Eagles enjoy first half Cacciucco feast

Dag Jenkins
Apr 23, 2023
3 min read

Season 1971-72

Game 30, Serie B

Sunday, April 23, 1972

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio-Livorno 3-1

Three goals in the first 32 minutes mean Lazio win is never in doubt

Lazio had a decent start to the season and now going into the final straight were still up among the frontrunners for the promotion places. Lazio were 3rd, on 36 points after 13 wins (including Livorno 1-0), 10 draws and 6 defeats. Lazio were unbeaten since February 27 and came from a 1-0 home win against promotion rivals Reggiana who they had overtaken to gain 3rd place.

Livorno were in trouble at the moment. The Amaranto were 18th on 17 points and five points from safety (Monza on 22). They had won 4, drawn 9 and lost 16. Their most recent game was a 0-0 home draw against Palermo while their last win was on February 20 (Monza 1-0 at home).

Lazio were clear favourites today. Livorno were fighting for their lives but the Biancocelesti on paper were far superior.

The match

A grey, dry day but previous rain had left the pitch a little heavy. There was a crowd of about 25,000 in attendance.

Lazio had to do without midfielder Franco Nanni while Livorno were missing defenders Bruno Baiardo and Vittorio Calvani, midfielder Zino Zani and forward Marco Achilli.

Lazio came out of the blocks firing. Giuseppe Massa presented himself in front of Roberto Gori but the Tuscan-born keeper dived at his feet and averted the danger.

A few minutes later however Lazio scored. In the 7th minute Giorgio Chinaglia raced down the right, beating two defenders and then squared to Mario Facco who with the inside of his foot put the ball past Gori, 1-0.

Lazio insisted and first had a Chinaglia goal disallowed and then Giambattista Moschino missed a favourable chance.

On the half hour mark however, Lazio got their second. Moschino put forward a good through ball which Massa ran on to and chipped Gori coming off his line, 2-0.

Two minutes later the game was practically over. In the 32nd minute Giuliano Fortunato slalomed his way into the box and was tripped by Mauro Vaiani for a clear penalty. Chinaglia took it and sent the keeper the wrong way, 3-0.

For the first time in the season the fans started to chant the magic words "Serie A, Serie A".

Lazio were not fully satisfied yet and Gori had to make good saves on Fortunato and Massa to limit the score line.

For the second period the Tuscans changed a forward and brought on Angelo Raffaeli who replaced Ulisse Gualtieri.

Lazio started the second half on the attack too and had more chances but then gradually started to ease off.

In the 61st minute the visitors pulled a goal back. Vaiani crossed and the Lazio defenders lost Giorgio Blasig who headed past Claudio Bandoni, 3-1. The keeper's 580-minute unbeaten record was over.

Five minutes later Lazio made their one and only substitution replacing Fortunato with Carlo Facchin.

The win was never in doubt although the Mullets went close again late on when a Blasig effort was just wide.

Lazio too could have increased their lead but a Chinaglia goal was ruled out due to Massa being offside. Final score: Lazio 3 Livorno 1.

Lazio had blown Livorno away in the first half and then slowed down the pace without risking excessively. The Lazio players were applauded off the field to the shouts of "Tutti a Salerno" (Everyone to Salerno), the venue of Lazio's next game away to Catania who were temporarily banned from playing at their Cibali ground.

Lazio were still 3rd, on 38 points, but now two points ahead of 4th placed Reggiana, who had drawn 1-1 at Arezzo.

Livorno were now 19th, on 17 points with Sorrento. The last safety slot had moved another point away, now 6 (Monza on 23).

Who played for Lazio

Bandoni, Facco, Papadopulo, Wilson, Polentes, Martini, Massa, Fortunato (66' Facchin), Chinaglia, Moschino, Abbondanza