Koenig Decides the Derby

Simon Basten
Mar 24, 2025
2 min read

Season 1945-46

Game 22, National Serie A-B League, Centre-South Group

Sunday, March 24, 1946

Stadio Nazionale, Rome

Roma Lazio 0-1

Lazio’s superiority goes beyond the scoreline as Roma falter in midfield

The war was over but Italy was in ruins. It was difficult to travel in the country so the Italian Football Federation decided to start the season anyway, but with a different formula. Serie A and B were joined as one and split into a northern league and a centre southern one.

Lazio played in the latter. The top four in each group would go on to play a final round robin.

Today was the last game of the group round. Lazio had not done well. After a terrible start they had improved but not enough to reach the final round robin. They were seventh on 17 points having won 5, drawn five and lost 9. They had changed manager three times during the season: from Dino Canestri to Salvatore Gualtieri as player/manager to Tony Cargnelli at the end of February.

Roma had already qualified for the final round.

The match: Sunday, March 24, 1946, Stadio Nazionale, Rome

What no one expected. Excluded from the finals because of the tournament’s unfortunate twists, the Biancocelesti softened the bitter pill dealt to their supporters by defeating a strong Roma side in a match that was not always attractive in terms of play or style, but was gripping for its intensity and drive.

Lazio unquestionably deserved the victory; indeed, their superiority was far greater than the narrow 1–0 final score suggests. The decisive goal came from Henglebert Koenig, who ruthlessly took advantage of a double mistake by Fosco Risorti and Sergio Andreoli in the 25^th minute. Lazio controlled the match at will and forced the Giallorossi into constant, and not always effective, defensive work.

Roma completely failed their test: their midfield collapsed after just half an hour, the wing-halves were inadequate, and from that point on they ceased to exist in terms of play, falling at the mercy of a Lazio side that was more skilfull, more composed, more experienced, and simply better.

Nevertheless, in the second half Roma often attacked and created good chances to equalise, but were unable to capitalize on them, while Lazio gradually appeared ever more confident of seeing through a surprising and prestigious victory.

Who played for Roma

Risorti, Contin, Andreoli, Matteini, Salar, Jacobini, Krieziu, Dagianti, Amadei, Schiavetti, Cozzolini

Manager: Degni

Who played for Lazio

Gradella, Carton, Ferri, Alzani, Gualtieri, Del Pinto, Puccinelli, Manola, Koenig, Lombardini, Modesti