June 6, 1948: Lazio Vicenza 2-1

Simon Basten
15 hours ago
4 min read

Lazio Edge Vicenza After Late Second-Half Breakthrough

A sluggish start gives way to a hard-fought comeback as Lazio overcome an early deficit to secure victory at home

The season so far

The previous season had been disappointing and Lazio arrived only 10th so, for the 1947-48 season, fans hoped for a better year. Toni Cargnelli was confirmed as manager and the most important new arrivals were Flavio Cecconi from Venezia and Sergio Piacentini from Sampdoria plus Brazilian Orlando Fantoni. Leaving the capital were Luigi Cassano and Henglebert Koenig to Sampdoria, Bruno Ispiro and Antonio Sessa to Triestina, plus Edoardo Valenti to Perugia. In the autumn transfer window, Leandro Remondini from Modena and Romano Penzo were added.

After the first half of the season Lazio were 13th with 17 points, just two points above the relegation zone. They had beaten Inter and drawn away to Juventus but had lost the derby. Cargnelli was sacked and replaced with Orlando Tognotti. In his first game the Biancocelesti had been slaughtered 5-2 by Milan.

The situation then improved and Lazio were tenth together with Inter and Genoa, and one point above Roma, with a five point cushion over the relegation zone.

The match: Sunday, June 6, 1948, Stadio Nazionale, Rome

Lazio, having little more to ask from this season, approached the match with a touch too much laziness. Faced with a modest Vicenza side, they struggled to stir up motivation. The visitors took advantage and pressed the Biancocelesti in the first 20 minutes. In the 5th and 7th minutes, two shots from Luigi Zambelli and Pietro Rebuzzi forced Corrado Giubilo into good saves. In the 19th minute, Giovanni Sperotto hit the crossbar, and this seemed to wake Lazio up.

In the 22nd and 23rd minutes, Aldo Puccinelli tried a couple of shots which went just wide by a whisker. Mario Magrini and Costantino De Andreis missed an easy chance in the 26th minute, and a minute later Vicenza scored. Rebuzzi broke on the counterattack and, as the receiver of the pass, beat the Lazio goalkeeper to give the visitors the lead.

The lead lasted just five minutes. Magrini pulled off a Rebuzzi-like move, starting and finishing a counterattack, to make it 1–1.

Lazio showed a bit more rhythm in the second half, but not much more. Sperotto forced Giubilo into a difficult save in the 65th minute, and three minutes later Enrique Flamini made Giorgio Fioravanti produce his best save of the day. In the 78th minute, Lazio went ahead. Puccinelli took a free kick which Romano Penzo smashed into the net.

Vicenza pushed forward, but Lazio held firm and secured the two points.

Who played for Lazio

Giubilo, Remondini, Piacentini, Alzani, Gualtieri, Brunetti, Puccinelli, Magrini, Penzo, Flamini, De Andreis

Manager: Tognotti

Who played for Vicenza

Fioravanti, Parena, Grosso, De Boni, Gozzi, Sandroni, Zambelli, Spavanello, Sperotto, Carraro, Rebuzzi

Manager: Berkessy

Referee: Matucci

Goals: 27’ Rebuzzi, 32’ Magrini, 78’ Penzo

What happened next

Lazio finished 10th with 39 points. One could not really ask for more especially since with 12 away losses out of 20 there was not much room to earn more points.

Romolo Alzani was the player with most appearances (38), Romano Penzo scored the most goals (17).

Let’s talk about Ernesto Sandroni

Ernesto Sandroni was an Italian footballer whose career spanned some of the most turbulent years in European history. Born on 27 February 1920 in Cornigliano Ligure, near Genoa, he emerged as a talented and reliable player during an era when Italian football was establishing itself among the strongest in the world. Though he never achieved the fame of the sport's greatest stars, Sandroni built a respected career through dedication, versatility, and consistent performances across several prominent clubs.

Sandroni began his professional journey with Savona, where he helped the Ligurian club progress up the Italian football pyramid. His performances attracted the attention of bigger teams, earning him a move to Milan in 1941. In Milan, he experienced the challenge of competing at the highest level of Italian football, making appearances in Serie A and contributing to the club during the difficult wartime period. Although his stay with the Rossoneri was relatively brief, it represented a significant milestone in his career.

Following his time in Milan, Sandroni played for AC Liguria and later Sampierdarenese. The Second World War disrupted normal sporting activity across Europe, but Sandroni continued to play whenever competitions resumed, demonstrating remarkable resilience during uncertain times.

The most substantial period of his career came with Vicenza, where he established himself as a dependable member of the squad. His years with the club accounted for a large portion of his top-flight appearances and helped cement his reputation as a hardworking midfielder. He later joined Venezia and also spent a brief period on loan with Lazio to play the Latin Cup, further adding to a career that took him across many of Italy's historic football institutions.

In total, Sandroni accumulated more than 130 appearances in Italy's Serie A and nearly 50 appearances in Serie B, reflecting both his longevity and his value to the teams he represented. His playing style was characterized by discipline, tactical awareness, and a willingness to contribute wherever needed on the field.

In 1951, Sandroni took his career abroad, signing for Stade Rennais in France. Although his time in Brittany lasted only a single season, it marked the final chapter of a professional career that had crossed national borders and witnessed the transformation of post-war European football. After retiring from the game, he remained a figure associated with the generation of players who bridged the pre-war and post-war eras.

Ernesto Sandroni passed away on 7 December 1979 in Mondovì, Italy, at the age of fifty-nine.