Biancocelesti break down Alessandria wall

Simon Basten
Nov 30, 2023
2 min read

Season 1930-31

Game 10, Serie A

Sunday, November 30, 1930

Campo Rondinella, Rome

Lazio Alessandria 3-1

Despite falling behind early, Lazio managed to overcome the Piedmontese defence in the second half

In the first nine games Lazio had won five (including beating Bologna and a 1-0 win in Milan), lost three and drawn the opening game. They were currently seventh, only two points off second place.

The match

Alessandria, who had taken the kick-off, immediately put pressure on the Lazio defence: a cross from the left winger was pushed away by Ezio Sclavi but not far enough and Edoardo Avalle was ready to meet the ball on the volley and drive it into the upper left corner. A lightning-quick goal of excellent quality.

After achieving this early breakthrough, Alessandria immediately set up one of their classic defensive matches, which had so often brought frustration to the Roman teams. At this point, knowing Alessandria’s precise defensive resources and their solidity, there were not many who would have predicted that the fate of the match could be reversed. Everything that then happened in the first half seemed to confirm this prediction. Lazio, launched in pursuit of the equaliser, ran into the solid Alessandria defence without being able to break it down. Their attacks lacked momentum, cohesion, and determination, and the last hopes faded when Luigi Ziroli and Alfredo Foni wasted a couple of favourable chances.

The second half began with the same pattern, but the Lazio forwards seemed more determined and more alert. Alessandria’s defence began to feel the pressure and twice had to concede corners, only to quickly regain control over the opposing attackers. In the 65th minute, the decisive episode: a run by Mario Malatesta put Piero Pastore one-on-one with Giuseppe Ballerio; the duel ended in favour of the Lazio centre-forward, who beat Natale Balossino with a low shot into the left corner. This brought signals of surrender among the grey shirts while Lazio, who until this moment had played without much conviction, were suddenly transformed. Their renewed drive broke down Alessandria's last defensive efforts, who subsequently conceded two more goals. In the 80th minute Balossino punched away a Foni cross, but the ball arrived to Malatesta who headed it in. Five minutes later Malatesta-Carlo Cevenini one-two and Charles V made it three.

Important win for the Biancocelesti.

Who played for Lazio

Sclavi, Tognotti, Mattei II, Pardini, Furlani, Caimmi, Ziroli, Foni, Pastore, Malatesta, Cevenini V