Ziroli shows the way

Dag Jenkins
Jun 21, 2024
3 min read

Season 1930-31

Game 33, Serie A

Sunday, June 21, 1931

Stadio PNF, Rome

Lazio-Triestina 1-0

Both teams waste a series of chances before the Roman winger fires home three minutes from time

Lazio were currently in joint 10th position with Brescia. The Biancocelesti therefore were in a carefree mid-table situation. They had won 13 (including Milan 1-0 and Legnano 2-0 away, Juventus 2-1 and Inter 1-0 at home), drawn 5 (including Roma 1-1 and 2-2) and lost 14.

Triestina were 14th on 24 points. With two games to go they were already safe with a seven-point cushion on 17th placed Livorno on 17. The Rossoalarbardati had won 8 (including Ambrosiana Inter 5-0, Lazio 2-1, Milan 3-1 all at home), drawn 8 (including recent 1-1 at Legnano) and lost 16.

An end of season with not much to say for either side, but Lazio higher in the table and keen to try and possibly finish 8th.

The match

A hot and humid day brought just under 10,000 spectators to the P.N.F Stadium for a 5.35 p.m. kick-off. Today was the penultimate league fixture of the season but not Lazio's last home game.

Lazio were without winger Carlo Cevenini and forward Piero Pastore.

Triestina were missing goalkeeper Alessandro Bonetti and forward Gino Colaussi.

Lazio played in unusual Lilac shirts while Triestina played in their classic red.

The visiting "Muli" (Mules) had the upper hand in the first few minutes but Piero Pasinati and Renato De Manzano did not over trouble keeper Ezio Sclavi.

Lazio showed their faces in attack in the 4th minute and Luigi Ziroli tested Egidio Umer for the first time.

In the 8th minute Octavio Fantoni II went on a superb run but his initiative was then wasted by Gino Lamon. Lazio then had a series of corners but they produced nothing more than a Lamon header over the bar.

Both sides then had chances; a Mario Malatesta effort went just high and Pasinati threatened Sclavi following a Marino Furlani mistake.

Triestina then had a period of predominance with attempts by De Manzano saved and Bruno Castellani off target.

In the 26th minute Lazio stirred and Umer had to be alert on a Ziroli strike.

The visitors then took back control and in the 39th minute Sclavi saved on Nereo Rocco, in the 41st came out bravely on Pasinati and in the 42nd denied Rocco again.

In the 43rd minute Lazio had a sitter with Aldo Spivach who missed from close range with the keeper on the ground. The striker from Udine was imitated by Pasinati just before the referee blew for halftime, 0-0. Triestina would have been winning on points.

Lazio started the second half better and Spivach finally hit the target but Umer saved well. In the 51st minute João Fantoni I hit a shot wide following a counterattack, in the 52nd Ziroli did the same and in the 54th Umer blocked a Fantoni I attempt.

At this point Triestina reacted and came back into the game with force.

Sclavi was busy in the 57th minute on Rocco and in the 59th on De Manzano while in the 70th Orlando Tognotti headed away what looked like a sure goal by Pasinati.

Lazio interrupted the flow of play in the 75th minute but Umer showed feline qualities to deny a combination between the two Fantoni cousins.

In the 79th minute Lazio insisted but an inviting freekick by Ziroli was not exploited by Spivach. Umer was busy again in the 83rd minute following a corner.

Triestina then had a period of pressure in which, in the space of three minutes, Sclavi was called into action on Castellani and Rocco.

In the 87th came the breakthrough and it came for Lazio. Fantoni II fed Lamon who crossed, defender Lorenzo Gazzari messed up but so did Spivach, fortunately Ziroli resolved the comedy of errors and fired and unstoppable shot past Umer, 1-0.

Triestina were momentarily rattled and Lamon forced Umer to limit the damage.

In the last few minutes, the Alabardati regrouped and attacked. A De Manzano powerful strike was deflected into corner and then Tognotti walled a last Castellani effort. The referee Gama then whistled for full-time: Lazio 1 Triestina 0.

Not a bad game to be at the end of the season and with neither team having great motivations. Lazio had snatched the two points but the visitors had played well and a point each would have been fairer. Both sides had several goal-scoring chances but their forwards were wasteful. Luckily, for Lazio, Ziroli saved the day.

Lazio were now 8th, on 33 points with Modena.

Triestina were still 14th, on 24 points.

Who played for Lazio

Sclavi, Tognotti, Mattei II, Pardini, Furlani, Fantoni II, Ziroli, Fantoni I, Spivach, Malatesta, Lamon