A lame game won by a cripple
An injured and limping Remondini scores the winner in an uneventful game
Also on this day: January 1, 1950, Lazio Pro Patria 1-0. A bland affair decided by an inspired Cecconi winner despite some infuriating refereeing decisions. Player of the day: Flavio Cecconi
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 Engelbert Koenig (Sampdoria).
So far Lazio had played 14 games. The Biancocelesti were mid-table with 14 points. They had won 4, drawn 6 (including Juventus 1-1 away) and lost 4 (including Roma 0-1). The last 4 matches had all been draws.
Lucchese had finished top of group B in Serie B the previous season and so were promoted. The manager was Aldo Olivieri.
This season the Tuscans had started with Hungarian Arpád Hajos as manager, but he had been replaced by Giulio Cappelli after 7 matches.
The Rossoneri main new signings were keepers Dante Piani (Torino) and Duilio Zotti (Milan), defenders Attilio Giovannini (Bolzano), Giovanni Clocchiatti (Milan), Raffaele Cuscela (Taranto-on loan), midfielders Gianmarco Mezzadri (Treviso), Ruggero Salar (Roma), Gyula Tóth, plus forward Emo Roffi (Pistoiese).
Leaving were keeper Renato Giudici (Pistoiese), defender Oreste Biondi (Grosseto), Giuseppe Cellai (Viareggio), Dino Mazzi (Scafatese), Giuliano Ragghianti (Prato) and midfielder Josè Paolinelli (Viareggio).
A lot of comings and goings especially in defence.
So far, the "Pantere" had played 13 games, one less than Lazio. They had won 4, drawn 3 (including Milan 0-0 at home and Juventus 1-1 away) and lost 6. The Rossoneri were on 11 points.
Lazio were slight favourites today against a newly promoted side, but the Tuscans, despite some heavy defeats (Torino and Inter both 0-6), had already surprised a few teams.
The match: Thursday, January 1, 1948, Stadio Nazionale, Rome
A cold but sunny New Year's Day in Rome for this mid-table clash. A sparse crowd of 7,000 had dragged themselves out after the night's celebrations.
Lazio had several absences including defender Sergio Piacentini, midfielders Flavio Cecconi and Mario Magrini, plus forward Romano Penzo.
The game was an intense battle from the start. It was hard fought, lively and fast. What was missing were goal scoring opportunities. Both sides took it in turns to have periods of pressure but without creating dangers. Lucchese probably attacked more but Lazio’s defence looked confident and solid. The first half ended with the inevitable score line Lazio 0 Lucchese 0.
The second half followed the same pattern. In the 65th minute came an event which was to prove decisive for the encounter's final outcome but not in the way one would have thought. Twenty minutes into the half, Lazio defender Leandro Remondini got injured and not being able to hold down his defensive role was moved out to the wing.
In the 68th minute Costantino De Andreis burst down the right wing and reaching the by-line put a low cross into the middle. It crossed the goal area with neither defenders nor forwards managing to touch it and finally reached, who else, but hobbling Remondini. The defender, forgotten and unmarked, even had time to stop the ball to put it onto his good foot before hammering it in. Lazio 1 Lucchese 0.
Lucchese's reaction was sterile and Lazio’s defence continued to hold firm until the final whistle. Lazio 1 Lucchese 0.
An unspectacular game lacking in quality and decided by the most unlikely of matchwinners. The newspapers of the time wrote that the match had been won by the "zoppo" (the cripple).
Two important points for Lazio while Lucchese slipped nearer the relegation zone.
Who played for Lazio
Gradella, Remondini, Carton, Antonazzi, Alzani, Gualtieri, Ferri, Puccinelli, Brunetti, Flamini, De Andreis
Manager: Cargnelli
Who played for Lucchese
Vellutini, Giovannini, Bertuccelli, Mezzadri, Salar, Giannotti, Roffi, Miniati, Nichelini, Rossellini, Conti
Manager: Cappelli
Referee: Agnolin
Goals: 68' Remondini
What happened next
Lazio finished 10th, so in mid-table. The Biancocelesti won 13, drew 13 and lost 14. The highlights were winning the return derby 2-0, beating Fiorentina 5-0 but also holding joint 2nd placed teams Juventus to a draw and defeating Triestina 3-1. Cargnelli did not last the season and was replaced after 21 games by Orlando Tognotti (in February after first round of fixtures). Lazio's top scorer was Romano Penzo with 17 league goals.
Lucchese survived and finished 16th, two points above the drop zone. The Rossoneri won 12 (including Milan 2-1 away and Lazio 2-1 at home), drew 12 (including Torino, Juventus and Inter, all 2-2 at home) and lost 16. They ended up with the worst defence in Serie A, they shipped in 82 goals in 40 matches. Top scorer was Ugo Conti with 19 league goals.
The Scudetto was won by the "Grande Torino", sixteen points ahead of Juventus, Triestina and Milan. The four teams saying goodbye were Napoli, Vicenza, Alessandria and Salernitana while Roma escaped relegation by one point.
Lazio 1947-48
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 40 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 54 |
Top five appearances
Player | Serie A |
Alzani | 38 |
Remondini | 35 |
Gradella | 34 |
Puccinelli | 34 |
Penzo | 33 |
Top 5 goal scorers
Player | Goals |
Penzo | 17 |
Remondini | 6 |
Puccinelli | 6 |
De Andreis | 6 |
Magrini | 5 |
Cecconi | 5 |
Let’s talk about Cesare Brunetti
Cesare Brunetti was born in Milan, on March 2 1920.
He started his football career in the Milan youth sector. In 1940-41 he spent a year on loan with Seregno (Monza)in Serie C and in 1941-42 with Abbiategrasso (Milan) in Serie C.
In 1942 he returned to his parent club, Milano (Italianized name for political reasons). There are no records of him playing any official games before the war broke out.
In 1945 he joined Lazio. The Biancocelesti got through three different managers; Dino Canestri, Salvador Gualtieri (player-manager) and Tony Cargnelli. Lazio finished 7th in the Centre -South Division thus not qualifying for the final stages. Brunetti played 9 league games with 1 goal (winner at Palermo) and 6 games in the post-league tournament with 2 goals. Lazio won the return derby 1-0.
In 1946-47, under Cargnelli, Lazio finished 10th in Serie A. Brunetti played 22 league games with 1 goal (Modena). Lazio had some good wins: Brescia 6-3, Sampdoria 4-0, Fiorentina 3-0, Triestina 3-0 all at home and a 3-3 away draw at Juventus after being 3-1 down.
In 1947-48 Lazio finished 10th again, first under Cargnelli and then, from the 22nd game onwards, Orlando Tognotti. Brunetti played 16 league games. Lazio won the return derby 2-0.
In 1948 Brunetti left Lazio and joined Rimini in Serie C. He stayed three seasons and the Biancorossi finished 9th, 11th and 17th (relegated). His managers were former Roma player and manager, Guido Masetti for two seasons, then Gyula Lelovics and then Ferdinando Dal Pont in the last year. On the Romagna coast Brunetti played 86 league games with 17 goals (he was top scorer in '50-51).
He then retired at 31.
Brunetti was a midfielder. He never made it with "his" Milan but played 47 league games for Lazio. They were difficult years for Lazio but the Biancocelesti were always comfortable mid-table finishers and had some good wins including two derby triumphs.
Brunetti is still alive at 103.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie A | Centre-South National Championship | Post Centre-South National Championship |
1945-46 | 15 (3) | - | 9 (1) | 6 (2) |
1946-47 | 22 (1) | 22 (1) | - | - |
1947-48 | 16 | 16 | ||
Total | 53 (4) | 38 (1) | 9 (1) | 6 (2) |
Sources
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