June 2, 1959: Lazio Juventus 1-0
- Simon Basten
- 5 days ago
- 8 min read
Lazio Stun Juventus with Grit, Discipline, and Deadly Counterattacks
Despite relentless pressure from Sivori, Charles, and Boniperti, Lazio hold firm and secure a prestigious 1–0 victory through resilience, organization, and inspired defending.
The season so far
During the summer of 1958, Lazio sold their star player Arne Selmosson. The Biancocelesti were in great financial difficulty and were forced to sell their best player. Unfortunately, the highest bidder was Roma, and despite various attempts to boycott the transfer, plus the fact that the Swede was not really that happy to play for the other team from Rome, Selmosson was sold to Roma.
The Swede was not the only one to go. Among many, Luigi Fuin and Ermes Muccinelli were sold to Juventus, Pasquale Vivolo to Genoa and Giovanni Di Veroli retired. But many players arrived: goalkeeper Idilio Cei (Foligno), defenders Giacomo Del Gratta (Zenit Modena) and Franco Janich (Atalanta), midfielders Bruno Franzini (Genoa), Egidio Fumagalli (Novese), Carlo Tagnin (Alessandria) and Paolo Carosi (Tivoli), forwards Claudio Bizzarri and Maurilio Prini (both from Fiorentina).
Strangely enough it looked as if Lazio were not going to suffer from the loss of their best player.
The Coppa Italia was played in the solar year and for the first time since the end of World War II. The Serie A, as normal when there was a World Cup, had been anticipated by three weeks to allow the Nazionale to train before the competition. However, without Italy’s participation in the World Cup, there was a need to “invent” something for the Italians to think about, so, instead of launching the Coppa Italia in the 1958-59 season as initially planned, they decided to fill the June gap with the new cup.
The first group phase, which took place in June, saw Lazio win four times and draw twice, therefore winning their group. The second phase took place in September. The team with the biggest stadium had the home advantage. Lazio beat Serie B side Marzotto in the quarterfinals, Juventus in the semi-finals and Fiorentina in the final. It was the first national trophy for the club in their 58 years.
In Serie A after the first half of the season Lazio were 12th. They had won five but lost the derby with a Selmosson goal and suffered humiliating defeats (5-0 against Milan and 6-1 vs Juventus). The situation did not improve in the second part either. Never in real danger of relegation, but way too inconsistent to do anything better. They were currently 11th together with Genoa, six points clear of the relegation zone.
The match: Tuesday, June 2, 1959, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
The game quickly took on a balanced and lively character. Attacks and counterattacks followed one another at a fairly brisk pace. Nothing decisive emerged, however. The two defences allowed no openings. The first real thrill came in the 15th minute. John Charles burst forward on a long and powerful run, but Franco Janich was relentless and neutralized the danger with a perfectly timed and effective recovery.
Lazio responded immediately and with determination. From a penetrating pass by Bruno Franzini in the 16th minute, Claudio Bizzarri found himself able to charge directly toward goal: his final shot rattled the outside of the net.
In the 21st minute came a dazzling Juventus move: a passing exchange between Omar Sivori, Charles, Giorgio Stivanello, and Gianpiero Boniperti. The latter lost the right moment to shoot, but the captain did not give up and, pressured by a couple of defenders, slipped the ball to Stivanello. The shot on the run was immediate and powerful, but Idilio Cei responded magnificently with a flying save that sent the ball out for a corner.
Juventus became increasingly aggressive and threatening. Boniperti orchestrated move after move, but Charles lacked sharpness and, moreover, Janich appeared in outstanding form. Lazio, for their part, remained extremely dangerous on the counterattack, especially through Franzini and Bizzarri.
The contest began to heat up. In the 37th minute Lazio took the lead. The credit, strangely enough, went entirely to… Giuseppe Corradi, who, in his eagerness to stop one of Humberto Tozzi’s bursts forward, precisely drove the ball into the upper-left corner of his own net, producing the most unstoppable and spectacular own goal imaginable — a strike powerful enough to make the league’s top scorers envious.
Juventus absorbed the blow calmly. Their offensive pressure grew in intensity and determination. In the 38th minute Charles broke down the right flank; his cross bypassed even Cei, allowing Sivori an almost unchallenged attempt at the unguarded goal. But the shot was weak and unconvincing, and Franco Carradori managed to clear right off the line.
Lazio retreated deep into their own half. Juventus remained frustratingly sterile in attack. Thus the first half ended 1–0 in Lazio’s favour.
Play resumed with Juventus pushing hard for the equaliser. Lazio responded with order and determination. In the 57th minute of, a sweeping Charles-Sivori-Charles combination left the Welsh giant in the perfect position to shoot from close range, but the chance was squandered in surprisingly simple fashion.
A minute later Charles again charged forward, this time from a Boniperti pass, launching another assault on Lazio’s defensive fortress. Cei rushed out bravely to block and save the situation.
Juventus kept pressing. In the 61st minute Sivori broke into the Lazio penalty area; Carradori, more by instinct than cunning, handled the ball. A penalty was awarded. Rino Ferrario stepped up as the designated taker. The shot was well placed but lacked power. Cei, with a marvellous leap, guessed correctly and pushed the ball away for a corner, earning thunderous applause from the crowd.
Juventus now seemed to lose their composure. Ferrario indulged in a few challenges beyond the limits of the rules. Lazio sensed the psychological advantage and attempted to strike again. In the 67th minute Tozzi set up Bizzarri; the Lazio winger fired a lightning-fast diagonal shot, matched only by the equally brilliant flying Giuseppe Vavassori save.
In the 71st minute Egidio Fumagalli raced down the left flank before crossing to Tozzi who, after evading Ferrario, unleashed a true rocket shot while on the move. It missed by the narrowest of margins.
But Juventus remained indomitable. The team renewed its efforts with admirable pride. Charles threw himself into the battle with tremendous generosity and energy — but in vain. Lazio did not yield an inch and were able to bid farewell to their supporters in a festive and triumphant atmosphere, as demonstrated by the loud applause that greeted the final whistle.
In essence, Lazio closed their home season with a victory of undeniable prestige. Their performance was not dazzling, but it was certainly effective and intelligent. Acknowledging Juventus’ technical superiority, the Biancocelesti relied on speed and counterattacking football, aiming to remain compact without ever resigning themselves to passive resistance or adopting purely destructive tactics.
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Bernardini
Who played for Juventus
Vavassori, Corradi, Castano, Emoli, R.Ferrario, U.Colombo, Stacchini, Boniperti, Charles, Sivori, Stivanello Manager: Cesarini
Referee: Groppi
Goal: 37’ Corradi (og)
What happened next
Lazio finished 11th in the company of Bari and Genoa. In the last game of the season they lost 4-0 to Inter. It was still however a season to remember as they had won the Coppa Italia.
Humberto Tozzi was the player with most appearances (33) and Lazio’s top goal scorer (14).
Let’s talk about Omar Sivori
Long before Diego Maradona became the king of Naples, another Argentine genius captivated Italian football with dazzling skill, arrogance, and pure street-football artistry. His name was Omar Sívori — a player many consider one of the greatest talents of his era and one of the most influential attacking footballers of the twentieth century.
Born on October 2, 1935, in San Nicolás, Argentina, Enrique Omar Sívori grew up in a country obsessed with football and quickly emerged as one of its brightest young stars. Small in stature but fearless in personality, Sívori possessed extraordinary dribbling ability, explosive acceleration, and a fierce competitive edge. He played the game with imagination and swagger, humiliating defenders with nutmegs, feints, and unpredictable movements that made him almost impossible to control.
Sívori began his professional career with River Plate, where he became part of one of the most celebrated attacking trios in Argentine football history alongside Antonio Angelillo and Humberto Maschio. Nicknamed “The Angels with Dirty Faces,” the trio represented a new style of football — technical, daring, and flamboyant. During his years at River Plate, Sívori helped the club win three consecutive league titles between 1955 and 1957 and established himself as one of South America’s finest talents.
In 1957, Juventus signed Sívori for a world-record transfer fee, bringing the young Argentine to Italy. The move transformed both his career and Italian football itself. Serie A at the time was known for tactical discipline and defensive caution, but Sívori brought flair and chaos. His partnership with Welsh striker John Charles and Juventus legend Giampiero Boniperti became one of the most iconic attacking combinations in European football.
At Juventus, Sívori won three Serie A titles and three Coppa Italia trophies. He became famous not only for his goals and assists but also for the way he entertained crowds. Fans packed stadiums to watch him dribble past defenders, provoke opponents, and play with an intensity rarely seen in Italian football.
The peak of his career came in 1961 when he won the Ballon d'Or, becoming the first Juventus player ever to receive the award. That same period also saw him become Serie A’s top scorer with 28 goals in the 1959–60 season.
Yet Sívori was never a calm or obedient footballer. His fiery personality constantly brought controversy. He argued with referees, insulted opponents, and frequently lost his temper during matches. Nicknamed “El Cabezón” — “The Big-Headed One” — Sívori accumulated numerous suspensions throughout his career. However, his rebellious nature only increased his popularity among supporters who admired his refusal to conform.
Internationally, Sívori first represented Argentina and helped win the 1957 Copa América. Later, thanks to his Italian ancestry, he also played for Italy and represented the Azzurri at the 1962 FIFA World Cup.
By the mid-1960s, tensions with Juventus coach Heriberto Herrera signaled the end of Sívori’s Turin era. In 1965, he transferred to Napoli — a move that would cement his legendary status in southern Italy. He had made 259 appearances with 174 goals for Juve.
Although no longer at the absolute peak of his powers, Sívori’s arrival in Naples caused enormous excitement. Thousands of fans greeted him upon his arrival, seeing him as the symbol of ambition for a club eager to challenge the wealthy northern powers of Italian football.
At Napoli, Sívori formed a brilliant partnership with Brazilian-born striker José Altafini. Together they gave the team creativity, personality, and attacking quality. Napoli soon became one of the strongest sides in Italy, finishing near the top of Serie A several times during the late 1960s.
The 1967–68 season was especially memorable. Napoli, led by Sívori, Jose Altafini, and goalkeeper Dino Zoff, mounted a serious challenge for the Scudetto and finished second behind AC Milan. For many supporters, it was the first time the club truly believed it could become champions of Italy.
Even as injuries began to slow him down, Sívori remained adored in Naples. His style perfectly matched the city’s passion and emotional spirit. Neapolitan fans loved his arrogance, his creativity, and his refusal to bow to authority. Decades later, many would describe him as the spiritual predecessor to Diego Maradona — another small Argentine genius who carried both brilliance and rebellion onto the pitch.
Unfortunately, knee injuries seriously affected the final years of Sívori’s career. In 1968, after a heated match against Juventus ended in another suspension, he chose to retire from football at only 33 years old.
After retirement, Sívori worked as a coach, television pundit, and football scout, remaining closely connected to the game he had transformed. He later coached the Argentine national team and continued serving football in various roles for many years.
Omar Sívori died on February 17, 2005, from pancreatic cancer at the age of 69.
Today, Sívori is remembered as far more than just a footballer. He was one of the game’s first true entertainers — a player who mixed artistry with aggression, elegance with rebellion. In many ways, he helped create the image of the modern Argentine superstar: technically brilliant, emotionally explosive, and impossible to ignore.
Before Maradona conquered Naples, Omar Sívori showed Italy what an Argentine genius could be.
Comments