Lazio Outclass Roma in Season’s First Derby
- Simon Basten
- Oct 9, 2023
- 3 min read
Game 6, Serie A
Sunday, October 10, 1965
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Roma Lazio 0-1
Biancocelesti soak up early pressure, strike through D’Amato, and hold firm for a well-earned victory.
In the first five games of Serie A the Biancocelesti had drawn four and beaten Varese at home. They were seventh and today were playing the first derby of the season.
The match
There was great anticipation on the eve of the match, with the Biancocelesti still unbeaten in the league and Roma riding high after three consecutive victories. The Giallorossi, however, had fought a gruelling battle the previous Wednesday at the Stadio Flaminio against Chelsea, going out in the first round of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. That match had been marred by serious incidents: illegal challenges on the pitch, a pitch invasion by some spectators, and stones thrown at the English team’s coach after the final whistle.
The opening exchanges favoured Oronzo Pugliese’s eleven. In the 2nd minute Paolo Barison forced Idillio Cei into a two-stage save, and in the 11th Victor Benitez unleashed a fierce shot that had the crowd shouting for a goal. Once their opponents had burned off their early energy, Lazio emerged with great authority—compact in defence, mobile in midfield, and their forwards ready to strike on the counter.
Vito D’Amato and Nicola Ciccolo caused chaos with their runs, keeping the Roma defence constantly on edge. The pair combined brilliantly, and Lazio supporters sang from the stands in a steady rhythm: “Ciccolo-Vito, Ciccolo-Vito.” Ciccolo unleashed a powerful effort in the 33rd minute but missed the target, then a superb Can Bartu free-kick forced Fabio Cudicini into a fine save. The ball looped high into the air, and Fulvio Francesconi cleared off the line just ahead of D’Amato’s decisive touch. After a diagonal shot from Barison was stylishly saved by Cei, Ciccolo again threatened with a quick turn, but Cudicini was equal to it.
Roma were on the ropes, and in the 39th minute they had to yield. Nello Governato advanced down the left, meeting little resistance, then cut inside and slid an excellent cross-field ball to D’Amato, who drove a low, skimming shot past Cudicini.
Roma threw themselves forward immediately and nearly equalised before the break during a furious goalmouth scramble—first Cei saved on the line from Renato Benaglia, then Governato blocked Giuseppe Tamborini’s follow-up in the nick of time.
After the interval, Roma continued to press, but Lazio remained composed, their defence—helped by the midfield—closing every gap. Roma’s territorial dominance was sterile, while Lazio’s forward forays always carried menace. As fatigue from their midweek exertions set in, the Giallorossi faded minute by minute.
D’Amato was rampant, giving his markers a torrid time. In the 56th minute, Sergio Carpanesi, trying to stop Ciccolo’s surging run, almost put through his own goal; only an acrobatic save from Cudicini prevented the ball from crossing the line. In the 75th minute, on yet another counterattack, Ciccolo stumbled at the moment of shooting when the Roma goalkeeper already seemed resigned to the worst.
No further chances arrived before the final whistle, and Lazio could celebrate—with justifiable pride—a fully deserved derby victory.
Who played for Roma
Cudicini, Carpenetti, Tomasin, Carpanesi, Losi, Benaglia, Tamborini, Leonardi, Francesconi, Benitez, Barison
Manager: Pugliese
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Mannocci
Referee: Campanati
Goal: 39’ D’Amato
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