Chinaglia Double Seals Lazio Victory Over Sassolese
Pre Season Friendly
Tuesday, August 14, 1973
Campo Sportivo Comunale, Pievepelago
Lazio Sassolese 2-0
In difficulty for most of the match on a water logged pitch, Lazio rely on Chinaglia and Pulici to beat fourth tier Sassolese
Lazio were currently doing their pre season training at Pievepelago near Modena. They had been there since August 2 and would stay until the 16th. Today was the first friendly against fourth tier Sassolese.
The match
Giorgio Chinaglia scored twice as Lazio defeated Sassolese 2-0 in a rain-soaked pre-season friendly at Pievepelago on 14 August 1973. The scoreline was modest, but the match provided Tommaso Maestrelli with a useful examination of his team as they continued preparations for the new season.
Played against a determined Sassolese side, the match was delayed by around 20 minutes after a torrential downpour left the pitch waterlogged. The conditions made fluent football difficult, but Lazio were nevertheless given a more demanding test than might normally be expected from a match against a team from Serie D.
Indeed, it was Lazio goalkeeper Felice Pulici who emerged as one of the outstanding performers.
The Biancocelesti had been expected to dominate, but Sassolese proved an organised and competitive opponent, playing with the intensity and tactical discipline of a side preparing for a league campaign rather than a pre-season friendly. Their approach created problems for Lazio, particularly in the first half, and Pulici was forced into a series of important saves.
Lazio, meanwhile, were still experimenting with their attacking approach.
Maestrelli was attempting to introduce some variations to the tactical patterns that had served the team so well the previous season, with Chinaglia being asked to operate in a slightly different position. The striker was pushed forward but did not always make the horizontal movements required to exploit the spaces around the Sassolese defence.
The result was a somewhat disjointed attacking performance.
Chinaglia, Renzo Garlaschelli and Pierpoalo Manservisi struggled at times to find the necessary space, while the difficult playing surface made passing and movement even more challenging. The Lazio attack was also still adapting to the new ideas being introduced by Maestrelli, with the players having been in preparation for only 12 days.
Nevertheless, Chinaglia quickly made his presence felt.
After 14 minutes, Garlaschelli was brought down inside the penalty area, giving Lazio the opportunity to take the lead from the spot. Chinaglia stepped forward and confidently sent a low shot beyond the goalkeeper to make it 1-0.
The goal did not change the nature of the contest.
Sassolese continued to play with impressive determination and caused Lazio's defence a number of problems. Pulici was particularly alert, diving low to turn a dangerous free-kick from Balestri around the post after eight minutes.
He was called into action again ten minutes later, when he managed to hold onto a difficult, powerful effort from Ruggeri on the slippery surface.
The goalkeeper then produced his best moment of the first half shortly before the interval. Bulgarelli found himself in a dangerous position and appeared to have a clear opportunity to score, but Pulici reacted quickly to snatch the ball away from his feet.
At the other end, Lazio were struggling to create the kind of clear chances expected from a team of their quality.
Garlaschelli was finding it difficult to execute his usual combinations, while Luciano Re Cecconi was still short of his best physical condition. Gigi Martini, meanwhile, was also lacking match fitness and occasionally drifted into central areas, creating some confusion in Lazio's midfield structure.
The visitors' most consistent performer in the middle of the pitch was Mario Frustalupi.
The experienced midfielder worked tirelessly despite conditions that were far from ideal for a player whose game was based on technique and precision. He was involved in both breaking up Sassolese attacks and starting Lazio's own, providing the team with a platform from which to build.
The second half brought a series of changes.
Maestrelli introduced Fausto Inselvini, Ferruccio Mazzola and Vincenzo D'Amico, and the changes gave Lazio greater energy. Inselvini, in particular, immediately impressed. Operating down the right flank, he repeatedly surged forward with powerful runs, delivering accurate crosses and linking effectively with his teammates.
He also demonstrated his defensive qualities, recovering quickly whenever possession was lost and regularly winning the ball back.
It was a performance that suggested he could provide serious competition for a place in the starting XI.
Lazio continued to search for a second goal, but Sassolese remained stubborn. Their goalkeeper Bandieri also impressed, while the visitors' defensive organisation made it difficult for the Biancocelesti to find a way through.
At the other end, Pulici remained Lazio's insurance policy.
Nine minutes into the second half, he produced another outstanding save, throwing himself at a close-range effort from Barbieri and managing to repel the shot with his fists.
The performance was a considerable improvement on the previous season's concerns surrounding the goalkeeper. Pulici had once been regarded with some uncertainty, but his display at Pievepelago showed how much progress he had made.
Lazio eventually sealed the victory in the final minute.
A corner from Re Cecconi was sent into the crowded penalty area, and Chinaglia reacted quickest in the ensuing scramble to find the net for his second goal of the afternoon.
It was an appropriate conclusion to a match in which Lazio's most important player had once again made the difference.
Yet his two goals also demonstrated his importance.
Once again, Lazio's most influential player had provided the decisive contribution.
The final score of 2-0 was perhaps less convincing than expected, but the result itself was not the most important aspect of the afternoon. The match had given Maestrelli an opportunity to identify areas that still required work before the competitive season began.
Who played for Lazio
Pulici, Facco, Martini, Wilson, Oddi, Nanni (46' Inselvini), Garlaschelli, Re Cecconi, Chinaglia, Frustalupi (46' Mazzola II), Manservisi (46' D'Amico)
Manager: Maestrelli
Who played for Sassolese
Bandieri, Ceccardi, Bottazzi, Ghechi, Sesena, Ferrari (46' Parenti), Fruggeri (46' Casoli), Balestri (46' Monica), Carlini, Barbieri (Lizzari), Bulgarelli (46' Azzini)
Referee: Gibellini
Goals: 14’ Chinaglia (pen), 90’ Chinaglia
Sources
Comments