Pure oxygen

Dag Jenkins
Apr 13, 2023
3 min read

Season 1946-47

Game 28, Serie A

Sunday, April 13, 1947

Stadio Nazionale, Rome

Lazio - Bologna 3-1

Lazio conquer two important points with convincing win over Bologna

This season, after a winning start away at Bari, Lazio had then lost the next three (including derby 0-3). Since then they had won 7 (including Brescia 6-3, Sampdoria 4-0 at home), drawn 6 (including derby 0-0 and recent 1-1 at Sampdoria) and lost 10 (including Bologna 1-3). Lazio were currently in joint 17th place, with Inter and Fiorentina on 22 points. They were only one point above the last relegation slot (Venezia on 21). A worrying situation.

Bologna were currently 7th on 28 points. The Felsinei had won 11 (including Inter 2-0 at home), drawn 6 (including recent 1-1 at home to Torino) and lost 10.

A crucial game for Lazio while Bologna had no worries at the moment.

The match

A big crowd turned up on a sunny mid-April Sunday.

Lazio were without forward Bruno Ispiro while Bologna were missing midfielder Sauro Taiti.

Lazio went close immediately in the 2nd minute but Umberto Lombardini's effort was just off target. Bologna responded in the 4th minute but Corrado Giubilo saved comfortably on Gino Cappello.

Halfway through the first half Lazio suffered a setback when midfielder Cesare Brunetti got injured and was moved out to the left wing and Mario Magrini took his place.

In the 31st minute Béla Sárosi fouled Austrian forward Hengelbert Koenig at the edge of the area. Captain Salvador Gualtieri took the free kick and beat an immobile Glauco Vanz, 1-0.

Bologna stirred but all the initiatives by the various Amedeo Biavati, Ferruccio Valcareggi, Bruno Arcari and Cappello were blocked by an excellent Lazio defence.

Towards the end of the half Lazio regained control and put the visitors under pressure but the half ended with the solitary Biancoceleste lead.

Early in the second half in the 47th minute a Romolo Alzani strike shaved the post and Lazio continued to push.

In the 53rd minute Luigi Spadoni tripped up Lombardini and Lazio were awarded another inviting freekick. Gualtieri took it and hit the wall but the ball came back to him and he quickly passed to Aldo Puccinelli in the middle who smashed it past Vanz, 2-0.

Lazio then relaxed and Bologna had a period of territorial dominance but their only real threat was a Franco Marchi shot which whistled just over the crossbar.

Bologna became increasingly unbalanced and were caught on the break in the 72nd minute. Koenig sent Puccinelli surging forward, followed the move, received it back, controlled it and beat Vanz with a precise finish, 3-0.

The Rossoblu were beaten but looked at least for a consolation goal. They went close in the 81st but Giubilo saved on Vilmos Sipos and then found one in the 89th minute. It was a similar goal to Lazio's second. Cappello's set-piece came back off the wall and he squared to Bruno Arcari who beat Giubilo from close range, 3-1 and the final score.

A deserved win for the Biancocelesti who had played with character and determination against an under-par Bologna. The whole team had played well with particularly good performances by Gualtieri and Puccinelli. For the visitors the defender Guglielmo Giovannini and the midfielder Biavati had held their own.

An extremely precious two points for Lazio who were now 14th on 24 points with Inter. The Eagles now had a more comforting three-point cushion on the drop zone (still Venezia on 21). Bologna meanwhile dropped down to joint 8th with Sampdoria and Atalanta on 28 points.

Who played for Lazio

Giubilo, Cassano, Antonazzi, Alzani, Gualtieri, Brunetti, Puccinelli, Magrini, Koenig, Flamini, Lombardini