Muccinelli to the rescue

Dag Jenkins
Feb 23, 2024
3 min read

Season 1957-58

Game 22, Serie A

Sunday, February 23, 1958

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Alessandria 2-1

A last-minute goal by the former Juventus forward gives Lazio last minute win

So far, after 21 matches, Lazio were 13th on 18 points, with SPAL and only three points above the relegation zone (Atalanta 15, Genoa 14). A week earlier Lazio had lost 0-1 at Vicenza and needed points.

Alessandria were currently 7th on 22 points. The Grigi had won 7 (including Lazio 4-0), drawn 8 (including Inter and Milan both 1-1 away) and lost 6. Their most recent game was a 3-1 home win against Verona.

The match

A sunny but fresh day attracted just under 40,000 to the Olimpico.

Lazio were without defender Umberto Pinardi and midfielder Franco Carradori.

Alessandria came to Rome missing full-back Aldo Nardi and midfielder Carlo Tagnin. This was Alessandria's first game against Lazio in Rome for ten years.

In the first ten minutes Lazio had a few corners and then had their first really big chance when a close range volley by Arnaldo Lucentini was just off target.

The Grey Bears responded in the 17th minute when Roger Vonlanthen played through Alessandro Vitali but Bob Lovati pulled off a good save. A minute later Lovati was busy again as he dived to his right to deny a powerful Marco Savioni effort.

After a balanced initial twenty minutes the game suddenly burst into life in the space of a few minutes.

Lazio went in front in the 21st minute. Ermes Muccinelli took a freekick and teed up Luigi Moltrasio who headed past Ideo Stefani, 1-0.

The Romans' lead only lasted two minutes as in the 23rd minute Michele Manenti equalised for the visitors. It was a scrappy goal as the forward took advantage of a few ricochets, one even coming back to him with his hand, before beating Lovati 1-1. The referee had not noticed so the goal stood.

Alessandria took courage and covered the field well. The Grigi went close again with Alessandro Vitali.

In the 36th minute Lazio reappeared up front when Muccinelli had only the keeper to beat but hesitated and was blocked by a last ditch tackle by Franco Pedroni.

In the 38th minute Vitali had a similar chance but Lovati charged off his line and the forward blasted it over the bar. The half ended 1-1

Things changed in the second half as the visitors somewhat inexplicably changed tactics. Gone was the confident, open attitude of the first half and in came a deep defensive setup clearly geared towards taking home a point.

Lazio therefore started to attack and did so for practically the whole half.

In the 47th minute Arne Selmosson had a central shot saved by Stefani who repeated himself on a Ugo Pozzan effort a minute later.

In the 57th minute Selmosson had a double chance but he first hit Stefani from close range and on the rebound missed an open goal.

Selmosson then uncharacteristically missed another seemingly easy opportunity as Lazio piled on the pressure.

In the 74th minute, following Lazio's tenth corner, Nicola Lo Buono tried his luck from the long range but was just off target.

In the 80th minute it was Lucentini who blasted a chance over the bar.

In the 85th minute Muccinelli controlled a high ball skillfully with his neck, turned on himself and hammered a left footed volley towards goal but again it went agonisingly just high.

In the 90th minute, just when hopes were fading, Lazio got the winner. On their twelfth corner Muccinelli rose acrobatically and turned a perfect header into the back of the net, 2-1.

A deserved win for the Eagles as their second half dominance finally paid off. The players and fans celebrated enthusiastically at the final whistle. Alessandria had held their own in the first half but then were too negative and were ultimately punished.

Lazio were now joint 12th, on 20 points with Torino and SPAL and four points above the relegation zone (Sampdoria, Atalanta and Genoa on 16, for two places).

Alessandria were joint 8th, on 22 points with Inter.

Who played for Lazio

Lovati, Molino, Lo Buono, Fuin, Colombo, Moltrasio, Lucentini, Burini, Selmosson, Pozzan, Muccinelli