Good point against former hero
Playing against the legendary Silvio Piola, Lazio manage to score two goals and equalise in the second half
Also on this day:
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had arrived fourth for the second year running. An excellent result for the club, preceded only by the big northern Italian clubs.
This season the Biancocelesti had a new manager, Giuseppe Bigogno, and some new players: midfielders Luigi Fuin (Palermo), Ragnar Larsen (Sandaker) and Sigvard Lofgren (Helsingborg) plus forwards Lelio Antoniotti (Pro Patria), Armando Macci (Reggiana) and Sukru Gulesin on return from his loan to Palermo. Leaving Lazio were Aldo De Fazio (Lucchese), Mido Bimbi (Udinese), Flavio Cecconi (Napoli) and the forwards Dionisio Arce (Napoli), Norberto Hofling (Pro Patria) and Leoncino Unzain (Toulon).
Despite this revolution, especially in attack, Lazio had begun the season well and after 12 games they were fifth together with Novara, Sampdoria and Spal, not too far off third place occupied by Inter and just three points away. They had started off losing in Genoa against Sampdoria 4-0 and later with Juventus 5-3 and at home to Inter. But they had picked up and were playing well, just like the previous two seasons.
The match: Sunday, December 16, 1951, Stadio di Viale Alcarotti, Novara
Today Lazio had to face their former legend Silvio Piola who at 38 was still a protagonist in Serie A. It was him who gave the hosts the advantage when in the 14th minute following a corner, he was the one who finally managed to shoot at goal after the ball had been headed backwards and forwards a few times and gone through a few legs.
Novara had the advantage but soon lost Giuseppe Della Frera, who was just coming back from injury, but could not continue and was forced to move to the right wing. At that time there were no substitutions and usually the injured player, if he could stand, was placed on the wing. At this point Lazio became more adventurous and Ivano Corghi in the 41st minute and Kjell Rosen in the 43rd managed to salvage some difficult situations.
But in the second half, Novara went two up in the 54th minute. Corner for the Piedmontese and Della Frera managed to beat Lucidio Sentimenti IV.
It looked like game over but in two minutes everything changed. In the 56th Lazio reduced the deficit. Long cross from Romolo Alzani and Ragnar Larsen was ready for the kill. Two minutes later a disastrous idea from Luigi Molina allowed Sukru Gulesin to deposit the ball behind Corghi.
Lazio seemed to want to get both points but unfortunately for them Lelio Antoniotti was forced to leave the pitch through injury. The two teams finished in nine men when Umberto Renica and Vittorio Sentimenti III decided it was time to switch sports and start a boxing match. The referee sent them both off.
A good point for Lazio in difficult circumstances.
Who played for Novara
Corghi, Della Frera, Molina II, De Togni, Rosen, Mainardi, Renica, Feccia, Piola, Alberico, Janda
Manager: Varglien II
Who played for Lazio
Sentimenti IV, Antonazzi, Malacarne, Sentimenti V, Alzani, Fuin, Sentimenti III, Larsen, Antoniotti, Lofgren, Sukru
Manager: Bigogno
Referee: Pieri
Goals: 13’ Piola, 54’ Della Frera, 56’ Larsen, 58’ Sukru
What happened next
At the end of the first half of the season Lazio were fourth together with Spal. They then beat Juventus 2-0 and continued the season well but with a few ups and downs, finishing fourth again in the company of Fiorentina. Once more they were preceded by the three big teams of Serie A, Juventus, Milan and Inter, but arriving fourth for three consecutive years for a club like Lazio with little financial backing was a big deal.
The player with most appearances was Lucidio Sentimenti IV (38) and top scorer was Sukru with 16 goals.
Let's talk about Sigvard Löfgren
Sigvard Löfgren was born in Ronneby on April 12, 1928. He started playing for his local team but then in 1950 joined Helsingborg and debuted International in a friendly against Spain on June 17 1951. The Swede was a tall player (1.83), but he certainly could play football. His sheer size was impressive and the Italian scouts were lining up to sign him. In the end Lazio had the highest bid and he moved to Rome in 1951.
For bureaucratic reasons he started the season late and missed the first five games but his first match for the Biancocelesti was a triumphant one and Lazio beat Lucchese 3-0 and he scored the second goal.
He played a good season but in the beginning of the 1952-53 season got seriously injured and was out for a year. When he came back in 1953-54 he played regularly but he was not the same player. He struggled that year, but for the 1954-55 season he improved his performances, but it was not enough to be confirmed. He was sold to Spal and stayed there for a year.
In 1957 he went back to Sweden and joined Ronneby again but playing in the lower tiers of Swedish football.
At Lazio he made 62 appearances with 10 goals. It was a pity he got injured since he had a bright future ahead of him.
He died in Ronneby on April 21, 1996.
Lazio Career
Season | Appearances Serie A | Goals Serie A |
1951-52 | 20 | 7 |
1953-54 | 18 | 1 |
1954-55 | 24 | 2 |
Total | 62 | 10 |
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