Game 27, Serie B
Sunday, April 13, 1969
Stadio Comunale, Ferrara
Spal Lazio 1-2
Lazio win despite referee and conditions to conquer solitary second place
Serie B was returning after a week's break and today's match was an important one for opposing reasons; Lazio's promotion race and Spal's relegation battle.
Lazio came into today's game joint second on 33 points after 11 wins, 11 draws and 4 defeats, they were only one point behind leaders Brescia.
The conditions in Ferrara were far from ideal for playing football. It was a cold, wet day and the pitch was waterlogged and barely playable.
The game went ahead and Lazio started strongly playing excellent football despite the environmental obstacles. In the 10th minute the Biancocelesti were denied a blatant penalty. Gian Piero Ghio, only five metres from goal, was first pushed by Roberto Ranzani and then tripped by Giampietro Vitali. A clear penalty but not for the man in black despite Lazio's appeals. The Corriere dello Sport newspaper the following day described it as " the most brutal penalty foul in the history of Italian football"... so "maybe" there was something in it.
Lazio however continued to dominate but, completely against the run of play, the home side scored. In the 30th minute Giuliano Bertarelli headed in from a corner. Spal 1 Lazio 0.
Lazio reacted well and had a series of chances to equalise. In the 35th minute both Pierino Cucchi and Nello Governato had shots fortuitously blocked by defenders and shortly after Ferruccio Mazzola II shaved the post. More chances followed with Giuseppe Massa and Mazzola but the score line remained unchanged at half time; 1-0 to Spal.
In the second half the Ferraresi came back on determined to take the game from the Romans but after a few minutes Lazio regained control of the match. The visitors had more chances with Cucchi, just wide, and Mazzola. The goal was in the air and it came in the 64th minute. A free kick by Mazzola led to a goal line scramble resolved by Governato. 1-1.
The game then slowed down and both teams seemed to be settling for a point each. Then with only four minutes to go Lazio found a winner. A Giuliano Fortunato cross from a free kick reached Ghio who anticipated the keeper and put a slow but precise shot in the back of the net. Spal 1 Lazio 2.
A well deserved win to Lazio in awful conditions. They had been superior to the "Spallini" for the entire match and came away rightful winners.
Lazio moved up to second place and only one point behind leaders Brescia. In one week's time at the Olimpico Lazio versus Brescia … Spal meanwhile were in deep trouble.
Who played for Spal
Cipollini, Boldrini, Asnicar, Ranzani, Vitali, Bertuccioli, Palazzese, Bigon, Bean (77' Dell'Omodarme), Parola, Bertarelli
Substitutes: Cantagallo
Manager: Montanari
Who played for Lazio
Fioravanti, Zanetti, Facco, Governato, Soldo, Marchesi, Massa, Mazzola II, Fortunato, Ghio, Cucchi (59' Morrone)
Substitutes: Leardi
Manager: Lorenzo
Referee: Torelli
Goals: 30' Bertarelli, 64' Governato, 86' Ghio
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