May 19, 1957: Inter-Lazio 0-1
- Dag Jenkins
- May 19
- 7 min read
Eagles pull away from Snakes fangs
A Bettini goal allows Lazio to move four points clear of 4th placed Inter
Also on this day:
The season so far
Lazio had finished joint 3rd with Inter the previous season. An excellent campaign, first under Luigi Ferrero (1-14) and then Englishman Jesse Carver. Lazio beat Inter and Milan away, Juventus at home, drew one derby and won the other. Top scorer was Lorenzo Bettini with 12 league goals while Arne Selmosson and Ermes Muccinelli got 10.
This season Carver was still the manager. The main new arrivals were: defender Adelmo Eufemi (Livorno-back from loan), midfielders Arnaldo Lucentini (Triestina), Luigi Moltrasio (Torino), Umberto Pinardi (Udinese), forwards Karl Aage Præst (Juventus) and Humberto Tozzi (Palmeiras).
Leaving Lazio were: keepers Giampiero Bandini (Triestina) and Aldo De Fazio (Salernitana), defenders Francesco Antonazzi (Chinotto Neri-after 252 league games), midfielders Enrique Martegani (retiring), Renzo Sassi (Udinese), Attilio Giovannini (Nissena Caltanissetta), Angelo Villa (SPAL) plus forwards Brunello Cocciuti (Reggina - on loan) and Rinaldo Olivieri (Triestina). The main loss was Antonazzi, a legend at the club.
So far Lazio, after a bad start (4 defeats in 6 games, including derby), were having another good season and were currently 3rd, on 35 points. Lazio had then won 11, drawn 10 (including Inter 1-1, the derby 2-2 and Juventus 3-3 away) and lost 3.
Inter had finished joint 3rd with Lazio the previous season. The manager was first Aldo Campatelli (1-12) and then Giuseppe Meazza (13-34). Inter had lost 2-3 at home to Lazio and drawn 2-2 in Rome. Top scorers were Benito Lorenzi and Karl Lennart Skoglund with 10 league goals each.
This season Inter's main new players were: goalkeeper Enzo Matteucci (Sambenedettese), defenders Giorgio Bernardin (Triestina - back from loan), Enzo Bearzot (Torino), midfielders Aldo Dorigo (Triestina) and Egisto Pandolfini (Roma).
Leaving were: defenders Rino Ferrario (Triestina), midfielder Celestino Celio (Catania) plus forward Gino Armano (Talamone Torino, after 255 games).
The manager was initially Luigi Ferrero (1-24), then Annibale Frossi but he had been sacked a week earlier after a 2-3 home defeat to Udinese. Today the Nerazzurri had a new manager, Giuseppe Meazza again.
Inter were currently 4th on 33 points, two behind Lazio. The Nerazzurri had won 10, drawn 13 (including both derbies and Lazio, all 1-1) and lost 7.
Inter came from a home defeat and had changed managers. A difficult game for Lazio but also a golden opportunity to consolidate their 3rd place.
The match: Sunday, May 19, 1957, Stadio San Siro, Milan
A crowd of 25,000 turned up on a grey day which threatened rain.
Inter played in white while Lazio were in their classic blue strip.
Inter had a few absences: defenders Enzo Bearzot and Giovanni Giacomazzi plus forwards Benito Lorenzi, Oscar Massei and Roger Vonlanthen.
Lazio were without defender Memmo Eufemi, midfielder Luigi Moltrasio and forward Renzo Burini.
Lazio immediately had a huge chance to go in front. In the 2nd minute Humberto Tozzi found himself all alone with only the keeper to beat but he pushed it too far and was anticipated by Giorgio Ghezzi.
Inter answered with a Fulvio Nesti shot well saved by Bob Lovati.
In the13th minute Lazio set up a great team move with Pasquale Vivolo-Ermes Muccinelli-Tozzi but Lorenzo Bettini's final effort was saved into corner by Ghezzi.
There followed lesser opportunities for both sides; Lovati saved comfortably on Giancarlo Rebizzi, a Bettini volley went wide and Rebizzi should have done better but fired high over the bar.
In the 29th minute Tozzi was again one-on-one with the keeper but the result was the same. The Brazilian then had a free kick from the edge of the box in the 37th minute but it was deflected out for a corner. Halftime Inter 0 Lazio 0.
The crowd were not particularly pleased with Inter's performance so far and voiced their discontent.
The second half started in the rain and with a blunder by Giovanni Molino which sent Lennart Skoglund racing towards the area, but he pulled his shot wide. Lovati then parried an Inter freekick behind for a corner.
In the 52nd minute Lazio reappeared when Tozzi set up Bettini, but the Lombard born striker hit it straight at Ghezzi.
The breakthrough came in the 56th minute. A freekick which had originally been awarded to Inter but then overturned was quickly taken by Primo Sentimenti V who teed up Bettini who surged past Guido Vincenzi, went round Ghezzi and put the ball in the top corner. Inter 0 Lazio 1.
Inter's reaction was not exactly fierce however in the 64th minute Giorgio Bernardin had an excellent header, but Lovati was well positioned and safe.
In the 65th minute Lazio almost made it two, but Ghezzi was superb on an Arne Selmosson effort.
Inter now pushed forward more and in the 68th minute were awarded an indirect freekick inside the area for an Umberto Pinardi obstruction on Rebizzi. Skoglund rolled it to Rebizzi whose blistering shot hit the post. In the 71st minute Lovati was alert on a Egisto Pandolfini strike.
In the 77th minute Lazio were denied a blatant penalty when Livio Fongaro hacked Selmosson down in the area.
A minute later Tozzi had a third chance unmarked in front of Ghezzi, but he had not studied how Bettini had done it, and the chance went wasted again. Lazio were almost immediately punished for their wastefulness as on the counterattack Nesti tried to surprise Lovati by shooting from a distance, but he hit the post.
The last minutes were chaotic with Lazio slowing down the game and waiting time while Inter grew increasingly frustrated. The match ended Inter 0 Lazio 1.
The home fans whistled their players but instead for Lazio it was a great win. After a mediocre first half the game had improved in the second and Lazio had deserved the two points. Inter could lament the two posts but Lazio had more chances, a clear penalty not given and had Tozzi been more clinical could have won by a wider margin.
Lazio consolidated their 3rd place and now had a three-point lead on Udinese (0-0 at home to Padova), four on Inter and Sampdoria (1-0 at home to Napoli) and six on Roma (2-3 at home to Juventus). The Biancocelesti were also now only one point behind 2nd placed Fiorentina (0-1 at home to Atalanta). There were now three games to go.
Who played for Inter
Ghezzi, Fongaro, Vincenzi, Dorigo, Bernardin, Nesti, Mereghetti, Pandolfini, Rebizzi, Invernizzi, Skoglund
Manager: Meazza
Who played for Lazio
Lovati, Molino, Lo Buono, Carradori, Pinardi, Sentimenti V, Muccinelli, Tozzi, Bettini, Vivolo, Selmosson
Manager: Carver
Referee: Steiner (Austria)
Goal: 56' Bettini
What happened next
Lazio finished 3rd again, on 41 points. In the last 3 games they won 1 (Palermo 6-2 away) and drew 2. Top scorer was Arne Selmosson with 12 league goals. Another positive season for Lazio.
Inter finished 5th, on 35 points. In the last 3 games they won 1 and lost 2. Top scorer was Oscar Massei with 10 league goals.
The Serie A champions were Milan for the sixth time. Triestina and Palermo went down to Serie B.
Let's talk about Mario Mereghetti
Mario Mereghetti was born in Ossona (Milan), on May 2, 1938.
He grew up in the Inter youth sector before joining the first team squad in 1955.
He was with the top squad for five years but never really broke through into the first team. Between 1955 and 1960 he made 10 league appearances with 1 goal (Milan in 3-5 defeat). The Nerazzurri finished 3rd, 5th,11th, 3rd and 4th. His managers included Giuseppe Meazza, Luigi Ferrero (Lazio 1955-56), Jesse Carver (Lazio 1956-57, 1961), Giuseppe Bigogno (Lazio 1951-53) and Inter legend Aldo Campatelli.
In 1960 he joined Udinese on loan and played more regularly. He made 25 league appearances and scored 7 goals (Sampdoria x2, Padova x2, Torino, Atalanta x2) under Giuseppe Bigogno and the Bianconeri finished 14th. The Friulani stayed up after playoff with Lecco on away goals (0-0, 3-3 with one goal by Mereghetti). His teammates included Lazio connections Massimo Giacomini (1963-64) and a young Dino Zoff (manager 1990-94, 1997, 2001) plus Osvaldo Bagnoli who would win a scudetto with Verona as manager in 1985.
His performances earned him a return to Inter in 1961-62. He played 15 league games and 3 in the Fairs Cup under Helenio Herrera and the Nerazzurri finished 2nd. He played alongside greats such as Giacinto Facchetti, Armando Picchi, Mariolino Corso, Sandro Mazzola, Gerry Hitchens and Lus Suárez. In a Lazio connection Lorenzo Bettini was also in the squad (1955-57).
In 1962 Mereghetti joined Atalanta. He stayed in Bergamo for four seasons. The Dea finished 8th, 11th twice and 14th. In 1963 the Nerazzurri won the Coppa Italia (Torino 3-1), their first historic trophy. Mereghetti played 125 league games with 9 goals (Sampdoria, Juventus home and away, Venezia, Bologna twice, SPAL, Varese, Foggia) and 10 games in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Cagliari). His managers included Paolo Tabanelli (cup triumph), Ferruccio Valcareggi and Ettore Puricelli.
In 1966 he joined Lazio. The manager was Umberto Mannocci but Mereghetti had difficulty getting into the team and left in the autumn without making any league appearances, only one in Coppa Italia. The main strikers were Juan Carlos Morrone and Vito D'Amato but the Biancocelesti also had Carlo Sassaroli and Romano Bagatti. It was a negative season anyway and Lazio were relegated, under Maino Neri who replaced Mannocci in November.
Mereghetti joined Varese in Serie B. The Biancorossi were promoted and he then stayed another two seasons in Serie A with 8th and 14th places (relegated). He played 21 league games with 2 goals (Sampdoria, Inter in 1-0 win). His managers were Pietro Magno, Bruno Arcari and Armando Picchi. His teammates included Lazio connections Antonio Renna (1964-66), Paolo Ferrario (1960-61, 1961-62) and Vincenzo Gasperi (1961-66).
Mereghetti's last club was Lecco where he played between 1969 and 1971. The Manzoniani were in Serie C and finished 2nd and 8th. His manager was Luciano Lupi for both seasons and he played 25 league games and scored 7 goals before retiring.
Mereghetti was a forward but played more for his fellow strikers than for himself. He never really made it at Inter but was successful at Atalanta where he was in the team that won their first ever silverware (the second came in 2024 in Europa League). He played a total of 196 games in Serie A and scored 19 goals.
At Lazio he only stayed a few months and was never really given a chance before moving on.
Lazio Career
Season | Coppa Italia Appearances |
1966-67 | 1 |
Sources
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