Toro fight back

Dag Jenkins
Jun 9, 2024
3 min read

Season 1956-57

Game 33, Serie A

Sunday, June 9, 1957

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio-Torino 2-2

Despite a two-goal lead Lazio have to settle for a point

So far Lazio, after a bad start (4 defeats in 6 games, including derby), were having another good season and were 3rd, on 38 points. Lazio had then won 11 (including Torino 1-0 away), drawn 11 (including Inter 1-1, the derby 2-2 and Juventus 3-3 away) and lost 3. Lazio were 3rd with a three-point lead on Sampdoria and four on Udinese.

Torino were currently 7th, on 32 points. They had improved considerably since Marjanovic' arrival in February. When he took over Toro were rock bottom on 14 points (W4, D6, L10). Since the Yugoslav had taken charge there were 8 wins (including derby 4-1), 2 draws (last two) and 2 defeats.

A difficult game to predict today. Lazio higher in table and playing at home but Torino were a different team compared to the one Lazio had beaten in January.

The match

A hot and sunny day attracted about 35,000 fans to the Olimpico for Lazio's last home game of the season.

Lazio had to do without defender Primo Sentimenti and forward Ermes Muccinelli.

Torino were missing full-back Lino Grava, midfielders Pietro Grosso and Claudio Rimbaldo plus former Lazio forward Dionisio Arce and winger Juan Carlos Tacchi.

A word on the referee as today's was Turkish. In Serie A between 1955 and 1959 foreign referees were experimented in an attempt to lessen controversy. They were mainly Austrian but also French, Yugoslavian and Turkish.

The game started with two attempts by Pasquale Vivolo but they were both off target. In the 9th minute Lazio took the lead. Humberto Tozzi went down the right and crossed well to Arne Selmosson, the Swede was unmarked and shot but the keeper parried, meanwhile the linesman's flag was up however the ball came back to "Raggio di luna" who scored. The referee gave the goal anyway, a strange decision, 1-0.

Less than ten minutes later Lazio doubled their lead but again amid some controversy. In the 16th minute Lorenzo Bettini picked the ball up in midfield and decided to head for goal, he darted forward and seemingly passed Gianfranco Grazer with the help of a push, he then continued and beat Vincenzo Rigamonti, 2-0.

Toro were furious and the game opened up. The Granata had several chances to score but Lazio too went close with a post by Bettini and a shot by Selmosson just wide.

The visitors however attacked more and reduced the deficit just before halftime. In the 42nd minute a move by Eduardo Ricagni and Gaincarlo Bacci found Gino Armano in the area, he had his back to the goal but he turned swiftly and beat Lovati, 2-1.

In the second half Lazio started well, trying to reaffirm their two-goal lead. They went close with Bettini and then both Vivolo and Tozzi missed very favourable opportunities.

Torino were let off and came back to life. The visitors set up several neat moves, always keeping the ball on the ground. Their most dangerous chance however came from a corner but Bacci hit the post.

The Torinisti insisted and in the 75th minute they equalised. Bacci received the ball on the right wing, moved forward and unleashed a powerful strike which took on a deadly spinning effect and thundered into the top hand corner, 2-2. A wonderful goal.

Toro were now on high and if anyone could have won the game it was them. Their biggest chance fell to Hasse Jeppson but instead of shooting the Swede went for an assist for Quinto Bertoloni and it went wasted. Final score Lazio 2 Torino 2.

All in all, a fair result. Neither side deserved to lose. In the first Lazio had controversially found themselves 2-0 up early on and Torino had come back strongly. In the second Lazio had the chances to kill the Granata off but after failing the visitors had played well and more than deserved the point.

Lazio were still 3rd, on 39 points (two behind Fiorentina and three ahead of Udinese).

Torino were now joint 6th, on 33 points with Bologna and Inter.

Who played for Lazio

Lovati, Molino, Eufemi, Carradori, Pinardi, Moltrasio, Tozzi, Burini, Bettini, Vivolo, Selmosson