April 21 1948: Roma-Lazio 0-2
- Dag Jenkins
- 4 hours ago
- 8 min read
Lazio triumph in relegation derby
Goals by Cecconi and De Andreis ease Lazio's worries
Also on this day:
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had finished joint 10th (with Inter, Samp and Genoa) under Austrian Tony Cargnelli and above Roma anyway (15th).
This season the Austrian had stayed on. In the summer Lazio had made some changes to the squad. The main novelties were: defenders Sergio Piacentini (Sampdoria), Leandro Remondini (Modena), midfielder Flavio Cecconi (Maceratese) plus strikers Orlando Fantoni IV (Palmeiras) and Romano Penzo (Brescia).
Leaving Lazio were defenders Luigi Cassano (Sampdoria), Edoardo Valenti (Perugia), midfielder Antonio Sessa (Triestina) plus forwards Bruno Ispiro (Triestina) and Hengelbert Koenig (Sampdoria).
So far Lazio had played 28 games and were 13th, in mid-table with 25 points. From the 22nd fixture, February 15, Cargnelli had been replaced by Orlando Tognotti. They had won 7, drawn 11 (including Juventus 1-1 away) and lost 10 (including Roma 0-1). They were however unbeaten in the last 5 matches (including a 1-1 away draw with Inter and most recently a 0-0 home draw with Juventus). Despite being 13th out of 22, Lazio were only three points above the drop zone (Genoa and Lucchese on 22).
Roma had finished 15th the previous season under Giovanni Degni, only two points above the relegation slots. Top scorer was Amedeo Amadei with 13 league goals.
This season the manager was initially Hungarian Imre Senkey but he had been replaced from the 27th fixture by player-manager Luigi Brunella. The main new signings were: defenders Onofrio Fusco (Bari), Sandro Puppo (Venezia), Aldo Riva (Montevarchi), midfielders Gianfranco Dell'Innocenti (Alba Trastevere), Osvaldo Peretti (Argentino de Mendoza), José Valle (Temperley-Arg), Gyula Zsengellér (Újpest) plus forward Bruno Pesaola (Dock Sud-Arg).
Leaving the Giallorossi were: defenders Gregorio Esperón (retiring), Claudio Matteini (Ternana), midfielders Naim Krieziu (Napoli), Ruggero Salar (Lucchese) plus forwards Antonio Fusco (retiring), Miguel Ángel Pantó (retiring), Umberto Renica (Como) and Goffredo Stabellini (Parma - on loan).
This season they were struggling again. They had played 27 games and were 15th on 23 points, only one from Serie B. The Giallorossi had won 8 (including the first derby), drawn 7 and lost 12 (including Torino 1-7 at home). The Lupi however were winless since February 1 (4 draws and 4 defeats).
The game number difference was because every week there were ten matches and two teams rested.
A delicate derby today seeing both teams could not risk losing as the drop zone was so close behind them. Judging by recent results however, Lazio seemed more on form but that often did not count in the "stracittadina".
The match: Sunday, June 8, 1948, Stadio Nazionale, Rome
A glorious sunny day materialised for the "Derby della Capitale" and a crowd of just under 30,000 turned up for this midweek clash.
The match was preceded by a bit of a show as a small plane flew low over the field and dropped the match ball, with Roma and Lazio coloured ribbons, onto the halfway line. It was put on by the leading Roman sports newspaper.
Roma at the last minute had to do without keeper Fosco Risorti and fielded Cesare Francalancia instead plus midfielder Onofrio Fusco was out. Lazio were missing defender Francesco Antonazzi and forward Enrique Flamini.
Both sides seemed tense but Lazio started better. In the 2nd minute Mario Magrini tried from long range but Francalancia saved comfortably. In the 4th Costantino De Andreis messed up his last control and wasted a potential opportunity. In the 5th captain Salvador Gualtieri fired just over the bar.
Roma showed their faces up front in the 7th minute but Uber Gradella easily blocked a low Amedeo Amadei shot.
In the 9th minute Lazio had a penalty appeal when Sergio Andreoli handled an Aldo Puccinelli cross but the referee gave a freekick from the edge of the box.
Lazio were quicker and sharper than Roma who were more mechanical.
In the 22nd minute however Roma had a good chance with Gyula Zsengellér who poked the ball from outside the area but it shaved the top corner.
Lazio attacked more and José Valle last ditch tackles saved the Giallorossi a couple of times and then Romolo Alzani fired high.
In the 26th minute a misunderstanding between Gradella and Sergio Piacentini allowed Omero Losi to have a clear shot at goal but he missed.
In the 30th minute a good Romano Penzo-Puccinelli combination set up Magrini but his effort was weak.
In the 33rd minute Amadei fired a freekick just wide.
In the 37th minute Francialancia pulled off a superb save on Alessandro Ferri.
In the 40th Amadei had another freekick but again was off target. Halftime score Roma 0 Lazio 0.
Lazio had started stronger but Roma had grown into the game and finished aggressively. The stalemate was probably fair at this point.
Lazio started the second half playing against the sun but this did not prevent them from taking the lead immediately. In the 46th minute Alzani fed Puccinelli who crossed low into the middle where Flavio Cecconi came bursting in and beat Francalancia. Roma 0 Lazio 1.
Lazio took advantage of Roma's confusion and had more chances. In the 48th minute Leandro Remondini fired a freekick well over the bar and then Penzo was just anticipated by the keeper who dived low at his feet.
In the 52nd minute Lazio doubled their lead. An Alzani-Puccinelli move was headed in by De Andreis, helped by the keeper losing his footing. Roma 0 Lazio 2.
In the 56th Francalancia acrobatically saved an insidious Magrini cross.
Lazio's period of domination was only interrupted temporarily in the 63rd minute when Valle set up Losi who missed from close range.
Lazio then took control again. Cecconi shot high, the keeper saved on Penzo, Corrado Contin avoided two other potential goals and Puccinelli missed from no more than three metres out.
Lazio were superior in midfield where Gualtieri-Alzani- Ferri ran the show.
From the hour mark Roma exerted some pressure on the Lazio defence but Gradella had no real work to do.
At the other end, Francalancia was busy on a Lazio counterattack, rushing off his line to snatch the ball from Penzo.
Roma were exhausted and, apart from a few Amadei initiatives which were well contained by Gualtieri, were down and out. In fact, it was Gualtieri who was unanimously chosen as man of the match. The whole Lazio midfield had played well but the Argentine had been superb.
A great derby win for Lazio and definitely deserved with a brilliant second half.
Lazio moved up to 10th on 27 points and now 4 points from the relegation zone and with an 8-club cushion.
Roma were down to joint 16th on 23 points with Salernitana, Genoa and Salernitana and only safe at the moment on goal difference. Worrying times on the Giallorosso side of the Tiber.
Who played for Roma
Francalancia, Contin, Andreoli, Jacobini, Valle, Dell'Innocenti, Losi, Di Paola, Amadei, Zsengellér, Pesaola
Manager: Brunella
Who played for Lazio
Gradella, Remondini, Piacentini, Alzani, Gualtieri, Ferri, Puccinelli, Magrini, Penzo, Cecconi, De Andreis
Manager: Tognotti
Referee: Bertolio
Goals: 46' Cecconi, 52' De Andreis
What happened next
Lazio finished 10th on 39 points, so just above mid-table. In the last 11 games the Biancocelesti won 5 (including Fiorentina 5-0 at home), drew 2 and lost 4. Top scorer was Romano Penzo with 17 league goals.
Roma finished 18th on 35 points, only one above the B zone. In the last 11 games the Giallorossi also won 5, drew 2 and lost 4. The decisive moment was in the penultimate match when they beat Salernitana 1-0 at home. Top scorer was Amadei with 19 league goals.
The Scudetto was won by the "Grande Torino", sixteen points ahead of Juventus, Triestina and Milan. It was their fourth consecutive title but alas tragedy lay ahead. The four teams saying goodbye were Napoli, Vicenza, Alessandria and Salernitana.
Let’s talk about Flavio Cecconi
Flavio Cecconi was born in Verona on February 27, 1923.
He grew up in the Verona youth sector and made his debut for his hometown club in 1939 at only 16. He played seven years for the Scaligeri (Scaligers from the Latinised De Scalis- Della Scala family who ruled Verona for 125 years) making 62 Serie A appearances with 13 goals.
The following year he spent at Maceratese in Serie C. Not a lot is known of his time there but a year later he signed for Lazio.
He made his debut for Lazio on February 8 1948 in Sampdoria-Lazio. He played 16 league games that season with 5 goals. He scored away at San Siro against Milan, at home against Genoa, Fiorentina and Sampdoria. His greatest moment though came in the away derby triumph against Roma. On April 21 1948 Cecconi scored Lazio’s opener in a 2-0 victory.
In the summer of 1948 he went to play for Atalanta for a year, making 19 appearances and scoring 3 times.
In 1949 he was back in Rome for Lazio. He would stay two seasons until 1951. Over the two years he played 42 league games and scored 12 goals. In his first season he scored winners against Genoa and Pro Patria plus a goal in the home win versus Bari. In his second year he scored again in the derby win (2-1) and in an away draw to Juventus (1-1) plus goals against Pro Patria (again), Udinese (home), Lucchese (away), Padova, Udinese (away) and Lucchese (home).
In 1951 he went south to Napoli but only made 3 league appearances (1 goal). In 1952 he played in Sicily for Palermo, 12 league and 3 goals.
In 1953 he returned to his hometown of Verona and finally played more regularly, 25 league games and 3 goals. A year later however he changed clubs again and made 24 appearances scoring 1 goal for Pro Patria. He retired in 1955 at 32. He died in 2001 at 78.
At International level he earned one cap for the Italy B side in a 0-0 draw in Turkey.
His main successes had been with his local Gialloblu of Verona and of course Lazio. Cecconi was an attacking midfielder, a "mezzala" as they say in Italy. He played wide in central midfield and especially with Lazio had a reasonably high scoring rate. He made a total of 58 Serie A appearances with 17 goals.
In only 3 years he gave a good contribution at Lazio and scoring in a winning derby means eternal gratitude on the Biancoceleste side of Rome. He did that not once but twice.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie A | Mitropa Cup |
1947-48 | 16 (5) | 16 (5) | - |
1949-50 | 18 (3) | 18 (3) | - |
1950-51 | 25 (9) | 24 (9) | 1 |
Total | 59 (17) | 58 | 1 |
Sources
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