Decent point but should have been two

Dag Jenkins
Oct 10, 2023
3 min read

Season 1970-71

Game 3, Serie A

Sunday, October 11, 1970

Stadio Comunale, Turin

Torino-Lazio 1-1

Lazio play well but fail to consolidate lead and Toro fight back to draw despite ten men.

In Serie A things had not started too well. Lazio had drawn 1-1 away to Milan but then lost 2-4 at home to reigning champions Cagliari. Lazio were 15th on 1 point (with Varese, Catania, Roma and Inter). Only Sampdoria had still not got off the mark. Today was a difficult away game to Torino.

Torino had so far drawn both matches (Foggia 1-1 at home and Varese 0-0 away). The Granata were 8th on 2 points (with Milan and Foggia).

The match

A sunny day in Turin brought just over 25,000 spectators to the Comunale which the Granata shared with Juventus.

Torino were without forward Gianni Bui while Lazio had goalkeeper Rosario Di Vincenzo on the bench.

Lazio took the lead almost immediately. In the 3rd minute a powerful Giuseppe Massa shot was not held by Luciano Castellini, Arrigo Dolso got to the rebound and volleyed it in off the post, 0-1.

Torino seemed under shock and Giorgio Chinaglia had two efforts in quick succession saved with some difficulty.

Lazio controlled the midfield and went close again in the 25th minute with a Chinaglia strike that shaved the post and then Ferruccio Mazzola who was just off target too. Mazzolino's father Valentino had died in the 1949 air disaster that had killed all the Grande Torino team.

The hosts finally stirred towards the end of the half but debutant Avelino Moriggi was safe on Paolo Pulici and Claudio Sala. At half time Torino 0 Lazio 1. A more than deserved lead for the Romans.

During the break Cadè must have had some harsh words with his team because the Granata came back with a much better attitude.

Puia was dangerous but his poked shot was walled by Rino Marchesi. The home fans now got behind their team and pushed them forward.

Lazio however were ready to strike on the counterattack. In the 52nd minute Chinaglia surged forward and had only the keeper to beat but his shot was weak and Castellini saved.

In the 56th minute came a potential game changer when Poletti hacked down Dolso and was shown a direct red. Two minutes later Cadė decided to replace disappointing forward Carlo Petrini with midfielder Rosario Rampanti.

It proved to be a good call as five minutes later as in the 63rd minute the substitute put in an inviting cross which Giorgio Puia headed past Moriggi, 1-1.

The game became tense but it was Lazio who had the best chances with Chinaglia, Mazzola and especially Bruno Chinellato whose brilliant volley was saved superbly by Castellini. The midfielder from Mestre had replaced Juan Carlos Morrone in the 75th minute.

Torino only had one goal scoring opportunity with Pulici whose header touched the top of the crossbar and went high. Final score Torino 1 Lazio 1.

The Biancocelesti would have deserved the two points for their technical and tactical superiority but they missed too many chances.

Torino had done well to equalise in ten men but mainly had goalkeeper Castellini to thank for remaining undefeated. The local fans were not happy and took it out on the referee who could only leave the stadium several hours later and under a police escort.

Lazio were now 15th on 2 points (same as Varese, Catania and Inter) while Torino 9th on 3 points (with Roma and Foggia).

Who played for Torino

Castellini, Poletti, Fossati, Puia, Cereser, Agroppi, Sala, Ferrini, Petrini (58' Rampanti), Maddè, Pulici

Substitutes: Sattolo

Manager: Cadè

Who played for Lazio

Moriggi, Wilson, Legnaro, Governato, Polentes, Marchesi, Massa, Morrone (75' Chinellato), Chinaglia, Mazzola II, Dolso