Lazio Dominate Fiorentina with Commanding Three-Goal Victory

Simon Basten
May 18, 2023
2 min read

Season 1946-47

Game 31, Serie A

Sunday, May 18 1947

Stadio Nazionale, Rome

Lazio Fiorentina 3-0

Flamini and Lombardini lead the Biancocelesti as Fiorentina fade after an early setback and a second-half dismissal.

The Biancocelesti had not done as well as expected and after the first half of the season they were 10th. Very inconsistent, the Biancocelesti had some good wins (Bologna 3-1, Sampdoria 4-0) but also some bad losses (4-1 against Fiorentina and 5-1 to Torino). After 25 games they were in the relegation zone, but thanks to Enrique Flamini's return they managed to work their way up. They were currently 12th with a three point cushion over the relegation zone.

The match

Fiorentina started aggressively: in the 2nd minute, a fine and fast passing move ended with the ball at Angelo Bollano’s feet, but his shot went just wide. From Corrado Giubilo’s goal kick, Salvador Gualtieri passed forward to Umberto Lombardini; the Lazio player broke away before Zeffiro Furiassi stopped him by conceding a corner. Lombardini himself took the corner, and Arduino Romoli could only parry weakly into the path of Enrique Flamini, who struck from ten metres out — not powerfully, but accurately. The Biancocelesti took the lead.

It could be said that the match effectively ended there. Fiorentina reacted weakly, while Lazio controlled the game. They did not particularly excel in any department. In defence, they relied on one man, Gualtieri, while only Flamini provided order, clarity of ideas, and energy. These two were the pillars of an otherwise modest Lazio side.

In the first half, the chances were fairly even. In the 30th minute, Alberto Eliani delivered a long cross and the ball found Pietro Suppi’s head from three metres out. Giubilo was the only one who believed he could reach it: he launched himself into the air and pushed the ball away, earning thunderous applause from the crowd. In the 41st minute, Aldo Puccinelli and Mario Magrini tried to break through, but the ball ricocheted off Fiorentina defenders and reached Flamini, who was stopped; however, it bounced to Lombardini, who volleyed against the post before Eliani finally cleared the danger. Gregorin’s departure from the field deprived the Tuscans of their remaining hopes of equalising.

In the second half, in the 64th minute, came the second goal: from Henglebert Koenig to Puccinelli, then a cross into the centre, where Lombardini beat Furiassi to the ball and scored from two meters out.

In the 71st minute, Fiorentina also lost Augusto Magli, who was sent off by the referee for foul play. From that moment on, Fiorentina no longer crossed the midfield line and conceded a third goal: Koenig passed to Flamini, who unleashed a magnificent shot that struck the underside of the crossbar and went into the net. In the 83rd minute Romolo Alzani hit the crossbar, and in the 88th minute Koenig rattled the outside of the net.

Who played for Lazio

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