Double spot kick joy

Dag Jenkins
May 21, 2023
3 min read

Season 1971-72

Game 34, Serie B

Sunday, May 21, 1972

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Modena 2-1

Two Chinaglia penalties give Lazio fundamental comeback win over Modena. First game for Vincenzo D'Amico.

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 41 points after 15 wins, 11 draws (including Modena 0-0) and 7 defeats. Giorgio Chinaglia had scored 16 league goals. Lazio came from a 0-1 defeat in Perugia followed by a 1-1 home draw against Taranto. Time to win again as 4th placed Reggiana and Como were only a point behind.

Modena were currently bottom of the table, on 19 points and six from safety (Reggina and Monza on 25). The Gialloblu had won 5, drawn 9 and lost 19. Their last game was a 0-1 home defeat to Livorno in a possibly decisive relegation clash.

A game today in which for Lazio nothing other than a win would be a major setback. For Modena it was desperation time, or now or never.

The match

A sunny and warm day attracted just under 30,000 spectators to the Olimpico. Many were attracted by the announced debut of potential rising star Vincenzo D'Amico up from the U-19s.

Lazio were missing forward Alessandro Abbondanza and attacking midfielder Giuliano Fortunato hence the debut of the young lad from Latina (just south of Rome).

Modena were without several players: goalkeeper Paolo Conti, defender Angelo Lodi, midfielder Rubén Merighi and forward Giordano Galli.

Lazio predictably started aggressively. The Modena keeper Renato Piccoli was kept busy with two dangerous shots and Giorgio Chinaglia then hit a post.

In the 23rd minute, however, the visiting Canaries unexpectedly took the lead. An Ivan Vecchi-Fabrizio Boccolari one-two combination sent the former racing towards goal but he had been a least a metre off side when the second pass was made. The Lazio defenders Pino Wilson and Mario Facco put their arms up to confirm this view. The referee however incredibly gestured to play on and Vecchi ran forward and scored, 0-1.

The referee must have been thinking over his mistake as six minutes later he conceded a non-existent penalty to Lazio. Giuseppe Massa fell in the area but was not touched by defender Giovanni Simonini. The crowd laughed and the visitors protested but the decision stood.

Lazio accepted the gift and Chinaglia put away the spot kick, 1-1.

Only a minute passed and Lazio were awarded another penalty, this time a legitimate one. Chinaglia went past Paolo Petraz who clearly pulled Long John down. Giorgione struck a central shot to put Lazio in front, 2-1.

Lazio controlled the game without any problems and reached the break a goal up.

During the interval the fans were entertained by an 800-metre athletics race featuring Italian star Franco Arese.

In the second half the Biancocelesti attacked but with intelligence, never risking to be caught out on the counterattack.

Lazio had several more chances but Paolo Conti's replacement Piccoli had an excellent game and denied Massa, Gigi Martini and Chinaglia several times.

Lazio saw out the game and Claudio Bandoni never had to make any real saves. It was not a spectacular performance by Lazio but efficient, mature and above all successful. Final score: Lazio 2 Modena 1

The young boy from Latina had impressed with his dribbling skills, and his quick one-touch movements. A positive debut.

Lazio were still 3rd, on 43 points. Leaders Ternana had drawn, as had Reggiana while Como and Palermo had won. The table now read: Ternana 44, Palermo 44, Lazio 43, Como 42, Reggiana 41.

With four games to go it was all still open for the three promotion slots.

Modena looked doomed. The Gialloblu were now even further from survival, seven points. The table read: Modena 19, Sorrento 20, Livorno 24, Reggina 26, Monza 26. With three relegation slots only a miracle could save the Emiliani now.

Who played for Lazio

Bandoni, Facco, Papadopulo, Wilson, Polentes, Martini, Massa, Nanni, Chinaglia, Moschino (68' Facchin), D'Amico