Grasshoppers no match for Eagles

Dag Jenkins
Jun 25, 2024
3 min read

Season 1960-61

Cup of the Alps, First Leg

Sunday, June 25 1961

Hardturm-Stadion, Zürich

Grasshoppers Zürich - Lazio 0-5

Lazio cruise past Zurichers in away Alps Cup tie

Today was the first game of the Alps Cup and it was new manager Paolo Todeschini's debut. It was a team competition between Italian and Swiss clubs. Each team would play home and away against one from the other country and then all the results would be put together to decide the winning country. There were 16 teams involved and this was the second edition. In 1960 Italy had won 7-4 (with 5 draws). Each club from the winning nation then received a miniature version of the Alps Cup.

This was Lazio's first participation and their opponents were Grasshoppers from Zurich. The Hoppers had finished 6th in the Swiss top flight under manager Branislav Vukosavljević. He was from Serbia and had formerly played for Grasshoppers (1953-58).

In their history the GCZ had won 15 league titles (most recent 1955-56) and 13 Swiss Cups (most recent 1955-56).

On paper Lazio were clear favourites.

The other pairings were: Brescia vs FC Lugano, Lecco vs FC Lucerne, Pro Patria vs FC Sciaffusa, Reggiana vs Young Fellows Zurich, Parma vs Bellinzona, Monza vs FC Biel and Fiorentina vs Young Boys Berne.

The match

Just under 5,000 turned up for this summer Alps Cup game on a surprisingly hot day.

Lazio fielded an under-strength side and left out several regulars such as defenders Giovanni Molino (leaving for Napoli), Franco Carradori (leaving for Brescia), midfielder Ugo Pozzan (leaving for Pisa) and forwards Juan Carlos Morrone and Orlando Rozzoni (leaving for Udinese).

Lazio maybe more accustomed to the heat looked in control from the start and took an early lead. In the 8th minute Sandro Joan set up Claudio Bizzarri and "Caio" won a challenge against Renato Faccin and beat the Switzerland national keeper Karl Elsener, 0-1.

The second goal came only six minutes later. In the 14th minute Lazio had a freekick for a foul on Joan and Bizzarri touched the ball to Maurilio Prini who, with the help of a slight deflection by the wall, doubled the score, 0-2.

In the 24th minute Bizzarri went on a good solo run but his final effort hit the post.

At this point Lazio pulled back and left the initiative to the Swiss who had a prolonged period of territorial dominance. Their only threat however came in the 38th minute when a powerful strike by Peter Von Burg was well saved by Idilio Cei. Halftime 0-2.

During the interval the Romans replaced defender Nicola Lo Buono with Giacomo Del Gratta.

At the beginning of the second half the hosts attacked with determination and in the 53rd minute they scored a goal with Von Burg but it was disallowed for offside.

Lazio's defence held well and in the 56th minute the Biancocelesti scored again. Prini sent Bizzarri on the counter attack and the winger got his brace by hitting a superb strike past Elsener, 0-3.

Lazio at this point took off a slightly injured Cei and put on youngster Giuseppe Rossi.

Lazio were dominating and scored again in the 71st minute. Ivo Ghilardi pulled down an unstoppable Bizzarri in the area and Prini put away the penalty, 0-4.

The fifth goal came in the 82nd minute. Guglielmo Mecozzi broke out of defence, ran almost the whole length of the field and teed up Bruno Franzini who made it 0-5 and final score.

A positive debut for the new Lazio head coach. A satisfying and easy win after a disappointing season. The man of the match was Bizzarri, two goals, a post, an assist and an earned penalty were proof of his convincing afternoon.

After the first round of matches the score was Italy-Switzerland 7-1. The only defeat was for Fiorentina 2-3 away to Young Boys.

Who played for Grasshoppers

Elsener, Zurmuehle, Ghilardi, Baeni, Interhofen, Faccin, Gabrieli, Von Burg, Robbiani, Ballaman, Duret

Manager: Vukosavljecvić

Who played for Lazio

Cei (57' Rossi), Lo Buono (46' Del Gratta) Eufemi, Carosi, Janich, Mecozzi, Longoni, Mariani, Franzini, Joan, Prini, Bizzarri