May 21, 1972: Lazio -Modena 2-1
- Dag Jenkins
- 13 hours ago
- 7 min read
Double spot kick joy
Two Chinaglia penalties give Lazio fundamental comeback win over Modena. First game for Vincenzo D'Amico.
The season so far
The 1970/71 season had been disastrous for Lazio. There had been ongoing divergences between president Lenzini and manager Juan Carlos Lorenzo over various issues, including market strategies. The Argentine was sacked a few times only to be brought back following protests by a particularly loyal group of fans. The problems on the field and off had resulted in relegation to Serie B with only 4 wins in 30 matches. The initial shock would however later result to be a blessing in disguise.
This year the manager problem had been resolved with the appointment of Tommaso Maestrelli, who had impressed in charge of Foggia.
The new manager had also brought some novelties to the squad. In the summer, Lazio had signed three new players: goalkeeper Claudio Bandoni (Fiorentina) plus defenders Luigi Martini (Livorno) and Giancarlo Oddi (Massese). In the autumn session another three had arrived: midfielder Giambattista Moschino (Verona) plus forwards Alessandro Abbondanza (Napoli) and Carlo Facchin (Almas).
Five players left Lazio in the summer: goalkeeper Michelangelo Sulfaro (Fiorentina - loan), midfielders Nello Governato (Savona), Rino Marchesi (Prato), Ferruccio Mazzola (Fiorentina - loan) and forward Juan Carlos Morrone (Foggia). In November two more midfielders left: Arrigo Dolso (Varese - loan) and Pierpaolo Manservisi (Napoli - loan).
Lazio had a decent start to the season and now going into the final straight were still up among the frontrunners for the promotion places. Lazio were 3rd, on 41 points after 15 wins, 11 draws (including Modena 0-0) and 7 defeats. Giorgio Chinaglia had scored 16 league goals. Lazio came from a 0-1 defeat in Perugia followed by a 1-1 home draw against Taranto. Time to win again as 4th placed Reggiana and Como were only a point behind.
In the Coppa Italia, in August and early September, Lazio had got through the first group phase by winning 3 (including Roma 1-0) and drawing 1. The next group phase would not be until the end of May and June 1972.
Today's opposition Modena had finished 9th in Serie B the previous season. The manager was former Lazio player Leandro Remondini and the top scorer was Alberto Spelta with 15 league goals.
This season the manager was initially Armando Cavazzuti, then from the 5th to 28th fixture Remondini had returned and now Leandro Costagliola was in charge. The main new arrivals were: defenders Mauro Melotti (up from youth team) and Vittorio Zanetti (Cesena) midfielders Silvano Colusso (Treviso) and Giorgio Gennari (Fiorentina) plus forward Corrado Nastasio (Cagliari).
Leaving Emilia were: defender Gianfranco Borsari (Frosinone, after 236 league games), midfielder Battista Festa (Cesena), Claudio Guglielmoni (Massese), Jorge Toro (Colo-Colo) plus forward Alberto Spelta (Catanzaro) and Giancarlo Roffi (Salernitana). They had lost their pillar in defence and two of their most prolific strikers.
Modena were currently bottom of the table, on 19 points and six from safety (Reggina and Monza on 25). The Gialloblu had won 5, drawn 9 and lost 19. Their last game was a 0-1 home defeat to Livorno in a possibly decisive relegation clash.
In the Coppa Italia the Canarini had gone straight out after 2 wins (Vicenza 2-0 and Cesena 1-0 at home) and 2 defeats (Bologna 0-3 and Reggiana 1-2 away).
A game today in which for Lazio nothing other than a win would be a major setback. For Modena it was desperation time, or now or never.
The match: Sunday, May 21, 1972, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A sunny and warm day attracted just under 30,000 spectators to the Olimpico. Many were attracted by the announced debut of potential rising star Vincenzo D'Amico up from the U-19s.
Lazio were missing forward Alessandro Abbondanza and attacking midfielder Giuliano Fortunato hence the debut of the young lad from Latina (just south of Rome).
Modena were without several players: goalkeeper Paolo Conti, defender Angelo Lodi, midfielder Rubén Merighi and forward Giordano Galli.
Lazio predictably started aggressively. The Modena keeper Renato Piccoli was kept busy with two dangerous shots and Giorgio Chinaglia then hit a post.
In the 23rd minute, however, the visiting Canaries unexpectedly took the lead. An Ivan Vecchi-Fabrizio Boccolari one-two combination sent the former racing towards goal but he had been a least a metre off side when the second pass was made. The Lazio defenders Pino Wilson and Mario Facco put their arms up to confirm this view. The referee however incredibly gestured to play on and Vecchi ran forward and scored, 0-1.
The referee must have been thinking over his mistake as six minutes later he conceded a non-existent penalty to Lazio. Giuseppe Massa fell in the area but was not touched by defender Giovanni Simonini. The crowd laughed and the visitors protested but the decision stood.
Lazio accepted the gift and Chinaglia put away the spot kick, 1-1.
Only a minute passed and Lazio were awarded another penalty, this time a legitimate one. Chinaglia went past Paolo Petraz who clearly pulled Long John down. Giorgione struck a central shot to put Lazio in front, 2-1.
Lazio controlled the game without any problems and reached the break a goal up.
During the interval the fans were entertained by an 800-metre athletics race featuring Italian star Franco Arese.
In the second half the Biancocelesti attacked but with intelligence, never risking to be caught out on the counterattack.
Lazio had several more chances but Paolo Conti's replacement Piccoli had an excellent game and denied Massa, Gigi Martini and Chinaglia several times.
Lazio saw out the game and Claudio Bandoni never had to make any real saves. It was not a spectacular performance by Lazio but efficient, mature and above all successful. Final score: Lazio 2 Modena 1
The young boy from Latina had impressed with his dribbling skills, and his quick one-touch movements. A positive debut.
Lazio were still 3rd, on 43 points. Leaders Ternana had drawn, as had Reggiana while Como and Palermo had won. The table now read: Ternana 44, Palermo 44, Lazio 43, Como 42, Reggiana 41.
With four games to go it was all still open for the three promotion slots.
Modena looked doomed. The Gialloblu were now even further from survival, seven points. The table read: Modena 19, Sorrento 20, Livorno 24, Reggina 26, Monza 26. With three relegation slots only a miracle could save the Emiliani now.
Who played for Lazio
Bandoni, Facco, Papadopulo, Wilson, Polentes, Martini, Massa, Nanni, Chinaglia, Moschino (68' Facchin), D'Amico
Substitutes: Di Vincenzo
Manager: Maestrelli
Who played for Modena
Piccoli, Simonini, Vellani, Colusso, Balugani, Petraz, Vecchi I, Baroncelli, Boccolari, Zanetti, Ronchi
Substitutes: Lusuardi
Manager: Costagliola
Referee: Bianchi
Goals: 23' Vecchi, 29' Chinaglia (pen), 30' Chinaglia (pen)
What happened next
Lazio would be successful in their promotion chase. They came in second on 49 points, one behind champions Ternana. On the 18th of June, with a 0-0 draw against Bari, Maestrelli's boys were back in Serie A.
Lazio then won 2 and drew 2 (including Bari) and with the help of another three Chinaglia league goals the Biancocelesti achieved their objective. In the season overall Chinaglia got a total of 26 goals and Massa 13 (plus several assists for Long John). Chinaglia was also top Serie B scorer with 21 league goals.
In Coppa Italia, Lazio had already had the satisfaction of knocking out Roma (1-0) in the early stages. In the second phase they were then eliminated after 2 wins (Fiorentina 1-0 and Napoli 3-0 at home), a draw (Fiorentina 1-1 away) and 3 defeats (Bologna 0-1 at home, Napoli 1-5 and Bologna 1-2 away). The main thing however was to return to the top flight. Lazio were back and even better times were on the way.
Modena finished rock bottom on 22 points. The Gialloblu then drew 3 and lost 1 while the top scorer was Flavio Ronchi with 5 league goals (out of a total of 22, only one more than Chinaglia got single-handedly). Modena would be back in B next in 1974-75.
Going up to Serie A with Lazio were champions Ternana and Palermo. The other unlucky two going down to Serie C with Modena were Livorno and Sorrento.
The Coppa Italia was won by Milan who defeated Napoli 2-0 at the Olimpico.
Let's talk about Luigi Trippanera
Today we will talk neither about a player nor a manager but about someone who served Lazio for many years in a different role.
Luigi Trippanera was born in Rome, on July 27, 1927.
He was a sports masseur and in 1958-59 almost joined Teveve Roma but instead decided to work at the Polio rehabilation centre in Colleferro near Rome.
In 1968-69 he started working with Lazio. He was recommended to the Romans by club doctor Renato Ziaco who admired Trippanera's qualities. He stayed until 1977.
Trippanera therefore worked at Lazio during the promotions under Juan Carlos Lorenzo and Tommaso Maestrelli, the 1974 Scudetto and the subsequent decline with the deaths of Maestrelli and Luciano Re Cecconi.
Tripanera's reputation as a sports masseur was of the highest order and he was known to use the latest and most innovative massage methods. He was also much loved by the players as a friend and confidant who listened to their problems with discretion and gave wise advice.
In 1983-84 he was called back to Lazio by his old friend Giorgio Chinaglia when Long John became president of the club. Giorgione's adventure did not work out but Trippanera got to work for Lazio for one more season.
Trippanera is an important character in Lazio history. He experienced some of the most wild and turbulent years but at the same time the most memorable.
Trippanera died in Cerenova (on the coast near Rome), on July 8, 2012.
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