A fundamental win
Lazio manage to beat Palermo and keep Serie A survival hopes alive
Also on this day: April 10, 2016, Palermo Lazio 0-3. In the first match under manager Simone Inzaghi, a Klose brace and a Felipe Anderson goal give the new arrival his first win. Player of the day: Santiago Gentiletti
The season so far
In the summer transfer window of 1959 Lazio could not really do very much due to the financial difficulty the club was in. The most important signing was Orlando Rozzoni from Spal, who would become a legendary player for the Biancocelesti.
The beginning of the season was promising and Lazio in the first four games won 2 and drew two. But then a heavy defeat in the derby, 3-0, and a loss at home against Juventus really showed that the Biancoclelesti were probably going to have a poor year. They also lost 5-0 at home to Fiorentina. At the end of the first half of the season Lazio had 16 points, four above the relegation zone.
The beginning of the second half of the campionato was even worse with six consecutive losses. A win at home against Napoli and a draw away to Atalanta meant that before this game Lazio were 13th, one point clear of Palermo, Bari and Alessandria with Genoa last on 15.
In Coppa Italia Lazio managed to reach the quarterfinals after beating Palermo at home 2-1 in extra time in November.
The game against the Sicilians managed by Cestmir Vycpalek, Zdenek Zeman’s uncle, was a must win match.
The match: Sunday, April 10, 1960, Stadio Flaminio, Rome
Neither team could afford to lose this game and Lazio started well. In the 1st minute Bruno Franzini passed to Rozzoni on the right who, after dribbling a Palermo defender, went into the penalty box and gave the ball an almighty whack. The woodwork saved Palermo. Six minutes later the powerful Lazio centre forward tried again but his shot was wide. He did not miss in the 16th minute. Maurillio Prini to Rozzoni who, just inside the penalty box, hammered the ball past Roberto Anzolin.
Palermo had a chance to equalise shortly after. Ricciotti Greatti to Gianni Sandri who had only Idilio Cei to beat but Francesco Janich managed to save the Biancocelesti thanks to a splendid defensive tackle. Prini’s free kick before half time was well saved by the Palermo goalkeeper.
In the second half, Palermo doubled their efforts and Lazio fell back to defend. As a consequence, the Sicilians managed to equalise in the 63rd minute. Sergio Carpanesi crossed, Greatti headed the ball high in the air and a wonderful bicycle kick from Julio Vernazza surprised Cei.
Lazio in total confusion, but Cei saved the Biancocelesti twice, first anticipating Sandri and then saving a Vernazza header.
The crowd got behind the team and Lazio started to play again. In the 76th minute a Franco Carradori shot was only just wide. Two minutes later Lazio scored. Mario Vignoli bicycle kicked the ball into the centre of the box, Oliviero Visentin managed to head it towards Bruno Franzini on the right, powerful shot, 2-1 for Lazio.
Oxygen and hope for the Biancocelesti.
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Bernardini
Who played for Palermo
Anzolin, De Bellis, Sereni, Valadè, Grevi, Malavasi, Vernazza, Carpanesi, Greatti, Bernini, Sandri
Manager: Vycpalek.
Referee: Righi
Goals: 16’ Rozzoni, 63’ Vernazza, 78’ Franzini
What happened next
The bad season continued and the game after the home win saw Lazio lose 4-0 to Sampdoria. With three games to go Lazio were 14th, one point ahead of Alessandria and 2 in front of Palermo. The Biancocelesti managed to win against Genoa away and Padova at home and avoid relegation in the penultimate match.
A very disappointing season. Lazio struggled to score goals, only 32, and some players, such as Humberto Tozzi, underperformed.
In Coppa Italia Lazio managed to reach the semi-final after beating Bologna away in extra time. They however lost against Juventus in Turin and would go on to play the third place final in September (which they won against Torino).
Janich was the player with most appearances (36) and Rozzoni the top goal scorer (14).
Lazio 1959-60
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 34 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 32 |
Coppa Italia | 3 | 3 | - | - | 5 |
Total | 37 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 37 |
Top five apperances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Janich | 36 | 33 | 3 |
Franzini | 34 | 33 | 1 |
Carradori | 28 | 27 | 1 |
Prini | 28 | 27 | 1 |
Molino | 27 | 26 | 1 |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Rozzoni | 14 | 13 | 1 |
Bizzarri | 4 | 4 | - |
Carradori | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Pozzan | 3 | 1 | 2 |
Visentin | 3 | 3 | - |
Let’s talk about Bruno Franzini
Bruno Franzini was born in Cremona on July 31, 1938. At 14 he started playing in the Cremonese youth teams and reached the A team in 1956. After two seasons in Serie C he signed for Genoa in 1958, but only played the Coppa Italia before moving to Lazio.
He played three seasons for the Biancocelesti and was a good attacking midfielder in difficult years for Lazio. He appeared in 80 games (75 in Serie A and 5 in Coppa Italia) and scored six goals in Serie A.
After Lazio were relegated, he signed for Bologna. He played quite a lot in the first year, but in the second he got seriously injured and missed half of the season as well as the possibility to participate in the 1962 World Cup. When he returned, manager Fulvio Bernardini played him for just three games in the 1963-64 season. He however managed to contribute to Bologna’s scudetto.
In 1964 he signed for Sampdoria but stayed for just a year as he did the next season at Potenza in Serie B. In 1966 he joined Modena and stayed for four seasons before ending his career playing for his hometown.
He managed a few minor league teams in the 1970’s. He owned some bars in Cremona and apparently was not too bad a tennis player.
He died in Cremona on October 11, 2017.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
1958-59 | 19 (2) | 17 (2) | 2 |
1959-60 | 34 (2) | 33 (2) | 1 |
1960-61 | 27 (2) | 25 (2) | 2 |
Total | 80 (6) | 75 (6) | 5 |
Sources
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