Unbeatable Castellini

Simon Basten
Dec 24, 2023
2 min read

Season 1972-73

Game 12, Serie A

Sunday December 24, 1972

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Torino 0-0

Lazio play well, create numerous chances but Castellini was a brick wall

Lazio were surprisingly second with one game in hand, just one point off leaders Inter. They had yet to lose a game and had won the derby and drawn both against Inter and Juventus.

The match

A festival of wasted opportunities. Lazio were held to a draw mainly by the lack of precision in attack and the incredible saves by Luciano Castellini.

The Granata keeper, nicknamed the Jaguar for his agility between the posts, miraculously saved a number of chances in the first half, first on a massive whack from Franco Nanni on a free kick. Then in the 28th minute Pierpaolo Manservisi did manage to get round the Jaguar but squandered the chance despite the open goal opportunity.

In the second half in the 58th minute referee Luciano Giunti gave Lazio a penalty for a foul on Giorgio Chinaglia by Giorgio Ferrini. Long John decided to change direction in the last second and Castellini was superb in saving the spot kick.

As Torino tired, the Biancoceleste attack pressed even harder but Castellini was in a state of grace. He saved a Nanni shot, got up and parried Manservisi’s attempted tap in, Sergio Petrelli tried once more but Roberto Mozzini on the line was not to be beaten.

An unlucky day for the Biancocelesti but getting the ball past Castellini was impossible. At least Lazio were now top of the table together with Inter and Juventus.

Who played for Lazio

F.Pulici, Facco, Martini (59’ Petrelli), Wilson, Oddi, Nanni, Garlaschelli, Re Cecconi, Chinaglia, Frustalupi, Manservisi