March 22, 1967: Lazio Spartak Trnava 1-1, Mitropa Cup
- Simon Basten
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
Lazio Held by Spirited Spartak Trnava in Tense Cup Encounter
Bagatti’s Close-Range Finish Cancelled Out by Adamec’s Stunning Thirty-Metre Volley as Czechoslovaks Impress in Rome
The season so far
The previous season Lazio arrived 12th. It had been a disappointing one, even if there had been a derby win and one in Milan. However, once relegation had been avoided the Biancocelesti stopped playing, getting only one point in the last four games.
Manager Umberto Mannocci had been confirmed and new entries had been Sergio Castelletti, Rino Marchesi and the return of Giancarlo Morrone, all from Fiorentina, Arrigo Dolso (Udinese), Giuseppe Massa (Internapoli), Romano Bagatti (Varese) and Enrico Burlando (Massese). Leaving the Biancocelesti were Vincenzo Gasperi (Varese), Giampiero Vitali (Fiorentina), Nicola Ciccolo (Vicenza), Antonio Renna (Varese), Orlando Rozzoni (Spal) plus the loan of Nello Governato to Inter. In the autumn Pietro Adorni arrived from Napoli and Governato, who had not fitted in at Inter, was loaned to Vicenza.
In Coppa Italia Lazio had been eliminated by Lecco in the second round.
In Serie A, the Biancocelesti had been even more disappointing than the previous year. They were currently 13th just two points above the relegation zone (four would go down to Serie B due to the decision to reduce the Serie A teams to 16 following the 1966 World Cup debacle against North Korea) and had a long way to go to get out of the troubled waters. Mannocci was sacked in November and replaced by Maino Neri.
Today however was a Mitropa Cup match. In the Round of 16 the Biancocelesti had eliminated Red Star Belgrade 4-2 on aggregate. They now faced Spartak Trnava, the Czechoslovak side who, surprisingly and for the first time in their history, were leading their domestic league. The visitors, coached by former star Anton Malatinsky, fielded three internationals (Jaroslav Kravarik, Ladislav Kuna and Dusan Kabat) as well as a young forward, Jozsef Adamec, who with 13 goals in 15 matches was the top scorer in his homeland.
In a week that began with major developments at boardroom level — with Extraordinary Commissioner Umberto Lenzini appointed liquidator of the Football Section and at the same time the leading figure of the newly formed Lazio S.p.A. — Wednesday’s Cup fixture offered a match of great interest.
On the eve of the match, Lenzini asked the players for a display of pride following the ill-fated league trip to Ferrara, and captain Pierluigi Pagni, speaking on behalf of his teammates, promised maximum commitment.
The match: Wednesday, March 22, 1967, Lazio Spartak Trnava 1-1
Coach Maino Neri, given the serious injury suffered by Diego Zanetti — a fracture of the right fibula — turned to the young Giovanni Masiello. He reinstated Idilio Cei in goal, absent in the previous three matches, and deployed Sergio Castelletti in the sweeper role.
In the opening stages Spartak immediately made a strong impression. Without a fixed sweeper, the visitors set up in a zonal system, moving like an accordion with incredible continuity. What most astonished Lazio supporters and the press was their courage in shooting — everyone attempting efforts from every possible position.
After some early discomfort, Lazio began to show themselves. Following an attempt by Romano Bagatti, in the 10th minute Giancarlo Morrone combined with Vito D’Amato, whose shot was parried in diving fashion by Josef Geryk.
In the 24th minute a lapse by Arrigo Dolso almost allowed Adam Farkas in on goal. Shortly afterward, following a dangerous effort by D’Amato that forced Geryk into a difficult save, the visitors were extremely threatening with two fierce strikes — one from full-back Jaroslav Kravarik and the other from midfielder Antono Hrusecky — both requiring Cei to produce the very best of his repertoire.
Early in the second half another “rocket” from Dusan Kabat caused anxious moments, but it was Lazio who took the lead. In the 55th minute Paolo Carosi played the ball to Dolso, whose cross from the left found D’Amato. He produced a delicate chip over the advancing goalkeeper; right on the goal line Bagatti applied the finishing touch.
Seven minutes later Spartak equalised. Jozsef Adamec unleashed a formidable volley from thirty metres that struck the inside of the post and flew into the net, leaving Cei with no chance whatsoever.
The Czechoslovakians continued to press and earned a large number of corners, but apart from one late opportunity involving Adam Farkas, they were unable to create any further clear-cut chances.
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Neri
Who played for Spartak Trnava
Geryk, Kravarik, Majernik, Jarabek, Dobias, Hrusecky, Farkas, Svec, Kuna, Adamec, Kabat
Manager: Malatinsky
Referee: Bircsak
Goals: 55’ Bagatti, 62' Adamec
What happened next
Lazio lost the return leg 1-0 and were eliminated.
With four games to the end, the Biancocelesti were 12th together with Spal and Brescia and one point ahead of Vicenza. Foggia, Venezia and Lecco were already doomed. Lazio played at home to Brescia knowing that a victory would probably get them out of the relegation battle. They lost as they did the next game at Bologna too. With two games to go, Brescia 28 points, Vicenza 27, Spal 26, Lazio 25.
In the last match at home the Biancocelesti managed to beat Foggia while Vicenza and Brescia lost and Spal drew. With one game to go, Spal, Vicenza and Lazio had 27 points and Brescia 28. Final games: Juventus-Lazio, Brescia-Cagliari, Vicenza-Bologna and Spal-Venezia.
At the end of the first half Vicenza and Lazio were 0-0, Spal and Brescia were losing. There was still hope, but in the second half Lazio collapsed and Spal turned the game around. The Biancocelesti were relegated by one point.
The worst thing about this season were the 10 goalless draws. Which really showed that the attack in particular was greatly under par.
The players with most appearances were Carosi and Morrone (38), top scorer was Bagatti with 7 goals.
Let’s talk about Romano Bagatti
Romano Bagatti was born near Pisa on September 12, 1939 and started his football career with Pontedera.
In 1959 he signed for Spal in Serie A and stayed there for three years not really playing a great deal (just 32 league appearances). He played a lot more in 1964-65 with Messina and, despite the Giallorossi's relegation to Serie B, he scored 10 goals in 34 appearances. The next season he signed for Varese who had just come back to Serie A, but even here the team was relegated at the end of the season.
In 1966 he signed for Lazio and he witnessed relegation for the third consecutive year. One funny incident took place in October 1966. Lazio were losing 2-1 against Milan and with two minutes to go, the referee, Aurelio Angonese mistakenly ended the game. The Biancocelesti protested but it took a while for the referee to realise his mistake. Once he did, all the players were summoned back to the pitch to play the last two minutes. Unfortunately, Paolo Carosi was in the shower, so he quickly had to dry off and put his kit back on. He was really angry and refused to tie his shoelaces and to go back to the position where he was supposed to play. He just stayed put at midfield. There were only two minutes left, what was the point? But a stray ball arrived his way and he saw that Bagatti was unmarked. He quickly passed the ball to the Lazio striker who made it 2-2!!!
Bagatti played quite a lot in his first year at Lazio but in the next two he made only 9 appearances. Mind you, he played a lot more in the De Martino Championship for the reserves, which the Biancocelesti won in 1968.
In 1969 he signed for Alessandria in Serie C and then played one more year with Pontedera before retiring.
Bagatti was a good right winger, very fast, who also scored quite a lot of goals in his career. But not with Lazio.
Lazio Career
Season | Total games (goals) | Serie A | Serie B | Coppa Italia | Mitropa Cup |
1966-67 | 34 (7) | 29 (4) | - | 2 | 3 (3) |
1967-68 | 8 (2) | - | 8 (2) | - | - |
1968-69 | 1 | - | 1 | - | - |
Total | 43 (9) | 29 (4) | 9 (2) | 2 | 3 (3) |
Sources
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