September 24, 1972: Lazio Inter 0-0
- Simon Basten
- Sep 24, 2025
- 4 min read
Breath of fresh air for Maestrelli
A good game against Inter eliminates all the clouds that had hung over Lazio after the dismal Coppa Italia performance
Also on this day:
The season so far
The previous season Lazio managed to secure promotion to Serie A under new manager Tommaso Maestrelli.
The objective for this season was to not be relegated again and to live a comfortable year, without too many problems. In the summer transfer window, a few new players had arrived and some had left. The most important of the latter was the sale of Giuseppe Massa to Inter in exchange for Mario Frustalupi, Massimo Silva and cash. With the money, President Umberto Lenzini bought goalkeeper Felice Pulici (Novara), midfielder Luciano Re Cecconi (Foggia) and forward Renzo Garlaschelli (Como) plus defender Sergio Petrelli in a rare deal with Roma. Leaving Lazio were Claudio Bandoni (Catanzaro), Rosario Di Vincenzo and Giuseppe Papadopulo (both to Brindisi), Arrigo Dolso (Alessandria) and Giuliano Fortunato (Lecce). Rino Gritti and Alessandro Abbondanza had finished their year loans and went back to Lecco and Napoli respectively. In the autumn window forward Giacomo La Rosa arrived from Varese and Gaetano Legnaro and Silva were sold to Ascoli.
The Biancocelesti started badly in Coppa Italia losing three games out of four and were eliminated. Maestrelli was in a difficult position and so was Pulici, indicated as the prime culprit for the early exit.
But today was the first Serie A game, against Inter.
The match: Sunday, September 24, 1972, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Before the start of the game Giorgio Chinaglia received the Chevron prize for being top Serie B scorer the previous season.
Lazio started cautiously but in the 25th minute Inter were forced to substitute Roberto Boninsegna with Evert Skoglund, losing their main attacking threat. The Biancocelesti picked up courage and started to play more attacking football. In the 34th minute Chinaglia to Luciano Re Cecconi in the box all alone in front of Lido Vieri on the right. His attempted shot was saved into corner by the keeper.
The strong forcing left Lazio a bit out of breath but in the 65th minute a great opportunity for Pino Wilson on another Chinaglia assist. Again, face to face with Vieri, the Biancoceleste libero tried a lob over the outcoming keeper which shaved the crossbar. Towards the end of the game Chinaglia tried a shot from a difficult angle, Vieri parried.
An excellent match from the Tommaso Maestrelli boys, well played. Inter managed to avoid defeat only thanks to some great saves from Vieri.
Who played for Lazio
Pulici, Facco, Martini, Wilson, Oddi, Nanni, Garlaschelli, Re Cecconi, Chinaglia, Frustalupi, Manservisi
Manager: Maestrelli
Who played for Inter
Vieri, Bellugi, Facchetti, Bedin, Giubertoni, Burgnich, Moro, Mazzola, Boninsegna (30' Skoglund), Bertini, Doldi
Substitutes: Bordon
Manager: Invernizzi
Referee: Lo Bello
What happened next
After five games Lazio were leading Serie A together with Milan, Inter and Roma. The win in the derby was a turning point for the Biancocelesti who started to think big. At the end of the first half of the season they were joint third with Inter but just one point behind leaders Milan and Juventus. In the return fixtures they won eight consecutive games between mid-February and mid-April. With four games to the end Lazio were joint first with Milan (who they had just beaten). Then two away draws had left them one point behind the Rossoneri and they had also been caught up by Juve. In the penultimate match all three teams had won, so the situation was Milan 44 points, Juventus and Lazio 43.
The final three games were Verona-Milan, Napoli-Lazio and Roma-Juventus. At the end of the first half the results were Verona-Milan 3-1, Roma-Juventus 1-0, Napoli-Lazio still goalless. As a consequence, the table read Milan and Lazio 44, Juventus 43. But everything changed in the second half as Juve overcame the deficit and won while Lazio lost in the final minutes of the game. Juventus won the scudetto.
A big blow for the club. The scudetto was there for the taking, but probably the inexperience of fighting at such high levels and the excessive eagerness of Napoli and Roma to appease the Bianconeri meant that it was not to be.
Giorgio Chinaglia had the most appearances this season (37) as well as the most goals (13).
Let’s talk about Concetto Lo Bello
Concetto Lo Bello was probably one of the most famous Italian referees of all time. He has the record of games reffed in Serie A (328) and is the oldest referee to have officiated a UEFA competition at 50 years of age, the UEFA Cup final between Feyenoord and Tottenham.
Born on May 13 1924, in Siracusa in Sicily, he began his Serie A career in 1954 and his international one four years later (Egypt vs West Germany on December 28, 1958). He showed great authority in his decisions which for many were an indication of his protagonism. He was the chosen referee of the only ever Scudetto play-off between Bologna and Inter in 1964.
At international level he was referee for 93 games, of which 34 between nations. He took part in the 1960 Olympic Games, Euros 1964, the 1966 World Cup (including the semi-final West Germany-USSR). He was also referee for the 1966 Intercontinental Cup, two European Cup finals (1968 and 1970), Cup Winners Cup 1967 final, Fairs Cup 1966 final and the above-mentioned UEFA Cup final.
After he retired he became President of the Italian Handball Federation until his death. He was an MP for four legislatures with the DC (Christian Democrats) starting from 1972. His son Rosario also became an international referee.
He died in Siracusa on September 9, 1991.
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