Thank you Pervesi
Lazio manage to draw thanks to an incredible own goal
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had arrived second just three points behind scudetto winners Bologna. They had played exceptionally well and if it was not for the numerous injuries, they may have even won the scudetto. Leaders after the first half of the season, the Biancocelesti then fell back but later recovered to clinch a historic second place.
The manager, Jozsef Viola, had obviously been confirmed and there were just a few movements in the summer transfer window. In came defender Maximiliano Faotto (Palermo) and forward Emilio Capri (Vicenza) and out went Luigi Uneddu (Vigevano) and Walter D’Odorico (Torino).
Before the beginning of the season, Lazio had to play the final of the Central European Cup (or Mitropa Cup). They had reached it after beating Hungaria (4-3 on aggregate) and Grasshoppers (8-4 in the two games) just before the summer. They did not play the semi-final since Genoa and Admira had been excluded. On September 12, 1937, they played Ferencváros in Budapest and lost 4-2. The refereeing had not been up to par. In the return game in Rome under belting rain Lazio had even managed to go 4-2 ahead but in the end collapsed after Silvio Piola had missed a penalty, and lost 5-4.
So far, in Serie A the Biancocelesti had drawn three, including the derby, and won one. Today was game five.
The match: Sunday, October 10, 1937, Stadio San Siro, Milan
There was barely time for the spectators to sit down and Lazio were already ahead. Silvio Piola inside the box passed the ball to Benedetto Stella just outside the area, big whack, Milan 0 Lazio 1.
The early goal determined the Biancocelesti’s tactical approach: stay back. It took Milan a little bit to get organised and in the 8th minute a Giovanni Moretti shot was comfortably saved by Vincenzo Provera. The Rossoneri started to increase their rhythm but in the 12th and 19th minutes Aldo Boffi wasted the good team work. In the 24th minute Stella forced Mario Zorzan to make a difficult save and two minutes later Lazio should have made it two. Umberto Busani crossed into the box, Zorzan missed the catch, Piola promptly volleyed the ball into goal but it hit the keeper's ankle while in the 29th minute Boffi missed a chance shooting wide from favourable position. Two minutes later Provera made the first real save of the day on a Vicente Arnoni shot. After another failed attempt by Boffi, Provera saved on an Elisio Gabardo shot in the 36th minute.
The seemingly weak Milan attack prompted Lazio to go on the attack in the final minutes of the first half. Giuseppe Viani crossed for Emilio Capri whose shot was however too weak. A few seconds later Capri himself crossed into the box but Piola’s shot was parried by the keeper.
In the second half after two minutes Moretti had a chance but squandered it. But in the 55th Milan equalised. Moretti to Baffo to Gabardo, powerful shot, nothing Provera could do.
The hosts put their foot on the accelerator but their forcing was confused and the Biancocelesti survived. Between the 67th and 73rd minute Lazio had four corners but were unable to create anything dangerous. After both Capri and Moretti had missed chances, in the 80th minute Milan went ahead. Gabardo started the move and passed to Arnoni who crossed low into the middle of the box where Moretti was waiting and did not miss.
Lazio no longer seemed to have the energy left to try to equalise. In the 84th minute Viani to Busani who crossed towards the centre. Piola was too far behind so all Luigi Perversi had to do was to protect his goalkeeper who had come out of the goal to collect the ball. But the Milan player decided to head the ball back to the keeper who was certainly not expecting it. It beat Zorzan and slowly went into the net. A marvellous gift for the Biancocelesti.
Lazio then almost scored a winner on the cusp of the game when Piola tried a shot but Zorzan saved Milan.
A good draw for the Biancocelesti while the Rossoneri had thrown the win away.
Who played for Milan
Zorzan, Perversi, Bonizzoni, Rigotti II, Bortoletti, Loetti, Capra II, Moretti, Boffi, Gabardo, Arnoni
Manager: József Bánás
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Violak
Referee: Scotto
Goals: 3’ Stella, 55’ Gabardo, 80’ Moretti, 84’ Perversi (og)
What happened next
After the first half of the season Lazio were fifth together with Roma, Milan and Torino and just one point behind second place. But in the second half they did not do as well. They lost to weaker teams (Bari 5-1 is a prime example) and could not keep up the pace of the first part of the year. In the end the Biancocelesti finished 8th with a lot of “what ifs”.
The players with most appearances were Monza, Busani and Viani (33) and the leading scorer was obviously the great Silvio Piola with 18 goals.
Lazio 1937-38
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals Scored |
Serie A | 30 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 48 |
Coppa Italia | 1 | - | - | 1 | - |
Total | 31 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 48 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Busani | 31 | 30 | 1 |
Monza | 31 | 30 | 1 |
Viani | 31 | 30 | 1 |
Piola | 28 | 28 | - |
Camolese | 27 | 26 | 1 |
Milano | 27 | 26 | 1 |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Serie A |
Piola | 15 |
Busani | 12 |
Camolese | 6 |
Marchini | 5 |
Riccardi | 3 |
Let's talk about Vincenzo Provera
Vincenzo Provera was born in Casale Monferrato (Alessandria) on February 22, 1912.
He started playing for Casale in Serie A making 107 appearances between 1930 and 1934. In the 1934-35 season he moved south to play for Palermo. In his four years in Sicily he played three in Serie A and one in Serie B.
In 1937 he left and joined Lazio. The Biancocelesti needed a backup goalkeeper for Giacomo Blason and Provera had the necessary experience. He stayed for three years in the capital making 20 appearances.
In 1940 he played his last season of active football with Pro Vercelli in Serie B.
He died in Casale Monferrato on June 18, 1988.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Mitropa Cup |
1937-38 | 13 | 11 | 1 | 1 |
1938-39 | 5 | 5 | - | - |
1939-40 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - |
Total | 20 | 17 | 2 | 1 |
Sources
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