Sentimenti IV becomes Superman
An excellent defensive display and heroics by their keeper give Lazio a fantastic point to celebrate the end of 1950
Also on this day:
The season so far
Lazio had unexpectedly finished 4th the previous season and were hoping to confirm that positive season. The manager had been Mario Sperone and top scorer Romanian Norberto Höfling with 13 league goals. Lazio had also won a derby 3-1 and drawn the other.
This season Sperone was still manager but there had been a few changes to the squad. The main new players were: defenders Stefano Malacarne (Salernitana), Primo Sentimenti V (Bari) and Paraguayan forward Leongino Unzain (Olimpia).
Leaving were defenders Leandro Remondini (Napoli) plus forwards Ferenc Nyers II (Hungaria FbC Roma) and Romano Penzo (Fiorentina).
After 16 fixtures, Lazio were in joint 5th position with Bologna on 19 points. The Biancocelesti had won 8 (including derby 1-0), drawn 3 and lost 5 (including the most recent match 1-2 away at Como).
Juventus were reigning champions. The Bianconeri had won the 1949-50 Scudetto under Englishman Jesse Carver. They had beaten Lazio 3-1 in Rome but lost 1-2 in Turin. Top scorer was Dane John Hansen with 28 league goals.
This season the manager was still Carver. The main new signings were: defenders Enrico Boniforti (Palermo) and Rino Ferrario (Lucchese).
Leaving were: defenders Pietro Rava (Novara) and midfielder Rinaldo Martino (Nacional Montevideo). So pretty much the same squad as the successful previous season.
So far, the Zebras were 3rd on 25 points, behind Inter on 27 and Milan 26. Juventus had won 11 (including Roma 7-2 and the derby 4-1), drawn 3 and lost 2 (including Inter 0-3). They came from three consecutive wins with 10 goals scored and none conceded.
Juventus were favourites but Lazio were a competitive and dangerous team.
The match: Sunday, December 31, 1950, Stadio Comunale, Turin
The game had been at risk during the day due to a thick fog covering "La Città della Mole". Luckily it had lifted so this New Year's Eve clash could be played as scheduled. A crowd of about 20,000 gathered for this last game of 1950.
Juventus had no major team problems while Lazio were missing Romanian forward Norbert Höfling.
Juventus started strongly and Lazio immediately understood the keeper and defence were in for a busy afternoon. Lucidio Sentimenti IV was called into action in the 4th minute on a shot by Giacomo Mari and in the 5th minute Ermes Muccinelli hit the crossbar from close range.
In the 8th minute it was John Hansen who had a shot but Sentimenti IV parried and on the subsequent counterattack Lazio obtained a corner. Enrique Flamini swung in the cross and Flavio Cecconi scored as Giovanni Viola the keeper had his view obscured by Dionisio Arce. Juventus 0 Lazio 1.
A surprise lead for the Romans but the rest of the half, apart from the occasional foray by Aldo Puccinelli, Flamini and Cecconi, was all Juventus.
In the 12th minute Muccinelli shaved the post and in the 19th John Hansen close range header, from a Karl-Age Præst cross, was superbly saved by Sentimenti IV.
The Lazio keeper repeated himself with brilliant saves on Præst and Hansen in the 32nd and 33rd minutes.
Juventus attacked relentlessly and Sentimenti IV denied the Bianconeri three more times before halftime. At the break Juventus 0 Lazio 1.
A goal against the run of play, a great collective defensive effort and heroics by Sentimenti IV so far gave the Biancocelesti the lead.
The second half was no different. Muccinelli threatened in the 48th minute but Sentimenti IV had not been distracted by the pause. In the 50th minute he denied a Sergio Manente volley.
Lazio had a few counterattacks and in the 57th minute won another corner. The cross came in and was deflected towards goal but was intercepted by Enrico Boniforti with his arm. A blatant penalty but the referee had other ideas.
After this controversial episode the Bianconeri got back to business. Between the 14th and 24th minutes they forced Sentimenti IV into another four good saves.
In the 25th minute Arce was tackled roughly and limped about for the rest of the game.
Lazio had a rare shot with Puccinelli in the 70th minute but Viola saved and a minute later Juventus equalised. In a scramble in the Lazio area Muccinelli reacted quicker than anyone and poked the ball home. Juventus 1 Lazio 1.
A pity for Lazio who had defended bravely but totally deserved for the "Old Lady" of Italian football.
Lazio reacted by attacking but in the last ten minutes or so the Bianconeri pinned Lazio back again. The defence however held firm, helped by more Sentimenti IV saves. Final score Juventus 1 Lazio 1.
The Lazio players celebrated wildly at the end almost as if they had won and, in a sense, they had. An away point to Juventus was like gold and Lazio had played as a team, defending in a solid united block with the help of an almost unbeatable Sentimenti IV. One lost count of his saves today, some of excellent quality. His brother Primo Sentimenti V also deserved a special mention in defence but the whole team had given everything.
Rumour had it that the Lazio players would be rewarded with 60,000 Lire each and that the fine inflicted on them after the previous week's defeat at Como would be cancelled. Lazio would leave on the 8.20 p.m train and arrive in Rome at 7.40 a.m. The players would surely deservedly celebrate New Year's Eve in the restaurant car.
Lazio were now up to joint 4th with Como on 20 points while Juventus were still 3rd but had lost a point on 2nd placed Milan and leaders Inter.
Who played for Juventus
Viola, Boniforti, Manente, Mari, Persia, Bizzotto, Muccinelli, K.Hansen, Boniperti, J. Hansen, Praest
Manager: Carver
Who played for Lazio
Sentimenti IV, Antonazzi, Furiassi, Alzani, Sentimenti V, Montanari, Puccinelli, Magrini, Arce, Flamini, Cecconi
Manager: Sperone
Referee: Bellè
Goals: 10' Cecconi, 71' Muccinelli
What happened next
Lazio again finished an excellent 4th. The best of the rest behind the big three northern power houses. Lazio then won another 10 (including second derby 2-1 and Milan 2-1 away), drew 6 and lost 5 (including Juventus 0-3). Top scorer was Romanian Norberto Höfling with 11 league goals.
Juventus finished 3rd. They then won another 12, drew 4 and lost 5. Top scorer was Giampiero Boniperti with 22 league goals while Hansen got 20.
The Scudetto was won by Milan for the 4th time while Roma became the first team from the capital to be relegated, going down with Genoa.
Let’s talk about Karl Aage Præst
Karl Aage Præst was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, on February 26, 1922.
His first club was Østerbro in his homeland where he stayed nine seasons from 1940 to 1949.
In the summer of 1949 he joined Juventus and teamed up with fellow Dane John Hansen. He ended up staying seven seasons in Turin.
He immediately won a Scudetto in 1950, under Englishman Jesse Carver, playing 37 league games and scoring 11 goals (including Lazio)
In 1950-51 the Bianconeri finished 3rd. He was joined in Turin by another Dane, Karl Age Hansen.
In 1951-52 Juventus won another league title. Carver had fallen out with Gianni Agnelli in the summer and the duo Gianpiero Combi-Luigi Bertolini sat on the bench until December when Hungarian György Sárosi became available. Præst played 35 league games with 3 goals (including Lazio).
In 1952-53 Sárosi stayed on and Juventus finished 2nd behind Inter. Præst played 30 league games with 10 goals (including Lazio and a brace against Roma).
In 1953-54 the manager was Aldo Olivieri and Juventus finished 2nd behind Inter again. Præst played 34 league games with 5 goals (including Roma).
In 1954-55 still under Olivieri the Bianconeri only finished 7th. Præst played 34 league games with 6 goals (including Lazio).
In 1955-56 under new manager Sandro Puppo Juventus finished a disappointing 9th. It was Præst last season with the "Old Lady" and he played less without scoring.
In the summer of 1956 he joined Lazio. The manager was Jesse Carver, his original coach at Juventus. Lazio had a good season and finished 3rd but Praest only played 7 league games. He then retired at 35.
Præst won 24 caps for Denmark and scored 17 goals. He only played between 1945 and 1949 as players who left Denmark were no longer eligible for selection. In 1948 he won a bronze medal at the London Olympics.
Præst was a forward. He was strong physically at 1.83 and 79 kilos. He had a good career at Juventus playing 233 league games with 51 goals and winning two league titles.
His only year at Lazio was less of a success as he was already past his peak, in fact he retired at the end of the season.
He is considered one of the most successful Danes to have played in Italy, alongside John Hansen, Harald Nielsen and Preben Elkjær Larsen.
Præst died on November 19, 2011, in Frederiksberg.
Lazio Career
Season | Serie A Appearances |
1956-57 | 7 |
Sources
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