Lazio move up to 4th place
- Dag Jenkins
- May 17, 2023
- 4 min read
Game 26, Serie A
Sunday, May 17, 1942
Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa
Genova 1893-Lazio 1-2
Despite missing Piola the Biancocelesti win their second game on the road and join Genova in the table
Lazio were currently 5th on 28 points. The Biancocelesti had won 10 (including Torino 4-1, Bologna 5-1, Triestina 5-0 at home and Inter 1-0 away), drawn 8 and lost 7 (including derby 1-2). A week earlier they had beaten Juventus 2-1 at home.
Genova 1893 were doing well and were currently 4th on 30 points and only three points from the top. (Roma and Torino on 33). The Rossoblu had won 10 (including Roma twice 2-0 and 2-1, Inter 6-1, Modena 6-0 and Torino 4-3), drawn 10 (including Lazio 1-1) and lost 5. The previous week they had won the derby against Liguria 4-3 away.
A big match therefore in Genoa today between two in form teams. Lazio however were a lot better at home than away; unbeaten at home with 22 points but only one win and 6 points away. Genova therefore were slight favourites.
The match
A bright and sunny day but windy in Liguria saw about 10,000 spectators present.
Lazio had two big absences as neither forwards Aldo Puccinelli nor Silvio Piola were available.
Genova 1893 were missing forward Guglielmo Trevisan.
The game started at a slow pace and the defences had the upper hand and the goalkeepers made only routine interventions.
The first big chance fell to Genova. Giacomo Neri raced away from Alfredo Monza and when he reached the byline cut it back to Ugo Conti but the forward from Leghorn hit it wide.
Genova insisted but Neri was too far forward on a good Conti cross and then Italo Romagnoli defended well heading away before Conti could get to it.
Lazio replied with a neat Flamini-Baldo-Gualtieri move but Federico Allasio prevented Albanian forward Loro Boriçi from finishing it off.
Genova then went extremely close but Bruno Ispiro's header went just the wrong side of the post.
The game then became more balanced with only half chances for both sides.
The breakthrough came in the 38th minute. Alessandro Ferri crossed into the middle where Vittorio Sardelli's clearance was short and Silvestro Pisa was there to beat Orlando Sain whose view was obscured in the crowded area, 0-1.
Lazio could have doubled their lead thirty seconds later. Giuseppe Baldo found himself with only the keeper to beat but several players appealed for offside which disorientated the Lazio player who hesitated and lost the moment. The referee said it was all good but it was too late.
Lazio were in a good period and Pisa smashed a shot onto the crossbar and Boriçi was not alert enough on the rebound. Half time: Genova 0 Lazio 1.
Genova had started better, then the game had even out and finally Lazio had been on top.
Lazio started the second half on the front foot too and Pisa shaved the post three times.
Genova responded and Sergio Bertoni hit a long ball forward which cut out the Lazio defence and reached Conti who burst towards the visitors goal while at the same time Uber Gradella sprinted off his line. The race was narrowly won by the forward who shot and the ball went over the keeper's head but also just over the bar.
Genova had a couple of shots off target with Conti and Ispiro before Lazio threatened again but Baldo wasted a good Salvador Gualtieri initiative.
On the hour mark Lazio were awarded a penalty. Baldo was clear on goal and was challenged by Sain who however lost the ball, Baldo got up to try again and was visibly pulled down by the keeper. Pisa put away the spotkick, 0-2.
Lazio then got a third but it was controversially disallowed. Sain raced out of his area to tackle Baldo whom he fouled but then lost the ball and the Tuscan midfielder scored in the open goal. The referee however claimed he had already blown for the foul.
Genova tried to get back in the game with a Conti effort just wide and then Conti missed a sitter when he fired over the bar from close range after Gradella had clumsily parried a Mario Perazzolo shot.
A minute later Genova pulled a goal back. In the 79th minute Primo Andrighetto crossed into the middle where, among a lot of bodies, Ispiro's head emerged and Gradella was beaten, 1-2.
There followed a predictable onslaught by the Rossoblu. Lazio were in difficulty but after several corners, a penalty appeal for handball and a threatening Perazzolo effort the referee blew up for full time. Final score: Genova 1 Lazio 2.
A hard-fought game which could have gone either way. Lazio had taken their chances better and added to the disallowed goal and the crossbar one could claim their win was by no means undeserved.
A good win for Lazio against quality opponents (only their second home defeat) especially without star striker Silvio Piola.
Lazio had caught up with Genova in 4th place on 30 points.
Who played for Genova 1893
Manager: Ara
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Popovic
Referee: Pizziolo
Goals: 38' Pisa I, 60' Pisa I (pen), 79' Ispiro
Sources
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