Lazio dump Milan out of the title race
- Dag Jenkins
- Mar 9, 2024
- 3 min read
Game 25, Serie A
Wednesday, March 9, 1966
Stadio San Siro, Milan
Milan-Lazio 0-2
A solid Lazio end the Rossoneri's Scudetto hopes
So far Lazio had played 23 games. The Biancocelesti had started the season with a 0-0 home draw against today's opposition and then won 5 (including derby 1-0), drawn 10 (including second derby 0-0) and lost 7. Lazio were currently 13th, on 22 points and only six from the last relegation slot (Catania on 16).
The Rossoneri were currently 4th in the table on 30 points, six points behind leaders Inter. The Diavolo had won 11, drawn 8 (including derby 1-1) and lost 4 (including the most recent game 1-2 at home to Fiorentina).
It is important to note that today's game had originally been scheduled for January 23. It had been called off in the 54th minute due to thick fog with the score on 0-0. They tried again on February 2 but again the fog descended and after 67 minutes it was abandoned with Milan leading 2-0. In those days the games were replayed from the beginning. Third time lucky today?
Milan were favourites and had to win to give themselves a chance of getting back in the title race.
The match
A Wednesday afternoon game which attracted about 35,000 spectators to San Siro.
Lazio had no injury worries while Milan were without defenders Karl-Heinz Schnellinger and Giovanni Trapattoni plus midfielder Giovanni Lodetti.
Lazio started better than the hosts and Vito D'Amato immediately had a thundering effort saved with some difficulty by debutant Luigi Balzarini.
Milan reacted with a fantastic Amarildo bicycle kick but Idilio Cei was well placed.
Cei then had no problems saving efforts by future Lazio Giuliano Fortunato and Angelo Sormani.
On the 24th minute Lazio scored. Giovanni Sacco from midfield teed up Nello Governato who raced between Gilberto Noletti and Cesare Maldini and fired an unstoppable shot past Balzarini. Milan 0 Lazio 1.
Milan attacked but without creating any particular threats.
In the 33rd minute Lazio went close but Nicola Ciccolo put a good assist by Paolo Carosi wide and then a few minutes later had a dangerous header saved by Balzarini. Ciccolo had two more chances before the break but first blasted over the bar and then lost the moment to shoot on an excellent Diego Zanetti pass. Halftime Milan 0 Lazio 1. A deserved lead so far.
The Rossoneri came on far more determined in the second half. After only two minutes Cei was miraculous on a Sormani attempt, despite only seeing the ball at the last moment.
A few minutes later an Amarildo powerful strike was headed away from near the goal line by Governato.
It looked as if an equaliser was coming instead it was Lazio who scored again. Ambrogio Pelegalli passed to Noletti on the vertex of his own area but the Milanese defender hesitated and was dispossessed by D'Amato who reached the by-line from where, instead of squaring to Ciccolo in the middle, he scored from a seemingly impossible angle. Milan 0 Lazio 2.
Milan now attacked head down while Lazio defended and waited for chances on the break.
In the 67th minute Amarildo looked certain to score but Governato cleared the line again.
In the 74th minute a similar thing happened but this time it was Zanetti who saved on the line from a Urano Benigni strike.
Milan were tired, Lazio defended impeccably and the game ended. Milan 0 Lazio 2.
A surprising but clear victory by Lazio. A rock steady defence and a superb goalkeeper, an excellent Governato in midfield and an always threatening D'Amato up front had resulted in a fantastic win.
The Milanisti were whistled off while the Laziali were applauded by their travelling fans. Amongst them was former president Andrea Ercoli who was so overjoyed he opened his wallet and signed a generous cheque to reward and thank the players.
Lazio were now on 24 points and moved up to a more respectable joint 8th place with Vicenza while Milan blew their chance to join the title race.
Who played for Milan
Balzarini, Pelagalli, Trebbi, Santin, Maldini, Noletti, Benigni, Rivera, Sormani, Amarildo, Fortunato
Substitutes: Barluzzi
Manager: Liedholm (Cattozzo on bench)
Who played for Lazio
Substitutes: Gori
Manager: Mannocci
Referee: Bernardis
Goals: 24' Governato, 51' D'Amato
Sources
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