Game 21, Serie A
Sunday, January 22, 1950
Stadio Comunale, Turin
Juventus Lazio 1-2
A Flamini double in eight minutes was enough for Lazio to beat Juventus.
Before the game against Juve, Lazio were joint seventh with Torino. Juventus were top.
This game should have been a mismatch between a very strong team at the top of the table and another weaker team. Should, because on the pitch it looked like the other way round.
In the 5th minute Rinaldo Martino’s shot was just wide, giving the home crowd the illusion that this was just the beginning of an onslaught. But instead Lazio started to put Juventus in difficulty with Enrico Flamini and Flavio Cecconi. The latter hit the woodwork in the 18th minute and a few seconds later his header was marvellously saved by Giovanni Viola. The subsequent corner was fatal for Juve. Aldo Puccinelli’s cross was cleared short by Alberto Piccinini and picked up by Cecconi. He pretended to shoot but passed the ball to Flamini. 1-0 for Lazio.
Eight minutes later Lazio made it two. Long kick from Lucidio Sentimenti IV, ball to Cecconi who passed it to Flamini in the penalty box surrounded by the Juventus’ defence. El Flacco looked up and decided to shoot. The slow ball ended up in the back of the net for Flamini’s double.
Shock result. Lazio slowed down and Juventus charged forward. In the 38th minute Giampiero Boniperti to Martino who crossed the ball in the box for Karl Aage Praest who feigned, taking the Lazio defence by surprise. The ball got to John Hansen who whacked it in.
Lazio reacted and had a few easy chances at the end of the first half with Puccinelli and Cecconi. Viola saved Juventus more than once, particularly on a Vittorio Sentimenti III shot.
Boniperti was moved to the centre in the second half but the danger was avoided by a brilliant performance by Zeffiro Furiassi who never allowed him to shoot. Puccinelli shot too high in the 52nd minute from a favourable position and a minute later there was a great save from Sentimenti IV. A Hansen shot was deflected by Boniperti but the Lazio legend saved this attempt and then another by Martino seconds later.
Lazio tried to make three. In the 61th minute Puccinelli's shot beat Viola, but not Alberto Bertuccelli who saved. The Juve goalkeeper was miraculous eight minutes later on a Romano Penzo scissor shot as well as on the Norberto Hofling attempted tap in. In the 74th minute Romolo Alzani touched the ball with his hand in the box but the referee signalled to play on. The ball got to Boniperti but Sentimenti IV saved.
Two minutes later, penalty for Juve. The referee, probably having doubts on the previous decision, decided that during an almighty scrum in the Lazio penalty box Alzani fouled a Juventus player. Giacomo Mari was hypnotised by Sentimenti IV and his shot went wide. That was the end for the Bianconeri.
But not for Lazio. In the 82nd minute Puccinelli dribbled three Juventus players but his shot was just wide. A few minutes later Hofling was fouled by Piccinini in the box but made the mistake of getting up and shooting. Viola saved and the referee did not give a penalty.
In the dying seconds Praest’s desperate shot was again saved by Sentimenti IV. On the subsequent corner the Lazio defence cleared and the ref whistled game over.
A great and prestigious win for Lazio. They played the perfect match.
Who played for Juventus
Manager: Carver
Who played for Lazio
Sentimenti IV, Piacentini, Furiassi, Alzani, Remondini, Sentimenti III, Puccinelli, Flamini, Hofling, Cecconi, Penzo
Manager: Sperone
Referee: Galeati
Goals: 20’ Flamini, 28’ Flamini, 38’ J. Hansen
Sources
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