Game 18, Serie B
Sunday, January 23, 1972
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Genoa 2-0
An early Chinaglia penalty and a late goal by Massa give Lazio two points after a tough game.
Lazio had a decent start to the season and were up among the frontrunners for the promotion places. They had won 9, drawn 4 and lost 4, so had 22 points
The match
It was a grey day in Rome and the pitch was slightly heavy due to the recent rains. A crowd of 25,000 turned up at the Olimpico.
When Lazio's team was announced there were two surprises; firstly, Rosario Di Vincenzo was back in goal after several months and secondly, Luigi Martini had recovered after suffering all week from tooth problems.
After a cautious start by both teams the score line changed in the 8th minute. Giorgio Chinaglia was brought down in the area, after a one-two with Giuseppe Massa, and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Chinaglia took charge of the spot kick and sent Antonio Leonardi the wrong way to give Lazio an early lead.
Lazio on a high continued to go forward and had further chances with a Massa bicycle kick and a Chinaglia shot. Genoa showed some signs of life in the 23rd minute with an effort by Speggiorin, but it was Lazio who came closer to scoring with Massa arriving millimetres short of a perfect cross from the left. At halftime Lazio deservedly led 1-0.
The second half would be a different story. Genoa started to attack with more conviction and had several chances to equalise. After only two minutes, Di Vincenzo pulled off an excellent save from a Attilio Perotti shot. Shortly after, a Di Vincenzo acrobatic dive denied a Manera shot deflected by Giancarlo Oddi. Lazio's midfield disappeared and Genoa dominated. In the 57th minute, Vincenzo Traspedini went close and a few minutes later he was blocked just before scoring. Genoa looked as if they could equalise any moment, to add to Lazio's problems Chinaglia went off injured with ten minutes to go.
In the 81st minute, however, Lazio doubled their lead. A quick free kick by Giambattista Moschino was picked up by Massa who cut into the centre and beat the keeper coming off his line. A liberation after so much pressure, Lazio 2 Genoa 0.
There was still time for a Simoni header, an effort by Ramon Turone and a Franco Nanni shot before the final whistle.
Not a vintage performance by Lazio, but they defended well and soaked up long periods of Genoa dominance before striking the final blow.
Thanks to the third and fourth placed teams only drawing, Lazio went up to second position, only two points behind leaders Ternana. The promotion race was on.
Who played for Lazio
Di Vincenzo, Papadopulo, Oddi, Wilson, Polentes, Martini, Massa, Abbondanza, Chinaglia (80' Nanni), Moschino, Facchin
Substitutes: Trombin
Manager: Maestrelli
Who played for Genoa
Lonardi, Manera, Rossetti, Bittolo, Benini, Turone, Perotti, Maselli, Traspedini, Simoni, W.Speggiorin
Substitutes: Buffon, F.Ferrari
Manager: Silvestri
Referee: Panzino
Goals: 8' Chinaglia (pen), 81' Massa
Sources
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