A game of two halves

Simon Basten
Nov 23, 2022
2 min read

Season 1941-42

Game 5, Serie A

Sunday, November 23, 1941

Stadio P.N.F, Rome

Lazio Ambrosiana Inter 2-2

Lazio dominate the first half and Inter the second in a 2-2 draw.

Lazio were currently joint 9th with Atalanta, Milan and Torino, on 4 points. The Biancocelesti had won 1 (Torino, 4-1 at home), drawn 2 (Triestina 0-0 away on debut and Fiorentina 1-1 at home a week ago) and lost 1 (Sampierdarenese 1-4 away).

So far, in Serie A the Nerazzurri had won 1 (Sampierdarenese 2-1 at home a week ago) and drawn 3 (Venezia 0-0 away on debut, Torino away and Triestina at home both 1-1). Inter were therefore unbeaten and joint 3rd with Fiorentina, Venezia and Genoa, on 5 points. Roma and Triestina were leading with 6 points.

A balanced game was expected today with no clear favourites.

The match

A mild and dry day gathered about 20,000 at the Roman stadium.

Lazio had their best team available while Inter were without goalkeeper Angelo Franzosi and defender Carmelo Buonocore. The Nerazzurri played with Umberto Guarnieri and Vittorio Casaretti up front rather than Carlo Alberto Quario.

Lazio were superior in the first half. The Biancocelesti scored two goals, hit a crossbar and had a goal disallowed.

The first goal came after 16 minutes when Italo Romagnoli beat Angelo Caimo from a Luciano Ramella freekick. The Pescara-born jolly (he could play in all roles) then got his brace in the 21st minute with a spectacular bicycle kick from a Salvador Gualtieri cross, 2-0.

Lazio led by two goals at halftime and Inter had not turned up yet.

Everything changed in the second half as Inter took control. This despite having to move Dino Bovoli out to the wing due to injury.

They pulled a goal back in the 51st minute. Argentinian-born Attilio Demaría beat Uber Gradella after a good through ball by Vitorio Casaretti, 2-1.

The Italo-Argentinian (he won 1934 World Cup with Italy) then equalised in the 79th minute when he got his double and Inter's second by volleying into the back of the net after a scramble in the Lazio area, 2-2.

Inter were by now completely in charge and would have gone on to win the game were it not for a few good Gradella saves, especially on Aldo Campatelli.

Final score 2-2. A strange game with Lazio on top in the first 45 minutes only to then disappear and allow the visitors to do as they pleased in the second.

Lazio were now 9th, on 5 points with Genova while Inter were 6th, on 6 points with Fiorentina, Milano, Juventus and Torino.

Who played for Lazio

Gradella, Faotto, Monza, Fazio, Ramella, Baldo, Gualtieri, Pisa, Romagnoli, Flamini, Piola