Some things never change
Lazio denied win in Turin by dubious penalty and a controversially disallowed winner
Also on this day:
The season so far
Lazio had finished joint 3rd with Inter the previous season. An excellent campaign, first under Luigi Ferrero (1-14) and then Englishman Jesse Carver. Lazio beat Inter and Milan away, Juventus at home, drew one derby and won the other. Top scorer was Lorenzo Bettini with 12 league goals while Arne Selmosson and Ermes Muccinelli got 10.
This season Carver was still the manager. The main new arrivals were: defender Adelmo Eufemi (Livorno-back from loan), midfielders Arnaldo Lucentini (Triestina), Luigi Moltrasio (Torino), Umberto Pinardi (Udinese), forwards Karl Aage Præst (Juventus) and Humberto Tozzi (Palmeiras).
Leaving Lazio were: keepers Giampiero Bandini (Triestina) and Aldo De Fazio (Salernitana), defenders Francesco Antonazzi (Chinotto Neri-after 252 league games), midfielders Enrique Martegani (retiring), Renzo Sassi (Udinese), Attilio Giovannini (Nissena Caltanissetta), Angelo Villa (SPAL) plus forwards Brunello Cocciuti (Reggina - on loan) and Rinaldo Olivieri (Triestina). The main loss was Antonazzi, a legend at the club.
So far Lazio, after a bad start (4 defeats in 6 games, including derby), were having another good season and were currently 4th, on 19 points with Sampdoria and Napoli. Lazio had won 7, drawn 5 and lost 5 (including Juventus 0-3 on debut). A week earlier Lazio had defeated Palermo 3-0 at home and were unbeaten since mid-December (Milan 2-3 away).
Juventus had finished a disappointing 9th the previous season under Sandro Puppo. The Bianconeri had beaten Lazio 1-0 in Turin but lost 0-2 in Rome. Top scorer was Brazilian Leonardo Colella with 7 league goals.
This season the manager was still Puppo. The main new signings were: defender Enzo Robotti (Sanremese - back from loan), forwards Lelio Antoniotti (Torino), Argentine Raúl Conti (Monaco), Kurt Hamrin (AIK) and Giorgio Stivanello (Padova).
Leaving the Bianconeri were: midfielder Giorgio Turchi (Vicenza), forwards Leonardo Colella (Palmeiras) and Karl Aage Præst (Lazio).
Juventus were having another under par season for their standards. They were currently 7th, on 18 points. The "Old Lady" had won 5 (including Lazio 3-0 away on debut), drawn 8 (including derby) and lost 4.
No real favourites today as only one point divided them in the table. Juventus had only won twice at home this season and Lazio three times away. Anything could happen.
The match: Sunday, February 3, 1957, Stadio Comunale, Turin
A cloudy day in Turin with the pitch a bit heavy due to previous rain. A crowd of about 25,000 was present.
Juventus were without midfielder Umberto Colombo and striker Gino Stacchini.
Lazio were without midfielders Franco Carradori and Luigi Fuin plus forward Renzo Burini but had Lorenzo Bettini back from injury.
The Roman visitors went ahead almost immediately. In the 5th minute Adelmo Eufemi to Arne Selmosson who powered forward and shot, the keeper saved but only as far as Humberto Tozzi who put Lazio in front. Juventus 0 Lazio 1.
Lazio were in control and in the 19th minute scored again. Luigi Moltrasio blasted a free kick which gave Giuseppe Vavassori no chance. Juventus 0 Lazio 2.
Two goals up and dominating Lazio were then unlucky to have Tozzi pick up an injury. The Brazilian striker stayed on but was clearly limited.
The Bianconeri put some pressure on the Lazio defence but Giovanni Molino and Eufemi were excellent. Giampiero Boniperti in particular was causing the defence to work overtime.
In the 35th minute the Piedmontese pulled a goal back. A Giorgio Stivanello header put the "Old Lady" back in the game. Juventus 1 Lazio 2.
The break came with Lazio still deservedly in front.
In the 50th minute Juventus equalised. An Umberto Pinardi challenge on Raúl Conti was punished with a penalty and Antonio Montico beat Bob Lovati to level the score. Juventus 2 Lazio 2.
In the 67th minute Juventus were awarded another penalty, this time extremely disputable. Eufemi was judged to have fouled Boniperti but the decision was very controversial. The fact was Conti took it and gave Juventus the lead. Juventus 3 Lazio 2.
Lazio had played well and did not merit to be behind. They went on the attack and equalised in the 72nd minute. From the corner flag Selmosson passed to Molino who drilled a shot towards goal, on its way it was back-heeled by Pasquale Vivolo into the back of the net. Juventus 3 Lazio 3.
No more than Lazio deserved but they wanted more. A few minutes from the end a through ball by Moltrasio found "Lazarus" Tozzi who brilliantly beat the Juve keeper. The linesman pointed towards midfield indicating the goal was good but the referee put his hand in the air and claimed it was offside. The goal, very likely a winner at this stage, was disallowed. A very dubious decision by Mr. Marchese from Naples.
The game ended 3-3 and both sides were applauded off the field for the entertaining and spectacular game they had put on.
A decent point for Lazio but, as would happen often when playing the "Fidanzata d'Italia", negatively affected by refereeing decisions.
Lazio were now 5th on 20 points while Juventus moved up to joint 6th with Napoli on 19 points.
Who played for Juventus
Vavassori, Corradi, Robotti, Emoli, Aggradi, Montico, Hamrin, Boniperti, Antoniotti, Conti, Stivanello
Manager: Puppo
Who played for Lazio
Lovati, Molino, Eufemi, Sentimenti V, Pinardi, Moltrasio, Muccinelli, Tozzi, Bettini, Vivolo, Selmosson
Manager: Carver
Referee: Marchese
Goals: 5' Tozzi, 19' Moltrasio, 35' Stivanello, 50' Montico (pen), 67' Conti (pen), 72' Vivolo
What happened next
Lazio had another positive campaign and finished 3rd again. In the next 16 games Lazio won 7 (including Milan 3-0 at home, Inter 1-0 and Palermo 6-2 away), drew 7 (including derby 2-2) and lost 2. Top scorer was Selmosson with 12 goals.
Juventus had a poor season and finished 9th. At one point they were even involved in the relegation battle. With six games to go the drop zone was only two points further down. Then for the last six games they replaced manager Puppo with Teobaldo Depetrini and with 4 wins, a draw and a defeat, finished in a more respectable position. Top scorer was Stivanello with 11 goals.
The Serie A champions were Milan for the sixth time. Triestina and Palermo went down to Serie B.
Let's talk about Kurt Hamrin
Kurt Roland Hamrin was born in Stockholm on November 19, 1934.
His youth teams in his homeland were Huvudsta IS, Råsunda IS and AIK (Solna-Stockholm).
In 1951 he joined the AIK first squad. He stayed with the "Gnaget" (Rodent) for five seasons. He played 63 league games and scored 54 goals. In 1954-55 he was top scorer of the Swedish League with 22 goals. The Swedish league was still non-professional so Hamrin continued to work as a Zincographer (printing or engraving on zinc).
Legend has it an Italian miner saw him play and wrote a letter to Juventus president Gianni Agnelli, praising his skills. The fact is Agnelli watched him play in a Swedish international game and decided to sign him.
In 1956 Hamrin joined the Bianconeri. The manager was first Sandro Puppo and then Teobaldo Depetrini. Hamrin scored a brace on his debut (against Lazio) but Juventus had a disappointing season and finished 9th. He played 23 league games and scored 8 goals. Juventus then signed Omar Sivori and Welshman John Charles and decided to let Hamrin go.
The Swede stayed in Serie A and joined Padova. He did well in Veneto playing 30 league games and scoring 20 goals. Padova finished an excellent 3rd in Serie A, under manager Nereo Rocco.
In 1958 Hamrin joined Fiorentina. He would stay nine seasons in Florence and was a great success. He played a total of 362 games and scored 208 goals (150 in A, 15 in Coppa Italia, 16 in Europe and 27 in other cups). In one league game against Atalanta, he scored 5 goals. The Viola won the Coppa Italia twice (1961, 1966), the Cup Winners Cup (1961), the Alps Cup (1961) and the Mitropa Cup (1966). Hamrin was top scorer in the Cup Winners Cup triumph with 6 goals, the Coppa Italia (1964, 1966 with 4 and 5 goals) and in the Mitropa Cup (1962 and 1967 with 8 and 6 goals). His managers in Florence were Fulvio Bernardini, Lajos Czeizler, Luis Carnaglia, Nandor Hidegkuti, Giuseppe Chiappella, Ferruccio Valcareggi. Some in various stints.
In 1967 Hamrin joined Milan. Here he was reunited with manager Nereo Rocco. The Rossoneri won both the Scudetto and the Cup Winners Cup with a Hamrin brace in the 2-0 win against Hamburger SV in the final. Hamrin played 23 league games with 8 goals, 8 in Coppa Italia with 2 goals and 8 in the Cup Winners Cup with 4 goals.
In 1968-69 he stayed at Milan but played less. The Rossoneri, still under Rocco, finished 2nd in Serie A but won the European Cup, defeating Ajax 4-1 at the Bernabeu in Madrid. Hamrin played 13 league games with 1 goal (Juventus), 3 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal and 6 in the European Cup with 1 goal (Manchester United).
In 1969 Hamrin moved south and joined Napoli. In Naples he was coached by Giuseppe Chiappella again but only played 5 league games with 1 goal, 1 game in the Fairs Cup and 5 in other Cups with 2 goals. Napoli finished 6th in Serie A.
The following season he stayed in Naples. The manager was still Chiappella and Hamrin played a little more regularly, 17 league games with 2 goals plus 6 games in Coppa Italia. The Partenopei finished 3rd in Serie A. One of his teammates was a young and future Juventus and Lazio legend, Dino Zoff.
At 36 Hamrin then returned to Sweden for one last season, also due to personal commercial reasons. He joined IFK Stockholm who were in Division Three. He played 10 league games with 5 goals and then retired.
On retiring he had a brief spell as manager of Pro Vercelli in Serie C. One of his players was former Lazio defender Carlo Soldo (1967-69).
At international level he earned 32 caps for Sweden and scored 16 goals. He won a silver medal at the 1958 World Cup. His goal against West Germany is legendary as he went past six defenders before scoring. He was Sweden's top scorer with 4 goals and came 4th in the Ballon d'Or.
Hamrin was a forward who played mainly on the right wing. His nickname in Italy was "Uccellino" (Little Bird) as it was as if he flew on the field. He was light, agile and fast (1.70 for 70 kilos). He was also creative and had great vision. He could dribble and go past defenders with ease but he also scored goals (317 at club level plus 16 for Sweden). He could play with both feet. He is considered one of the all-time European greats.
At Fiorentina especially he is a legend but he also won a Scudetto and a European Cup with Milan. He is still the 9th top goal scorer of Serie A with 190 goals.
After retiring he started an import-export ceramic business between Italy and Sweden. He also worked as a talent scout for Milan in Tuscany until 2008. The last years of his life were spent in Coverciano near Florence, in this period he also helped out at the local club, Settignanese. His strong tie with Italy is also testified by the fact that his five children all have Italian names.
Kurt Hamrin died in Florence on February 4, 2024 at 89 years of age.
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