February 10, 1952: Udinese Lazio 1-1

Simon Basten
23 hours ago
4 min read

Fair draw

Not exactly vintage football but the result was fair

Other games in February
Season 1951-52

The season so far

The previous season Lazio had arrived fourth for the second year running. An excellent result for the club, preceded only by the big northern Italian clubs.

This season the Biancocelesti had a new manager, Giuseppe Bigogno, and some new players: midfielders Luigi Fuin (Palermo), Ragnar Larsen (Sandaker) and Sigvard Lofgren (Helsingborg) plus forwards Lelio Antoniotti (Pro Patria), Armando Macci (Reggiana) and Sukru Gulesin on return from his loan to Palermo. Leaving Lazio were Aldo De Fazio (Lucchese), Mido Bimbi (Udinese), Flavio Cecconi (Napoli) and the forwards Dionisio Arce (Napoli), Norberto Hofling (Pro Patria) and Leoncino Unzain (Toulon).

Despite this revolution, especially in attack, Lazio had begun the season well and after 20 games they were fourth, not too far off third place occupied by Inter just two points away. They had started off losing in Genoa against Sampdoria 4-0 and later with Juventus 5-3 and at home to Inter. But they had then picked up and were playing well, just like the previous two seasons.

The match: Sunday, February 10, 1952, Stadio Moretti, Udine

After just a couple of minutes Udinese were dangerous with a Giancarlo Bacci shot that shaved the post. It was followed by attempts from Erling Sorensen and Johannes Ploeger confirming at least an initial state of sleepiness from the Biancocelesti, awoken in the 11th minute when Aldo Puccinelli found himself in the right position at the right time but could only shoot at the keeper. But the hosts then took over possession and stationed in the Lazio half for most of the first 25 minutes despite not creating chances. In the 26th minute Lelio Antoniotti had a chance and beat Marco Brandolin but Silvano Moro was able to clear before the ball went over the line.

The Biancocelesti at this point took over the match and Sigvard Lofgren called Brandolin to a difficult save in the 33rd minute. 60 seconds later Lazio scored. Sukru Gulesin to Antoniotti who passed to Ragner Larsen on the left and the Norwegian beat the Udinese goalkeeper putting the Biancocelesti ahead.

The Bianconeri reacted with a Sorensen shot that Lucidio Sentimenti IV miraculously managed to parry. Then nothing more until the beginning of the second half when almost immediately Giuseppe Rinaldi missed an open goal chance. Sentimenti IV had work to do in the 52nd and 56th minutes saving shots from Ploeger and Bacci. Puccinelli had another chance after dribbling past Oscarre Vicich but his shot went wide. In the 71st minute Rinaldi scored a splendid goal. Having received the ball from Bacci, he first lobbed it over Primo Sentimenti V and then also over Sentimenti IV to give the hosts the equaliser.

This goal was a dampener for the rest of the game as both teams were content with sharing the points.

Who played for Udinese

Brandolin, Vicich, Toso, Moro, Travaglini, Bimbi, Ploeger, Mariani, Bacci, Sorensen, Rinaldi

Manager: Testolina

Who played for Lazio

Sentimenti IV, Sentimenti V, Furiassi, Alzani, Malacarne, Fuin, Puccinelli, Larsen, Antoniotti, Lofgren, Sukrü

Manager: Bigogno

Referee: Massai

Goals: 34’ Larsen, 71’ Rinaldi

What happened next

Lazio continued the season well and despite a few ups and downs finished fourth, again in the company of Fiorentina. Once more they were preceded by the three big Serie A clubs, Juventus, Milan and Inter, but arriving fourth for three consecutive years for a club like Lazio with little financial backing was a big deal.

The player with most appearances was Lucidio Sentimenti IV (38) and top scorer was Sukru with 16 goals.

Let’s talk about Mido Bimbi

Mido Bimbi was born on February 12, 1924 in Forcoli, near Pisa.

He started his career with Pontedera during the war years and in 1946 joined Livorno in Serie A. After two seasons he was loaned to Pescara in Serie B and played regularly (39 league appearances with 2 goals).

Back to Livorno in 1949, in 1950 he joined Lazio. In Rome however, he found very little space and made just six appearances. It is not surprising. At the time the Biancocelesti had an iron defence with Francesco Antonazzi, Zeffiro Furiassi, Stefano Malacarne and Primo Sentimenti V. It was difficult to find playing time with these defensive giants.

In 1951 he signed for Udinese in Serie A but stayed a single season. At least he played much more than in Rome (21 appearances). In 1952 he moved to Serie B and played with Fanfulla and a year later he was back in the top tier with Spal.

His final years as a professional were spent in Livorno, with a promotion to Serie B and a relegation, and then with the Rome based Club Fedit in Serie C.

Once he retired he became a manager, coaching Lucchese for a season in 1965-66. He was then assistant to Arturo Silvestri in 1968-69 at Brescia, achieving second place in Serie B and promotion to Serie A. The adventure in the top tier for the Rondinelle only lasted a season. Bimbi took over from Silvestri from the 13th fixture but could not avoid relegation. Silvestri then went to Genoa in 1970 and Bimbi went with him staying four years as assistant coach. The Rossoblu were promoted to Serie B in 1972-73 but were relegated the next season. Bimbi then went on to coach the Genoa youth teams and in 1978-79 was manager at Melfi in Serie D.

Bimbi was a defensive jolly who could play anywhere in defence. He did not have much luck at Lazio but is considered a legend in Livorno with whom he made 128 league appearances.

He died in Livorno on June 25, 2017.