Rozzoni brace wipes out relegation fears

Dag Jenkins
May 29, 2024
3 min read

Season 1959-60

Game 33, Serie A

Sunday, May 29, 1960

Stadio Flaminio, Rome

Lazio-Padova 2-0

A goal per half by the Lombard striker means Lazio are officially safe

Lazio had got off to a satisfactory start in the league and had earned two 1-1 away draws (Bologna and Inter) and beaten Udinese and Vicenza, both 2-1 at home. Then, however, the problems started with two defeats, the derby 0-3 and Juventus 0-2 at home. Since then Lazio had won 6, drawn 9 and lost 11 (including Padova 0-2 and the second derby 0-1). The Biancocelesti were currently joint 12th, with Udinese, Napoli and Bari, on 27 points, only two above Palermo in the last relegation position. On the positive side four of these wins had come in the last nine games including Genoa 4-2 away a week earlier.

This season Padova were currently in 5th position, on 35 points. The Euganei had won 14 (including Milan and Lazio 2-0 plus Inter 3-0 and Udinese 6-1 all at home) drawn 7 and lost 11.

Another positive season for the Veneti but Lazio were hoping they would come to Rome with few remaining motivations. The Biancocelesti on the other hand needed points to avoid any nasty surprises.

The match

A hot sunny day for Lazio's last home game of the season attracted just under 30,000 to the Flaminio. A sell-out crowd to push the Biancocelesti towards safety.

Lazio were missing defender Giovanni Molino and attacking midfielder Maurilio Prini.

Padova had several absences, forwards Marino Perani, Mario Tortul and top scorer Sergio Brighenti. Practically the whole attack.

Lazio assaulted the Padova area from the word go. The goalkeeper Antonio Pin was called into action on shots by Orlando Rozzoni and Claudio Bizzarri.

The visitors "catenaccio" however initially limited Lazio's actual goal scoring attempts despite their dominance.

In the 22nd minute a Bruno Franzini-Franco Carradori combination freed Ugo Pozzan for a cross to Rozzoni whose header shaved the post. The striker was denied by the keeper two minutes later when Pin blocked his shot on the goal line.

Padova had a shot on goal in the 25th minute but Idilio Cei stopped Celestino Celio's long-range effort.

In the 26th minute Lazio scored. Clemente Mattei went through the defence and teed up Rozzoni whose cross-goal shot was unstoppable. Lazio 1 Padova 0. The visitors complained of a Mattei handball in the build-up but the referee was uninterested.

Lazio continued to be on top and in the 40th minute Pozzan went close but hit the side netting.

Padova stirred just before halftime but Cei acrobatically saved a Giuseppe Cosma attempt. 1-0 at the break.

The second half was more balanced but the bigger chances fell to Lazio. In the 55th minute Mattei hit a post and in the 69th an excellent save by Pin denied a powerful Bizzarri strike.

The goal that freed the crowd's enthusiasm finally came in the 78th minute. Carradori took a freekick which was punched away by Pin but reached Pozzan who promptly crossed into the middle where Rozzoni headed in. Lazio 2 Padova 0. The Lazio fans went wild, the goal most likely meant Serie A football for another year.

Lazio almost made it three in the 87th minute but Egidio Fumagalli's header came back off the post. Two or three made no difference the important was the win. Final score Lazio 2 Padova 0.

A crucial win for Lazio who had played with determination and desire. They had needed and wanted the win more than an already satisfied Padova who had key players missing too.

Lazio were officially safe. Palermo had drawn 1-1 away at Genoa so were now three points behind with one game to go.

A difficult season was almost over with Lazio constantly hovering just above the relegation zone but it had ended well and the Flaminio celebrated at length.

Who played for Lazio

Cei, Lo Buono, Del Gratta, Carradori, Janich, Fumagalli, Bizzarri, Pozzan, Rozzoni, Franzini, Mattei