June 4, 1931: Lazio Brescia 2-1
- Simon Basten
- Jun 4
- 7 min read
Good win
Lazio beat Brescia thanks to Pastore and Spivach
Also on this day:
June 4, 1972, Lazio Foggia 2-0. Lazio beat Foggia 2-0 with goals by Massa and Chinaglia and can almost touch Serie A paradise.
The season so far
The previous season had not been a good one. Lazio had managed to avoid relegation in the last game despite losing to Juventus.
For 1930-31 the club had confirmed Ferenc Molnar as manager. He had started the previous year but had been replaced by Pietro Piselli after just three games, to come back towards the end of the campionato. There was, as usual, not much money so the only real significant purchase during the summer transfer window was midfielder Gino Lamon from Padova. Leaving Lazio were Francesco Rier (Juventus), Dino Sbrana II (Lecce) plus Luigi Saraceni II and Ugo Ciabattini who had retired. Two oriundi joined Lazio in April: Joao Fantoni I (forward) and Octavio Fantoni II (midfielder) from Cruzeiro.
This season had certainly been better than the previous. After the first half of the campionato Lazio were sixth together with Modena. However, in the second half they had fallen back. Molnar had resigned two games before today's game after Lazio had lost at Genoa and was replaced by Cesare Migliorini. The Biancocelesti were currently 8th in the company of Brescia.
The match: Sunday, May 24, 1931, Stadio PNF, Rome
Lazio started well controlling the game and in the 15th minute had a chance when, after a clearance following a corner, Joao Fantoni I struck the ball perfectly but his shot slammed onto the post. Another big whack from Gino Lamon 14 minutes later was well saved by Giuseppe Perucchetti. 60 seconds later a good cross from Mario Malatesta was volleyed into the net by Pietro Pastore for Lazio’s first goal.
Brescia equalised immediately. Erminio Reggiani crossed into the box, Ezio Slavi punched the ball away, Giovanni Braga picked it up and beat both Augusto Mattei as well as Orlando Tognotti and scored.
In the beginning of the second half, the Biancocelesti put their foot on the accelerator. In the 50th minute, Aldo Spivach-Lamon one-two and the former with an excellent shot gave Lazio their second goal.
Brescia attacked but Sclavi kept out any danger. Towards the end of the game, Lazio had a chance to make it three when Malatesta hit the woodwork in the 83rd minute. Four minutes later Spivach had another opportunity but his shot was well saved by the keeper.
Excellent win for Lazio
Who played for Lazio
Sclavi, Tognotti, Mattei II, Pardini, Furlani, Fantoni II, Spivach, Fantoni I, Pastore, Malatesta, Lamon
Manager: Migliorini
Who played for Brescia
Peruchetti, Gadaldi, Bonometti, Frisoni II, Scaltriti, Morselli, Maffioli, Giuliani, Braga, Ranelli, Reggiani
Manager: Schoffer
Referee: Bevilacqua
Goals: 30' Pastore, 32' Braga, 50' Spivach
What happened next
Lazio ended eighth, so all in all a positive season. For the last three games Migliorini was substituted by Amilcar Barbuy, with a look towards the following season.
Augusto Mattei was the player with most appearances (34), Pietro Pastore the top goal scorer (13).
What happened in Serie A 1930-31
The previous season had seen the first Serie A League and it was won by Ambrosiana (a more “Italian” name for Inter, those were the times) ahead of Genova and Juventus. After the first half of the season Juventus were leading with a single point on Ambrosiana and Genova and two more than Torino and Alessandria. But on March 19, in the replay of a game that had been cancelled due to snow, Ambrosiana won away at Juventus and went top . With ten games to the end the gap had widened to four points and the scudetto was secured by beating Juve again in the last but one match.
Juventus and Ambrosiana were again favourites for this season which followed the same formula as the previous: 18 teams and two relegations.
September & October
Five games, five wins. This was the initial statement from Juventus who were followed by Bologna who won four and lost only to Lazio. Ambrosiana had a horrible start culminating in a 6-0 loss to Torino. The Milan derby ended 1-1.
Juventus 10, Bologna 8, Lazio 7, Modena 7, Roma 6, Genova 6, Napoli 6, Pro Patria 6, Torino 6, Ambrosiana Inter 5, Brescia 5, Alessandria 4, Legnano 4, Pro Vercelli 4, Triestina 3, Milan 2, Casale 1, Livorno 1
November
Juventus’ winning run ended on the 9th game when they lost at home to Napoli. They finished the month with a two-point lead over the Bologna, Roma and Napoli trio.
Juventus 17, Bologna 15, Roma 15, Napoli 15, Lazio 13, Torino 12, Modena 12, Genova 10, Brescia 10, Alessandria 8, Pro Patria 8, Ambrosiana Inter 8, Milan 8, Triestina 7, Pro Vercelli 7, Casale 6, Legnano 6, Livorno 3
December
Juventus fell again before Christmas, this time to Lazio, meaning that by the end of the year their lead was reduced to just one point. Second were Roma who drew the derby. The Milanese clubs were quite far behind and struggling.
Juventus 21, Roma 20, Bologna 19, Napoli 19, Lazio 18, Genova 16, Modena 14, Alessandria 12, Torino 12, Brescia 12, Pro Vercelli 11, Ambrosiana Inter 11, Milan 10, Triestina 9, Pro Patria 9, Casale 8, Legnano 7, Livorno 6
January
Juventus won their three January games whereas Roma were beaten at home by Milan and drew away with Genova which resulted in a four-point lead for the Bianconeri. Below it looked like the battle to stay in Serie A would be between Pro Patria, Legnano, Casale and Livorno.
Juventus 27, Roma 23, Napoli 23, Bologna 22, Lazio 20, Genova 19, Modena 18, Torino 17, Pro Vercelli 15, Brescia 15, Alessandria 14, Triestina 14, Milan 13, Ambrosiana Inter 13, Pro Patria 11, Legnano 9, Casale 8, Livorno 7
February
Juventus drew 3-3 at home with Milan and their lead was reduced to three. Roma were second and Bologna third. Milan moved up a little bit but Ambrosiana were still having a very poor season.
Juventus 32, Roma 29, Bologna 27, Genova 25, Napoli 25, Modena 22, Lazio 21, Torino 20, Milan 18, Triestina 17, Pro Vercelli 17, Brescia 17, Ambrosiana Inter 16, Alessandria 15, Pro Patria 13, Legnano 11, Casale 10, Livorno 7
March
Massive debacle for Juventus thrashed 5-0 by Roma but the Bianconeri had moved to +5 after the Giallorossi had collapsed in Naples so they still had a good lead. Ambrosiana moved up the table, also thanks to a 4-1 win in the derby. Below Livorno with a foot in Serie B.
Juventus 38, Roma 35, Bologna 33, Genova 31, Napoli 29, Modena 27, Ambrosiana Inter 23, Torino 23, Pro Vercelli 23, Lazio 23, Milan 22, Brescia 21, Alessandria 18, Triestina 18, Pro Patria 16, Casale 13, Legnano 12, Livorno 9
April
Just two games in April with Roma consolidating their second place with a win over Bologna. Pro Patria seemed to move out of the relegation race which appeared to be a matter between Casale and Legnano for the last place in Serie B.
Juventus 42, Roma 39, Bologna 34, Genova 34, Napoli 33, Modena 28, Ambrosiana Inter 27, Torino 25, Pro Vercelli 25, Brescia 25, Milan 24, Lazio 24, Triestina 19, Alessandria 18, Pro Patria 17, Casale 13, Legnano 13, Livorno 10
May
What a month!!! Roma started by beating Livorno 7-1 and followed up with a 5-0 win over Pro Vercelli. Then they drew the derby but Juventus collapsed at Bologna 4-0 so the gap was reduced to just two points. In the final match of the month Roma were demolished 5-0 by Ambrosiana and Juve, who drew their derby, went back to +3. Behind, Casale had a slight advantage over Legnano but even Livorno were, slowly, totting up points. Just five games left in the season.
Juventus 47, Roma 44, Bologna 42, Genova 40, Napoli 35, Ambrosiana Inter 32, Torino 30, Lazio 29, Brescia 29, Pro Vercelli 28, Milan 24, Modena 28, Alessandria 23, Pro Patria 21, Triestina 21, Casale 17, Legnano 15, Livorno 13
June
Juventus beat Modena whilst Roma drew at Legnano hence the lead went to +4. It went back to +3 a couple of games later when Juve drew at Brescia and Roma crushed Genova 5-0 but there was not enough time left. The scudetto was clinched by the Bianconeri with one game to spare by beating Ambrosiana.
Below there was great uncertainty. With three matches to the end of the season Casale were on 19 points, Livorno on 17 and Legnano on 16. The first two lost and Legnano drew and in the last but one game Livorno beat Legnano and Casale lost 6-1 at Bologna. So, 90 minutes left, Livorno and Casale on 19 points, Legnano on 17. Last games: Casale-Milan, Livorno-Juventus, Legnano-Napoli. After the first 45 minutes all three games were draws. In the second half Casale managed to beat Milan and were safe. Legnano and Livorno were relegated.
Juventus and Roma qualified for the Central European Cup.
Top scorer was Rodolfo Volk (Roma) with 28 goals.
Fiorentina and Bari were promoted from Serie B.
Final Table: Juventus 55, Roma 51, Bologna 48, Genova 47, Ambrosiana Inter 38, Napoli 37, Torino 36, Lazio 35, Brescia 34, Pro Vercelli 33, Modena 33, Milan 31, Alessandria 26, Triestina 25, Pro Patria 23, Casale 21, Livorno 20, Legnano 19
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