May 28, 1972: Reggina Lazio 1-1
- Simon Basten
- May 28
- 7 min read
Non existent penalty deprives Lazio of win
Lazio forced to a draw by referee decisions
The season so far
The disastrous 1970-71 season had culminated in a relegation to Serie B for the Biancocelesti. It was a devastating and unexpected fall for the club so President Umberto Lenzini, on a suggestion from sporting director Antonio Sbardella, chose a young manager called Tommaso Maestrelli who had done well in Serie C and Serie B with Reggina and Foggia.
The first problem the club had to face was the fact that Giorgio Chinaglia demanded to be sold. He refused to play in Serie B and was not entirely happy with the change of management. Maestrelli convinced him to stay.
Two fundamental future players joined Lazio in the summer transfer window. Luigi Martini, from Livorno, and Giancarlo Oddi returning from his loan spell at Massese. Lazio also signed goalkeeper Claudio Bandoni (Fiorentina) and midfielder Rino Gritti on loan from Lecco. Rino Marchesi, Nello Governato and Giancarlo Morrone left Lazio as free agents as well as Ferruccio Mazzola and Michelangelo Sulfaro on loan to Fiorentina.
In the November transfer window Lazio would then sign Carlo Facchin and Giambattista Moschino, returning after nine years, plus Alessandro Abbondanza on loan from Napoli with Pierpaolo Manservisi going in the opposite direction. Arrigo Dolso also left (on loan to Varese).
Lazio started the Serie B campaign slowly, losing the first two games away from home, but from the 6th match onwards things improved. At the end of the first half of the season the Biancocelesti were third, one point behind Palermo and Ternana and two points ahead of Reggiana and Perugia.
There were four games left to the end of the season and the table read Palermo and Ternana 44 points, Lazio 43, Como 42, Reggiana 41.
The match: Sunday, May 28, 1972, Stadio Comunale, Reggio Calabria
On a Sunday when Juventus FC clinched the league title in a thrilling finish, with AC Milan and Torino FC just one point behind the Bianconeri, and with US Catanzaro 1929, Mantova 1911, and Varese Calcio relegated from Serie A, everything remained open in Serie B, both at the top and the bottom of the table.
Lazio travelled to Calabria intending to take all three points against an opponent for whom even a single point was vital in order to keep a safe distance from the relegation zone.
After some early probing, with attempts from Renato Sali and Giorgio Chinaglia, the Biancocelesti took the lead. In the 17th minute “Long John” struck a free kick from the edge of the box into the wall; the ball fell to Giambattista Moschino, who chipped it over much of the opposing defence and found Giuseppe Massa arriving on cue, only for him to be challenged by Nedo Sonetti as he was about to shoot. From the ensuing scramble, the ball was picked up by Chinaglia, who blasted it past the helpless Bruno Jacoboni. For the striker, it was finally a goal from open play after many scored from the penalty spot.
Reggina looked disoriented, but Lazio, despite controlling the match, failed to capitalize. After a chance wasted by Alessandro Abbondanza around the half-hour mark, the Calabrians regrouped and began pressing into Lazio’s penalty area, though without ever seriously troubling Claudio Bandoni.
In the second half, the team coached by Olmes Neri appeared more incisive, but Lazio’s defence withstood the pressure with great composure. Only in the 58th minute did a very chaotic incident allow the equaliser. The unpredictable Marco Fazzi entered the box after dribbling past Pino Wilson; Giuseppe Papadopulo recovered and touched the ball while grazing the striker’s ankle, and the forward needed no further invitation to throw himself to the ground. Referee Giulio Ciacci fell for it and awarded the penalty amid furious protests from the Romans.
Fazzi himself converted perfectly, bringing the match level again.
Lazio tried to regain the lead, but Reggina, despite a few anxious moments, held firm until the final whistle.
Three games left and the table now read: Ternana 46, Lazio and Palermo 44, Reggiana and Como 43.
Who played for Reggina
Jacoboni, Poppi, Sali, Tacelli, Marchini, Sonetti, D'Astoli, Molinari, Fazzi, F.Righi, Bongiorni
Substitutes: Marcatti, Perucconi
Manager: O.Neri
Who played for Lazio
Bandoni, Facco, Papadopulo, Wilson, Polentes, Martini, Massa, Nanni, Chinaglia, Moschino, Abbondanza
Substitutes: Di Vincenzo, Gritti
Manager: Maestrelli
Referee: Ciacci
Goals: 17’ Chinaglia, 58’ Fazzi (pen)
What happened next
With two games to the end, the Biancocelesti reached second place and a week later they topped the table together with Ternana, one point ahead of Palermo and two more than Como. All Lazio needed was a point at Bari and that is exactly what happened.
The Biancocelesti were able to secure promotion thanks to an excellent attack with Chinaglia, Massa and Abbondanza, and a very strong defence with goalkeeper Bandoni and Giuseppe Wilson. The midfield was not up to par and there was the need to find better players. They would come in the following season.
Wilson was the player with most appearances this season (48), Chinaglia the top goal scorer (26 goals).
What happened in Serie B 1971-72
In the previous season Mantova had won the Serie B championship with Bari, Atalanta and Catanzaro second, forced to a three-team playoff to determine the other two promotion slots. Atalanta had won both ties and Catanzaro had beaten Bari.
This year eyes were on Bari and Brescia who had just missed out on promotion the previous year plus the teams that had been relegated from Serie A: Foggia, Lazio and Catania. But in the end promotion was a battle between Ternana, the Biancocelesti, Como, Palermo and Reggiana.
September-October
Serie B started late in September and by the end of October Umbria was leading with Perugia and Ternana. But as everybody knows, Serie B is a long tournament and anything could still happen. In the early matches, Ternana beat Lazio who in turn beat Como.
Perugia 9, Ternana 9, Lazio 8, Palermo 8, Bari 8, Taranto 8, Reggiana 7, Cesena 7, Brescia 6, Monza 6, Reggina 6, Catania 6, Novara 6, Como 5, Foggia 5, Livorno 5, Genoa 4, Sorrento 3, Arezzo 2, Modena 2
November
In the four November games, Palermo caught up with Ternana but it was all very close with 12 teams in four points. Lazio drew with Palermo and lost to Reggiana.
Palermo 14, Ternana 14, Reggiana 13, Taranto 13, Lazio 12, Perugia 12, Catania 12, Cesena 12, Bari 11, Brescia 10, Reggina 10, Novara 10, Como 9, Monza 9, Foggia 8, Livorno 8, Arezzo 6, Genoa 6, Modena 6, Sorrento 5
December
In December, Ternana took the solitary lead of Serie B followed by Lazio. Below, Modena and Sorrento were in a spot of bother. Leaders Ternana drew with Como but beat Palermo. The Sicilians also lost at Como but beat Reggiana.
Ternana 21, Lazio 19, Taranto 18, Reggiana 17, Palermo 17, Bari 16, Perugia 16, Cesena 16, Como 15, Novara 15, Catania 14, Reggina 14, Brescia 13*, Foggia 12, Monza 11, Genoa 11, Livorno 11, Arezzo 9*, Modena 7, Sorrento 6
* One game in hand
January
In the five games of the new year, Palermo moved level with Ternana, with Lazio in third place. There was already a slight gap with fourth placed Reggiana and Perugia. Ternana drew at Reggiana who won at Como.
Palermo 26, Ternana 26, Lazio 25, Reggiana 23, Perugia 23, Bari 22, Cesena 22, Taranto 21, Como 20, Foggia 19, Novara 19, Catania 19, Brescia 18, Genoa 17, Reggina 17, Monza 16, Arezzo 15, Livorno 14, Modena 11, Sorrento 7
February
Palermo and Ternana still leading, Lazio had slipped to fourth. Big gap now for the bottom two Modena and Sorrento. The Biancocelesti drew with the Umbrians.
Palermo 32, Ternana 30, Reggiana 27, Lazio 26, Perugia 25, Cesena 25, Como 24, Foggia 23, Bari 23, Taranto 23, Novara 23, Brescia 22, Catania 22, Genoa 21, Arezzo 19, Reggina 19, Monza 18, Livorno 16, Modena 11, Sorrento 11
March
The three March games saw Ternana back in the lead ahead of Palermo. The battle for third included five teams with Lazio slightly ahead. At the opposite end Modena and Sorrento reduced their deficit on Livorno but these three clubs really needed to start getting important points if they wanted to avoid relegation. The Biancocelesti drew with Como.
Ternana 37, Palermo 35, Lazio 32, Reggiana 31, Bari 30, Como 30, Cesena 30, Perugia 28, Genoa 28, Novara 27, Catania 27, Taranto 27, Foggia 26, Brescia 24, Arezzo 23, Reggina 21, Monza 21, Livorno 16, Sorrento 14, Modena 14
April
Lazio managed to reach second place in April’s five games and were now just one point behind Ternana. Behind Sorrento started to climb up but perhaps it was too late. The Biancocelesti drew with Palermo who also drew with Ternana, but lost to Reggiana.
Ternana 41, Lazio 40, Palermo 40, Reggiana 38, Como 38, Bari 35, Cesena 35, Perugia 35, Foggia 33, Catania 33, Genoa 32, Novara 31, Brescia 29, Taranto 29, Arezzo 28, Reggina 25, Monza 23, Sorrento 19, Livorno 18, Modena 18
May
With the May games there were now three games to the end of the season with five teams fighting for promotion. Ternana had an edge over the others with Lazio, Palermo, Reggiana and Como within one point fighting for the other two places. Ternana drew at Como who also drew at Palermo. Behind Sorrento and Modena were practically doomed for Serie C, Livorno too were very close to relegation.
Ternana 46, Lazio 44, Palermo 44, Reggiana 43, Como 43, Cesena 39, Perugia 39, Bari 38, Foggia 38, Genoa 37, Catania 36, Novara 36, Taranto 35, Brescia 33, Arezzo 32, Reggina 27, Monza 26, Livorno 24, Sorrento 20, Modena 20
June
In the beginning of June, Ternana beat Reggiana, Como and Palermo drew and Lazio beat Foggia. Hence with two games to the end: Ternana 48, Lazio 46, Palermo 45, Como 44, Reggiana 43.
In the penultimate game Lazio beat Genoa, Ternana lost, Como won away at Novara, Palermo beat Cesena, Reggiana lost to Sorrento and were no longer in contention. Lazio and Ternana were on 48 points, Palermo 47, Como 46. The Biancocelesti and Umbrians needed just one more point for Serie A. Livorno joined Sorrento and Modena in Serie C.
In the last game Ternana beat Novara and won the Serie B championship, Lazio drew at Bari and secured second place, Palermo drew at Sorrento but because Como lost at Reggiana, they too clinched Serie A.
Giorgio Chinaglia was top scorer with 21 goals.
Final table: Ternana 50, Lazio 49, Palermo 48, Como 46, Reggiana 45, Cesena 43, Perugia 43, Catania 41, Foggia 41, Genoa 41, Bari 40, Brescia 38, Taranto 36, Novara 36, Arezzo 33, Reggina 29, Monza 28, Livorno 26, Sorrento 25, Modena 22
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