn 11 and lost 9. A 3-0 defeat in the derby against Modena on May 15 and a 0-0 away draw at Cesena a week before today's game had dented their chances but they could still do it.
The table read; Lazio 49, Brescia 46, Bari 46, Reggiana 45. Bari would play Monza (mid-table) away while Brescia had Padova (already relegated) at home. A win for Reggiana today was a must to have any realistic hopes of Serie A. The "Granata's" top scorer so far was Giovan Battista Pienti with 8 league goals.
So, Lazio in a party mood but no way willing to lose on their home parade and Reggiana still clinging on to their promotion dream. "La Regia", in their 50-year history, had never been in the top flight (had finished 4th twice and third once in B).
The match: Sunday, June 22, 1969, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
It was a scorching late June day in Rome but 60,000 Lazio fans wanted to celebrate in style.
In the stands thousands of flags and various brass bands set the tone for the winner's parade. The president Umberto Lenzini and the players then came out before the kick-off and threw flowers to the crowd. All very nice and fun but there was still a game to be played.
Lazio were without Giuliano Fortunato suspended while Reggiana played with their best possible XI. The early stages were extremely balanced, both teams making it clear they wanted to win. The first 25 minutes were a battle in midfield, then the scoring opportunities came.
In the 26th minute a Giuseppe Massa-Gian Piero Ghio combination put Massa in front of goal but Lamberto Boranga saved his close range effort. Ghio then had a shot go wide before Reggiana had chances of their own with a Sileno Passalacqua strike, brilliantly saved by Rosario Di Vincenzo, and a Giovanbattista Pienti shot just over the bar.
Just before halftime Lazio took the lead. Nello Governato passed to Giancarlo "El Gaucho" Morrone who surged into the box, the ball then arrived to Massa whose powerful left foot beat Boranga. Lazio 1 Reggiana 0.
The break came with Lazio in front after an evenly matched 45 minutes. Brescia were winning 1-0 but Bari still drawing 0-0, so still some hope for Reggiana.
In the second half the game remained entertaining. Ghio hit the side netting with a shot then Pienti answered with an effort saved by De Vincenzo.
In the 49th minute the visitors equalised. Bruno Giorgi put in a long cross from the left, Giovanni Fanello headed it to Pienti who with another header scored. The "Granata" were on a high but Lazio soon reacted, this was their party.
Lazio took control of the game and had several chances; Morrone high, Mazzola II just wide, Massa blocked by a defender at the very last moment, Governato deflected into corner and Mazzola well saved all went close. In the last seconds both teams could have stolen it, first Mazzola had a shot go wide by a whisker and then Pienti forced De Vincenzo to make a superb save. Final score Lazio 1 Reggiana 1.
There followed the traditional pitch invasion by the fans to thank their heroes and conquer a pair of shorts, a sock or a piece of a jersey.
The celebrations went on into the night with "caroselli" (Carousels but literally cars honking horns and waving flags). The fans gathered in central Piazza del Popolo to party on while the players met up later in a restaurant in EUR to banquet and toast a job well done.
Who played for Lazio
Di Vincenzo, Zanetti, Facco, Governato, Soldo, Marchesi, Morrone (77' Rinero), Massa, Mazzola II, Ghio, Cucchi
Substitutes: Fioravanti
Manager: Lorenzo
Who played for Reggiana
Boranga, Manera, Bertini, Giorgi, Grevi, Picella, Fanello, Ragonesi, Toffanin (60' Vignando), Pienti, Passalacqua
Substitutes: Bastiani
Manager: Bizzotto
Referee: Francescon
Goals: 43' Massa, Pienti
What happened next
So Lazio won the league with 50 points after 17 wins, 16 draws and 5 defeats. Top scorer was Ghio with 11 goals (10 in the league) while Mazzola and Fortunato got 8. Lazio were back in Serie A. They had played excellent football too, unanimously praised by even the most demanding critics. Lazio would not stay up long but that was still all in the future, now was a summer to celebrate.
Reggiana with today's draw finished 4th. Brescia won 4-0 and Bari drew 0-0 so the final table read; Lazio 50, Brescia 48, Bari 47, Reggiana 46. Their top scorer was Pienti with 9 league goals. The following year the "Granata" were relegated to Serie C but then bounced straight back. They would eventually make it to Serie A in 1992.
Lazio 1968-69
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie B | 38 | 17 | 16 | 5 | 55 |
Coppa Italia | 3 | - | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Total | 41 | 17 | 18 | 5 | 57 |
Top Five Appearances
Player | Total | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
Ghio | 40 | 37 | 3 |
Mazzola | 40 | 37 | 3 |
Soldo | 39 | 36 | 3 |
Marchesi | 38 | 38 | - |
Fortunato | 37 | 35 | -2 |
Top Five Goal Scorers
Player | Total | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
Ghio | 11 | 10 | 1 |
Mazzola | 8 | 8 | - |
Fortunato | 8 | 8 | - |
Massa | 7 | 6 | 1 |
Morrone | 6 | 6 | - |
Let's talk about Carlo Soldo
Carlo Soldo was born in Genivolta (Cremona), on April 13, 1942.
He grew up in the Milano Folgore youth team but his first professional club was Novara. He made his debut for the "Gaudenziani" (The Gaudentians) in Serie B in 1960. He played three seasons in Piedmont playing 58 games. The first two in Serie B but the third in C (Novara were relegated for sporting offenses, despite a 14th place).
In 1963 he joined Varese in Serie B. The "Bosini" won promotion to Serie A under Uruguayan Héctor Puricelli. Soldo played 37 league games with 1 goal (Alessandria).
In Serie A the Biancorossi came 11th in 1964-65. Soldo played 34 league games with 1 goal (Vicenza).
In his final year in Varese, they were relegated under three different managers; Mario Gambazza, Pietro Magni and then Piero Trapanelli (Puricelli had gone to Atalanta). Soldo played 26 league games.
In 1966 Soldo went to Inter for a year under Helenio Herrera. The "Beneamata" came 2nd in the league and were losing finalists in the European Cup (Celtic 2-1 in Lisbon). Soldo played in Europe scoring in the Last 16 game against Hungarian Vasas Budapest. In the league however, due to some disagreements with Herrera, he did not get any games.
In November 1967 Soldo joined Lazio in Serie B. Lazio finished 11th under Renato Gei, until February, and then Roberto Lovati. Soldo played 30 league games with 2 goals (Foggia, Reggiana).
The following season Juan Carlos Lorenzo arrived, even if Lovati still sat on the bench until March for documentation issues (Lorenzo needed Italian passport) and Lazio won the league and promotion to Serie A. Soldo played 36 matches with 2 goals (Genoa, Bari) plus 3 games in Coppa Italia. His opening goal against Bari was particularly important as it was a promotion clash in May.
In 1969-70 in Serie A he started the season with Lazio playing 7 league games with 1 goal (Torino) plus 3 games in Coppa Italia. In November however he was sold to Monza in Serie B. He started suffering from physical problems and played 24 league games over two seasons. The "Brianzoli" finished 15th and 17th.
In 1971-72 he was at Pro Vercelli in serie C. The former glories (7 Scudetti between 1908 and 1922) came 17th. Soldo played 18 games for the "Bianchi Piemontesi".
In 1972-73 Soldo moved down to Sicily and joined Messina in Serie C. The "Peloritani" were relegated to Serie D and Soldo played 21 games with 1 goal.
His last club was Triestina in 1973-74 in Serie C. The "Giuliani" were relegated to Serie D and Soldo only played 6 league games.
At 32 he retired, also due to persistent knee problems.
He then went into a long managerial career. He started with Portogruaro in 1974 in Serie D and then had a myriad of teams up and down Italy, mainly in C1 and C2 (Pro Vercelli, Treviso, Varese, Salernitana, Palazzolo, Fidelis Andria, Pro Sesto, Pavia, Südtirol, Lecco, Alessandria just to name a few). His biggest success was a promotion from C2 to C1 with F. Andria in 1989. He also had an experience abroad coaching Iran U16's winning the Asiatic Cup in 1997. He finally retired in 2013 at 71.
Soldo as a player was a strong defender, 1.78 metres and 75 kilos. His career was hindered, especially in the second part, by his knee injury. The fact that Inter, in their prime, bought him in 1966 shows he had potential.
The peak of his career was at Lazio. He played 79 games with 5 goals for the Biancocelesti. He won promotion to Serie A in 1969. In fact I am sure, looking back at his career, that warm June 22 day, in a packed Olimpico celebrating Lazio’s return to the big time must have been one of his fondest memories.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie A | Serie B | Coppa Italia | Mitropa Cup |
1967-68 | 30 (2) | - | 30 (2) | - | |
1968-69 | 39 (2) | - | 36 (2) | 3 | |
June- Nov 1969 | 11 | 7 (1) | - | 3 | 1 |
Total | 80 (5) | 7 (1) | 66 (4) | 6 | 1 |
Sources
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