Entertainment and Frustration

Dag Jenkins
Dec 31, 2022
4 min read

Season 1933-34

Game 16, Serie A

Sunday, December 31, 1933

Stadio PNF, Rome

Lazio Bologna 3-3

A six-goal thriller but Lazio give up two-goal lead and settle for a point

So far Lazio had played 15 games, winning 6, drawing 4 (including recent 2-2 away at Juventus) and losing 5. Lazio were in joint 6th position with Milan and Triestina on 15 points.

Bologna were joint 3rd, with Pro Vercelli on 18 points. They had won 8, drawn 2 and lost 5 (including recent 0-2 at Pro Vercelli).

A tough match for Lazio against one of the better sides of the period. Bologna had finished 1st, 7th, 2nd and 3rd in the last four years. In 1932 they also won the Central European Cup.

The match

A grey day threatening rain attracted a big crowd.

Lazio and Bologna both had their whole squads available.

The game started at lightning pace. Bruno Maini immediately tested Ezio Sclavi and then Mario Gianni prevented an own goal by Felice Gasperi after an Anfilogino "Filò" Guarisi initiative.

Bologna gradually took control. In the 9th minute Sclavi saved a Bruno Foglia attempt and then in the 12th minute they scored with a fortuitous goal. Mario Montesanto took a long freekick from midfield and sent it high into the crowded Lazio area, a lot of pushing and shoving occurred with the Lazio keeper falling to the ground, the ball casually hit Angelo Schiavio and went in, 0-1.

The unlucky goal did not demoralise Lazio but instead they pushed forward with ever increasing intensity and in the 23rd minute they equalised. A quick one-two between João Fantoni I and Guarisi allowed Filò to cross, Gianni punched clear but only to Pietro Buscaglia who volleyed into the net, 1-1.

Lazio were rampant and continued on the attack. In the 26th minute Guarisi raced towards goal but was held back. In the 33rd minute Octavio Fantoni II shaved the post from an Alejandro De Maria cross. In the 39th minute a cutting through ball by Guarisi teed up Leonizio Fantoni III in front of goal and the Brazilian beat Gianni from close range. The goal however was disallowed as the referee claimed Fantoni had handballed in the build-up.

The goal came anyway a few minutes later. In the 43rd minute Buscaglia passed to Demaria whose powerful strike beat Gianni, 2-1.

Lazio led at half time. After a difficult start the Biancocelesti had reacted well and were deservedly in front. The game from now on was played in light but steady rain.

In the second half Lazio started from where they had left off. Following a Gasperi blunder Buscaglia went close and then Gianni saved efforts by Guarisi and Fantoni II. It was then De Maria's turn to waste another couple of good chances.

The third goal finally came in the 53rd minute. A brilliant Buscaglia shot came back off the post but reached Guarisi who controlled the ball and beat Gianni, 3-1.

In the 57th minute Lazio went close to a fourth. De Maria ran unmarked towards goal but was held back by the arm, the referee however saw nothing and the chance went missing.

From then on, the game changed. Lazio suddenly pulled back while Bologna, who had seemed finished, managed to regroup.

In the 60th and 62nd minutes Sclavi saved efforts by Maini and Schiavio and in the 65th Bologna scored. A good team move allowed Francisco Fedulla to fire in from close range, 3-2 and game on.

In the 68th minute Fedulla put in a seemingly innocuous cross but Sclavi was out of position and the ball went over him and into the goal, 3-3.

The game then went into a dull phase in which neither team appeared to know whether to attack or defend.

The game only came alive again in the last ten minutes when Lazio decided to push for a winner. Gianni made saves on Fantoni III (36'), Pedro Rizzetti (43') and Guarisi (41', 45') but the draw stood until the end.

An entertaining and clean game ended 3-3. Lazio had thrown away the win. They had things under control but a combination of mental relaxation and physical difficulties in midfield (Mario Tonali in particular had faded) had allowed the visitors back into the game.

Lazio were now joint 7th with Napoli on 17 points while Bologna were still joint 3rd but now with Fiorentina on 19 points.

Who played for Lazio

Sclavi, Bertagni, Serafini, Rizzetti, Tonali, Fantoni II, Guarisi, Fantoni I, Fantoni III, Buscaglia, Demaria