June 9, 1957: Lazio-Torino 2-2
- Dag Jenkins
- Jun 9
- 5 min read
Toro fight back
Despite a two-goal lead Lazio have to settle for a point
The season so far
Lazio had finished joint 3rd with Inter the previous season. An excellent campaign, first under Luigi Ferrero (1-14) and then Englishman Jesse Carver. Lazio beat Inter and Milan away, Juventus at home, drew one derby and won the other. Top scorer was Lorenzo Bettini with 12 league goals while Arne Selmosson and Ermes Muccinelli got 10.
This season Carver was still the manager. The main new arrivals were: defender Adelmo Eufemi (Livorno-back from loan), midfielders Arnaldo Lucentini (Triestina), Luigi Moltrasio (Torino), Umberto Pinardi (Udinese), forwards Karl Aage Præst (Juventus) and Humberto Tozzi (Palmeiras).
Leaving Lazio were: keepers Giampiero Bandini (Triestina) and Aldo De Fazio (Salernitana), defenders Francesco Antonazzi (Chinotto Neri-after 252 league games), midfielders Enrique Martegani (retiring), Renzo Sassi (Udinese), Attilio Giovannini (Nissena Caltanissetta), Angelo Villa (SPAL) plus forwards Brunello Cocciuti (Reggina - on loan) and Rinaldo Olivieri (Triestina). The main loss was Antonazzi, a legend at the club.
So far Lazio, after a bad start (4 defeats in 6 games, including derby), were having another good season and were currently 3rd, on 38 points. Lazio had then won 11 (including Torino 1-0 away), drawn 11 (including Inter 1-1, the derby 2-2 and Juventus 3-3 away) and lost 3. Lazio were 3rd with a three-point lead on Sampdoria and four on Udinese.
Torino had finished 11th in Serie A the previous season, under Annibale Frossi. Toro had beaten Lazio 1-0 in Rome and drawn 2-2 at home. The highlight was defeating Juventus 2-0 in the derby. The top scorer was German midfielder Horst Buhtz with 10 league goals. The squad included Lazio connections: Vittorio Sentimenti (1949-52), Lelio Antoniotti (1951-53) and Luigi Moltrasio (1956-59). Another interesting name was Enzo Bearzot, future World Champion coach of the Azzurri in 1982.
This season the manager was initially Fioravante Baldi until January 14, then briefly Antonio Vespucio, Oberdan Ussello and from February 18 Blagoje Marjanovic. The main new signings were: defenders Gianfranco Ganzer (Milan) and Luigi Bodi (Alessandria), midfielder Edoardo Recagni (Milan), plus forwards Dionisio Arce (Novara), Gino Armano (Inter), Hasse Jeppson (Napoli) and Juan Carlos Tacchi (Ferro Carril Oeste).
Leaving Torino were: defenders Enzo Bearzot (Inter but he would be back the following year for seven more seasons) and Bruno Padulazzi (Inter - end of loan, then Marzotto Valdagno), midfielders Horst Buhtz (Young Fellows), José Curti (retiring), Luigi Moltrasio (Lazio) and Vittorio Sentimenti III (Modena) plus forwards Lelio Antoniotti (Juventus) and Piero Cazzaniga (Triestina).
Torino were currently 7th, on 32 points. They had improved considerably since Marjanovic' arrival in February. When he took over Toro were rock bottom on 14 points (W4, D6, L10). Since the Yugoslav had taken charge there were 8 wins (including derby 4-1), 2 draws (last two) and 2 defeats.
A difficult game to predict today. Lazio higher in table and playing at home but Torino were a different team compared to the one Lazio had beaten in January.
The match: Sunday, June 9, 1957, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A hot and sunny day attracted about 35,000 fans to the Olimpico for Lazio's last home game of the season.
Lazio had to do without defender Primo Sentimenti and forward Ermes Muccinelli.
Torino were missing full-back Lino Grava, midfielders Pietro Grosso and Claudio Rimbaldo plus former Lazio forward Dionisio Arce and winger Juan Carlos Tacchi.
A word on the referee as today's was Turkish. In Serie A between 1955 and 1959 foreign referees were experimented in an attempt to lessen controversy. They were mainly Austrian but also French, Yugoslavian and Turkish.
The game started with two attempts by Pasquale Vivolo but they were both off target. In the 9th minute Lazio took the lead. Humberto Tozzi went down the right and crossed well to Arne Selmosson, the Swede was unmarked and shot but the keeper parried, meanwhile the linesman's flag was up however the ball came back to "Raggio di luna" who scored. The referee gave the goal anyway, a strange decision, 1-0.
Less than ten minutes later Lazio doubled their lead but again amid some controversy. In the 16th minute Lorenzo Bettini picked the ball up in midfield and decided to head for goal, he darted forward and seemingly passed Gianfranco Grazer with the help of a push, he then continued and beat Vincenzo Rigamonti, 2-0.
Toro were furious and the game opened up. The Granata had several chances to score but Lazio too went close with a post by Bettini and a shot by Selmosson just wide.
The visitors however attacked more and reduced the deficit just before halftime. In the 42nd minute a move by Eduardo Ricagni and Gaincarlo Bacci found Gino Armano in the area, he had his back to the goal but he turned swiftly and beat Lovati, 2-1.
In the second half Lazio started well, trying to reaffirm their two-goal lead. They went close with Bettini and then both Vivolo and Tozzi missed very favourable opportunities.
Torino were let off and came back to life. The visitors set up several neat moves, always keeping the ball on the ground. Their most dangerous chance however came from a corner but Bacci hit the post.
The Torinisti insisted and in the 75th minute they equalised. Bacci received the ball on the right wing, moved forward and unleashed a powerful strike which took on a deadly spinning effect and thundered into the top hand corner, 2-2. A wonderful goal.
Toro were now on high and if anyone could have won the game it was them. Their biggest chance fell to Hasse Jeppson but instead of shooting the Swede went for an assist for Quinto Bertoloni and it went wasted. Final score Lazio 2 Torino 2.
All in all, a fair result. Neither side deserved to lose. In the first Lazio had controversially found themselves 2-0 up early on and Torino had come back strongly. In the second Lazio had the chances to kill the Granata off but after failing the visitors had played well and more than deserved the point.
Lazio were still 3rd, on 39 points (two behind Fiorentina and three ahead of Udinese).
Torino were now joint 6th, on 33 points with Bologna and Inter.
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Carver
Who played for Torino
Rigamonti, Cuscela, Brancaleoni, Fogli, Ganzer, Pellis, Armano, Jeppson, Ricagni, Bacci, Bertoloni
Manager: Marjanovic
Referee: Garan (Turkey)
Goals: 9' Selmosson, 16' Bettini, 42' Armano, 75' Bacci
What happened next
Lazio finished 3rd again, on 41 points. In the last 4 games they won 2 (Inter 1-0 and Palermo 6-2 away) and drew 2 (Genoa and Torino both 2-2 at home). The top scorer was Arne Selmosson with 12 league goals. Another positive season for Lazio.
Torino then beat Udinese 3-1 at home and finished joint 5th with Inter, Bologna and Sampdoria on 35 points. Taking goal difference into account the Granata were 7th. The top scorer was Gino Armano with 12 league goals.
The Serie A champions were Milan for the sixth time. Triestina and Palermo went down to Serie B.
Let's talk about Lazio Jersey 1956-57
Images Sources: Football Kit Archive (jersey), Lazio Wiki (teams)
The shirts were light blue with a white stripe around the neck and a thicker one at the end of the long sleeves. The shorts and socks were white. The white socks were a novelty.
Another novelty this year was the fabric as it had visible, tactile ridges that gave it a more structured and refined appearance. The materials were thick and elasticated.
Lazio played some games with the previous season's kit (white v-neck), a white polo type jersey for a few away matches and even had a black version of the main shirt.
Sources
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