May 29, 1960: Lazio-Padova 2-0
- Dag Jenkins
- 5 days ago
- 7 min read
Rozzoni brace wipes out relegation fears
A goal per half by the Lombard striker means Lazio are officially safe
Also on this day:
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. 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 won 6, drawn 9 and lost 11 (including Padova 0-2 and the second derby 0-1). The Biancocelesti were currently joint 12th, with Udinese, Napoli and Bari, on 27 points, only two above Palermo in the last relegation position. On the positive side four of these wins had come in the last nine games including Genoa 4-2 away a week earlier.
In Coppa Italia Lazio had got through the last 16 by beating Palermo 2-1 at home after extra-time (Ugo Pozzan winner 118'). The Biancocelesti would play Bologna next in the quarter finals in June.
Padova had finished 7th the previous season under Nereo Rocco. The Patavini had beaten Lazio 3-0 at home and drawn 1-1 in Rome. Top scorer was Sergio Brighenti with 18 league goals.
This season the manager was still "El Paròn" Rocco. The main new signings were: defender Cristiano Cervato (Treviso), Giorgio Barbolini (Modena), future Lazio Vincenzo Gasperi (SPAL) plus forwards Marino Perani (Bologna) and Mario Tortul (Triestina).
Leaving were forwards Enore Boscolo (Taranto) and Amos Mariani (Lazio).
This season Padova were doing even better and were currently in 5th position, on 35 points. The Euganei had won 14 (including Milan and Lazio 2-0 plus Inter 3-0 and Udinese 6-1 all at home) drawn 7 and lost 11.
In the Coppa Italia Padova had eliminated Verona 3-2 a.e.t and Udinese 3-2. They then played Torino and won 1-0 but were then stripped of the win and it was awarded 2-0 to Toro. This was because at halftime they had replaced the goal scorer Brighenti and outfield players could only be substituted in the first two rounds hence the punishment.
Another positive season for the Veneti but Lazio were hoping they would come to Rome with few remaining motivations. The Biancocelesti on the other hand needed points to avoid any nasty surprises.
The match: Sunday, May 29, 1960, Stadio Stadio Flaminio, Rome
A hot sunny day for Lazio's last home game of the season attracted just under 30,000 to the Flaminio. A sell-out crowd to push the Biancocelesti towards safety.
Lazio were missing defender Giovanni Molino and attacking midfielder Maurilio Prini.
Padova had several absences, forwards Marino Perani, Mario Tortul and top scorer Sergio Brighenti. Practically the whole attack.
Lazio assaulted the Padova area from the word go. The goalkeeper Antonio Pin was called into action on shots by Orlando Rozzoni and Claudio Bizzarri.
The visitors "catenaccio" however initially limited Lazio's actual goal scoring attempts despite their dominance.
In the 22nd minute a Bruno Franzini-Franco Carradori combination freed Ugo Pozzan for a cross to Rozzoni whose header shaved the post. The striker was denied by the keeper two minutes later when Pin blocked his shot on the goal line.
Padova had a shot on goal in the 25th minute but Idilio Cei stopped Celestino Celio's long-range effort.
In the 26th minute Lazio scored. Clemente Mattei went through the defence and teed up Rozzoni whose cross-goal shot was unstoppable. Lazio 1 Padova 0. The visitors complained of a Mattei handball in the build-up but the referee was uninterested.
Lazio continued to be on top and in the 40th minute Pozzan went close but hit the side netting.
Padova stirred just before halftime but Cei acrobatically saved a Giuseppe Cosma attempt. 1-0 at the break.
The second half was more balanced but the bigger chances fell to Lazio. In the 55th minute Mattei hit a post and in the 69th an excellent save by Pin denied a powerful Bizzarri strike.
The goal that freed the crowd's enthusiasm finally came in the 78th minute. Carradori took a freekick which was punched away by Pin but reached Pozzan who promptly crossed into the middle where Rozzoni headed in. Lazio 2 Padova 0. The Lazio fans went wild, the goal most likely meant Serie A football for another year.
Lazio almost made it three in the 87th minute but Egidio Fumagalli's header came back off the post. Two or three made no difference the important was the win. Final score Lazio 2 Padova 0.
A crucial win for Lazio who had played with determination and desire. They had needed and wanted the win more than an already satisfied Padova who had key players missing too.
Lazio were officially safe. Palermo had drawn 1-1 away at Genoa so were now three points behind with one game to go.
A difficult season was almost over with Lazio constantly hovering just above the relegation zone but it had ended well and the Flaminio celebrated at length.
Who played for Lazio
Cei, Lo Buono, Del Gratta, Carradori, Janich, Fumagalli, Bizzarri, Pozzan, Rozzoni, Franzini, Mattei
Manager: Bernardini
Who played for Padova
Pin, Cervato, Scagnellato, Pison, Blason, Barbolini, Galtarossa, Rosa, Cosma, Gasperi, Celio
Manager: Rocco
Referee: Angelini
Goals: 26' Rozzoni, 78' Rozzoni
What happened next
Lazio finished 12th. The Biancocelesti then drew 0-0 at Alessandria and ended on 30 points. 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 semi-final. Lazio then conquered 3rd place by beating Torino 2-1 in the losers' final.
Padova finished joint 5th with Bologna and SPAL. In the last match they drew 2-2 away to Bologna and ended on 36 points. Top scorer was Brighenti with 24 goals (21 in A).
The Scudetto was won by Juventus for the 11th time. Serie B opened its unwelcoming doors to Genoa, Palermo and Alessandria (the Grey Wolves from Piedmont have not been back since).
Let’s talk about Clemente Mattei
Clemente Franco Mattei was born in Rome, on January 1, 1939.
He was formed in the Lazio youth setup and joined the first team squad in the 1956-57 season.
The manager was Jesse Carver and Lazio finished an excellent 3rd but Mattei made no appearances. The following season, first under Milovan Ćirić and then Alfredo Monza, the Biancocelesti finished 12th but again Mattei did not feature at all.
In 1958-59 he spent a season on loan at Catania. The Etnei were in Serie B and finished 16th and Mattei made 2 league appearances.
In 1959-60 at 20 he returned to Lazio. The manager was now Fulvio Bernardini who the previous year had led Lazio to their first historic silverware, the Coppa Italia. Mattei played 8 league games with 1 goal (Fiorentina in 2-2 away draw), 3 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Bologna, 3-2 winner in extra-time), 2 in the Italo-French Friendship Cup with 2 goals and 8 games in the Reserve League with 2 goals.
In 1960-61 he stayed at Lazio. Bernardini was in charge for the first ten games then former player Enrique Flamini took over (with Jesse Carver as technical director from the 15th fixture). Lazio ended up relegated and Mattei played 9 league games with 1 goal (Bologna) and 1 game in Coppa Italia plus 17 games in the Reserve League with 3 goals.
In 1961 he left Lazio and joined Novara where he stayed one season. The Azzurri were in Serie B and finished 11th but were then relegated for corruption charges. The managers were future Lazio, Carlo Facchini, then Evaristo Barrera and finally Imre Senkey. Mattei played 18 league games with 2 goals (Catanzaro, Cosenza) and 3 games in Coppa Italia. His teammates included Lazio connections Carlo Soldo (1967-69), Egidio Fumagalli (1958-61, 1963-64) and Giambattista Moschino (1962-63).
In 1962 he signed for Salernitana in Serie C for a season. The Granata finished 4th. His teammates included Fumagalli again, a young Franco Cordova (Lazio 1976-79), Franco Pezzullo (youth sector and 1959-62) and Oliviero Visentin (Lazio 1959-61, 1964-65).
He then reappeared at Rieti in 1965 and stayed two seasons. The Sabini were in Serie D and got relegated. The following year they finished 5th but were readmitted to Serie D. The Amarantocelesti were his last club.
Mattei was a forward. He had the satisfaction of playing 17 league games with 2 goals for Lazio in Serie A but that was the peak as apart from a decent year at Novara his career never really took off.
Mattei died in Rome on July 3, 2024.
Lazio Career
Season | Appearances (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Italo French Friendship Cup |
1959-60 | 13 (4) | 8 (1) | 3 (1) | 2 (1) |
1960-61 | 11 (1) | 9 (1) | 2 | - |
Total | 24 (4) | 17 (2) | 7 (1) | 2 (1) |
Sources
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