Franzoni is enough

Season 1974-75

Game 17, Serie A

Sunday, February 9, 1975

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Vicenza 1-0

An early goal by the reserve forward proves sufficient for the two points

Sources Lazio Wiki

The league had started well and Lazio won their first three games. They then slowed down a bit with 3 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats (derby 0-1 and Inter 1-2 at home). Then Lazio had won the big match against Juventus followed by one win (Milan 3-0), a bad defeat at Ascoli and two draws. Lazio were currently in 2nd place on 21 points, 3 points behind leaders Juventus.

Vicenza were struggling and currently 13th, on 11 points, just one above the relegation zone. The Lane had won 3, drawn 5 and lost 8 (including Lazio 1-2). A week earlier they had drawn 0-0 at home to Cagliari.

Today was a game Lazio were expected to win and really had to if they wanted to keep up their title challenge.

The match

A nice and sunny February day brought about 40,000 fans to the Olimpico.

Lazio were missing both Renzo Garlaschelli and Luciano Re Cecconi replaced by Paolo Franzoni and Roberto Badiani.

Vicenza had to do without defender Giuseppe Longoni.

The game immediately set itself up well for Lazio. In the 3rd minute they took the lead when Franzoni beat former Lazio keeper Michelangelo Sulfaro. The visitors claimed the Lazio forward had touched the ball with his hand but the goal stood. Lazio 1 Vicenza 0. A perfect start for the Biancocelesti.

Lazio insisted, hoping to bury the visitors in goals like the previous season. In the 5th minute Giorgio Chinaglia was set up by Franco Nanni but Sulfaro saved his shot into corner. In the 14th minute Franzoni's header hit the outside of the post.

Shortly after Vicenza finally showed some signs of life when Felice Pulici had to keep out an Angelo Sormani freekick.

In the 22nd minute Lazio had a huge chance but Badiani one-on-one with the keeper hit him and on the rebound Franzoni looked certain to score but his shot was inadvertently deflected by Chinaglia and went out. In the 26th minute Franzoni, teed up by Chinaglia, was just anticipated by Sulfaro.

At this point Vicenza definitely stirred. Mario Perego went past a hobbling Vincenzo D'Amico and crossed to Giorgio Bernardis whose header hit the crossbar. In the 35th minute Bernardis threatened again, he got the better of Nanni but shot wide.

Lazio had the last say but Chinaglia's left footed effort was weak and comfortably saved by Sulfaro. Halftime Lazio 1 Vicenza 0.

In the second half Lazio seemed intent on merely controlling the game. Bernardis continued to be lively and in the 55th minute Sormani had another freekick palmed away into corner by Pulici.

In the 59th minute Lazio went close when a Chinaglia volley came off a defender and spun up to Nanni whose header shaved the post.

In the 63rd minute the visitors were dangerous. Gian Paolo Galuppi crossed and Pino Wilson and Giancarlo Oddi ran into each other and the ball reached Sormani in front of goal but Pulici rushed off his line and the Brazilian forward kicked the keeper instead of the ball. "Felix" was injured but managed to continue.

The game then went a bit quiet with Lazio content with administering their lead. Some of the home fans were not too pleased with this tactic and some whistles were heard from the stands.

In the 66th minute D'Amico finally gave in to the injury he had been carrying around since the first half and defender Sergio Petrelli came on. Tommaso Maestrelli decided to move Mario Frustalupi to mark Bernardis as Nanni was struggling to control the Vicenza number 4.

The game petered out and only came to life again in the 90th minute but Nanni fired over the bar from a good position. Fulltime Lazio 1 Vicenza 0.

An important win for Lazio after two draws. They had not been dominant, maybe deluded early on that the game would be without any particular risks.

Lazio maintained their second place, still three points behind leaders Juventus who had beaten Milan 2-0 away.

Vicenza dropped to 15th. The Biancorossi were now penultimate and one point behind Cagliari, Sampdoria, Varese and Ternana.

Who played for Lazio

Pulici, Ghedin, Martini, Wilson, Oddi, Nanni, Franzoni, Badiani, Chinaglia, Frustalupi, D'Amico (66' Petrelli)

Substitutes: Moriggi, Polentes

Manager: Maestrelli

Who played for Vicenza

Sulfaro, Gorin, Perego, Bernardis, Ferrante, Berni, Galuppi, Savoldi II, Sormani, Faloppa, Vitali

Substitutes: Bardin, Stivanello, Zuliani

Manager: Puricelli

Referee: Gussoni

Goal: 3' Franzoni

Sources

Lazio Wiki