Easy Win Against Hornless Bulls

Dag Jenkins
Feb 11, 2023
4 min read

Season 1950-51

Game 23, Serie A

Sunday, February 11, 1951

Stadio Torino, Rome

Lazio Torino 3-0

A Puccinelli brace and Flamini ease Lazio to win against a weakened Torino side

After 22 fixtures, Lazio were in joint 4th position with Como, on 26 points. The Biancocelesti had won 10 (including derby and Torino 1-0), drawn 6 (including Inter home and away and Juventus away) and lost 5 (including the most recent match 0-1 away at Pro Patria).

So far, this season Torino were 14th, on 18 points (3 from drop zone, Lucchese on 15). The Granata had won 5, drawn 8 and lost 9 (including Lazio 0-1 and the derby 1-4). They came from a 1-2 away defeat at Sampdoria.

Lazio were expected to win today if they wanted to continue pushing for the loftier positions in the table.

The match

It was sunny day in the capital but the field was slightly wet from previous rain. There were just under 20,000 spectators present at the Stadio Nazionale, known as the Stadio Torino at the time.

Lazio were without defender Zeffiro Furiassi and forward Norberto Höfling.

Torino had several absences: full-back Lino Grava, midfielders Bruno Gremese, Benjamin Santos and Kjell Rosén, plus forwards Riccardo Carapellese and Johannes Pløger. At the last minute, midfielder Leo Picchi was also ruled out.

Lazio were superior anyway but due to their weakened line-up Torino approached the game with a very defensive setup. The Granata tightly man marked the Laziali and even played winger Attilio Frizzi deep in their own half.

Lazio therefore pushed forward constantly. In the 4th minute Emilio Buttarelli saved on Flavio Cecconi and in the 8th Dionisio Arce's effort went wide.

Lazio took the lead in the 16th minute. Cecconi crossed from the left and Aldo Puccinelli struck a first time shot which hit the inside of the post and went into the net, 1-0.

The deficit did not alter the visitors' game plan and Lazio continued to attack. In the 20th minute Arce fired over the bar as did Romolo Alzani in the 24th. In the 26th a Puccinelli header was saved by Buttarelli and in the 29th a powerful Cecconi effort shaved the post. In the 30th Buttarelli saved an Arce shot and then dropped the ball but after a goalmouth scramble the ball went behind for a corner.

One had to wait until after the half hour to see a Toro shot at goal. An Antonio Gianmarinaro attempt however was comfortably saved by Lucidio Sentimenti IV.

The Piedmontese came out of their shell but were punished by the Romans on the counter attack. In the 42nd minute Vittorio Sentimenti III set up Enrique Flamini who made it 2-0.

A formality so far for the hosts against a passive Torino side.

The second half began with things a little more balanced even if it was still Lazio who seemed in control.

The Biancocelesti appeared content to leave the initiative with the Granata but then struck again in the 56th minute. An Aldo Puccinelli free kick beat Buttarelli for the third time, 3-0.

With the result no longer in doubt the game became more open.

In the 60th minute the Lazio keeper saved on Ernesto Giraudo and in the 62nd Butarelli on Arce. In the 63rd Torino scored on a freekick by Raffaele Cuscela but the joy was short lived as the referee indicated it was supposed to be an indirect one.

In the 66th minute Toro were awarded a penalty when the referee judged Stefano Malacarne to have touched the ball with his hand. Mario Tosolini stepped up and hit a powerful shot to Sentimenti's right but the Emilia-Romagna born keeper sprang across and pulled off a superb save.

Both sides then had attempts but the best chance fell to Lazio in the 75th minute. A scramble in the visitors' area led Buttarelli to come off his line leaving the goal unguarded, the ball then reached Leoncino Unzain who shot but the ball bounced on the crossbar and went over.

Lazio then had several more attempts but due to Arce's uncharacteristically bad shooting they all ended up over the bar.

The last chance was for Torino who tried to save their honour with Frizzi but he was denied by Sentimenti IV who confirmed his excellent form. Final score: Lazio 3 Torino 0.

A one-sided game especially in the first half. In the second it was slightly more even but there was still the impression Torino wanted to limit the damage and Lazio not to humiliate their opponents with too many goals. It must be said however that Toro could only field about half their regular players.

Lazio were now solitary 4th on 28 points, as Como had lost 2-3 away to Genoa.

Torino slipped down to 16th, on 18 points. The Granata were overtaken by both Padova (Roma 3-1 at home) and Triestina (Inter 2-1 at home). With two relegations the table now read: Lucchese 15, Genoa 15, Roma 15, Novara 16 and Torino 18. Toro had to be careful.

Who played for Lazio

Sentimenti IV, Antonazzi, Sentimenti V, Sentimenti III, Malacarne, Alzani, Puccinelli, Flamini, Arce, Cecconi, Unzain