Lucky goal but deserved point

Dag Jenkins
Mar 23, 2024
3 min read

Season 1940-41

Game 24, Serie A

Sunday, March 23, 1941

Stadio Filadelfia, Turin

Torino-Lazio 1-1

Lazio equalise with own goal but play well and almost win

So far in Serie A Lazio had played 23 games and were joint 10th with Roma, Triestina, Venezia and Napoli on 21 points. The Biancocelesti had won 6 (including the most recent game a 2-0 derby win against Roma), drawn 9 (including Juventus 2-2 at home on debut and first derby 1-1) and lost 8. There were two relegation slots and Lazio were only one point above (Genova on 20 while Bari were doomed on 12). There were however a lot of teams in a few points (Atalanta 5th were on 24).

Torino were currently 6th on 23 points. The Granata had won 8 (including Lazio 2-0 away, Fiorentina 6-2, Napoli 6-2 and Juventus 2-0 at home), drawn 7 (including Inter 5-5), and lost 8 (including most recent 1-2 away to Fiorentina).

A delicate game in Turin today as neither team could really afford to lose. Lazio were already in the relegation battle and Torino risked being dragged into it. Lazio however were riding the waves of enthusiasm of their derby triumph.

The match

A sunny spring day in Turin gathered about 15,000 fans at the old Filadelfia.

Lazio had no real absences while Torino were without midfielder Walter Pedron.

Torino scored early and gave the impression they could win relatively easily. In the 8th minute Oliviero Mascheroni flew past a couple of defenders and raced into the area where he beat Uber Gradella with a thundering rising shot into the roof of the net, an excellent goal and 1-0.

Torino were in control and went close to a second but just after the half hour things changed. In the 34th minute Salvador Gualtieri fed the ball into the area where Sergio Piacentini, worried by Silvio Piola's speed, attempted a back pass to the keeper but overhit it and it became a venomously precise shot just inside the post, 1-1.

From then on, the game was not the same. Torino lost confidence and became sloppy while Lazio doubled their determination to get at least a point.

In the second half Torino continued to attack but lacked lucidity and it was Lazio who went closer to scoring. Otello Zironi wasted two inviting counterattacks while the Torino keeper made two superb saves to deny first Piola and then Luigi Vettraino.

Despite having chances to win it, Lazio were the more satisfied with the draw at the final whistle. A point in Turin was seen as a positive outcome. The home fans reacted as if the Granata had lost such was their expectation to clinch the two points. Torino had started well but faded after their own goal blunder.

For Lazio the best performance was by midfielder and all-rounder Italo Romagnoli while Renato Ferrarese, Gualtieri and Enrique Flamini had also played well. Piola, who had three stitches and a bandage on his head, only played thirty minutes as centre-forward before moving to the wing.

Lazio had given continuity to their win over Roma and were now 12th, with Napoli and Venezia on 22 points. The Biancocelesti had gained a point on 17th placed Genova on 20 (defeated 2-6 in Trieste). Things were still difficult but looking up with six games to go.

Torino were still 6th on 24 points.

Who played for Torino

Olivieri, Piacentini, Ferrini, Cadario, Gallea, Baldi III, Mascheroni, Ganelli, Ossola, Ussello, Capri

Manager: Cargnelli

Who played for Lazio

Gradella, Ferrarese, Monza II, Gualtieri, Romagnoli, Ferri, Zironi, Dagianti, Piola, Flamini, Vettraino