Game 29, Serie A
Sunday, April 19, 1970
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Bari 4-1
A glorious spring day, a 4-1 win and Chinaglia boosting his world cup chances, a perfect finish in front of home supporters.
So far Lazio were having a reasonable campaign and were in mid-table. In the last five matches they had won 3 (Palermo, Inter and Juventus, all at home) and drawn 2 (Napoli and Verona, both away) so finishing the league strongly. Lazio had 26 points after 10 wins, 6 draws and 12 defeats. The new "Welsh-Italian" striker Giorgio Chinaglia was doing well and had scored 11 league goals and Anglo-Italian defender Pino Wilson had proved an excellent buy.
Bari were also newly promoted but had already been condemned to going straight back down again.
So today's game was more of a celebration for Lazio in their last home appearance while for Bari it was more like a "Via Crucis".
The match
A lovely Roman spring day and a 40,000 crowd welcomed the two teams out today. They however came on in different moods; Lazio soaking up the warm festive atmosphere while for Bari, relegated the week before, it must have still felt like deep winter. So a care free, happy Lazio against a depressed and frustrated Bari.
The field confirmed the opposing mind sets. Lazio had several chances almost immediately with Giuseppe Massa after three and nine minutes. Massa and Ferruccio Mazzola II were the most active but the fans desperately wanted Chinaglia to score, hoping he would be taken to Mexico '70.
Mazzola scored in the 25th minute but the referee, on his debut, disallowed it for an extremely dubious Giampiero Ghio offside position. Mazzola did not lose heart and a minute later scored again. A brilliant solo effort starting in midfield then saw him beat Giuseppe Spalazzi with a powerful, medium height, right footed strike. 1-0 Lazio.
The visitors occasionally ventured into the Lazio half and in the 35th minute Antonio D'Addosio was denied by Rosario Di Vincenzo bravely coming off his line to claim the ball. The Bari defender, who had replaced an injured Carlo Furlanis, was booked after the impact with the keeper. The Bari players seemed particularly tense and frustrated resulting in several unnecessary dirty fouls. Halftime 1-0 Lazio.
In the second half the Biancocelesti continued to dictate the game and went close first with Mazzola II and then doubled their lead. In the 60th minute Giuliano Fortunato pounced on a short defensive clearance and fired in a precise, low shot. 2-0 Lazio.
Bari then surprisingly pulled one back. In the 66th minute, after an assist by Faustino Cané, caught Di Vincenzo off guard with an accurate, low strike. Lazio 2 Bari 1.
The result however was never seriously in doubt as the festive mood and the Chinaglia goal hunt continued. The third goal came three minutes from the end not by "Long John" but rather by the best player on the field so far, "Peppiniello" Massa. In the 87th minute from 30 metres out he sent a cracking effort into the top hand corner. 3-1 Lazio and party on but something was still missing.
Chinaglia had recently been included in Italy manager Valcareggi's initial list of forty for the oncoming World Cup in Mexico but he still was not guaranteed a place on the plane. He had some chances today but tight defending and over eagerness had kept him off the score sheet, he needed a goal.
Everything changed in the 89th minute when a perfect pass by Mazzola II set up "Giorgione" in front of goal. When the ball hit the net the roar probably almost reached Mexico. Final score Lazio 4 Bari 1.
The fans celebrated with the traditional pitch invasion, putting Mexican sombreros on Chinaglia and his teammates' heads. Party mode on and Lazio Olé.
Who played for Lazio
Di Vincenzo, Papadopulo, Oddi, Governato, Polentes, Marchesi, Massa, Mazzola II, Chinaglia, Ghio, Fortunato
Substitutes: Fiorucci, Casisa
Manager: Lorenzo
Who played for Bari
Spalazzi, Loseto, Furlanis (27' D'Addosio), Diomedi, Spimi, Colautti, Cané, Fara, Spadetto, Pienti, Zuczkowski
Substitutes: Colombo
Manager: C.Matteucci
Referee: Bianchi
Goals: 26' Mazzola II, 60' Fortunato, 66' Pienti, 87' Massa, 89' Chinaglia
Sources
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