Lazio take advantage of Milan in festive mood
Lazio surprise Milan but the Rossoneri win the scudetto just the same
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had surprisingly arrived fourth, so expectations were high for the 1950-51 season. A lot of money was spent on new players such as Leoncino Unzain, Primo Sentimenti V and Stefano Malacarne, so some of the old timers such as Romano Penzo and Leandro Remondini had to go.
The season had been positive, following in the footsteps of the previous one. Lazio had won the derby, drawn against Inter, after being down 3-0, Juventus and Milan. There had been a few losses on the way, including a heavy one against Novara led by Silvio Piola, but overall a good performance. Some good scores as well: 5-0 against Atalanta, 4-0 against Padova and wins in both derbies. Roma were last, almost in Serie B.
At the end of the first half of the season they were fifth and now with two games to go to the end Lazio were fourth, behind the mighty powers of the north, Milan, Inter and Juventus. Milan needed just one point in the next two matches to win the scudetto.
The match: Sunday June 10, 1951, Stadio San Siro, Milan
Everything was ready at San Siro to celebrate Milan’s scudetto. The Rossoneri had not won the championship since 1907, a long wait. Lazio were supposed to be the sacrificial lamb, but the Biancocelesti had no intention to sit back passively.
In the 13th minute, Lazio surprisingly went ahead. Mario Magrini interrupted a Milan offence and passed to Norbert Hofling. Ball to Aldo Puccinelli who crossed into the Milan box, Enrique Flamini’s volley gave Lazio their first goal.
Milan attacked and put enormous pressure on the Biancoceleste defence. In the 18th minute Gunnar Nordahl was fouled in the box, referee Guido Agnolin said play on, but Stefano Malacarne in falling tripped Renzo Burini. Penalty for Milan. Carlo Annovazzi took the spot kick, Lucidio Sentimenti IV moved a fraction early and was able to parry. The Milan forward was ready for the tap in but Romolo Alzani saved on the line.
In the 25th minute Milan equalised. One two Nils Liedholm-Gunnar Gren, ball to Nordahl and Milan 1 Lazio 1.
It looked like triumph was just round the corner for Milan but in the 39th minute Lazio went ahead again. Benigno De Grandi lost the ball, Puccinelli on the right crossed into the box, Lorenzo Buffon and Primo Sentimenti V went for it but the ball fell to Flamini who promptly shot at goal. Buffon managed to get a hand to it but as it was going in, Sentimenti V made sure it did. Milan 1 Lazio 2.
In the second half Milan put more pressure on Lazio but the Biancocelesti were able to build a wall in front of Sentimenti IV. The Lazio goalkeeper was able to parry a Gren shot and Lazio, despite being in ten men due to the sending off of Flavio Cecconi, had a chance with Hofling to make it three but Buffon saved.
A great win for Lazio and despair for Milan but this only lasted 20 minutes as in the changing rooms the Rossoneri heard that Torino had beaten Inter and so Milan had won the scudetto. Great joy, but it would have been better to celebrate on the pitch.
Who played for Milan
Buffon, Silvestri, Bonomi, Annovazzi, Tognon, De Grandi, Burini, Gren, Nordahl (III), Liedholm, Renosto (II).
Manager: Czeizler
Who played for Lazio
Sentimenti IV, Antonazzi, Furiassi, Alzani, Malacarne, Magrini, Sentimenti V, Flamini, Hofling, Cecconi, Puccinelli
Manager: Sperone
Referee: Agnolin
Goals: 13’ Flamini, 25’ Nordahl III, 39’ Sentimenti V
What happened next
In the last game of the season Lazio collapsed 7-2 at Bologna but fourth place had already been obtained. Another miracle for the Biancocelesti, their second 4th place in a row, obviously with much more limited financial possibilities compared to Milan, Inter and Juventus. The Giallorossi went down to Serie B, the first Roman team ever to be relegated.
The fourth place allowed Lazio to participate in the Zentropa Cup, an unofficial edition of the Mitropa Cup. The latter was a tournament that was initially devised in the 1920s with two teams from Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia competing in a knock out competition. The first tournament took place in 1927. In 1929 Italian teams took the place of the Yugoslav ones. In 1934 the tournament was expanded to four teams per nation. Switzerland joined in 1936 and 1937, Romania and Yugoslavia in 1937. Austria was withdrawn following the German annexation of 1938. The tournament was interrupted in 1940 due to the Second World War.
In 1951, in the light of other tournaments that were taking place such as the Latin Cup (between clubs from France, Italy, Spain and Portugal) and the Rio Cup (between European and Latin American teams), an attempt was made to resuscitate the Mitropa Cup. The Italian teams that were competing in the other two tournaments backed out so it was up to Lazio to defend the Italian colours. The other three teams were Rapid Wien, and Admira Wien (first and second in the Austrian league and very, very strong) and Dinamo Zagreb. Lazio were crushed 5-0 by Rapid and lost 2-0 against Dinamo. Rapid beat Admira in the final.
Sentimenti IV was the one who played most games during the 1950-51 season (40) and Norberto Hofling the top goal scorer (11).
Lazio 1950-51
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 38 | 18 | 10 | 10 | 64 |
Zentropa Cup | 2 | - | - | 2 | - |
Totale | 40 | 18 | 10 | 12 | 64 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Zentropa Cup |
Puccinelli | 40 | 38 | 2 |
40 | 38 | 2 | |
Alzani | 38 | 36 | 2 |
35 | 33 | 2 | |
Antonazzi | 33 | 31 | 2 |
Hofling | 33 | 33 | - |
Top five goal scorers
Let’s talk about Primo Sentimenti V
The Sentimenti’s were nine brothers, all of them played football but “only” five of them professionally. Three of the brothers played for Lazio: Vittorio (III), Lucidio (IV) and Primo (V). Ennio (I) was the only brother who had nothing to do with the Biancocelesti since Arnaldo (II) became manger of Lazio’s youth teams between 1953 and 1957.
Why is there a roman numeral at the end of their surnames? At that time players with the same surname were given a Roman number to distinguish them all. Therefore you had five Sentimenti’s.
Primo Sentimenti was born at Bomporto (Modena), on December 28, 1926. He started his career at Modena and debuted in Serie A on December 2, 1945. After four years he signed for Bari and in 1950-51 he joined Lazio and his other two brothers Lucidio and Vittorio.
He was a very versatile player and could play both in defence and midfield. In an age of fixed numbers, he played with every single number on his back, from 2 to 11. Sentimenti V stayed at Lazio for seven years and appeared in 198 games (9 goals) in Serie A and two in Zentropa Cup.
In 1957 he moved to Udinese for two seasons in Serie A. His last years of football were at Parma in Serie B from 1959 to 1962 and Ostiglia in Serie D.
He died at Bomporto on October 13, 2016.
Lazio Career
Seasons | Total appearances (goals) | Serie A | Mitropa Cup |
1950-51 | 27 (7) | 25 (7) | 2 |
1951-52 | 27 (1) | 27 (1) | - |
1952-53 | 32 (1) | 32 (1) | - |
1953-54 | 30 | 30 | - |
1954-55 | 31 | 31 | - |
1955-56 | 28 | 28 | - |
1956-57 | 25 | 25 | - |
Total | 200 (9) | 198 (9) | 2 |
Sources