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  • Writer's pictureDag Jenkins
    • Dec 27, 2023
    • 8 min read

December 27, 1953: Triestina Lazio 1-1

One half each for a fair draw


Triestina ahead in first half against run of play but Lazio equalise in second after hosts miss a penalty.





The season so far 


The previous year Lazio had finished 10th in Serie A, firstly under manager Giuseppe Bigogno (1-25) and then Alfredo Notti (26-34). Lazio had won both derbies against Roma, 1-0 and 2-0. Top scorers were Paolo Bettolini and Norwegian Ragnar Nikolay Larsen both with 7 league goals.

 

This season Lazio had a new manager, Mario Sperone. Lazio had reshuffled the squad slightly with a few changes especially up front. Three new forwards had arrived: Renzo Burini (Milan), Alberto Fontanesi (SPAL) and Pasquale Vivolo (Juventus). Well serving Enrique Flamini was back (Reggiana) but he was approaching the end of his career and would not feature at all.

 

Leaving Lazio were Norwegian midfielder Ragnar Nikolay Larsen after two successful seasons (Genoa) plus forwards Lelio Antoniotti (Torino) and Şükrü Gülesin (Galatasaray-after a loan period at Palermo).

 

So far, in Serie A Lazio had won 5 (including Juventus 2-1 and Torino 1-0 away), drawn 3 (including derby 1-1) and lost 5. The Biancocelesti were mid-table with 13 points.

 

Triestina had finished 15th the previous season under Mario Perazzolo. Top scorer was Argentinian José Curti with 9 league goals. 

 

This season the manager was Nereo Rocco who was back in his hometown. He had made 235 league appearances as a player and had already had a first spell as manager between 1947 and 1950. 

 

The main new signings were defender Gianfranco Ganzer (Padova), forwards, and future Lazio, Arnaldo Lucentini (Fiorentina), Giuseppe Secchi (Padova), Guglielmo Trevisan (back again-Piacenza) and Licio Rossetti (Genoa).

 

Leaving were defenders Mario Claut (Fanfulla), Severino Feruglio (retiring), Corrado Zorzin (Padova), midfielders Marco Mariuzza (Catanzaro), Giovanni Invernizzi (Udinese) plus forwards Enore Boscolo (Torino), Domenico De Vito (SPAL) and Francesco La Rosa (Palermo). So quite a shuffle up, especially up front.

 

So far, the Alabardati had won 4, drawn 2 and lost 7, so on 10 points, three behind Lazio.

 

Today's game was open to any result. A lower mid-table clash between two teams anxious not to sucked down into the relegation battle.

 

The match: Sunday, December 27, 1953, Stadio Comunale, Trieste


A cold, grey day in the north-east but with the occasional ray of sun. A crowd of 15,000 for this Christmas period clash.

 

The match started with Lazio far more positive. Despite the heavy pitch the Biancocelesti passing was sharp and precise. In the 2nd minute Per Bredesen set up Pasquale Vivolo who went past Renato Valenti and hammered a shot that went just over the bar.

 

Lazio insisted and in the 7th minute hit the crossbar twice. Aldo Puccinelli floated a freekick into the area where Alberto Fontanesi coordinated himself and with a bicycle kick hit the woodwork. The ball came back into play on the left where Vivolo shot but again hit the crossbar, the ball was then cleared by the keeper.

 

Triestina tried to threaten on the break but in the 16th minute it was Lazio who went close again. A good team move by Vivolo and Puccinelli could have been finished off either by Burini or Fontanesi but they got in each other’s way and Gianfranco Ganzer cleared but only as far as Puccinelli, whose shot was saved into corner. A huge missed opportunity. 

 

If you do not take your chances, it's likely you will be punished. That's what happened soon after. In the 21st minute Triestina scored, Secchi headed to Erling Sorensen who headed it back to Secchi who surged forward and beat Lucidio Sentimenti IV. Triestina 1 Lazio 0, completely against the run of play.

 

Lazio were under shock and Triestina almost doubled with Secchi again. It took a superb dive by Sentimenti IV to deny the Giuliano striker his brace. Half time Triestina 1 Lazio 0. Lazio still ruing all their missed opportunities but they would have to forget them and start again if they did not want to be punished again.

 

In fact, in the second half the game could have gone either way. Triestina started strongly but in the 56th minute Burini had a dangerous volley saved by Gino Cantoni. In the 58th minute Vivolo, teed up by Fontanesi, found himself one-on-one with the keeper but Cantoni bravely came off his line and dived low at the Lazio striker's feet.

 

In the 61st minute the Alabardati had a colossal chance to possibly clinch the game. Secchi was sandwiched in the area by Sentimenti IV and Serafino Montanari and collapsed, rolling in the area. Francesco Liverani was persuaded and pointed to the penalty spot. Fortunately for Lazio, José Curti wasted it, putting the ball wide.

 

In the 72nd minute another massive possibility for the hosts to double their lead. On a Curti cross, Sorensen had a free header but "Cochi" Sentimenti IV incredibly leaped across and saved the ball on the goal line, the loose ball was then cleared by Montanari.

 

The same footballing law that had rewarded Triestina in the first half then came back to punish them. If you don't score your chances there's a high probability you will be made to pay.

 

In the 77th minute Lazio had a freekick outside the box. Vivolo tapped it to Puccinelli who pretend to cross but then lined it up for Vivolo's strike and what a strike. The ball flew off his boot and soared into the top hand right corner. A cracking shot. Triestina 1 Lazio 1.

 

At this point both teams, having had their chances, did not have the energy to go for a winner. Full time Triestina 1 Lazio 1. 

 

A game of two of two halves as they say. Lazio could have scored at least three in the first half, but then Triestina had the better in the second and could and should have closed it with the penalty. Lazio then did well to claw their way back and earn a decent away point.

 

Who played for Triestina 


Cantoni, Maldini, Valenti, Petagna, Ganzer, Trevisan, Lucentini, Curti, Secchi, Sorensen, Rossetti

Manager: Rocco

 

Who played for Lazio 


Manager: Sperone

 

Referee: Liverani


Goals: 21' Secchi, 77' Vivolo

 

What happened next 


Lazio finished 11th. The Biancocelesti won 10, drew 9 and lost 15 (including derby 1-2). A similar position to the previous one but without any derby wins. Top scorers were Alberto Fontanesi and Pasquale Vivolo with 9 league goals while Per Bredesen and Renzo Burini got 6 each.

 

Triestina finished 13th, one point behind Lazio. The Giuliani won 9, drew 10 and lost 15 (including Lazio 1-5). Top scorers were Curti and Sorensen with 7 league goals each.

 

The league title was won by Inter for the 7th time. Palermo and Legnano dropped down to Serie B (the Lilacs from Lombardy have not been back in A since).


Lazio 1953-54

Competition

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goals scored

Serie A

34

10

9

15

40

Top five appearances

Player

Serie A

Antonazzi

33

Bredesen

32

Burini

32

Sentimenti V

30

Viviolo

30

Top five goal scorers

Player

Serie A

Viviolo

9

Fontanesi

9

Bredesen

6

Burini

6

Puccinelli

3


Let’s talk about Pasquale Vivolo


Pasquale Vivolo is first from the left sitting. Source Wikipedia

Pasquale Vivolo was born in Brusciano (Napoli), on January 6, 1928. He was born near Naples but as a kid he moved to Cremona in Lombardy.

 

It was with the Grigiorossi of Cremonese that he started his football career. After coming through the youth ranks, he made his first team debut in 1947.

 

The "Violini" were in Serie B. The manager was Mario Villini and they finished 6th. The following season, under Hungarian manager József Bánás, "la Cremo" finished 11th. In his two years at Cremonese, Vivolo played 40 league games and scored 11 goals.

 

His performances earned him a call from Juventus and in the summer of 1949, he signed for the "Old Lady". The manager was Englishman and future Lazio, Jesse Carver. The Bianconeri won the Scudetto and Vivolo played 10 league games with 1 goal (Palermo). One of Juve's few defeats was a 1-2 home defeat by Lazio. His teammates included future Lazio Karl Aage Præst and Carlo Parolo.

 

In 1950-51 the Bianconeri finished 3rd while in 1951-52, under duo Combi-Bertolini until December and then Hungarian György Sárosi, they won the Scudetto again. Vivolo played 19 league games and scored 12 goals (Palermo x2, Novara, Padova, Udinese x3, Sampdoria, Torino, Bologna, Milan, Novara). Again, one of the Zebras few defeats came in Rome 0-2 against Lazio. 

 

In 1952-53 Sárosi stayed on and Juventus finished 2nd. Vivolo played 22 league games and scored 16 goals (Atalanta, Triestina x2, Fiorentina x2, Udinese, Novara x3, Sampdoria x3, SPAL, Fiorentina, Como, Lazio).

 

In total he played 67 league games for Juventus with an impressive 31 goals.

 

In 1953-54 he joined Lazio. The manager was first Mario Sperone (1-24) and then Federico Allasio (25-34). The Biancocelesti finished 11th and Vivolo played 30 league games with 9 goals (Legnano, Palermo, Roma, Triestina, Sampdoria, Fiorentina, Genoa, Triestina, Milan). The highlight of the season was beating Juventus 2-1 in Rome while Vivolo equalised in the derby and got the winner in Florence.

 

In 1954-55 Allasio started but was replaced by Englishman George Raynor after seven games. The Biancocelesti finished 12th while Vivolo played 28 league games with 6 goals (Atalanta, Pro Patria, Novara, Inter, Torino, Novara). The high points of the season were beating Juventus 2-1, Inter 3-2 but above all Roma 3-2 (the other derby ended 1-1).

 

In 1955-56, first under Luigi Ferrero (1-14) and then Carver again (15-34), Lazio finished an excellent 3rd. Vivolo played 24 league games and scored 5 goals (Vicenza, Inter, Sampdoria, Torino, SPAL). There were several highlights: wins against Juventus 2-0 at home, Inter 3-2 and Milan 3-1 both away and another derby win 1-0 (the other was 0-0).

 

In 1956-57 Lazio repeated themselves and finished 3rd again under Carver. Vivolo played 28 league games and scored 9 goals (Vicenza, Udinese, Inter, Juventus, Fiorentina, Bologna, Roma, Milan, Padova). Lazio beat Milan 3-0 at home, Inter 1-0 and Palermo 6-2 away while they drew 3-3 away to Juventus and the derby 2-2 (the other they lost).

 

In 1957-58 Lazio had two different managers, Milan Ćirić (1-19), Alfredo Monza (20-34) and a third for the summer Coppa Italia, Fulvio Bernardini. In Serie A the Biancocelesti finished 12th. Vivolo played 11 league games with4 goals (Bologna, Napoli, Atalanta, Sampdoria). Lazio beat 3-1 and Napoli 4-1 at home plus won a derby 2-1 (they lost the other).

 

The 1957-58 season was his last with Lazio. A pity because he just missed out on winning the first ever historic silverware, the 1958 Coppa Italia (played in the summer and September due to Italy not qualifying for '58 World Cup in Sweden).

 

In 1958 Vivolo joined Genoa but after playing one game in Coppa Italia he immediately signed for Brescia in Serie B. He however only played 1 league game for the "Rondinelle" (The Little Swallows) who finished 13th.

 

Vivolo then retired at 31.

 

He also won 4 Caps for Italy, scoring against Sweden in a friendly.

 

Vivolo was a forward. He started his career as a classic centre-forward but later adapted his game and became a useful attacking partner for other forwards. He played alongside some greats: Gianpiero Boniperti, John Hansen, Karl Aage Præst, Ermes Muccinelli, Rinaldo Martino at Juventus and Aldo Puccinelli, Renzo Burini, John Hansen and Ernes Muccinelli again, Arne Selmosson, Humberto Tozzi and Lorenzo Bettini at Lazio. He played 189 games in Serie A, scored 63 goals and won two Scudettos with Juventus. 

 

At Lazio he was a great success. He stayed five seasons, playing 121 games and scoring 33 goals (2 against Roma). He was at Lazio in one of their better periods, confirmed by two third places. He scored goals and was a good partner to Selmosson who he helped score more goals before "Raggio di Luna" (Moon beam) defected to the other side of the Tiber. Vivolo however is remembered fondly in his own right for his personal goals and performances.

 

After retiring "Bibì, as he was nicknamed, returned to Cremona and for some years in the 1960's was a director at the club (he married the owner Guido Grassi's daughter). He died in Cremona in 2002.


Lazio Career

Season

Serie A

Goals

1953-54

30

9

1954-55

28

6

1955-56

24

5

1956-57

28

9

1957-58

11

4

Total

121

33

Sources


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