February 23, 1958: Lazio-Alessandria 2-1

Lazio Stories
9 hours ago
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Muccinelli to the rescue

A last-minute goal by the former Juventus forward gives Lazio last minute win

The season so far

Lazio had finished an excellent 3rd the previous season, under Englishman Jesse Carver.

This year, however, Lazio found themselves in serious financial difficulty and were not able to improve the squad. Carver had left for Inter and the new manager was Milovan Ćirić but he had been sacked just a week earlier after a 0-5 defeat at Bologna. The manager was now former player Alfredo Monza (1935-43) with Dino Canestri as technical director.

The only new signings of note were midfielders Ugo Pozzan (Bologna) and Giorgio Bravi (Taranto-end of loan). The departures were more significant as Lazio were losing defender Primo Sentimenti V after seven seasons (Udinese) and forward Lorenzo Bettini (Udinese). Karl Aage Praest was retiring but he had not made much impact in Rome.

So far, after 21 matches, Lazio were 13th on 18 points, with SPAL and only three points above the relegation zone (Atalanta 15, Genoa 14). A week earlier Lazio had lost 0-1 at Vicenza and needed points.

The Coppa Italia would be played from June onwards and the final would be held on September 24.

Alessandria were newly promoted. They had finished 2nd in Serie B the previous season and then won the playoff 2-1 a.e.t against Brescia. The manager was initially, future Lazio, Mario Sperone and then Luciano Robotti. The top scorer was Egidio Morbello with 11 league goals.

This season the manager was still Robotti. The main new players were goalkeeper Natale Nobili (Corbetta), defender Giovanni Giacomazzi (Inter), midfielders Alessandro Marcellini (Roma - on loan), Giancarlo Pistorello (Monza), Marco Savioni (Inter), Carlo Tagnin (Monza), Tullio Oldani (up from youth sector) plus forward Roger Vonlanthen (Inter).

Leaving Piedmont were defender Bruno Bosio (Pro Vercelli), midfielders Franco Russi (Pro Vercelli) plus forwards Enrico Pratesi (Ravenna), Luciano Redegalli (Taranto) and Giorgio Tinazzi (Inter)

Alessandria were currently 7th on 22 points. The Grigi had won 7 (including Lazio 4-0), drawn 8 (including Inter and Milan both 1-1 away) and lost 6. Their most recent game was a 3-1 home win against Verona.

The match: Sunday, February 23, 1958, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

A sunny but fresh day attracted just under 40,000 to the Olimpico.

Lazio were without defender Umberto Pinardi and midfielder Franco Carradori.

Alessandria came to Rome missing full-back Aldo Nardi and midfielder Carlo Tagnin. This was Alessandria's first game against Lazio in Rome for ten years.

In the first ten minutes Lazio had a few corners and then had their first really big chance when a close range volley by Arnaldo Lucentini was just off target.

The Grey Bears responded in the 17th minute when Roger Vonlanthen played through Alessandro Vitali but Bob Lovati pulled off a good save. A minute later Lovati was busy again as he dived to his right to deny a powerful Marco Savioni effort.

After a balanced initial twenty minutes the game suddenly burst into life in the space of a few minutes.

Lazio went in front in the 21st minute. Ermes Muccinelli took a freekick and teed up Luigi Moltrasio who headed past Ideo Stefani, 1-0.

The Romans' lead only lasted two minutes as in the 23rd minute Michele Manenti equalised for the visitors. It was a scrappy goal as the forward took advantage of a few ricochets, one even coming back to him with his hand, before beating Lovati 1-1. The referee had not noticed so the goal stood.

Alessandria took courage and covered the field well. The Grigi went close again with Alessandro Vitali.

In the 36th minute Lazio reappeared up front when Muccinelli had only the keeper to beat but hesitated and was blocked by a last ditch tackle by Franco Pedroni.

In the 38th minute Vitali had a similar chance but Lovati charged off his line and the forward blasted it over the bar. The half ended 1-1

Things changed in the second half as the visitors somewhat inexplicably changed tactics. Gone was the confident, open attitude of the first half and in came a deep defensive setup clearly geared towards taking home a point.

Lazio therefore started to attack and did so for practically the whole half.

In the 47th minute Arne Selmosson had a central shot saved by Stefani who repeated himself on a Ugo Pozzan effort a minute later.

In the 57th minute Selmosson had a double chance but he first hit Stefani from close range and on the rebound missed an open goal.

Selmosson then uncharacteristically missed another seemingly easy opportunity as Lazio piled on the pressure.

In the 74th minute, following Lazio's tenth corner, Nicola Lo Buono tried his luck from the long range but was just off target.

In the 80th minute it was Lucentini who blasted a chance over the bar.

In the 85th minute Muccinelli controlled a high ball skillfully with his neck, turned on himself and hammered a left footed volley towards goal but again it went agonisingly just high.

In the 90th minute, just when hopes were fading, Lazio got the winner. On their twelfth corner Muccinelli rose acrobatically and turned a perfect header into the back of the net, 2-1.

A deserved win for the Eagles as their second half dominance finally paid off. The players and fans celebrated enthusiastically at the final whistle. Alessandria had held their own in the first half but then were too negative and were ultimately punished.

Lazio were now joint 12th, on 20 points with Torino and SPAL and four points above the relegation zone (Sampdoria, Atalanta and Genoa on 16, for two places).

Alessandria were joint 8th, on 22 points with Inter.

Who played for Lazio

Lovati, Molino, Lo Buono, Fuin, Colombo, Moltrasio, Lucentini, Burini, Selmosson, Pozzan, Muccinelli

Manager: Monza

Who played for Alessandria

Stefani, Boniardi, Giacomazzi, Snidero, Pedroni, Traverso, Castaldo, Vitali, Vonlanthen, Manenti, Savioni

Manager: Robotti

Referee: Famulari

Goals: 21' Moltrasio, 23' Manenti, 90' Muccinelli

What happened next

After today's win Lazio beat Atalanta 3-1 at home, drew 1-1 in Naples and then won the derby 2-1. Then things took a downward turn and the Biancocelesti lost three in a row (including Milan 1-6 away) followed by two more defeats and three draws. Coming into the last match of the season the table was not pretty; SPAL 28, Genoa 28, Sampdoria 28, Lazio 28, Atalanta 28, Verona 26 with two teams going for the drop. The closing game was Lazio vs Verona and fortunately the Biancocelesti won 4-0 with goals by Pozzan, Selmosson, Tozzi and Carradori. SPAL beat Atalanta sending the Orobici down with Verona. Lazio finished joint 12th and the top scorer was Selmosson with 9 league goals.

The Coppa Italia this year was played over the summer of 1958. This was because Italy did not qualify for the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, so, before television conquered football, this gave people something to do between June and September.

Many teams had new coaches and players including Lazio. The new manager was former player Fulvio Bernardini. Lazio were finally forced to sell their star Arne Selmosson, unfortunately Roma were the highest bidders, so he reluctantly changed sides of the Tiber. Also leaving were defenders Giovanni Di Veroli (retiring), midfielder Luigi Fuin (Juventus), forwards Ermes Muccinelli (Juventus), Pasquale Vivolo (Genoa).

The main new arrivals were keeper Idilio Cei (Foligno), midfielders Paolo Carosi (Tivoli), Bruno Franzini (Genoa), Egidio Fumagalli (Novese), Carlo Tagnin (Alessandria), forwards Claudio Bizzarri (Fiorentina) and Maurilio Prini (Fiorentina).

The group phase was in June-July. Lazio won 4 (Palermo 5-1, Napoli 3-1 at home, Roma 3-2 and Napoli 4-0 away) and drew 2 (Palermo 2-2 away and Roma 1-1 at home).

In September Lazio beat Serie B team Marzotto Valdagno 2-1 in the quarters and then Juventus 2-0 in the semis. The final was in Rome on September 24 against Fiorentina. Lazio triumphed 1-0 with a goal by Maurilio Prini and lifted their first historic silverware.

Alessandria finished joint 12th, on 30 points with four other teams including Lazio. In the remaining games the Mandrogni won 2 (including Inter 2-1 at home), drew 4 and lost 6. The top scorer was Swiss forward Roger Vonlanthen with 8 league goals.

The Scudetto was won by Juventus for the 10th time, and they conquered their first star (every ten titles). As mentioned, Serie B beckoned for Verona and Atalanta.

Let's talk about Ermes Muccinelli

Ermes Muccinelli was born on July 28, 1927, in Lugo near Ravenna.

He started playing football in an orphanage in Fabriago di Lugo with his little brother. In the early 1940s he played a game against the Lugo youth team and scored 6 goals. The brothers were clearly underfed, but Ermes impressed on the pitch. Sergio Geminiani, a young kid at the time but who would later become a footballer, mentioned Muccinelli to the President of Baracca Lugo who immediately made sure the brothers were fed. Geminiani, together with a few other youngsters, used to take food on their bikes to them.

From Lugo, Ermes briefly played for Biellese in 1945-46 and then moved to Turin and joined Juventus. He debuted in Serie A on November 24 in the home match won by the Bianconeri against Triestina. In the late 1940s and early 50s he formed a magnificent attacking duo with John Hansen and won two championships: 1949-50 and 1950-51. He played in Turin until 1955 with 226 appearances and 60 goals.

In 1955 he joined Lazio and stayed for three years appearing in 93 games and scoring 19 goals. Loved by the fans, Muccinelli was a small winger who was a great assist man but also scored goals himself. He left the Biancocelesti in 1958 hence just missed out on winning Lazio’s first silverware, the Coppa Italia of 1958.

He romantically wanted to have one last year at Juve before retiring and he did just that in 1958-59. He returned briefly to football in 1960 to play three games for Como in Serie B.

He played 15 times for Italy and scored 4 goals. He participated in the 1950 World Cup (two appearances with one goal) as well as the 1954 edition (two appearances).

Once he retired, he settled in Liguria at Torre del Mare, near Savona where he died on November 4, 1994.

The Lugo stadium is named after him.