Europe discovers Chinaglia

Dag Jenkins

Sep 18, 2022

3 min read

Season 1973-74

Round of 64, First Leg, UEFA Cup

Wednesday, September 19, 1973

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio - Sion 3-0

A hat-trick by Long John gives Lazio comfortable European debut

Today's game was the first round of the UEFA Cup against Sion from Switzerland. In reality it was the round of 64.

Sion from Switzerland had finished 3rd in the Swiss top flight under Yugoslavian manager Miroslav Blažević. The Rouge et Blanc, formed in 1909, had won one Swiss Cup in 1964-65. This season however they were in the penultimate position.

Lazio should be considered strong favourites if they could get over their nerves for this European debut.

The match

A fresh evening after morning rain saw 35,000 gather at the Olimpico.

Lazio had no real absences apart from injured defender Mario Facco.

Lazio's objective was to win by at least two goals and after only two minutes were halfway there. Luciano Re Cecconi played Giorgio Chinaglia down the right near the byline and "Long John" tried a scooped shot anyway which took Jean-Claude Donze by surprise and ended up in the roof of the net, 1-0. An ideal start.

Giorgione was on fire and the Swiss had problems containing him. A few minutes after the opener he went past four defenders but this time Donze blocked his strike.

The Swiss then had a foray up front but an Edmond Isoz header went wide.

In the 9th minute Renzo Garlaschelli missed a sitter on a good Pierpaolo Manservisi cross.

In the 22nd minute Lazio were awarded a penalty as Milenko Bajic instinctively punched away a Re Cecconi cross. Chinaglia hit a low shot to Donze's right, 2-0.

Three minutes later Bajic was at fault again as he blatantly tripped Chinaglia in the area. The striker brought up in Wales smashed the spotkick under the crossbar, 3-0.

In the 26th minute Manservisi limped off with a muscular strain and was replaced by Fausto Inselvini.

Sion tried to organise some attacks especially with their more quality players Günther Hermann and Umberto Barberis but never really threatened. Lazio had a few more attempts by Garlaschelli and Franco Nanni. Halftime: Lazio 3 Sion 0.

In the second half Lazio predictably slowed down the pace.

In the 55th minute Nanni teed up Garlaschelli but his cracking strike went just wide.

In the 62nd minute Garlaschelli failed to control an inviting Mario Frustalupi assist and a minute later Re Cecconi tried his luck from long range but was off target.

In the 64th minute came the Swiss' only real shot on goal of the whole game. Jean Yves Valentini crossed and Serge Trinchero hit a good low shot but Felice Pulici was reactive and saved.

In the 70th minute Chinaglia galloped off again leaving opponents behind him, he was eventually tackled by Hermann but the German then inadvertently gave the ball back to Long John who was taken by surprise and missed the opportunity.

The game had gone a bit flat but in the 75th minute Vincenzo D'Amico came on for Nanni. A minute later Sion took off forward Fernand Luisier and brought on Verger.

D'Amico, with fresh legs and keen to try and convince Maestrelli to include him in future starting XI's, livened up the game again.

The Latina-born midfielder set up Luigi Martini who shot wide from a favourable position and then Garlaschelli but his effort was cleared near the goalline by Trinchero with the keeper beaten.

Lazio had more chances with a Chinaglia free kick and Garlaschelli.

In the meantime the Swiss took off Isoz and introduced Spanish midfielder Alvaro López.

In the 90th minute the "Golden Boy" then decided to try and let Chinaglia get his fourth. He jiggled past two opponents and put through a perfect low pass to Giorgione who bolted forward but was hacked down just as he was about to shoot. The referee however incredibly gestured to play on, probably thinking a third penalty was too much, despite the fact it was just as blatant as the first two.

Not to worry, with a three goal lead Lazio could head up to Sion with optimism.

With Chinaglia in this form Lazio could probably have scored more but 3-0 up in 25 minutes they seemed to prefer to control the game and save energy for upcoming games.

Sion were well organised and had some decent players but had been let down by a terrible defence and in particular a nightmarish performance by Yugoslavian Bajic.

The return game was in two weeks time, on October 3.

Who played for Lazio

Pulici, Petrelli, Martini, Wilson, Oddi, Nanni (75' D'Amico), Garlaschelli, Re Cecconi, Chinaglia, Frustalupi, Manservisi (26' Inselvini)