March 22, 1953: Roma Lazio 0-2
- Simon Basten
- Mar 22
- 7 min read
Updated: Mar 25
Puccinelli show
Puccinelli scores a brace in two minutes allowing Lazio to beat Roma again
Also on this day
The season so far
In the previous season Lazio had come an excellent 4th for the third year running under manager Giuseppe Bigogno. As usual, there was not much money for transfers so the only good players arriving were Norwegian international midfielder Per Bredesen, forwards Giovanni Migliorini (Inter) and Paolo Bettolini (Magenta), winger Emilio Caprile (Juventus) plus the returns of Renato Spurio and Aldo De Fazio from their loan periods.
Leaving Lazio were centre-forward Sukru Gulesin (Palermo) and Leoncino Unzain (Toulon) and alas also fan favourites Enrique Flamini (Reggiana) and Vittorio Sentimenti III (Torino). Vittorio Bergamo arrived from Sampdoria in the autumn.
The first half of the season was reasonably positive and Lazio reached 6th position, just four points off second placed Milan. Despite losing to future champions Juventus 5-0 in Turin, they had won the derby, beaten Napoli and drawn against Inter. The first match of the second half had seen Lazio triumph 4-0 at Udine but then the Biancocelesti lost 6 out of seven games and Bigogno was fired and replaced by Alfredo Notti. This was the first game under the new management and what a match to start with: the derby.
The match: Sunday, March 22, 1953, Stadio Torino, Rome
Lazio started well and Luigi Albani immediately had work to do after a long clearance from Stefano Malacarne which was not immediately read by the Roma keeper who then had to hastily come out to anticipate Lelio Antoniotti. In doing so he injured his leg and limped for the rest of the game. A few seconds later (we are still in the first minute) Ragnar Larsen went off on the right but instead of crossing into the middle tried a shot which hit the external part of the post.
In the 6th minute an Adriano Zecca-Carlo Lucchesi one-two, the centre-forward found himself in front of Lucidio Sentimenti IV but Malacarne managed to anticipate him. In the 13th minute Armando Tre Re to Helge Christian Bronée, ball to Zecca who tried a shot which shaved the crossbar.
Three minutes later a Lucchesi attempt was dangerously close to the goal but went out. Per Bredesen had a couple of chances in the 19th and 20th minutes but his first attempt was wide and his second well saved by Albani.
The biggest opportunity so far arrived in the 24th minute and it was wasted by Roma. Bronée passed to Lucchesi but his shot was too high from a favourable position. Shortly after Bronée tried a curling shot which was wide by a whisker. Lazio attacked but Albani did not have to sweat too much whereas the Giallorossi were again dangerous with Bronée whose shot in the 37th minute was miraculously saved by Sentimenti IV.
Shortly after it was Larsen with a chance but a second of indecision allowed Albani to position himself and save. In the 43rd minute free kick for Roma, Bronée to Raoul Bortoletto who passed on the left to Giovanni Perissinotto. His attempt was saved by Sentimenti IV.
In the 47th minute Antoniotti was blatantly fouled in the box but the referee gestured to play on. Four and six minutes later Rino Di Fraia had two massive opportunities but both times he shot into the arms of the keeper. In the 54th minute Vittorio Bergamo collected the ball in midfield and advanced. Once close to the penalty area he sent a missile towards the Roma goal. Albani was beaten but the crossbar saved him. The ball however reached Aldo Puccinelli who had a simple tap in and did not miss.
Two minutes later Antoniotti took a shot that went under Pietro Grosso’s legs. Just before the keeper could save the attempt, Lucchesi decided to anticipate him and clear but Puccinelli was there waiting and it was 2-0 to the Biancocelesti.
Roma attacked but were in shock. Bronée had a couple of chances but first Sentimenti IV parried in the 75th minute, then Montanari took the ball away from him just as he was about to shoot in the 82nd minute.
Lazio won deservedly, great game from the Biancocelesti
Who played for Roma
Albani, Azimonti, Tre Re, Bortoletto, Grosso, Venturi, Lucchesi, Pandolfini, Zecca, Bronée, Perissinotto
Manager: Varglien I
Who played for Lazio
Sentimenti IV, Montanari, Sentimenti V, Alzani, Malacarne, Bergamo, Puccinelli, Larsen, Antoniotti, Bredesen, Di Fraia
Manager: Notti
Referee: Liverani
Goals: 54’ Puccinelli, 57’ Puccinelli
What happened next
Despite the win, Lazio won only one more game and finished with three consecutive defeats. In the end they came a disappointing 10th.
Sentimenti IV, Primo Sentimenti V and Bredesen were the players with most appearances (32), and the top goal scorers were Larsen and Bettolini with 7 goals.
What happened in Serie A 1952-53
The previous scudetto had been won by Juventus with a seven-point lead over Milan. Inter had arrived third ahead of Fiorentina and Lazio. The Bianconeri had a four-point lead over the Rossoneri by halfway and maintained the advantage throughout the season.
In the 1952 summer transfer window Inter had signed keeper Giorgio Ghezzi and Napoli bought Hasse Jeppson from Atalanta with a massive investment. This campionato would be the first with 18 teams since 1933-34.
Juventus were obvious favourites, but Inter and Napoli looked as if they would also have a chance.
September
Milan and newly promoted Roma raced ahead followed by Inter. Juventus lost at home to Bologna but then went on to win 5-1 away at Bergamo.
Milan 6, Roma 6, Inter 5, Napoli 5, Bologna 4, Udinese 4, Juventus 3, Como 3, Torino 3, Lazio 3, Fiorentina 3, Pro Patria 2, Spal 2, Sampdoria 2, Triestina 1, Novara 1, Palermo 1, Atalanta 0
October
Roma beat Milan and took the lead followed by Juve and the Rossoneri. Strong start by the Giallorossi.
Roma 11, Inter 10, Juventus 9, Milan 9, Lazio 7, Napoli 7, Bologna 6, Torino 6, Fiorentina 6, Pro Patria 5, Spal 5, Udinese 5, Triestina 4, Como 4, Novara 4, Atalanta 4, Palermo 3, Sampdoria 3
November
Roma had two consecutive draws then lost the derby so fell back considerably. Inter beat Milan and won every game in November reaching first place followed by Juventus.
Inter 20, Juventus 18, Milan 15, Roma 15, Bologna 14, Lazio 14, Fiorentina 11, Napoli 10, Atalanta 10, Torino 9, Udinese 9, Triestina 8, Pro Patria 8, Como 8, Palermo 8, Spal 7, Novara 7, Sampdoria 7
December
The gap between first and second increased to three points as Juventus lost at home to Milan. Inter and Lazio drew, the Biancocelesti now fifth one point behind Roma. Below, the fight to avoid relegation was open with more than half of the Serie A teams involved.
Inter 24, Juventus 21, Milan 21, Roma 18, Lazio 17, Bologna 16, Napoli 15, Udinese 14, Triestina 13, Pro Patria 12, Atalanta 12, Fiorentina 12, Torino 11, Sampdoria 10, Palermo 10, Spal 9, Novara 9, Como 8
January
Inter now led by 7 points since they won all their January matches and Juventus lost two. In the big game between first and second, Inter beat Juve 2-0.
Inter 32, Juventus 25, Milan 24, Roma 23, Lazio 22, Bologna 21, Napoli 20, Triestina 18, Atalanta 17, Pro Patria 16, Udinese 16, Torino 15, Spal 14, Fiorentina 14, Sampdoria 13, Palermo 12, Novara 12, Como 10
February
The gap grew by another two points and the scudetto was by now in Inter's hands. At the beginning of the month Juve lost at Bologna and Milan thrashed Palermo overtaking them for the second place. To note is an 8-0 massacre of Fiorentina by the Bianconeri. Below Como were in deep trouble and a long way away from safety.
Inter 38, Milan 29, Juventus 28, Roma 27, Bologna 25, Napoli 25, Lazio 24, Triestina 22, Udinese 21, Atalanta 20, Fiorentina 20, Pro Patria 19, Torino 18, Spal 17, Sampdoria 17, Novara 17, Palermo 16, Como 13
March
In the five March games Inter drew three, including the derby, and lost two, allowing Milan to reduce the gap to five points. Lazio won their away derby. Below, with seven matches still to play and with Como almost in Serie B, seven teams were in the battle to avoid relegation. Anything could still happen.
Inter 41, Milan 36, Juventus 35, Bologna 32, Napoli 31, Roma 30, Atalanta 26, Lazio 26, Udinese 26, Fiorentina 26, Triestina 24, Torino 23, Palermo 23, Spal 22, Pro Patria 22, Sampdoria 22, Novara 22, Como 19
April
Juve beat Milan away and moved up to second with Inter still five points in the lead. Below, Como won twice, including against Milan, and were now in full contention to avoid Serie B, battling it out with Novara and Pro Patria. The others looked safe.
Inter 45, Juventus 40, Milan 37, Napoli 37, Bologna 34, Roma 32, Lazio 30, Fiorentina 29, Palermo 28, Udinese 28, Atalanta 27, Triestina 27, Spal 26, Torino 26, Sampdoria 26, Novara 23, Como 23, Pro Patria 22
May
Inter won the scudetto with three games to spare. They beat Palermo whilst Juve lost against Roma. Then the Nerazzurri lost their last three games so Juve consolidated their second place. In the relegation battle, with one match to the end Triestina had a one-point lead over Como. With Pro Patria already relegated, it was going to be one of these two teams to join the Lombards. But Como lost to Fiorentina in the final game and for them it was all over.
Top scorer was Gunnar Nordhal (Milan) with 26 goals.
Coming up from Serie B were Genoa and Legnano who won a play-off against Catania.
Final table: Inter 47, Juventus 45, Milan 43, Napoli 41, Bologna 39, Roma 36, Fiorentina 33, Spal 32, Atalanta 32, Torino 31, Lazio 31, Sampdoria 31, Novara 31, Udinese 31, Triestina 30, Palermo 30, Como 27, Pro Patria 22
Sources
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