Fantoni I gives precious win to Lazio

Simon Basten
Oct 13, 2023
3 min read

Season 1934-35

Game 3, Serie A

Sunday, October 14, 1934

Stadio PNF, Rome

Lazio Bologna 2-1

A Fantoni I goal in the final minutes allows Lazio to win a very difficult match

The Biancocelesti had played two games so far demolishing Livorno 6-1 in the first match at home and losing 2-1 at Trieste in the second.

The match

Bologna won the toss and chose to play with the sun at their backs, but it was Lazio who started strongly, pressing immediately and forcing three early corners by the 6th minute—though none yielded a goal. Bologna responded with a promising run from Angelo Schiavio, called offside, and an Aldo Spivach cross, intercepted by Armando Bertagni.

Silvio Piola tested goalkeeper Mario Gianni with the first serious chance of the match, but Bologna quickly countered with a sharp passing move between Rafael Sansone, Francisco Fedullo, and Schiavio. The Bologna attack shifted left but was cut off by Giacomo Blason, who narrowly deflected a cross aimed at the onrushing Spivach.

Bologna increased their attacking pressure and Blason twice blocked shots from Fedullo. Lazio continued to press, winning additional corners in the 10th and 20th minutes, though Antonio Bisigato’s second cross went wide.

Bologna had a golden chance when Schiavio broke free from Armando Del Debbio and fired at goal. Blason saved but failed to hold onto the ball, allowing Schiavio a second attempt—only for him to misjudge the angle and miss from just a metre out.

The deadlock finally broke in the 28th minute. After a surge by Gerardo Ottani, Bertagni passed the ball back to the keeper almost causing an own goal. Blason managed to parry but the rebound fell to Ottani in the penalty area, who calmly slotted it in with a powerful shot for Bologna’s first goal.

Lazio’s defence was rattled, with Blason kept busy. In the 31st minute, Schiavio’s header hit the outside of the net. Once past this difficult period, Lazio began to fight back. Piola, assisted by Virgillio Felice Levratto, slipped past Dino Fiorini and Aldo Donati to shoot—but missed.

The equaliser came in the 40th minute. Felice Gasperi’s foul allowed Ottavio Fantoni II to take a free kick, which Bisigato crossed to Anfilogino Guarisi. Gasperi tried to head the ball away, but it reached Piola, who powered a header into the net. Fedullo briefly left the pitch after a clash but Lazio pressed on. A near chance came from a position swap between Joao Fantoni I and Guarisi, though Filò’s shot went wide. The first half ended with Levratto’s run stopped for offside.

The second half opened with Bologna pressing, but their early long-range attempts were easily saved, and one attacking move was called offside. Blason made several saves early on, including from a corner and a Del Debbio header. Filò broke through but handled the ball when trying to adjust it, nullifying the attack. Mario Montesanto hit the post from a free kick in the 51st minute, and Bisigato missed another opportunity shortly after.

Gradually, Lazio began to dominate. Piola’s dazzling solo runs troubled Bologna’s full-backs, while the crowd protested for a questionable offside. Lazio created several chances: Giuseppe Viani’s header from a corner was saved, Guarisi’s shot was off target while at the other end a quick counter by Bologna nearly saw Sansone score. Donati’s timely intervention thwarted another dangerous threat.

As Lazio pushed forward, Bologna pressed repeatedly, taking advantage of Lazio’s advanced full-backs. The game became fast-paced and open, with dangerous switches of play from both sides. After the 75th minute, Bologna renewed their attacks, keeping Blason busy.

Lazio refused to relent. Position changes were constant, and both sides looked set to score. In the 83rd minute, Ottani sent a long-range effort well over the goal, exciting the crowd. A minute later, Guarisi’s perfect cross found Piola, but Gianni came out decisively to intercept.

The breakthrough came late: after Corsi handled the ball near Piola, Filò took a free kick just outside the box. Bologna formed a wall, but Guarisi feinted and passed to the unmarked Fantoni I, who fired a precise shot into the net, leaving Gianni wrong-footed.

That goal proved decisive. Bologna rushed forward in the final minutes, winning two free kicks, but Blason was never seriously tested again. Lazio held on for a hard-fought victory.

Who played for Lazio

Blason, Bertagni, Del Debbio, Ferraris IV, Viani, Fantoni II, Guarisi, Fantoni I, Piola, Bisigato, Levratto