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Writer's pictureDag Jenkins

Sunny but raining goals

Updated: Nov 20

Season 1948-49

Game 11, Serie A

Sunday, November 21, 1948


Stadio Nazionale, Rome

Lazio Bologna 8-2


Lazio stun Bologna with an unexpected thrashing


Source Lazio Wiki

So far, in Serie A Lazio had played ten matches and were struggling on 4 points. The Biancocelesti were winless, having lost 6 and drawn 4 (including derby 1-1, with Magrini 83rd minute equaliser). Manager Orlando Tognotti had been sacked and replaced by Mario Sperone.

 

A difficult game for Lazio but a change of manager could sometimes do wonders, at least initially.

 

The match


A perfect day for football in Rome, sunny and mild with a crowd of about 20,000.

 

Lazio had no injury worries while Bologna were without striker Istaván Mike Mayer. 

 

Lazio started aggressively and took the lead after seven minutes. A brilliant solo goal by Aldo Puccinelli as he went down the right wing and cut in towards the centre, dribbling past several defenders, before beating Glauco Vanz with a precise, angled shot. Lazio 1 Bologna 0.

 

Bologna stirred and in the 23rd minute the visitors equalised. It was Mario Gritti who sent a cracking long range shot into the top hand corner. Lazio 1 Bologna 1.

 

Lazio took back the lead in the 36th minute. A terrible back pass to the keeper by Guglielmo Giovannini was intercepted by Ferenc Nyers II who had no problem finding the net. Lazio 2 Bologna 1.

 

Three minutes later Lazio scored again. Puccinelli found himself completely unmarked in front of goal without a defender in sight and it was child's play for him to score his brace. Lazio 3 Bologna 1.

 

Lazio cruising at halftime taking advantage of the Rossoblu's disastrous defence. In the break there were some angry exchanges heard coming from the visitors' changing rooms.

 

In the second half however, the confrontations had not seemed to have resolved Bologna's confusion.

 

In the 57th minute Romano Penzo scored from the spot kick after a clear penalty was awarded. Lazio 4 Bologna 1.

 

In the 68th minute Salvatore Gualtieri heaped more misery on the Felsinei as he curled a freekick around the wall. Lazio 5 Bologna 1.

 

Two minutes later another blatant penalty was given to the Biancocelesti and this time Mario Magrini was on target. Lazio 6 Bologna 1.

 

At this point the goals were pouring in. In the 62nd minute a weak Magrini shot was possibly deflected into his own net by Vanz (in fact some sources have it down as an own goal). Lazio 7 Bologna 1.

 

Three minutes later Vanz was again picking the ball out of his net after Penzo had got his double with a powerful shot. Lazio 8 Bologna 1.

 

Lazio then eased off and in the 87th minute Bologna salvaged a tiny bit of pride scoring the last goal of the match with a solo effort by Corrado Bernicchi. Final score Lazio 8 Bologna 2.

 

A totally unpredictable score line and an epic win for Lazio. The Biancocelesti had scored more goals today than they had all season so far. There was the sensation it was a one off and Lazio had caught Bologna on a particularly bad day defensively but that made it no less enjoyable, possibly more.

 

For the records Lazio would have to wait another 47 years for their next 8-2 home victory, in 1995 against Fiorentina, with Zdenek Zeman as Lazio manager.

 

Who played for Lazio 


Manager: Sperone

 

Who played for Bologna 


Vanz, Giovannini, Ballacci, Cingolani, B.Sárosi, Mezzadri, Cervellati, Zacconi, Cappello, Gritti, Bernicchi

 

Referee: Silvano


Goals: 7' Puccinelli, 23' Gritti, 36' Nyers II, 39' Puccinelli, 57' Penzo I (pen), 67' Gualtieri, 70' Magrini (pen), 72' Magrini, 75' Penzo I, 87' Bernicchi



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