Entertaining draw with the Devil

Dag Jenkins
Jan 3, 2023
4 min read

Season 1953-54

Game 15, Serie A

Sunday, January 3, 1954

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Milan 1-1

A fair draw despite controversy over Milan's penalty

So far in Serie A Lazio had won 5 (including Juventus 2-1 and Torino 1-0 away), drawn 4 (including derby 1-1) and lost 5. The Biancocelesti were mid-table in joint 8th place with Bologna on 14 points.

So far in the league Milan were 4th, on 18 points (four behind Inter top). They had won 7 (including Juventus 1-0 at home), drawn 4 and lost 3 (including derby 0-3 and most recently Bologna 1-2 away).

A game of uncertain outcome today. Milan were superior and only four points behind leaders Inter but Lazio were unpredictable and could beat anybody on a good day.

The match

A cloudy and cold day in the capital saw about 55,000 spectators at the Olimpico.

Lazio were without Swedish midfielder Sigvard Löfgren while Milan were missing midfielder Eros Beraldo.

Lazio began the game aggressively. The Biancocelesti immediately had a Pasquale Vivolo header saved by Lorenzo Buffon (distant relation of Gigi) and put the Rossonero defence under pressure with some potentially dangerous scrambles in the area.

Milan gradually stirred and in the 6th minute Lucidio Sentimenti IV was safe on a threatening Albano Vicariotto cross.

In the 8th minute Lazio thought they deserved a penalty. Norwegian Per Bredesen burst into the area and was tackled by Francesco Zagatti who then slipped and touched the ball with his hand. The referee probably correctly said it was involuntary unlike the hundreds of farcical penalties given in today's football.

In the 9th minute Arturo Silvestri tried his luck but was off target.

In the 12th minute Renzo Burini was favoured by a lucky bounce, turned and shot but Buffon saved well.

In the 18th minute Lazio scored. Bredesen hit a low ball across the goal mouth, Vivolo picked it up on the other side and put it back towards the middle, the ball took on a strange trajectory deceiving Buffon and reached Aldo Puccinelli who slotted in from close range, 1-0.

The game went quiet until the 24th minute when a Silvestri freekick called Sentimenti IV into action again.

In the 31st minute Nils Liedholm went solo, but his effort was just wide.

Five minutes later Burini fired a volley over the bar following an Omero Tognon up and under clearance.

Milan increased the pressure towards the end of the half. Jørgen Sørensen tested Sentimenti IV, Mario Bergamaschi headed over the bar and then the Lazio keeper dived and blocked at Vicariotto's feet.

In the 44th minute came a controversial and decisive episode. Gunnar Nordahl got away from Serafino Montanari who pulled him down for a penalty. The Lazio players however were adamant that the Swede had been offside and convinced the referee to consult the linesman who nevertheless confirmed the decision. Liedholm stepped up and hit a crisp spot kick to Sentimenti's left, 1-1 at halftime.

The first half had been lively but the second was even more action packed.

In the 46th Sørensen went close and in the 49th, for Lazio, Vittorio Bergamo shaved the crossbar with a freekick.

The chances were evenly distributed. In the 53rd minute Nordahl was denied by Sentimenti IV and in the 57th an excellent Alberto Fontanesi header was not far over the bar.

In the 63rd minute an all Scandinavian move between Sørensen and Nordahl allowed the Dane to shoot but the ball went just out with Sentimenti IV beaten.

In the 69th minute Fontanesi caused havoc down the right and crossed, Vivolo jumped up and despite being challenged twisted a header towards goal, but it narrowly went the wrong side of the post.

In the 79th minute Milan had a big chance. Tognon pumped the ball forward, Nordahl latched onto it and went on an impressive run soon finding himself with only the keeper to beat but "Cochi" dived at the Swedes feet and saved, the ball spun across to Vicariotto on the left who then badly wasted the opportunity by firing high.

Lazio threatened in the 80th minute but Buffon was alert on an Puccinelli volley.

The last shot at goal came in the 85th and was for Milan but Sentimenti IV comfortably saved a powerful strike by Sørensen.

The game ended 1-1. An entertaining contest which either side could have won. The crowd showed their appreciation by applauding both sets of players off the field.

A well-played game in which a draw was probably a fair result. Lazio had held their own against superior opposition.

Lazio were now solitary 8th on 15 points (Bologna lost 1-2 at home to Roma) while Milan were still 4th on 19 points but now five behind leaders Inter.

Who played for Lazio

Sentimenti IV, Antonazzi, Montanari, Fuin, Sentimenti V, Bergamo, Puccinelli, Bredesen, Vivolo, Burini, Fontanesi