October 15 1972: Lazio-Juventus 1-1
Lazio hold champions
A solid performance gives Lazio a point against the "Old Lady"
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had been promoted back to Serie A under "Il Maestro", Tommaso Maestrelli. The top scorer had been "Long John" Giorgio Chinaglia with 26 goals (21 in B). Lazio had also had the satisfaction of beating Roma in a Coppa Italia game (1-0 Chinaglia).
This season Maestrelli was obviously still the manager but there had been some important changes to the squad. The main players arriving were: goalkeeper Felice Pulici (Novara), defender Sergio Petrelli (a rare deal with Roma), midfielders Mario Frustalupi (Inter), Pierpaolo Manservisi (Napoli - end of loan), Ferruccio Mazzola (Fiorentina - end of loan) and Luciano Re Cecconi (Foggia) plus forward Renzo Garlaschelli (Como).
Leaving were keepers Claudio Bandoni (Catanzaro) and Rosario Di Vincenzo (Brindisi), defender Giuseppe Papadopulo (Brindisi), midfielders Arrigo Dolso (Alessandria), Giuseppe Massa (Inter) and Alessandro Abbondanza (Napoli - end of loan) plus forwards Carlo Facchin (retiring) and Giuliano Fortunato (Lecce).
So quite a lot of changes to the squad. The main sacrifice was letting go of Massa but the arrival of Frustalupi would turn out to be a history changer for Lazio.
The season had started in August with the Coppa Italia. It went badly and Lazio were out, after losing 3 (Napoli 0-1 at home, Brindisi 0-1 away and Taranto 1-2 at home) and drawing 1 (Palermo 0-0 away).
In Serie A fortunately things had gone better. The Biancocelesti had drawn 0-0 at home to Inter on their debut but then won 1-0 away in Florence. They now faced Italian champions Juventus.
Juventus had won the Scudetto under manager Čestmír Vycpálek (Zdenek Zeman's uncle). The Bianconeri had won 17, drawn 9 and lost 4. The top scorer was Pietro Anastasi with 18 goals (11 in A).
This season the Czech manager stayed on. The main new players were: goalkeeper Dino Zoff (Napoli) and forward José Altafini (Napoli). Few novelties but quality.
Leaving were: goalkeeper Pietro Carmignani (Napoli), defender Gianluigi Roveta (Mantova) and midfielder Nando Viola (Mantova - on loan).
In the summer Coppa Italia, Juventus had qualified for the second group phase to be played in May-June. They had won 2 (Foggia 3-0 at home and Novara 1-0 away) and drawn 2 (Verona 0-0 at home and Varese 1-1 away).
In Serie A Juventus had won 2-0 at Bologna on their debut but then were held to a 1-1 draw at home against Verona.
In the European Cup the Bianconeri had eliminated Olympique Marseille 3-1 on aggregate. Next up were Magdeburg on October 25 and November 8.
A big game for Lazio today. On paper it was prohibitive but Juventus had not been perfect so far so there was some hope.
The match: Sunday, October 15, 1972, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A sunny day and 75,000 spectators for this important clash. The great Sivio Piola was also present.
Lazio played with their best XI while Juventus were without midfielder Giampietro Marchetti.
Lazio started on the front foot and dictated the play. In the 3rd minute Dino Zoff had to save on Franco Nanni and in the 10th Luciano Re Cecconi was unmarked in a favourable position but he decided to pass to Giorgio Chinaglia who hit the side netting.
In the 13th minute Lazio were awarded a penalty for a clear foul by Francesco Morini on Chinaglia. "Long John" stepped up and scored to the right of Zoff who did not even move. 1-0.
Lazio fans were in heaven but the lead only lasted seven minutes. In the 20th minute Roberto Bettega equalised with a sublime header, 1-1.
The game then became hard-fought but with little goal action. Lazio already seemed satisfied with a point and Juventus, realising Lazio were a force to reckon with, did not want to rock the boat too much. Half time 1-1.
The second half was balanced but again played almost exclusively in midfield. In the 75th minute Lazio had a chance when Re Cecconi burst into the area and teed up Chinaglia but the Carrara-born forward stumbled and Morini cleared.
The last ten minutes saw Juventus push forward but Lazio showed great solidity and the Bianconeri were unable to create any clear cut chances. Final score: Lazio 0 Juventus 0.
Lazio were applauded off the field by their fans. Newly promoted they had held their own against the Italian champions. The Biancocelesti had played with humility and determination. A promising start to the season as Lazio were currently in 2nd place on 4 points with Juventus and one point behind Milan, Roma and Napoli on 5.
Who played for Lazio
Pulici, Facco, Martini, Wilson, Oddi, Nanni, Garlaschelli, Re Cecconi, Chinaglia, Frustalupi, Manservisi
Manager: Maestrelli
Who played for Juventus
Substitutes: Piloni, Altafini
Manager: Vycpalek
Referee: Francescon
Goals: 14' Chinaglia (pen), 20' Bettega
What happened next
Lazio had a great season and played wonderful football. In the next 26 games Lazio won 17 (including Milan 2-1, Napoli 3-0 and both derbies), drew 8 and lost 2 (including Juventus 0-1).
This meant that going into the last fixture the table read: Milan 44, Lazio and Juventus 43. Milan were soon 0-4 down at Verona (Milan had played and won the Cup Winners Cup final midweek) and at halftime Lazio were drawing 0-0 in Naples and Juventus losing 0-1 to Roma, in Rome.
A playoff between Lazio and Milan was on the cards.
Then unfortunately, almost surely thanks to "financial incentives" and personal interests, Roma stopped playing and lost while Napoli, also apparently paid off by the "Old Lady" played the game of their lives, scored in the 89th minute and acted as if they had won the World Cup. Milan lost 3-5 in the end in "fatal Verona".
A pity for Lazio but they had played great football and had an excellent season finishing 3rd. They also won both derbies (1-0, 2-0). The top scorer was Giorgio Chinaglia with 11 goals (10 in A). The following year would be different but that's another story.
So, as mentioned, Juventus won their 15th league title. In the remaining games they won 17, drew 7 and lost 3, pipping Lazio and Milan on the last day of the season. The top scorers were Anastasi and Causio with 13 goals while only in A it was Altafini with 9.
The Bianconeri reached two cup finals but lost both.
In the European Cup they knocked out Magdeburg 2-0, Újpesti Dózsa on away goals, Derby County 3-1 but then lost 0-1 to Ajax (Johnny Rep) in Belgrade.
In the Coppa Italia they won their second group with 3 wins (Reggiana 2-1 away, Bologna 4-3 and Inter 4-2 at home) and 3 draws (Reggiana 1-1 at home, Bologna 0-0 and Inter 1-1 away). In the final however they lost to Milan on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Rome.
Let's talk about Pietro Anastasi
Pietro Anastasi was born in Catania, on April 7, 1948.
His first local clubs were San Filippo Neri and Trinacria. He came from a working class family and had six brothers and sisters.
In 1964 he joined Massiminiana, a club from Catania who were in Serie D. He stayed two years with a 4th place followed by a 1st with promotion to Serie C. He played 38 league games with 18 goals. The club later folded in 1976.
In 1966 he joined Varese in Serie B. The manager was Pietro Magni and the Biancorossi finished 2nd and promoted.
Anastasi played 39 games with 7 goals (6 in B). The following year, under Bruno Arcari, Varese finished 8th in Serie A. He played 30 games with 11 goals (all in A, including Milan and a hat-trick against Juventus in an epic 5-0 win).
His teammates at Varese included Lazio connections: Paolo Ferrario (1960-61, 1961-62), Vincenzo Gasperi (1961-66), Antonio Renna (1964-66), Piero Cucchi (1967-68).
Juventus did not forget the Sicilian's exploits and signed him in 1968. He stayed 8 seasons, playing 307 games with 132 goals (78 in A).
He won the Scudetto three times (1972, '73 and '75). His managers were: Heriberto Herrera, Luis Carniglia, Ercole Rabitti, Armando Picchi, Čestmír Vycpálek (two seasons), Carlo Parola (two seasons).
His teammates included Lazio connections: Nando Viola (1976-77, 1978-82), Giorgio Mastropasqua (1980-82), Vincenzo Chiarenza (1981-82, 1983), Oscar Damiani (1985-86), Dino Zoff (manager 1990-94, 1997, 2001), Luciano Spinosi (assistant to Sven-Goran Eriksson 1997-2000 and with club until 2004).
In his last season at Juventus Anastasi played less (16 in A with 1 goal).
In 1976 Anastasi signed for Inter. He stayed two seasons and played 66 games (46 in A) with 13 goals (7 in A). Inter finished 4th and 5th but won a Coppa Italia in 1978 (Napoli 2-1). His managers were Giuseppe Chiappella and Eugenio Bersellini. The squads included Lazio connections: Claudio Ambu (1982-83) and Silvano Martina (1987-89).
In 1978 he joined Ascoli in Serie A. He stayed three seasons, playing 67 games (58 in A) with 9 goals (all in A, including Juventus in 3-2 away win and Inter in 4-2 away win).
The Bianconeri finished 10th (under Antonio Renna), a historic 4th (Giovan Battista Fabbri) and 11th (Fabbri then Carlo Mazzone). He played alongside Lazio connections: Gaetano Legnaro (1970-72), (Felice Pulici (1972-77), Claudio Ambu again (1982-83) and Fortunato Torrisi (1984-85).
In 1981-82 he played one last season with Lugano in the Swiss second tier. He made 14 league appearances with 10 goals. Lügàn finished 7th.
He then retired at 34.
At international level he earned 25 caps for Italy with 8 goals.
He won a European Championship in 1968 (scoring in the final against Yugoslavia) and took part in the 1974 World Cup (scoring against Haiti).
In the Germany World Cup he rivalled Giorgio Chinaglia for the number 9 jersey.
After retiring for a period he was involved with the Varese academy and worked on TV as a pundit.
Anastasi was a centre-forward. His idol was John Charles but he was a different type of forward from the Welshman.
Anastasi was 1.72, fast, mobile and unpredictable. He was instinctive with quick reflexes making him a prolific scorer, often with acrobatic goals. He was classified as a centre-forward but his mobility often led him to the wings or providing assists behind the other forward.
He scored 201 goals in his career and won the Scudetto three times, a Coppa Italia and a European Championship.
For many in southern Italy he represented a whole social class, those who unwillingly had to leave their roots to go and work in the more opulent north.
Pietro Anastasi died on January 17, 2020 in Varese.
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