May 25, 1947: Milan Lazio 0-0
- Dag Jenkins
- May 25
- 8 min read
Good point despite "Lemon-Gate"
Lazio clinch a point in dull game only brought to life by two Milan missed penalties amid lemon controversy
The season so far
The previous season, for the first time since 1929, the league had been divided into two groups: Alta Italia (for the Northern teams) and Centro-Sud Italia (Centre-South). The top four in each group then played against each other for the Scudetto (won by Torino).
Lazio had not qualified for the final stage, coming 7th in the Centre-South group. A disappointing season in which they had changed manager twice; from Dino Canestri to Salvador Gualtieri (player/manager) and finally Tony Cargnelli. The 1946-1947 season was again a single national league.
This season the Austrian Cargnelli had been confirmed, but there had been some changes to the squad. New faces were: defender Luigi Cassano (Alessandria), midfielders Enrique Flamini (Cruzeiro), Mario Magrini (Pro Gorizia), Luciano Ramella (Como) and forward Bruno Ispiro (Genoa). Leaving the capital were defender Aldo De Pierro (Sora), midfielder Guido Manfrè (Siracusa) and forwards Petar Manola (Olympique Lyonnais) and Ferrero Tossio (Ternana).
This season, after a winning start away at Bari, they had then lost the next three (including derby 0-3). Since then Lazio had won 7 (including Brescia 6-3, Sampdoria 4-0 and recently Fiorentina 3-0 all at home), drawn 6 (including derby 0-0 and Milan 1-1) and lost 10 (including Bologna 1-3). Lazio were currently in joint 11th place, with Livorno on 28 points. They were three points above the last relegation slot (Fiorentina and Venezia on 25) and unbeaten in six games.
Milan had finished 4th in the Alta Italia Divisione Nazionale the previous season under manager Adolfo Baloncieri. They qualified for the final group (after a playoff against Brescia) and finished 3rd behind Torino and Juventus. The top scorer was Ettore Puricelli with 17 league goals.
This season the manager was Giuseppe Bigogno. The main new signings were: goalkeeper Giovanni Busani (Anconitana), defender Celso Battaia (Andrea Doria), midfielders Mario Foglia (Brescia) and Mario Tosolini (Pro Sesto) plus forwards Riccardo Carapellese (Novara) and Aurelio Santagostino (Locatese).
Leaving were: defender Luigi Zorzi (Sampdoria), midfielder Luigi Rosellini (Lucchese) plus forwards Mario Bandali (Seregno) and Domenico Cremonesi (SPAL).
Milan were currently 4th on 42 points. The Rossoneri had won 16 (including both derbies 3-1 and 2-1, Juventus 2-1 and recently Genoa 2-0 away), drawn 10 (including Juventus 3-3) and lost 5. The Rossoneri were unbeaten in the last thirteen games.
Milan were favourites but Lazio were on decent form at the moment.
The match: Sunday, May 25, 1947, Stadio San Siro, Milan
A hot and sunny day in Milan after a prolonged period of bad weather brought about 22,000 spectators to San Siro.
Lazio were missing midfielder Mario Magrini plus forward Costantino De Andreis and Hengelbert Koenig.
Milan had no absences.
The first half was awful. The teams both lacked inventiveness and the defences easily got the upper hand. Neither keeper had to dirty their gloves. The sudden heat was obviously a factor but not enough to justify the mediocre spectacle.
The second half got off to a better start with a faster pace and more determined teams. The illusion of a more exciting game however only lasted about fifteen minutes as then the rhythm slowed down and the game became blocked again. Milan tried changing their attacking setup but were unable to seriously threaten Corrado Giubilo.
At this point the referee decided to intervene. In the 71st minute Milan took their 7th corner and the ball bounced up and hit Romolo Alzani's hand. The referee pointed to the penalty spot. Star Uruguayan striker Hector Puricelli stepped up but fired over the bar.
Lazio celebrated wildly but it was short-lived as the referee picked the ball up and placed it on the penalty spot again. For some mysterious reason it had to be retaken. The Lazio players protested furiously but the referee was determined to let the Rossoneri have another go.
This time Giovanni Clocchiatti took the responsibility and blasted a shot which hit the post and went wide. The crowd surprisingly applauded realizing that justice had been done.
After the game the referee explained his decision. In his opinion a Lazio player had thrown half a lemon onto the ball during the execution of the first spot kick and had even kept the offending object as evidence. Lazio's version, far more credible, was that it had been thrown by someone in the crowd or possibly from behind the goal.
The game went on and became a lot more hard-fought but not dirty. Milan pushed forward but Lazio's defence was excellent and stood firm. Final score: Milan 0 Lazio 0.
A disappointing game but a good point for Lazio. The only real excitement had been the farcical episode of the penalty repetition and the final minutes of Milan forcing.
Lazio were now joint 11th, with Genoa, Inter and Vicenza on 29 points ( +4 on relegation zone, Fiorentina and Venezia on 25).
Milan were still 4th, on 43 points but had gained a point on 3rd placed Modena.
Who played for Milan
Rossetti, Cerri, Clocchiatti, Bonomi, Foglia, Tognon, Antonini, Annovazzi, Puricelli, Tosolini, Carapellese
Manager: Bigogno
Who played for Lazio
Giubilo, Cassano, Antonazzi, Alzani, Gualtieri, Ferri, Puccinelli, Brunetti, Ispiro, Flamini, Lombardini
Manager: Cargnelli
Referee: Stampacchia
What happened next
Lazio finished 10th, on 36 points (5 above the drop zone), with Inter, Sampdoria and Genoa and even came above Roma. In the last 6 games they won 2, drew 3 (including Napoli 0-0 and Juventus 3-3 away) and only lost 1 (Alessandria 1-2 away). The top scorer was Aldo Puccinelli with 13 league goals while Henglebert Koenig got 12.
Milan finished 4th, on 50 points. In the last 6 games they won 3, drew 1 and lost 2 (including 2-6 against the Grande Torino). The top scorer was Puricelli with 21 league goals.
The 1946-47 Scudetto was won by Torino for their 4th title and 3rd consecutive. The two teams going down were Brescia and Venezia. Triestina who had ended up bottom were saved and kept up for geopolitical reasons.
Let's talk about Héctor Puricelli
Today in our opponents series we will talk of a great forward of the late 1930s and 1940s and then a manager.
Héctor Puricelli Seña, known as Ettore in Italy, was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, on September 15, 1916.
As a boy his club was Liverpool Montevideo and then at 17 he joined Central Español, still in Montevideo.
In 1938 he came to Europe and joined Bologna in Serie A. He stayed six seasons, playing 145 games and scoring 93 goals. The Rossoblu won the Scudetto twice in this period; in 1938-1939 under Árpád Weisz and then Hermann Felsner and again in 1940-1941 under Felsner. He was top Serie A scorer in 1938-39 (19 goals with Aldo Boffi) and in 1940-41 (22 goals). In his last season the war interrupted regular sporting competitions and Bologna took part in the Campionato Alta-Italia.
In 1944-45 he played for Lecco in various local Lombard matches.
After the war he joined Milan and stayed four seasons. He played 79 league games and scored 40 goals. The Rossoneri finished 3rd (in Divisione Nazionale), then 4th, 2nd and 3rd in Serie A. His managers were Adolfo Baloncieri and then Giuseppe Bigogno for three seasons.
In 1949 Puricelli moved to Legnano in Serie B for two seasons. In the first "I Lilla" (The lilacs) finished 3rd but in the next came 2nd and were promoted. He played 38 league games and scored 25 goals under manager Ugo Innocenti. In the 1950-51 promotion season he also had the role of technical director.
He then retired at 35.
He won one Italy cap in a friendly against Switzerland in 1939 and scored a goal in a 3-1 win. He was Uruguayan but was eligible to play for Italy as an "oriundo".
After retiring he went into coaching. He started at Milan in 1954-55, taking over from fixture 20 and winning the Scudetto. The following year the Rossoneri finished 2nd in Serie A but won the Latin Cup (tournament played by Italian, French, Portuguese and Spanish league winners). Milan beat Athletic Bilbao 3-1 in the final. His squad included players such as Lorenzo Buffon, Cesare Maldini, Osvaldo Bagnoli, Nils Liedholm, Juan Alberto Schiaffino, Omar Tognon and Gunnar Nordahl as well as future Lazio Amos Mariani (1959-61).
In 1956-57 he coached Palermo in A but was replaced during the season by Attilio Kossovel and the Sicilians ended up relegated.
In 1959 he left Italy and spent a season with Porto in Portugal. The Dragões finished 4th.
In 1960 he returned to Italy and started with Salernitana in Serie C but was replaced in December. The Granata eventually finished 9th.
In 1961 he joined Varese in Serie C and stayed four seasons. The "Bosini" finished 5th, 1st (promoted to B), 1st (promoted to A) and 11th in A. A great achievement. His squads included Lazio connections Piero Cucchi (1967-69) and Carlo Soldo (1967-69).
In 1965-66 Puricelli was at Atalanta in A. He only lasted 8 games and was replaced by Stefano Angeleri. The Bianconeri eventually finished 12th. The squad included Englishman Gerry Hitchens (former Cardiff City, Aston Villa, Inter and Torino) and a young Beppe Savoldi.
In 1966 Puricelli joined Alessandria in Serie B. He did not last the season and the Grigi ended up relegated. The squad included future Lazio reserve goalkeeper Avelino Moriggi (1970-71 and 1972-76) and defender Gaetano Legnaro (1970-72).
In 1967-68 he spent a season in Sardinia with Cagliari in Serie A. The Rossoblu finished 9th and already included some players who would win the Scudetto in 1969-70 (such as Mario Martiradonna, Comunardo Niccolai, Mario Brugnera, Pierluigi Cera, Ricciotti Greatti, Nené and Gigi Riva). The squad also included Hitchens again and Roberto Boninsegna (future Inter and Juventus).
In 1968 Puricelli joined Vicenza in A. He stayed three seasons and the Biancorossi finished 12th and 8th twice. His squads included Lazio connections: Mario Maraschi (1961-64), Diego Zanetti (1961-69), Nicola Ciccolo (1965-66), Carlo Facchin (1971-72) and Oscar Damiani (1985-86) plus the great Luigi Menti (313 league games for Vicenza).
In 1971-72 he spent a season with Foggia in Serie B. The Satanelli finished 8th. The squad included former Lazio, Juan Carlos Morrone (1960-64 and 1966-71) and future Lazio, Luciano Re Cecconi (1972-77).
In 1972 he returned to Vicenza and stayed almost three seasons. The Lanerossi were in Serie A and finished 13th and 12th. In the third season he was replaced after fixture 26 by Manlio Scopigno and the Veneti finished 14th and relegated. His teams included Lazio connections Michelangelo Sulfaro (1969-71), Walter Speggiorin (1981-82) and Oscar Damiani again.
In 1975-76 he took over during the season at Brindisi in Serie B but was sacked himself after eight games. The Biancazzurri finished 19th and relegated.
In 1976 he moved up the Apulian coast to Foggia again. The Rossoneri were now in Serie A and he stayed two seasons, finishing 13th and 15th (relegated). His teams included future Lazio derby hero, Aldo Nicoli (1978-81) plus future managers Gigi Delneri (Chievo, Porto, Roma, Juventus amongst others) and Nevio Scala (Parma, Borussia Dortmund, Beşiktaş, Shakhtar Donetsk, Spartak Moscow).
In 1978-79 he took over during the season at Genoa in Serie B. He did not reach the end and was replaced himself by Gianni Bui and the Grifone finished 12th. The squad included Lazio connections Giorgio Magnocavallo (1985-87), Silvano Martina (1987-89) and Oscar Damiani again. It also featured future city rivals, with Roma, Bruno Conti and Sebastiano Nela.
Puricelli's last club was Foggia again. In 1980 he went back to the "Diavoli del Sud" who were now in Serie B and finished 10th. The following season he was sacked after five games and Foggia ended up 14th. His players included Lazio connections Aldo Nardin (1980-81) Rinaldo Piraccini (1983-84) and future manager Delio Rossi (2005-09 with a Coppa Italia triumph).
That was the end of a long career first as a player and then as a manager.
As a player he was an excellent forward. He was known as "testina d'oro" (golden head) for his heading skills. He scored 206 goals in the top flight and 38 in B. He won the Scudetto twice as top scorer and was considered one of the best strikers in Serie A for a decade.
He also had successes as a manager; a Scudetto with Milan and a Latin Cup plus a double promotion from C to A with Varese plus some good years with Vicenza.
An important name in Italian football for almost half a century.
Héctor Puricelli died in Rome, on May 14, 2001.
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