A Noble Farewell to a Historic Season

Simon Basten
Jul 12, 2025
3 min read

Season 1913-14

National Final, Second Leg

Sunday, July 12, 1914

Stadio Nazionale, Rome

Lazio Casale 0-2

The Biancocelesti produced a fine performance, pushing Casale all the way at the Stadio Nazionale before eventually succumbing 2–0 in the second leg of the 1913–14 national final.

The two teams together. Source Lazio Wiki

Lazio had reached the national final for the second year running.

It was clear to everybody that Casale were way stronger than the Biancocelesti and this is exactly what happened. The Piedmontese won 7-1 in the first leg. Lazio battled well for 45 minutes but crumbled in second half. Today was the second leg and the Biancocelesti had something to prove.

The match

Lazio redeemed themselves after the heavy defeat suffered in the first leg by standing up to Casale's superiority and producing an effective, enterprising display. Indeed, this result was a far more accurate reflection of the difference between the two sides than the crushing 7–1 defeat in Casale.

Played at the Stadio Nazionale before a large crowd despite the sweltering heat, and in the presence of the Mayor of Rome, Ernesto Nathan, and Deputy Mayor Apolloni, the match saw Lazio seeking redemption while Casale aimed to confirm their superiority. Unfortunately, the Biancocelesti were without their influential player Camillo Bona. Casale, meanwhile, were missing Giovanni Gallina II and Luigi Barbesino but welcomed back Attilio Maggiani.

The Piedmontese failed to live up to their formidable reputation. Their style of play was far from flawless and certainly no better than that of the Biancocelesti. Ultimately, it was only the visitors' greater physical strength that determined the final outcome. Lazio came into the match exhausted after a long and gruelling championship campaign, yet they fought courageously and made Casale work hard for victory. They rediscovered the spirit and verve that had once made them worthy rivals of Italy's finest teams. Throughout the first half they matched the celebrated Piedmontese champions stride for stride, and the two goals they conceded scarcely reflected the balance of play.

Casale kicked off and immediately launched an attack, but Lazio defended magnificently before mounting a series of dangerous raids on the visitors' goal. The goalkeeper was called upon to save first from Corrado Corelli and then from Fernando Saraceni and Marcello Consiglio. Play remained lively and evenly contested. With precise, well-judged passing, Lazio's forward line repeatedly worked its way into dangerous positions. In the 30th minute, a sweeping team move ended with Pietro Ravetti forcing the ball home from a goalmouth scramble, although the goal appeared to have been scored from a clear offside position.

Far from being discouraged, Lazio continued to attack with great determination while defending with remarkable precision and courage against Casale's sustained pressure. The visitors' goalkeeper was again forced into action to stop a powerful effort from Consiglio. Although disappointed to fall behind, the Roman champions continued to search for an equaliser, even if Casale remained dangerous on the counter-attack.

The second half began with Lazio throwing all their remaining energy into attack, and more than one effort threatened the Casale goal. They were then forced back onto the defensive, where the excellence of their rear-guard became evident. Augusto Faccani, Camillo Monetti, Mario Levi, Angelo Zucchi and Pino Fioranti were all outstanding, with Faccani in particular producing a series of magnificent interventions that earned repeated applause from the crowd.

Clemente Serventi also made three excellent saves, but he could do nothing in the 25th minute when Angelo Mattea collected the ball at the end of a flowing team move and beat him with an unstoppable shot. The intensity of the match gradually faded thereafter, and the score remained unchanged until the final whistle.

It was however a great achievement for Lazio who were clearly the strongest team in the centre-south, but from a footballing point of view these clubs were still miles away from the rich northern ones and would be for quite some time.

Who played for Lazio

Serventi, Levi II, Monetti, Di Napoli I, Faccani, Zucchi II, Saraceni I, Maranghi, Consiglio, Fioranti, Corelli