Lazio recover from Genoa defeat with a second-half surge

Simon Basten

Sep 16, 2022

3 min read

Season 1951-52

Game 2, Serie A

Sunday, September 16, 1951

Stadio Torino, Rome

Lazio Udinese 3-1

A difficult first half gives way to a dominant second as Antoniotti, Flamini and Puccinelli secure Lazio's first victory of the 1951–52 season.

An image of the Stadio Nazionale taken from the film Bicycle Thieves. Source Lazio Wiki

In the first game of the season Lazio had crumbled 4-0 in Genoa against Sampdoria. Today was the second fixture.

The match

Lazio bounced back from their heavy opening-day defeat at Sampdoria with a 3–1 victory over Udinese at the Stadio Torino, although the final score concealed a difficult opening 45 minutes. In oppressive heat, the Biancocelesti struggled to find their rhythm and were frequently made uncomfortable by an enterprising Udinese side. The improvement after the interval, however, was considerable, as Lazio's greater physical strength and attacking quality eventually told.

The visitors started brightly, while Lazio took time to settle. Lelio Antoniotti was the most dangerous of the home forwards, benefiting from the space created by Udinese centre-half Severino Feruglio's unusually deep position. At the other end, Amos Mariani and Ercole Castaldo provided Udinese with plenty of energy, while Giuseppe Rinaldi was a threat in attack. Lazio's midfield, meanwhile, struggled to provide a consistent supply to the forwards, with Enrique Flamini finding it difficult to impose himself during the early stages.

The breakthrough came in the 36th minute. A move involving Flamini and Romolo Alzani eventually released Aldo Puccinelli, whose header sent the ball into the path of Antoniotti. The forward finished with a fine half-volley to put Lazio ahead. The goal was controversial, however, with contemporary observers considering Antoniotti to have been in an offside position.

Lazio's advantage lasted only six minutes. Udinese attacked through Jone Spartano and Mariani, whose cross caused problems for Lucidio Sentimenti IV. The Lazio goalkeeper was challenged by Giancarlo Bacci and lost possession, allowing Rinaldi to pounce and equalise. The visitors had therefore matched Lazio for much of the first half, and the 1–1 scoreline reflected a game in which neither side had yet found its best football.

The second half was a different story. Udinese began to tire in the heat, while Lazio finally found space to play with greater speed and precision. Five minutes after the restart, Puccinelli and Antoniotti combined to release Flamini, whose powerful finish restored Lazio's lead.

Just three minutes later, the Biancocelesti struck again. Sukrü Gulesin unleashed a powerful effort that Marco Brandolin could only parry, and Puccinelli reacted quickest to fire into the unguarded net and make it 3–1.

Lazio continued to control the match and even appeared to have scored a fourth when Sukrü found the net following a move involving Flamini and Antoniotti, but the goal was ruled out for offside in the 68th minute. Udinese were unable to mount a serious response, particularly after Rinaldi suffered a thigh injury late in the first half and was effectively reduced to a passenger after the interval.

The victory offered Lazio considerable encouragement. They had not produced a complete performance, and their midfield remained a concern, but their physical condition and ability to improve as the match progressed were encouraging signs.

It was, ultimately, a welcome first home victory of the campaign: Lazio had struggled for 45 minutes, but finished strongly enough to demonstrate that the 4–0 defeat at Sampdoria was unlikely to define their season.

Who played for Lazio

Sentimenti IV, Antonazzi, Furiassi, Alzani, Malacarne, Fuin, Puccinelli, Magrini, Antoniotti, Flamini, Sukrü