March 19, 1961: Roma-Lazio 1-2
- Dag Jenkins
- Mar 19
- 9 min read
Against all odds
Lazio shock Roma and unexpectedly win the derby
Also on this day:
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had finished 12th in Serie A, under manager Fulvio Bernardini. The Biancocelesti had reached the semi-finals of Coppa Italia but lost 0-3 to Juventus. Lazio then won the consolation final beating Torino 2-1. Top scorer was Orlando Rozzoni with 16 goals (13 in A).
This season Bernardini was still in charge. The financial situation at the club meant there was not much space to manoeuvre on the transfer market. The main new players were: defender Alfredo Napoleoni (Cirio - back from loan), forwards Paolo Ferrario (Milan - on loan), Gianni Bui (Cirio - back from loan) and an unknown Uruguayan, Homero Guaglianone (Montevideo Wanderers). Not a lot to get excited about. The most important arrival came in the autumn and was Argentine Juan Carlos Morrone from Platense. The main player leaving was striker Humberto Tozzi (Palmeiras, after four years and 45 goals).
Lazio were currently bottom of the table on 12 points. The season was going very badly and the safety zone was six points away (three teams on 18). After nine games, and only two points, Bernardini had been replaced by club legend Enrique Flamini. (with Jesse Carver as technical director from game 15). The Biancocelesti now came from three consecutive defeats including Inter 0-7 and most recently Sampdoria 0-1 at home. In total Lazio had won 3, drawn 6 and lost 14 (including the first derby 0-4 under Bernardini). Things were looking desperate.
In Coppa Italia Lazio had played the last 16 round against Como on March 15 and won 4-0 at home. Next up were Inter away on April 5.
Roma had finished 9th and won both derbies. The manager was Alfredo Foni and top goal scorer Pedro "Piedone" Manfredini with 17 goals (16 in A).
This season Foni was still manager. The Giallorossi had signed a few new players: defenders Alfio Fontana (Milan), Leopoldo Raimondi (Alessandria), midfielders Francisco Lojacono (Fiorentina), Giacomo Menichelli (Parma - back from loan) and Juan Alberto Schiaffino (Milan).
Leaving Roma were: defender Giovanni Griffith (Atalanta), midfielders Mario David (Milan), Franco Zaglio (Inter) plus forwards Mario Castellazzi (Catania) and legend Dino Da Costa (Fiorentina - on loan).
In Serie A the Giallorossi were in 4th place on 30 points. They had won 12 (including Juventus 2-1 at home and Lazio 4-0), drawn 6 and lost 5.
In Coppa Italia, Roma had beaten Napoli 2-1 away and Bologna 3-0 at home. Next up would be Fiorentina in the quarter finals in May.
Roma were strong favourites today, to put it mildly, against a Lazio team in such difficulty. It was a derby so it was always unpredictable but very few thought Lazio had much chance and it was more a question of how Roma would put past them.
The match: Sunday, March 19, 1961, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A cloudy but dry day with about 65,000 spectators at the Olimpico for the "Derby del Cupolone".
For Lazio, Franco Pezzullo was back in goal after a long absence but defender Franco Janich was missing and was replaced by Alfredo Napoleoni for his season's debut. Roma were without keeper Fabio Cudicini and midfielder Juan Alberto Schiaffino.
Roma started on the front foot and in the 4th minute Napoleoni risked friendly fire with a very risky back pass.
Lazio gradually grew into the game. First Orlando Rozzoni fired high and then in the 10th minute Juan Carlos Morrone shaved the crossbar from middle distance.
Roma replied with a couple of free kicks, by Pedro Manfredini and even more dangerously by Luigi Giuliano whose shot went close to the post.
In the 16th minute the Giallorossi had another free kick. Francisco Lojacono crossed into the box, Giovanni Molino kicked it away but only as far as Giuliano who with a run up placed a low shot past Pezzullo. Roma 1 Lazio 0.
The game was moving toward the outcome predicted by most and the Roma fans jubilantly chanted "Serie B, Serie B" to the Laziali.
Things went wrong for the Romanisti six minutes later as Lazio equalised. In the 22nd minute Franco Carradori took a quick free kick in midfield, surprising the opposition, Rozzoni sprinted forward and was one-on-one with Luciano Panetti who he beat with a thundering shot under the crossbar. Roma 1 Lazio 1.
Lazio were galvanised and insisted. Morrone went on a run down the right, cut inside and hit a low powerful shot which Panetti saved into corner. On the subsequent corner by Morrone, the ball bounced and reached Rozzoni who blasted a header past Panetti. Roma 1 Lazio 2.
Roma were in shock and Lazio almost made it three immediately when a Bruno Franzini cross come shot forced Panetti to dive backwards and tip over the bar.
In the 31st minute Roma had another freekick but Lojacono fired high.
In the 34th minute it was Lazio again. A Paolo Carosi-Rozzoni one-two gave the defender a shooting opportunity but his effort went just wide.
In the last ten minutes Roma pushed forward, Giuliano hit the wall with a free kick, Pezzullo was safe on a Lojacomo high cross and Arne Selmosson weaved his way through the defence but shot high. Half time Roma 1 Lazio 2.
An unpredictable score line at the break but not undeserved.
Roma came back on determined to put things right. In the first fifteen minutes they put Lazio under siege. Roma had attempts by Giulio Corsini, a dangerous long range shot by Giuliano, saves by Pezzullo on Alfio Fontana and Gian Paolo Menichelli plus a Manfredini effort which hit the side netting but Lazio resisted.
In the 60th minute Lazio came out of their shell and almost scored a third. Franzini crossed to Rozzoni whose header anticipated Panetti, the ball reached Ugo Pozzan who had an open goal but he incredibly put a weak shot into the keeper's arms. A few minutes later Franzini did well but was off target from a good position.
In the last 25 minutes Roma forced Lazio in their own half. Lazio’s defence systematically made last ditch tackles or arrived first on high crosses into the area.
Roma did manage to score but it was disallowed. On a Lojacono freekick Pezzullo and Alberto Orlando jumped up, the ball was caught by the keeper who then fell over the goal line, pushed by Orlando according to the referee so no goal.
More free kicks followed for the Lupi, Lojacono over the bar and his second saved low by Pezzullo.
Lazio then scored but Rozzoni was in blatant offside.
Roma continued to attack head down, Giuliano, Menichelli and Lojacono were all off target.
In the 78th minute superb defending by Pozzan resolved a threatening scramble in Lazio's area.
Roma's attacks became increasingly desperate and muddled and Lazio began to believe in a major upset.
The last two chances were one each. Menichelli's low, cross goal strike went wide while a Rozzoni attempt went over the bar.
The full-time whistle saw reactions of shock by both sides. Roma could not believe they had lost and Lazio had to pinch themselves to remind themselves they had won.
A heroic performance by Lazio. They had shown resilience and passion. A pity they had not shown it more often this season. Despite probably going down they had managed to give their fans possibly the biggest satisfaction in a disappointing season, a derby win.
Lazio were now on 14, Bari 17, Torino and Lecce 18, Napoli, Udinese and S.P.A.L 19. Things were still dramatic but there was a slight bit of hope.
Roma were still 4th but now two points behind 3rd placed Milan and only two points ahead of 5th placed Fiorentina and Sampdoria.
Who played for Roma
Panetti, Fontana, Corsini, Pestrin, Losi, Giuliano, Orlando, Lojacono, Manfredini, Selmosson, Menichelli
Manager: Foni
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Flamini
T.D: Carver
Referee: De Marchi
Goals: 16' Giuliano, 22' Rozzoni, 26' Rozzoni
What happened next
Lazio went down to Serie B. It was their first ever relegation. It was a disastrous season and Lazio ended up rock bottom on 18 points after 5 wins, 8 draws and 21 defeats. In the following 10 games Lazio only earned another 4 points. Top scorer was Rozzoni again with 13 goals (11 in A).
In Coppa things went better. Lazio beat Inter 1-0 away in April and Torino on penalties in May, after a 1-1 home draw (Franco Carradori scored the goal and five penalties out of six). In the final however, on June 11 in Florence, Lazio lost 0-2 to Fiorentina.
Roma finished 5th. In the last 10 games they won 4, drew 1 and lost 5. Top scorer was Pedro Manfredini again with 34 goals (20 in A)
In Coppa Italia the Giallorossi lost 4-6 at home to Fiorentina and crashed out.
Roma did win the Fairs Cup beating Birmingham City 4-2 on aggregate but it was still considered a minor competition (Until 1964 many participants were mixed XI's from one town and it was by invitation or on proposal by clubs' federations).
The Scudetto was won by Juventus for the 12th time. The other teams going down with Lazio were Napoli and Bari who came out worse from a three-team playoff with Udinese and Lecco. Lazio would not be back in A until the 1963-64 season.
Let’s talk about Franco Pezzullo
Franco Pezzullo was born in Rome on May 31, 1940.
He grew up in the Lazio youth sector and in 1959-60 joined the first team squad.
In his first season the manager was Fulvio Bernardini and Lazio finished 12th and came 3rd in Coppa Italia. The main keeper was Idilio Cei who played 25 league games, then Roberto Lovati with 9 and Pezzullo only played 1 game in the Italo-French Friendship Cup.
In 1960-61 the manager was first Bernardini and then, from the tenth fixture onwards, former player Enrique Flamini (plus Jesse Carver as technical director from game 15). Lovati had retired and Pezzullo played more, making 14 league appearances and 2 in Coppa Italia, but Lazio were relegated for the first time in their history.
In 1961-62 in Serie B Cei was fit again and Pezzullo only played 1 game in Coppa Italia. It was an unlucky season and Lazio finished 4th, narrowly missing out on promotion (not helped by a ridiculously disallowed goal against Napoli who eventually came 3rd by one point). The Biancocelesti had three different managers; Paolo Todeschini (1-21), Roberto Lovati (22-27) and Carlo Facchini (28-38).
Pezzullo then left Lazio and joined Salernitana in Serie C. He stayed two seasons and the Granata finished 4th and 6th. Pezzullo played 65 league games. His teammates included Lazio connections, Egidio Fumagalli (1958-61), Clemente Mattei (1956-58, 1959-61), Oliviero Visentin (1959-61) and Franco Cordova (1976-79).
In 1964 Pezzullo stayed in Campania but moved to Caserta and joined Casertana in Serie C. He stayed two seasons and the Rossoblu finished 3rd and 4th. He played 34 league games.
The 1966-67 season he spent at Livorno in Serie B. The manager was former Lazio player Carlo Parola (but particularly Juventus) and the Amaranto finished 16th. The main keeper was Renato Bellinelli and Pezzullo played 6 league games. One of his teammates was future Lazio player and later manager Giuseppe Papadopulo (1969-72 and 2005).
In 1967-68 he played for Potenza for a season in Serie B. The Leoni were relegated but Pezzullo played regularly, making 29 league appearances.
Pezzullo then returned to Casertana for one season. The "Falchetti" (Falcons) were in Serie C and finished 2nd (with 6-point docking). Pezzullo played 27 league games.
His last professional season, 1969-70, was spent at Modena in Serie B. The manager was former Lazio player Leandro Remondini (1947-50) and the Canaries finished 12th. The main keeper was Santino Ciceri and Pezzullo played 10 league games.
He then continued playing locally for Ladispoli, on the coast near Rome, at amateur level.
After retiring he had a brief coaching experience at Bari in 1976-77. He was assistant to Giacomo Losi and the Cockerels won promotion to Serie B. He also coached the U19s.
Pezzullo was a goalkeeper. He played 185 league games, mainly in Serie B and C.
He was at Lazio for three seasons. He was unlucky in that he was blocked for playing time by great keeper Idilio Cei and then the year he played more regularly coincided with the club's first ever relegation to Serie B.
Lazio Career
Sources
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