Vital two points for Lazio in game of fractured bones
Two broken legs and a broken nose but Lazio deservedly win 3-1
Also on this day: February 9, 1964, Milan Lazio 0-1. A Noletti own goal allowed Lazio to win in Milan and maybe put an end to the crisis. Player of the day: Massimo Giacomini
The season so far
Lazio had finished an excellent 3rd the previous season, under Englishman Jesse Carver.
This year, however, Lazio found themselves in serious financial difficulty and were not able to improve the squad. Carver had left for Inter and the new manager was Milovan Ćirić but he had been sacked just a week earlier after a 0-5 defeat at Bologna. The manager was now former player Alfredo Monza (1935-43).
The only new signings of note were midfielders Ugo Pozzan (Bologna) and Giorgio Bravi (Taranto-end of loan). The departures were more significant as Lazio were losing defender Primo Sentimenti V after seven seasons (Udinese) and forward Lorenzo Bettini (Udinese). Karl Aage Praest was retiring but he had not made much impact in Rome.
So far, after 19 matches, the Biancocelesti were 13th on 16 points, with Sampdoria and SPAL and only two points above the relegation zone (Atalanta 14, Genoa 13). Lazio needed points.
Inter had finished 5th the previous season under three different managers; Luigi Ferrero (1-24), Annibale Frossi (25-30) and then Giuseppe Meazza (31-34). The Nerazzurri had drawn one and lost one against Lazio.
This season the manager was former Lazio Jesse Carver (1955-57). Inter's main new signings were: midfielders Mario Corso (Audace SME), Arcadio Venturi (Roma, after nine seasons) and forward Antonio Angelillo (Boca Juniors). Leaving were defender Giovanni Giacomazzi (Alessandria, after eight seasons), midfielders Enzo Bearzot (Torino), Fulvio Nesti (Prato) and forward Roger Vonlanthen (Alessandria).
In Serie A the Nerazzurri were 6th, on 20 points. They had won 8 (including Lazio 5-2 and derby 1-0), drawn 4 and lost 7. They had won their last two games but had been too inconsistent to fight for the top positions so far.
So, Lazio coming from a 0-5 thrashing but with a new manager and Inter coming from a 4-0 home win against SPAL but having an up and down season. Inter were favourites but Lazio urgently needed some positive results.
The match: Sunday, February 9, 1958, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A cold, cloudy February but a decent 45,000 crowd. A minute's silence was observed before kick-off in memory of the victims of the Munich air crash in which 8 Manchester United players and 3 members of staff were among the 23 victims. It was the tragic end of the "Busby Babes". In Italy the memory of a similar tragedy involving the Torino team in 1949 was still very much alive.
Back to today's game, Inter started with a cautious approach but their plans were thwarted almost immediately. In the 7th minute, from an Ermes Muccinelli cross, Renzo Burini put Lazio ahead with a diving header. Lazio 1 Inter 0.
Inter's game plan was up in the air and in the 23rd minute Lazio scored again. Ugo Pozzan found Humberto Tozzi in the area and the Brazilian controlled the ball and then swiftly spun round and beat Enzo Matteucci with a low strike. Lazio 2 Inter 0.
Lazio two-nil up despite having Franco Carradori injured and limping out on the wing (later diagnosed with a fracture). Inter were rarely dangerous, they were slow in midfield while Antonio Angelillo was too busy taking freekicks, corners and organising to be dangerous up front. Lennart Skoglund had some good forays but he was too isolated. Half time Lazio 2 Inter 0. The Biancocelesti were more than pleased with how things were going especially as they were practically in ten men.
In the second half Inter showed a bit more urgency but were far from dominant. They did however pull a goal back in the 63rd minute with Angelillo who beat keeper Bob Lovati with an unstoppable, precise and angled shot. Lazio 2 Inter 1.
Lazio did not panic and ran no excessive risks but instead scored again themselves. In the 74th minute Pozzan took the initiative and scored with a solo effort. Lazio 3 Inter 1.
At this point Inter, already in difficulty, suffered two serious injuries. First their keeper Matteucci broke his leg with about fifteen minutes to go. He was replaced in goal by defender Livio Fongaro. Then, towards the end, defender Vasco Tagliavini was forced off too with a fractured nose.
3-1 up against a team without a proper goalkeeper and then in nine men Lazio just played down the clock and clinched a deserved and extremely precious win. Final score Lazio 3 Inter 1.
A good win for the Biancocelesti in an unfortunate match injury wise. Matteucci would be out for at least 3-4 months, Carradori at least a month and Tagliavini at least 3 weeks. That was the bulletin in a match that had not been rough or dirty.
Lazio stayed 13th, on 18 points with Milan and SPAL but now had a four-point cushion on Atalanta who were second bottom.
Inter slipped down to 8th, with Alessandria, on 20 points.
Who played for Lazio
Lovati, Molino, Lo Buono, Carradori, Pinardi, Moltrasio, Muccinelli, Burini, Tozzi, Pozzan, Selmosson
Manager: Monza
T.D: Canestri
Who played for Inter
Matteucci, Fongaro, Vincenzi, Dorigo, Tagliavini, Invernizzi, Masiero, Pandolfini, Angelillo, Venturi, Skoglund
Manager: Carver
Referee: Pieri
Goals: 7' Burini, 23' Tozzi, 63' Angelillo, 74' Pozzan
What happened next
After this important win Lazio lost 0-1 at Vicenza but then seemed to pick up with three wins (including the derby 2-1) and an away draw in Naples. Then things took a downward turn and the Biancocelesti lost three in a row (including Milan 1-6 away) followed by two more defeats and three draws.
In the last match of the season the table was not pretty; Verona 26, SPAL 28, Genoa 28, Sampdoria 28, Lazio 28, Atalanta 28 with two teams going for the drop. The last match was Lazio vs Verona and fortunately the Biancocelesti won 4-0 with goals by Pozzan, Selmosson, Tozzi and Carradori. SPAL beat Atalanta sending the Orobici down with Verona. Lazio's top scorer was Selmosson with 9 league goals.
The Coppa Italia this year was played over the summer of 1958. This was because Italy did not qualify for the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, so, before television conquered football, this gave people something to do between June and September.
Many teams had new coaches and players including Lazio. The new manager was former player Fulvio Bernardini. Lazio were finally forced to sell their star Arne Selmosson, unfortunately Roma were the highest bidders so he reluctantly changed sides of the Tiber. Also leaving were defenders Giovanni Di Veroli (retiring), midfielder Luigi Fuin (Juventus), forwards Ermes Muccinelli (Juventus), Pasquale Vivolo (Genoa).
The main new arrivals were: keeper Idilio Cei (Foligno), midfielders Paolo Carosi (Tivoli), Bruno Franzini (Genoa), Egidio Fumagalli (Novese), Carlo Tagnin (Alessandria), forwards Claudio Bizzarri (Fiorentina) and Maurilio Prini (Fiorentina).
The group phase was in June-July. Lazio won 4 (Palermo 5-1, Napoli 3-1 at home, Roma 3-2 and Napoli 4-0 away) and drew 2 (Palermo 2-2 away and Roma 1-1 at home).
In September Lazio beat Serie B team Marzotto Valdagno 2-1 in the quarters and then Juventus 2-0 in the semis. The final was in Rome on September 24 against Fiorentina. Lazio triumphed 1-0 with a goal by Maurilio Prini and lifted their first historic silverware.
Inter meanwhile finished 11th, on 32 points. The Nerazzurri won 10, drew 12 and lost 12. Top scorer was Angelillo with 16 league goals.
In the Coppa Italia Inter failed to get through the group phase. The "Biscione" (Snake) won 3 (Como 4-0 at home, Monza 3-1 and Como 3-0 away), drew 1 (Milan 1-1) and lost 2 (Monza 1-4 at home, Milan 2-3).
The Scudetto was won by Juventus for the 10th time who also conquered their first star (every ten titles). As mentioned, Serie B beckoned for Verona and Atalanta.
Lazio 1957-58
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 34 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 45 |
Coppa Italia | 6 | 4 | 2 | - | 18 |
Total | 40 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 63 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Pinardi | 35 | 30 | 5 |
Molino | 34 | 34 | - |
Selmosson | 33 | 33 | - |
Muccinelli | 32 | 32 | - |
Pozzan | 32 | 27 | 5 |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Tozzi | 16 | 7 | 9 |
Burini | 12 | 7 | 5 |
Selmosson | 9 | 9 | - |
Pozzan | 6 | 5 | 1 |
Muccinelli | 5 | 5 | - |
Let's talk about Luigi Moltrasio
Luigi Moltrasio was born in Rovellasca (Como), on January 17, 1928.
His first clubs were his hometown Rovellasca and Esperia from Como.
In 1949 he joined Crema in Serie C and the Cremini finished 3rd.
In 1950 he moved back to Como in Serie A. The manager was Mario Varglen and the Lariani finished 8th. Moltrasio played 3 league games.
In 1951-52 he played for Salernitana in Serie B. The manager was Austrian Rodolphe Hiden and the Granata finished 8th. Moltrasio played 31 league games with 3 goals (Livorno x2, Siracusa). His teammates included former Lazio Costantino De Andreis (1944-49).
In 1952 Moltrasio joined Torino in Serie A. He stayed four seasons. The first was with Roberto Copernico until January and then Jesse Carver, and Toro finished 10th. Moltrasio played 30 league games with 4 goals (Juventus, Palermo, Fiorentina, Roma). His teammates included former Lazio Vittorio Sentimenti III (1949-52) and, future Lazio, Giovanni Molino (1955-61).
In 1953-54 Carver stayed until late October and then was replaced by Annibale Frossi. Torino finished 9th and Moltrasio played 30 league games with 5 goals (Milan, Novara, Triestina, Palermo, Fiorentina). His teammates included former Lazio Lelio Antoniotti (1951-53) and, future Lazio, Carlo Tagnin (1958-59).
In 1954-55 Frossi stayed on and the Granata finished 9th. Moltrasio played 27 league games with 1 goal (Pro Patria). His teammates included Lazio legend Bob Lovati (1955-1985) and future World Cup winning manager Enzo Bearzot. It was in this period that Moltrasio was called up for the Italy squad.
In his last season in Turin the manager was still Frossi and "Il Toro" finished 11th. Moltrasio played 24 league games and scored 1 goal (Milan).
In 1956 he joined Lazio. He stayed three seasons. In the first the manager was Jesse Carver and Lazio finished 3rd. Moltrasio played 29 league games and scored 1 goal (Juventus).
In 1957-58 the manager was first Milovan Ćirić and then from the 20th game onwards Alfredo Monza. Lazio finished 12th but won the return derby 2-1. Moltrasio played 9 league games with 2 goals (Alessandria, Asti Atalanta). His season was heavily hindered by a serious knee injury for which he was operated on. In the summer, under Fulvio Bernardini, Lazio won their first historic silverware beating Fiorentina 1-0 in the Coppa Italia final in September.
In 1958-59 Bernardini stayed on and Lazio finished 11th. Moltrasio only played 1 league game, still recovering from the surgery.
In 1959 he moved to Switzerland and played one last season with Young Fellows from Zurich.
He then retired at 32.
He earned three caps for Italy in 1954-55, playing in three friendlies against Argentina, Belgium and West Germany.
Moltrasio was a strong midfielder. At 1.84 and 82 kilos he based a lot of his game on his physical prowess. He also had a powerful shot and read the game well. He played 154 games in Serie A with 14 goals.
At Lazio he had a good first season but was then held back by injury. His name is however in the squad list that won Lazio’s first ever trophy, the 1958 Coppa Italia.
He died in Genoa on March 27, 1990.
Lazio Career
Season | Serie A Appearances | Serie A Goals |
1956-57 | 29 | 1 |
1957-58 | 9 | 2 |
1958-59 | 1 | - |
Total | 39 | 3 |
Sources
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