March 27, 1960: Lazio - Napoli 2-1

Dag Jenkins
2 hours ago
6 min read

Rozzoni to the rescue

A goal by the forward four minutes from time wins relegation clash

Player of the day: Mario Vignoli

The season so far

The previous season Lazio had finished 11th under Fulvio Bernardini. The Biancocelesti had however won their first ever trophy, the Coppa Italia, beating Fiorentina 1-0 (officially 1958 Cup but played in September of '58-59 season). Top scorer was Humberto Tozzi with 26 goals (14 in A)

This season "Fuffo" Bernardini was still manager but due to financial difficulties not much had been done on the transfer market. The only important signings were Orlando Rozzoni from SPAL and Amos Mariani (Padova) while leaving were defender Umberto Pinardi (Udinese), midfielders Luigi Moltrasio (Young Fellows Zurich) and Carlo Tagnin (Bari) plus forward Renzo Burini (Cesena).

Lazio had got off to a satisfactory start in the league and had earned two 1-1 away draws (Bologna and Inter) and beaten Udinese and Vicenza, both 2-1 at home. Then, however, the problems started with two defeats, the derby 0-3 and Juventus 0-2 at home.

Since then Lazio had only won 2, drawn 6 (including Napoli 0-0 away) and lost 11 (including Fiorentina 0-5 at home and the second derby 0-1). A week earlier Lazio had lost 0-2 away to Juventus. The Biancocelesti were currently joint 15th, with Bari, on 16 points. The table read: Genova 14, Alessandria 15, Lazio and Bari 16, Palermo 17, Napoli 18. With three relegations the situation was not looking good.

In Coppa Italia Lazio had got through the last 16 by beating Palermo 2-1 at home after extra-time (Ugo Pozzan 118th minute winner). The Biancocelesti would play Bologna next in the quarter finals but not until June 1960.

Napoli had finished 7th the previous season, under manager Amedeo Amedei. The Partenopei had drawn 0-0 with Lazio in Rome and 1-1 in Naples.

This season the manager was initially Annibale Frossi but he had been sacked after three games with three defeats and Amedei returned.

The main new players were goalkeeper Pacifico Cuman (Alessandria), defender Gianfelice Schiavone (Sanremese) and forward Gennaro Rambone.

Leaving Naples were defender Pier Luigi Del Bene (Udinese) and midfielder Luigi Brugola (Messina).

As mentioned, Napoli were currently 13th on 18 points so in a worrying position too. After the change of manager, the Azzurri had won 5 (including Juventus 2-1 at home and most recently Palermo 2-1 at home), drawn 8 (including Lazio 0-0, Inter and Milan 1-1, all at home) and lost 7.

A relegation clash today at the Olimpico. Neither side, but Lazio especially, could afford to lose this crucial game.

Lazio came from six consecutive defeats, had not earned a single point at the Olimpico or even scored a goal (in 6 games, the others were at the Flaminio). Time to change the trend.

The match: Sunday, March 27, 1960, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

A grey day with frequent showers brought about 25,000 spectators to the Olimpico.

Lazio had a few absences, forwards Amos Mariani and Claudio Bizzarri injured while Humberto Tozzi was out of favour and Adelmo Eufemi was suspended. Maurilio Prini, Orlando Rozzoni and Oliviero Visentin played up front while midfielder Ugo Pozzan was also unable to get a starting jersey.

Napoli were without midfielder and captain Bruno Pesaola which meant Alessandro Vitali was starting.

The game began with both sides tense and cautious. The first chance came in the 17th minute when a close range shot by Emanuele Del Vecchio was palmed away by Idilio Cei.

The game then fell back into its previous slow and dull mode.

It revived in the 32nd again thanks to Napoli and Del Vecchio. The Brazilian forward turned on himself and struck a precise shot which Cei did well to touch behind for a corner.

Lazio finally showed their faces up front in the 40th minute when Ottavio Bugatti was forced to race off his line to anticipate Rozzoni flying towards goal on the counter foot.

That was it for an awful first half and the players were whistled off the field.

The second half fortunately improved. In the 46th minute a powerful Visentin effort was saved with some difficulty by Bugatti.

It was the prologue to the first goal which came two minutes later. In the 48th minute. Giovanni Molino floated in a freekick which Rozzoni nodded down to Visentin who acrobatically dived forward and headed past Bugatti, a spectacular goal and 1-0.

Lazio were suddenly on a high and Rozzoni got past his marker Elia Greco and let loose a shot which shaved the post.

Lazio then controlled the game for long periods as the visitors were unable to threaten.

In the 78th minute Egidio Fumagalli was teed up by Rozzoni but despite being in a favourable position he hesitated and lost the moment.

In the 80th minute Napoli a little surprisingly equalised. A good Celso Posio-Luís Vinicio combination was finished off by a crisp cross goal shot by Del Vecchio, 1-1.

Lazio were now in difficulty and in the 81st and 84th minutes Napoli had two more threatening shots both by Beniamino Di Giacomo.

Just as it seemed Napoli had more to give and could get a winner it was Lazio who scored. In the 86th minute hit a freekick behind the Partenopeo defence where Rozzoni surged forward beating the offside trap and headed in, 2-1. The visitors were adamant he had been in an irregular position but the referee and linesman disagreed.

Lazio held on for the last minutes and clinched a crucial win for their league campaign.

A strange game, soporific in the first half with Napoli on top, Lazio seemingly in control in the second, then out of the blue Napoli back in it and looking to win it and finally Lazio stealing it in the last minutes.

Lazio were now joint 13th, on 18 points with Palermo, Napoli and Bari. With three relegations and Alessandria on 17 and Genoa on 15 it was all still open but a good step forward for Lazio today.

Who played for Lazio

Cei, Molino, Lo Buono, Vignoli, Janich, Prini, Visentin, Carradori, Rozzoni, Franzini, Fumagalli

Manager: Bernardini

Who played for Napoli

Bugatti, Comaschi, Schiavone, Beltrandi, Greco II, Posio, Vitali, Di Giacomo, Vinicio, Del Vecchio

Manager: Amedei

Referee: Lo Bello

Goals: 48' Visentin, 80' Del Vecchio, 86' Rozzoni

What happened next

Lazio picked up and finished 12th, on 30 points. The Biancocelesti then won 4, drew 4 and lost 2. The top scorer was Orlando Rozzoni with 16 goals (13 in A).

In the Coppa Italia in June they beat Bologna 3-2 away but were then defeated 0-3 by Juventus in the semifinal. Lazio then conquered 3rd place by beating Torino 2-1 in the losers' final.

Napoli finished 13th, on 29 points (two points from the drop). They went on to win 3 (3 out of the last 4), draw 5 and lose 2. A narrow escape.

The Scudetto was won by Juventus for the 11th time. Serie B opened its unwelcoming doors to Genoa, Palermo and Alessandria (the Grey Bears from Piedmont have not been back since).

Let’s talk about Mario Vignoli

Mario Vignoli was born in Rome, on April 23, 1941.

He was formed as a player in the Lazio academy and in the 1959-60 season joined the first team squad. He played four consecutive games between March 20 and April 10 (Juventus, Napoli, Atalanta and Palermo), with two wins, a draw and a defeat under manager Fulvio Bernardini. The Biancocelesti finished 12th.

He then stayed with Lazio for two more seasons but made no more first team appearances as he continued to play for the youth and reserve teams.

In 1962 he joined Arezzo in Serie C for a season. He played 26 league games under Mario Caciagli and the Amaranto finished 2nd in Group B. His teammates included former Lazio, Giacomo Del Gratta (1958-62).

In 1963-64 he played for Tevere Roma in Serie C. He played 36 league games and the Romans finished 10th in Group C.

In 1964-65 he joined Marzotto Valdagno (Vicenza) for a year in Serie C. The Lanieri finished 6th in Group A under manager Carlo Alberto Quario. One of his teammates was future Lazio, Ferruccio Mazzola (1968-71, 1972-74).

In 1965 he returned to Tevere Roma for two seasons in Serie C (4th and 7th).

His last club was Sezze (Latina) at regional level where he played for two more seasons.

He retired at 28.

In 1987 he reappeared at Lazio. He coached the Allievi regionali (U-16s) for a season, then the Giovanissimi regionali (U-14s) for two and then the Pulcini (8-10 year olds) for another two seasons.

His coaching career then continued at Tevere Roma (1992-94), Jolly Labaro (1994-95), Ostiamare (1996-99), Ostia Antica (1999-2000), Focene (2001-02), Fiumicino (2002-03), Tevere Roma (2003-04 and 2009-10), Focene (2010-11) and Tevere Roma (2011-12).

Vignoli was a midfielder. He will be remembered for his four consecutive appearances for Lazio in 1959-60, playing against the likes of Giampiero Boniperti, John Charles, Luís Vinicio, Rino Marchesi and Angelo Longoni to name a few. He went on to have a decent career in the third tier of Italian football. He then became a well-known and respected teacher of football especially in the Roman coastal areas.