Semifinal!!!!

Simon Basten
May 4, 2022
3 min read

Season 1923-24

Play Off, First Division, Southern League, Lazio Group

Sunday, May 4, 1924

Campo Due Pini, Rome

Lazio Fortitudo 2-0

By beating Fortitudo in the playoff Lazio reach the semifinals

For the 1923-24 season the First Division was divided into two geographical leagues: north and south. In the former the 24 teams were divided into two groups with the winners playing a final. In the South it was divided by region (Lazio, Campania, Puglia and Sicily). Then the top two teams in Lazio, Campania and Puglia would qualify for the semi-final stage with the Sicilian winner and Anconitana, the sole Marche representative. Two semi-final groups the winners of which would meet for the final.

The winners of both leagues would then clash for the National final.

The Lazio group saw a massive battle between Lazio, Alba and Fortitudo. Alba topped it by one point and the other two were forced to a playoff.

However, about two months after the last match of the South Lazio Group between Tivoli and Lazio—where the Biancocelesti lost 2–1—the referee of the game, Galassi, confided to some friends that, in the final phase of the match, despite having noticed a foul in Tivoli’s penalty area, he awarded Lazio a free kick from the edge of the box instead of the expected penalty. This decision was reportedly motivated by fear of retaliation from local supporters.

Lazio, through its official Alfredo Palmieri, having learned of this statement, submitted an appeal to the Regional Lazio Committee of the Federation, requesting the annulment and a replay of the match. The request, in addition to aiming to correct a clear technical error, was intended to avoid the playoff with Fortitudo. In the event of a replay, a draw would have been enough for Lazio to secure sole possession of second place.

At its meeting on April 8, 1924, the Regional Lazio Committee rejected Lazio’s appeal, while assigning an investigative commission to proceed with inquiries regarding the conduct of referee Galassi.

Therefore the playoff was needed.

The match

Sunday was a busy day for football as Rome hosted the much-anticipated qualifier between Lazio and Fortitudo.

This match drew the most attention, partly because of the controversy leading up to it and partly because the two teams were seen as evenly matched. The game itself wasn’t especially spectacular, but it was intense and hard-fought. Lazio came away with a clear win, showing themselves to be the stronger and more complete side, even if the overall flow of play suggested a fairly balanced contest.

The weaknesses shown by the blue team in their recent friendly against Audace—issues that had led many to favour Ulderico Bellucci’s red-and-blue side—had clearly not gone unnoticed by Lazio's coachng staff. They responded in the most effective way possible. The inclusion of Dante Filippi in the forward line proved decisive, giving the team a more cohesive and clinical attack when it mattered most.

Judging by the run of play, a 2–0 scoreline in Lazio’s favour might seem a bit flattering. Still, there’s no denying they deserved the victory. Fortitudo’s forwards failed to make the most of their chances, unlike Lazio, and that was the main reason for their defeat.

To be fair, Attilio Ferraris’ team did create several good opportunities. However, poor finishing and hesitation from the entire attacking line allowed Ezio Sclavi to keep a clean sheet. The most dangerous moves came from the wings, especially through Ferraris IV, who worked tirelessly to push his teammates forward in key moments. Both midfield lines performed their roles consistently: Fortitudo’s was more dynamic, largely thanks to Ferraris, while Lazio’s was solid and dependable, driven by Augusto Parboni’s relentless work rate.

Defensively, both sides lacked precision and composure at times, although they managed to recover well under pressure. Once again, Sclavi stood out, delivering an excellent performance without a single moment of uncertainty in goal.

Both goals were scored in the second half by Filippi and Fulvio Bernardini. In the first half, Antonio Bianchi missed a penalty.

Who played for Lazio

Sclavi, Saraceni I, Dosio, Nesi, Parboni, Fiorini, Fraschetti, Filippi, Bernardini, Saraceni II, Varini Manager: Baccani