Four goals but typical end of season game
Heat and lack of motivation affect the game that however ends up 2-2.
Also on this day: June 5, 1983, Lazio Catania 2-1. In inhumane conditions Lazio beat the Sicilians thanks to former player Mastropasqua's own goal. Player of the day: Giancarlo Marini
The season so far
The previous season had finished 10th, first under Austrian Tony Cargnelli and then, from February 15, Orlando Tognotti. Lazio's best result had been beating Roma 2-0 in the return derby.
This season Tognotti had stayed on. The squad had seen some changes too over the summer. The main new arrivals were keeper Marco Brandolin (SPAL), defender Serafino Montanari (SPAL), midfielder Paolo Todeschini (Atalanta) plus forwards Ferenc Nyers II (Strasbourg) and Norberto Höfling (MTK Budapest).
Leaving Lazio were: defender Alessio Ferri (in a rare deal to Roma), midfielders Cesare Brunetti (Rimini), Flavio Cecconi (Atalanta- he would be back in '49-50) and Luciano Ramella (Como) plus forwards Orlando Fantoni IV, the last of the Fantoni dynasty (Cruzeiro) and Umberto Lombardini (Tivoli).
Serie A had started badly and after ten matches Lazio were struggling on 4 points. The Biancocelesti were winless, having lost 6 and drawn 4 (including derby 1-1, with Magrini 83rd minute equaliser). They then changed managers, hoping to improve a worrying situation and Mario Sperone took over.
Since then, Lazio had won 11 (including Bologna 8-2, Genoa, Palermo and Modena all 5-1), drawn 7 (including the derby 0-0) and lost 10. The Biancocelesti were in 13th position, on 33 points.
Novara were newly promoted. The Piedmontese had finished top of the serie B, group A, the previous season to win promotion. The manager was Carlo Rigotti and top scorer Silvio Piola, still going strong at 35, with 16 league goals.
This season the manager was Edmondo Mornese and the Azzurri had changed the squad slightly too. Coming in were keeper Ivano Corghi (Modena), defender Giuseppe Della Frera (Alessandria), winger Alfredo Spadavecchia (Bari) plus forward Pietro Ferraris (Torino), Umberto Renica (Como) and Guido Tieghi (Livorno).
Leaving were midfielder Elio Canonico (Bari) and forward Aldo Foglio (Verbania).
The Azzurri had struggled this season but ultimately had managed to avoid relegation. The manager Mornese during the season had been replaced by Nereo Marini. Novara were in joint 14th position with Roma and Bari, on 30 points. The Gaudenziani had won 12 (including Roma 2-1 at home), drawn 6 (including Inter and Juventus at home) and lost 19 (including Lazio 1-2).
A last game of the season with not much at stake for either team.
The Serie A season had however been hit by a huge tragedy. On May 4 the Torino squad had been wiped out in an air crash. The Granata were returning from a friendly game against Benfica in Lisbon when the plane crashed into the Basilica of Superga above Turin. There were no survivors. The Grande Torino, winners of four consecutive league titles, were no more.
The match: Sunday, June 5, 1949, Stadio Comunale di Via Alcarotti, Novara
A cloudy but hot day saw about 6,000 spectators in the small Novara ground.
Lazio were without midfielders Salvador Gualtieri, Mario Magrini and Enrique Flamini while the hosts were missing midfielder Piero Pombia and winger Alfredo Spadavecchia.
Novara today played in maroon as the clubs have similar colours, the Piedmontese a darker shade of blue.
The heat was not ideal for a football match, sticky and humid.
The hosts took the lead almost immediately with the great former Lazio, Silvio Piola. In the 4th minute an Umberto Renica shot was cleared badly by Leandro Remondini and Piola took no pity and scored. Novara 1 Lazio 0.
The game was far from spectacular, end of season, with little to play for plus the uncomfortable conditions.
In the 21st minute however Lazio equalised. Costantino De Andreis scored after a prolonged and chaotic moment of play in the home side's area. Novara 1 Lazio 1.
In the 33rd minute Lazio went in front with Ferenc Nyers II but only five minutes later Pietro Ferraris II levelled with a quality goal. Halftime Novara 2 Lazio 2.
The second half was a dull affair. Both teams seemed content to finish the season unbeaten and were also tiring due to the heat. Both sides had potential chances but the score remained the same until the end. Final score Novara 2 Lazio 2.
An unspectacular game despite the four goals. The stand out players had been Aldo Puccinelli and Leandro Remondini for Lazio and Ferraris and the eternal Sivio Piola for Novara.
Who played for Novara
Corghi, Della Frera, Mainardi, Castelli, Galimberti, Baira, Pomola, Piola, Renica, Alberico, Ferraris II
Manager: Marini
Who played for Lazio
Brandolin, Antonazzi, Piacentini, Montanari, Remondini, Alzani, Puccinelli, Penzo I, Höfling, De Andreis, Nyers II
Manager: Sperone
Referee: Corallo
Goals: 4' Piola, 21' De Andreis, 33' Nyers II, 38' Ferraris II
Red card: 89' Galimberti
What happened next
Lazio finished 13th, on 34 points, two above Roma. Top scorer was Romano Penzo with 12 league goals.
Novara finished joint 15th with Atalanta, on 31 points. Top scorer was Silvio Piola with 15 league goals.
The Serie A was won by Torino for their 6th Scudetto (5th consecutive). The Granata had not won the title yet when the tragic Superga air crash occurred but they were however four points ahead with four games to go. The remaining matches were played by Toro's youth team against clubs who out of respect played their youth teams too and Torino won all four.
At the bottom Livorno and Modena slipped down to Serie B.
Lazio 1948-49
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 38 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 60 |
Top five appearances
Player | Serie A |
Piacentini | 38 |
Puccinelli | 38 |
Alzani | 33 |
Magrini | 32 |
Penzo | 32 |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Serie A |
Penzo | 12 |
Magrini | 9 |
Puccinelli | 8 |
Nyers | 8 |
Remondini | 6 |
Let's talk about Marco Brandolin
Marco Brandolin was born in Cormons (Gorizia-Friuli) on September 13, 1922.
His first club at youth level was local Cormonese. From 1941-43 he spent two seasons with Polisportiva Lucana Potenza in Serie C.
After the war, in 1945-46, he spent another year with Cormonese.
In 1946 he joined SPAL in Serie B. He stayed two seasons and the Estensi finished 6th and 3rd. The first year the manager was Guido Testolini and Giuseppe Marchi in the second. Brandolin played 72 league games. His teammates included Lazio connections Serafino Montanari (1948-54) and Bruno De Lazzari (1948-49). His positive performances in Ferrara earned him a call from Serie A.
In 1948-49 he played for Lazio in Serie A for a season. The manager was first Orlando Tognotti and then Mario Sperone. Lazio finished 13th and Brandolin played 26 league games. He was initially reserve to the great Uber Gradella (Lazio, 1940-44, 1945-49) but played regularly following Gradella's serious injury in early February.
In 1949 he moved back to Friuli and signed for Udinese in Serie B. The manager was Aldo Olivieri and the Zebrette were promoted. Brandolin played 41 league games. He then stayed two more seasons in Serie A with 9th and 12th places. He played another 63 league games. Guido Testolina was the manager both seasons.
In 1952-53 he joined Salernitana in Serie B. First under Carlo Cerasoli and then Enrico Carpitelli, the Granata finished 11th. Brandolin played 7 league games, as the main keeper was Aldo D'Ambrosi. His teammates included Costantino De Andreis (Lazio 1944-49).
In 1953-54 he played a season with Lucchese in Serie C. The "Pantere" finished 17th and were relegated (their 3rd consecutive relegation) under manager Ferrero Alberti. Brandolin played 18 league games.
In 1954-55 he returned to his home region and joined Pordenone in Serie D. The Neroverdi finished 6th, under manager Antonio Bertoli. Brandolin played 19 league games.
In 1955-57 he spent two years in Sardinia with Torres (Sassari) in Serie D. The Rossoblu finished 4th and 12th. Brandolin played a total of 17 league games.
His last club was again Pordenone in 1957-58. The "Ramarri del Noncello" (The Green Lizards of the Noncello River) were in the 4th tier and Brandolin only made one league appearance.
At almost 36 he then retired.
Brandolin in the late 1940's and early 50’s was considered one of the better keepers along with Angelo Franzosi, Sentimenti IV, Leonardo Costagliola and Giuseppe Casari. He played 88 games in Serie A and 120 in B.
He was only with Lazio for one season but he played well. Lazio struggled to start but then improved. He left to play for ambitious Udinese in his home region of Friuli and also because Lazio had just signed Lucidio Sentimenti IV from Juventus.
Brandolin died on March 25, 2018.
Lazio Career
Season | Total Serie A appearances |
1948-49 | 26 |
Sources
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