Lacklustre draw

Simon Basten
Oct 11, 2023
2 min read

Season 1975-76

Game 2, Serie A

Sunday, October 12, 1975

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Inter 1-1

Lazio and Inter draw a game which did not offer much

So far, the Biancocelesti had played one Serie A fixture away to Sampdoria winning 1-0 thanks to young debutant Bruno Giordano who scored in the dying seconds of the match. Today game two at the Olimpico against Inter.

The match

In the sixth minute, Giuseppe Pavone delivered a golden opportunity to Roberto Boninsegna, but the centre-forward hesitated as he tried to control the ball, wasting the moment for a shot. Moments later, Felice Pulici was called into action again to deny Boninsegna, who had been released in front of goal after a clever exchange between Pavone and Sandro Mazzola.

Then, against the run of play, Lazio took a surprising lead in the 16th minute. Giacinto Facchetti was forced to stop a surging Giorgio Chinaglia, who had broken free from Graziano Bini’s marking. The foul came right on the edge of the box, in a central position. Chinaglia struck low, the ball glided past a poorly positioned wall, caught Lido Vieri off guard, and nestled in the net.

Inter responded with authority, urged forward by the ever-influential Mazzola. Bruno Giordano dropped deep to help in defence and was booked for a foul in the 17th minute. Soon after came the equaliser: Mazzola was fouled by Paolo Ammoniaci near the by-line, barely three metres from the area. From the ensuing free kick, Mazzola found Mario Bertini, whose shot was deflected into the net by Facchetti’s right foot. Pulici had no chance — 1–1 in the 22nd minute.

The match then drifted without much rhythm or creativity. Lazio pressed but lacked imagination and flair. Bini received a yellow card in the 37th minute for a foul on Chinaglia, and shortly afterward Giordano, limping from an ankle knock, was replaced by Toto Lopez — a technically refined player, though less dynamic than the man he replaced.

Just before halftime, Lazio nearly reclaimed the lead. Once again from a free kick, Chinaglia forced a fine save from Vieri, who punched the ball clear. Francesco Brignani followed up and shot on goal, but Vieri reacted superbly to parry again.

The second half brought more of the same — flashes of promise, but little precision. Boninsegna squandered two clear chances in the 50th and 51st minutes, while Brignani missed the best of Lazio’s opportunities, failing to convert a perfect pass from Luciano Re Cecconi in the 67th.

The game ended even — 1–1 — and, for once, without controversy.

Who played for Lazio

Pulici, Ammoniaci, Martini, Wilson, Ghedin, Re Cecconi, Garlaschelli, Brignani, Chinaglia, Badiani, Giordano (39’ Lopez)