October 14, 1934: Lazio Bologna 2-1
- Simon Basten
- 2 days ago
- 8 min read
Fantoni I gives precious win to Lazio
A Fantoni I goal in the final minutes allows Lazio to win a very difficult match
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The season so far
The previous year Lazio had arrived tenth. The club’s main objective had been to have a comfortable year and to avoid relegation, so in the end mission accomplished. For the 1934-35 season the club was more ambitious. The Biancocelesti had signed a promising centre forward from Pro Vercelli, Silvio Piola, another forward Felice Levratto plus midfielder Giuseppe Viani from Ambrosiana Inter, goalkeeper Giacomo Blason from Triestina and the World Champion Attilio Ferraris IV. Leaving Lazio were Pietro Buscaglia (Torino), Bruno Bedosti (Anconitana), Duilio Salatin and Pepe (Brazil), Giovanni Battioni and Augusto Mattei (Aquila), Mario Tonali (Pisa) and Raggio Montanari (Foggia).
The Biancocelesti had played two games so far demolishing Livorno 6-1 in the first match at home and losing 2-1 at Trieste in the second.
The match: Sunday, October 14, 1934, Stadio PNF, Rome
Bologna won the toss and chose to play with the sun at their backs, but it was Lazio who started strongly, pressing immediately and forcing three early corners by the 6th minute—though none yielded a goal. Bologna responded with a promising run from Angelo Schiavio, called offside, and an Aldo Spivach cross, intercepted by Armando Bertagni.
Silvio Piola tested goalkeeper Mario Gianni with the first serious chance of the match, but Bologna quickly countered with a sharp passing move between Rafael Sansone, Francisco Fedullo, and Schiavio. The Bologna attack shifted left but was cut off by Giacomo Blason, who narrowly deflected a cross aimed at the onrushing Spivach.
Bologna increased their attacking pressure and Blason twice blocked shots from Fedullo. Lazio continued to press, winning additional corners in the 10th and 20th minutes, though Antonio Bisigato’s second cross went wide.
Bologna had a golden chance when Schiavio broke free from Armando Del Debbio and fired at goal. Blason saved but failed to hold onto the ball, allowing Schiavio a second attempt—only for him to misjudge the angle and miss from just a metre out.
The deadlock finally broke in the 28th minute. After a surge by Gerardo Ottani, Bertagni passed the ball back to the keeper almost causing an own goal. Blason managed to parry but the rebound fell to Ottani in the penalty area, who calmly slotted it in with a powerful shot for Bologna’s first goal.
Lazio’s defence was rattled, with Blason kept busy. In the 31st minute, Schiavio’s header hit the outside of the net. Once past this difficult period, Lazio began to fight back. Piola, assisted by Virgillio Felice Levratto, slipped past Dino Fiorini and Aldo Donati to shoot—but missed.
The equaliser came in the 40th minute. Felice Gasperi’s foul allowed Ottavio Fantoni II to take a free kick, which Bisigato crossed to Anfilogino Guarisi. Gasperi tried to head the ball away, but it reached Piola, who powered a header into the net. Fedullo briefly left the pitch after a clash but Lazio pressed on. A near chance came from a position swap between Joao Fantoni I and Guarisi, though Filò’s shot went wide. The first half ended with Levratto’s run stopped for offside.
The second half opened with Bologna pressing, but their early long-range attempts were easily saved, and one attacking move was called offside. Blason made several saves early on, including from a corner and a Del Debbio header. Filò broke through but handled the ball when trying to adjust it, nullifying the attack. Mario Montesanto hit the post from a free kick in the 51st minute, and Bisigato missed another opportunity shortly after.
Gradually, Lazio began to dominate. Piola’s dazzling solo runs troubled Bologna’s full-backs, while the crowd protested for a questionable offside. Lazio created several chances: Giuseppe Viani’s header from a corner was saved, Guarisi’s shot was off target while at the other end a quick counter by Bologna nearly saw Sansone score. Donati’s timely intervention thwarted another dangerous threat.
As Lazio pushed forward, Bologna pressed repeatedly, taking advantage of Lazio’s advanced full-backs. The game became fast-paced and open, with dangerous switches of play from both sides. After the 75th minute, Bologna renewed their attacks, keeping Blason busy.
Lazio refused to relent. Position changes were constant, and both sides looked set to score. In the 83rd minute, Ottani sent a long-range effort well over the goal, exciting the crowd. A minute later, Guarisi’s perfect cross found Piola, but Gianni came out decisively to intercept.
The breakthrough came late: after Corsi handled the ball near Piola, Filò took a free kick just outside the box. Bologna formed a wall, but Guarisi feinted and passed to the unmarked Fantoni I, who fired a precise shot into the net, leaving Gianni wrong-footed.
That goal proved decisive. Bologna rushed forward in the final minutes, winning two free kicks, but Blason was never seriously tested again. Lazio held on for a hard-fought victory.
Who played for Lazio
Blason, Bertagni, Del Debbio, Ferraris IV, Viani, Fantoni II, Guarisi, Fantoni I, Piola, Bisigato, Levratto
Manager: Alt
Who played for Bologna
Gianni, Fiorini, Gasperi, Montesanto, Donati, Corsi, Spivach, Sansone, Schiavio, Fedullo, Ottani
Manager: Kovács
Referee: Mattea
Goals: 29’ Ottani, 39’ Piola, 87’ Fantoni I
What happened next
At the end of the first half of the season Lazio were sixth. Unfortunately, the year would be characterised by the death of Ottavio Fantoni II, cousin of Joao Fantoni I. During the game against Torino on January 20 he injured his nose. It seemed nothing particularly serious but the injury caused an infection. After two weeks of great suffering, Fantoni II died.
Lazio had an excellent attack but not such a good defence. There had been some heavy defeats (6-1 against Juventus away but also 4-1 and 5-3 at home against Milan and Fiorentina). However, the wins against Juventus, Napoli and Inter at home had shown that Lazio could compete with the stronger clubs. Lazio also beat Pro Vercelli 6-0. The Biancocelesti finished 5th.
Ferraris IV was the player with most appearances (30), Piola with the most goals (21)
What happened in Serie A 1934-35
In the previous season the scudetto was won by Juventus ahead of Ambrosiana Inter and Napoli. The Nerazzurri had a four-point lead over the Bianconeri at half way. Juventus managed to reduce the gap but Ambrosiana led through most of the season until the 29th fixture when the Nerazzurri lost in Florence and the Bianconeri by winning at Brescia managed to overtake them. Inter never recovered.
The two teams who had fought a hard battle were clearly the favourites for the 1934-35 title with perhaps Lazio as an outsider since the Biancocelesti had signed Giuseppe Viani, Attilio Ferraris IV and Silvio Piola, a promising forward.
June-September
The Central European Cup was played between the end of the previous season and the start of the new one. It was competition held between teams from Italy, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Austria. Four clubs each. Italy was represented by Juventus, Ambrosiana Inter, Napoli and Bologna. In the Round of 16 played in June, Bologna and Juventus qualified for the quarter finals by beating Bocskai SC and Tepkitzer FK, whereas Ambrosiana Inter and Napoli were eliminated by SK Kladno and SK Admira. In July the remaining Italian clubs qualified for the semi-finals overcoming Ujpesti FC and SK Rapid.
The semis, played in late July saw Bologna prevail over Ferencvarosi FC but Juve were eliminated by SK Admira. The final in September saw Bologna lose the first leg 3-2 but win the second 5-1. The Cup was theirs.
September & October
Fiorentina and Juventus surged ahead in the first four games. The Bianconeri won all their games except the Turin derby, the Viola drew with Milan.
Fiorentina 7, Juventus 7, Ambrosiana Inter 6, Lazio 6, Torino 5, Roma 4, Milan 4, Livorno 4, Bologna 3, Napoli 3, Alessandria 3, Sampierdanese 3, Palermo 3, Brescia 3, Triestina 2, Pro Vercelli 1
November
In the fifth fixture Lazio went top with Fiorentina after they beat Juventus in a spectacular 5-3. The Biancocelesti were re-overtaken by the Viola in the sixth game when they drew the derby and were caught up by Juventus who beat Ambrosiana Inter. They then fell further back when they lost at home with Milan.
Fiorentina 12, Juventus 11, Roma 9, Lazio 9, Milan 8, Torino 8, Ambrosiana Inter 7, Napoli 7, Triestina 7, Alessandria 6, Sampierdanese 6, Livorno 6, Bologna 5, Palermo 5, Brescia 5, Pro Vercelli 1
December
Fiorentina closed the year with a three-point lead over Roma and Juventus. It was however all very tight with just 8 points between second place and 15th. Milan and Ambrosiana Inter drew the derby 2-2.
Fiorentina 17, Roma 14, Juventus 14, Ambrosiana Inter 11, Milan 11, Alessandria 10, Torino 10, Triestina 10, Lazio 9, Brescia 9, Bologna 5, Napoli 8, Livorno 8, Palermo 7, Sampierdanese 6, Pro Vercelli 3
January
1935 opened with some spectacular scores: Alessandria-Roma 1-6, Ambrosiana Inter-Brescia 5-1, Bologna-Milan 6-3, and Torino-Sampierdanese 5-2. Fiorentina went +4 after the 12th fixture but the lead was halved when they lost to Bologna.
Fiorentina 23, Juventus 21, Ambrosiana Inter 19, Roma 17, Napoli 17, Lazio 16, Torino 14, Triestina 14, Milan 13, Bologna 13, Alessandria 13, Brescia 12, Palermo 11, Livorno 9, Sampierdanese 7, Pro Vercelli 5
February
In the 17 fixture Fiorentina went +3 on Juventus after beating Milan. Below, it seemed that for the moment the battle to stay up was between Sampierdanese and Livorno with Pro Vercelli looking rather doomed.
Fiorentina 27, Ambrosiana Inter 24, Juventus 24, Roma 20, Lazio 19, Triestina 19, Napoli 18, Bologna 17, Alessandria 17, Torino 15, Milan 15, Brescia 15, Palermo 15, Sampierdanese 11, Livorno 10, Pro Vercelli 6
March
Fiorentina first lost to Pro Vercelli and drew with Palermo so were joined at the top by Juventus after the 19th fixture. The Bianconeri won the derby while the Rome clash ended goalless. Below, Livorno had caught up with Sampierdanese and now the two teams were only a couple of points behind Torino.
Juventus 31, Fiorentina 31, Ambrosiana Inter 30, Roma 25, Lazio 22, Bologna 21, Alessandria 21, Palermo 21, Napoli 20, Milan 20, Triestina 20, Brescia 20, Torino 16, Sampierdanese 14, Livorno 14, Pro Vercelli 10
April
Fiorentina again lost points against a team fighting to stay in Serie A as they drew at home with Sampierdanese. They were hence joined in second place by Ambrosiana Inter while Juventus went top alone, after beating Livorno who fell to the penultimate position in the table. The Bianconeri however lost at Trieste and the Nerazzurri by winning the derby took the solitary lead but it lasted just one game as they were stopped at Vercelli and Juve beat Bologna. Fiorentina held firm and were only a point away.
Ambrosiana Inter 36, Juventus 36, Fiorentina 35, Roma 27, Lazio 27, Palermo 26, Triestina 26, Alessandria 25, Bologna 24, Napoli 24, Milan 22, Brescia 22, Torino 21, Sampierdanese 20, Livorno 18, Pro Vercelli 11
May & June
Juventus went back in the lead with four games to the end of the season when they beat Palermo, Ambrosiana drew at Brescia and Fiorentina lost at home to Livorno. In the 27th fixture the Bianconeri lost 3-0 against Milan away but Ambrosiana could only muster a draw in Genoa with Sampierdanese. Fiorentina were one point behind after beating Bologna. In the penultimate match the top two teams won and the Viola lost at Alessandria and were forced to throw in the towel. Last two games of the season: Lazio-Ambrosiana, Fiorentina-Juventus. Inter collapsed in Rome and the Bianconeri won in Florence securing the title. An event which would happen again in 2002.
In the fight to stay in Serie A with one game to go, the table read: Milan and Brescia 25 points, Sampierdanese and Livorno 24, Torino 23. Pro Vercelli were already in Serie B. The big match was Torino-Livorno, whoever won would stay in Serie A. And it was the home side that clinched the victory so the Tuscan Amaranto were relegated.
Juventus, Ambrosiana Inter, Fiorentina and Roma would be playing the Central European Cup next season. Bari and Genoa were promoted from Serie B. Top scorer was Enrique Guaita (Roma) with 28 goals.
Final table: Juventus 44, Ambrosiana Inter 42, Fiorentina 39, Roma 35, Lazio 32, Bologna 30, Napoli 29, Alessandria 29, Palermo 29, Milan 27, Triestina 27, Brescia 27, Sampierdanese 26, Torino 25, Livorno 24, Pro Vercelli 15
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