Game 32, Serie A
Sunday, May 29, 1932
Stadio PNF, Rome
Lazio Ambrosiana Inter 2-2
After an excellent first half, Lazio struggle, thank the woodwork and find last minute equaliser
This season had not been a great one, far from it. They were currently in joint 14th place, with Bari on 23 points, only one above the drop zone. They also came from four consecutive defeats.
Ambrosiana Inter were favourites today but Lazio desperately needed points.
The match
A warm spring day saw about 20,000 spectators present at the P.N.F Stadium.
Lazio started promisingly and took the game to the Milanese. Lazio immediately forced a series of corners and attacked constantly.
In the 9th minute Octavio Fantoni II floated a freekick into the area where the keeper Bonifacio Smerzi and Joāo Fantoni I went for it in the air, the ball then rolled loose and into the net. The goal however was disallowed as Fantoni I was judged to have used his hands excessively in the challenge.
From the subsequent long ball from keeper Smerzi Inter scored. The ball reached Atilio Demaria who was pushed by Armando Del Debbio for a freekick. Armando Castellazzi sent it into the box where Umberto Visentin headed on to Giuseppe Meazza who nodded it past Ezio Sclavi from close range. Lazio 0 Inter 1.
Completely against the run of play but Meazza was a goal machine.
At this point Lazio had a few minutes of confusion and Meazza again as well as Visentin had shots saved by Sclavi.
Then Lazio regrouped and started to push forward again. In the 20th minute Filó Guarisi forced Smerzi into an excellent save and Lazio had more efforts with Alejandro Demaria in the 26th and 27th minutes. More corners followed and on one of these Lazio were awarded a penalty. In the 29th minute Smerzi miscalculated his jump and the goal was unguarded, Demaria shot but Antonio Peduca saved with his hands. Del Debbio took it but missed, Smerzi redeeming himself and saving with his foot.
In the 40th minute Lazio finally found the deserved equaliser. José Castelli passed to Fantoni I who scored with a low strike in the right corner. Lazio 1 Inter 1.
Lazio were playing well and could and should have been in front.
Things changed in the second half. After a lame effort by Lazio's Demaria, Inter took control of the game. Lazio faded, not helped by Odoacre Pardini being limited by a head wound for which he was heavily bandaged.
In the 58th minute Inter hit the bar with a Piero Mariani shot. A few minutes later Sclavi had to rush off his line and dive low to deny Meazza and in the 69th minute Mariani hit the woodwork again, this time a post.
The goal came in the 72nd minute. Meazza picked up a Demaria through ball, beat Del Debbio and struck a venomous shot which went in off the post. Lazio 1 Inter 2.
In the 83rd minute both sides were reduced to ten men. Del Debbio fouled Meazza who reacted nervously and the referee decided they should both go off.
The game seemed over and some fans were even leaving when, in the 90th minute, Luigi Allemandi gave away a cheap corner. On the high ball into the area Demaría got a header in which Smerzi saved but seemingly over the line. The referee thought so and gave the goal. The visitors protested at the decision but the goal stood. Lazio 2 Inter 2 and full time.
Lazio had played an excellent first half but a poor second. They could be satisfied with the point however as they now had a two-point cushion on the second bottom team with only two games to go. The standout players were Sclavi for Lazio and Meazza for Inter.
Inter were now joint 4th with Milan and Alessandria.
Who played for Lazio
Sclavi, Mattei II, Del Debbio, Serafini, Pardini, Fantoni II, Guarisi, Malatesta, Fantoni I, Castelli, Demaría
Manager: Barbuy Amilcar
Who played for Ambrosiana-Inter
Smerzi, Perduca, Allemandi I, Rivolta, Viani, Castellazzi, Visentin, Serantoni, Meazza, Demaría, Mariani
Manager: Tóth
Referee: Scorzoni
Goals: 10' Meazza, 40' Fantoni I, 72' Meazza, 90' Demaría
Sources
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