Lazio superior but fair draw
- Dag Jenkins
- May 19, 2024
- 3 min read
Game 28, Serie A
Sunday, May 19, 1935
Stadio Filadelfia, Turin
Torino-Lazio 2-2
Lazio play well for an hour despite initial setback but relegation threatened Toro fight back for a point
Lazio were currently joint 4th, with Roma on 29 points. The Biancocelesti had won 12 (including Livorno 6-1, Juventus 5-3, Pro Vercelli 6-0, Brescia 4-0 all at home), drawn 5 (including both derbies 0-0 and 1-1) and lost 10 (including Juventus 1-6). The previous week Lazio had beaten Sampierdarenese 2-1 at home.
Torino were struggling. The Granata were joint 13th, on 22 points with Livorno and Sampierdarenese. Only Pro Vercelli were below them and doomed on 13 points. Toro had won 7, drawn 8 (including derby and Lazio 1-1) and lost 12 (including derby 1-3). The previous week they had drawn 0-0 in Palermo.
A difficult match to predict today. Lazio were superior but Torino were playing at home and more desperate for points.
The match
A sunny and mild day attracted about 12,000 spectators to the Filadelfia.
Neither Lazio nor Torino had any real absences.
Torino scored almost immediately. In the 5th minute a good move started by a Giuseppe Spinola cross was continued by Federico Allasio and Giovanni Vecchina who laid the ball back to Fioravante Baldi who beat Giacomo Blason, 1-0.
Lazio reacted well to the early setback. Danger man Silvio Piola was man marked by more than one defender at a time but that meant more space for other Lazio players
Lazio attacked constantly. In the 20th minute João Fantoni I was denied by Giuseppe Maina who saved behind for a corner.
Torino had the occasional foray up front and Blason had to be ready on attempts by Spinola and Vecchina.
In the 36th minute came a huge chance for Lazio. Piola burst away from Antonio Janni and surged forward towards the right, defender Benedicto Zacconi was about to face him but slipped leaving the Lazio forward racing towards Maina. The Piedmontese striker however was too far to the right to shoot so when Maina dived at his feet he astutely squared the ball to Antonio Bisigato whose shot however was cleared off the goal line by Allasio. The ball came back into play and reached Filó Guarisi who tried a strike but this time it was Mario Zanello who walled it.
Lazio then equalised four minutes later. In the 40th minute. Guarisi crossed and Zacconi headed away but only to Bisigato who pushed it forward and blasted a powerful shot past Maina, 1-1 at halftime.
The first fifteen minutes after the interval saw Lazio's territorial predominance increase and Fantoni had several dangerous shots. This superiority was only interrupted briefly in the 52nd minute when Blason had to save on Vecchina.
Lazio pushed forward and in the 59th minute were awarded a penalty. Virglio Felice Levratto crossed and Janni clearly handballed. Guarisi took the spot kick and scored 1-2.
From now on the game changed. The hosts attacked furiously, realising their situation was becoming critical. In the 61st minute, from a Zacconi cross, Mario Bo headed but Blason flew and tipped it over the bar.
In the 65th minute Torino too had a penalty. In a scramble in the area the Granata players held up their arms requesting a handball. In the crowded area it was impossible to see what had happened but the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Zacconi stepped up and equalised for Toro, 2-2
The game now became rough and several players had to spend time on the sidelines to receive medication.
The last part of the game saw the home side attack more but in a disorderly way and they never created any real scoring chances. Final score 2-2.
Lazio had looked the better team but a draw was a fair result. Torino had deserved a point if only for their determination and will power.
Lazio did well to overcome the initial adversity and for an hour or so were superior. The Granata however were desperate for points and came back strongly after Lazio's lead.
Lazio were now 5th on 30 points (Roma had beaten Palermo 3-1 at home).
Torino were still joint 13th, on 23 points (Livorno and Sampierdarenese had also drawn). Next up was an almost impossible away game against leaders Ambrosiana Inter and then the potentially decisive relegation clash against Livorno at home.
Who played for Torino
Manager: Cargnelli
Who played for Lazio
Blason, Bertagni, Serafini, Viani I, Ferraris IV, Pardini, Guarisi, Fantoni I, Piola, Bisigato, Levratto
Manager: Alt
Referee: Bevilacqua
Goals: 5' Baldi III, 40' Bisigato, 59' Guarisi, 65' Zacconi (pen)
Sources
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