Pisa and Piola conquer San Siro
- Dag Jenkins
- Oct 14, 2022
- 3 min read
Game 5, Serie A
Sunday, October 15, 1939
Stadio San Siro, Milan
Milano-Lazio 0-2
Two early second half goals give Lazio good win at "La Scala"
Lazio had started the season well. After 4 matches the Biancocelesti were 2nd (with Inter) on 6 points. Lazio had won the last 2 (Fiorentina 3-2 away and Genova 1893 4-1 at home) after drawing the first 2 (Modena 1-1 away on debut and Torino 1-1 at home).
So far Milano had won 2 (Fiorentina 3-1 and Bari 4-0 at home), drawn 1 (Genova 1893 1-1 away) and lost 1 (Torino 1-2 away on debut). The Rossoneri were 4th on 5 points (with Torino, Roma and Bologna).
A big match today between two sides in the higher part of the table.
The match
A cloudy day in Milan and the pitch was slightly muddy. A crowd of about 25,000 turned up at San Siro.
Milan had the whole squad available. The two future Lazio players, Leandro Remondini and Paolo Todeschini were not in the starting line-up.
Lazio too had a full-strength team.
Lazio started the game with authority and were the more dangerous.
In the 13th minute a good combination between Enrique Flamini and Luigi Vettraino set up Silvio Piola but Mario Zorzan saved well.
In the 19th minute Lazio had a free kick taken by Giuseppe Baldo, the ball entered the area and was missed by Bruno Berra thus reaching Vettraino whose shot was superbly stopped by Zorzan. On the rebound Silvestro Pisa shot again but this time defender Giuseppe Bonizzoni headed away for a corner.
In the 21st minute Milano showed themselves up front but Ezio Loik's mid-height effort was comfortably caught by Giacomo Blason.
It was still Lazio though who were more threatening in the 26th and 28th minutes but Zorzan was safe and there was even a suspect defender's handball but the referee saw nothing.
Lazio were pushing hard but in the 32nd minute it was Milano who had a huge chance. Piero Pasinati found himself in a goalscoring position but Blason pulled off an excellent save.
A minute later Vettraino was a fraction of a second late to head in a good cross by Umberto Busani.
Halftime came with the game still goalless but far from boring.
In the second half Lazio came out stronger, pinning Milano back. In the 51st minute the Biancocelesti took the lead. A venomous cross by Luigi Milano was slapped away by Zorzan and while Vettraino and defender Bonizzoli were battling for the ball in came Pisa who blasted it past Zorzan, 0-1.
Lazio were rampant and in the 56th minute Piola's header shaved the post from a Busani cross.
A minute later Lazio perfectioned the move. Busani crossed again and Piola, despite being challenged by two defenders, with perfect timing headed the ball in, 0-2. Even the home Milano supporters applauded the quality of the goal.
Lazio insisted and in the 63rd minute Piola let off a spectacular volley which went millimetres wide of the post.
At this point Milano had a reaction and pushed forward. They were not lucky however and hit the woodwork twice. First a Pasinati corner hit the inside of the post and then a blistering long range shot by Aldo Boffi came back off the crossbar.
Lazio survived the Rossoneri's comeback attempt and then had more chances to make it three.
In the 79th minute Piola glided past two defenders and sent a cracking shot towards goal which only a superb reflex save by Zorzan kept out.
In the 85th minute Piola had only the keeper to beat but lost his balance on the slippery grass.
In the last minute a Pisa cannonball whistled past the post. Final score Milano 0 Lazio 2.
A brilliant performance by the Romans and a well deserved win. An entertaining and fast paced game had seen Lazio as the undisputed better team. The whole Lazio eleven had played well with a special mention for tireless assist man Busani.
Lazio were now joint top with Venezia on 8 points (the Venetians had drawn 2-2 at Modena while Inter had lost 0-3 at Bari).
Milan were 7th on 5 points, with Torino, Juventus, Bologna and Bari.
Who played for Milan
Zorzan, Berra, Bonizzoni, Antonini, Bortoletti, Villa, Pasinati, Chizzo, Boffi, Loik, Biraghi
Manager: Bánás
TD: Violak
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Kertész
Referee: Scarpi
Goals: 50’ Pisa, 55’ Piola
Sources
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