Game 34, Serie A
Sunday, June 19, 1955
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Bologna 0-0
An end of season game played in hot conditions unsurprisingly ends up goalless
Lazio had so far been having a similar season to the previous. The Biancocelesti were currently in joint 11th place, with Catania, Genoa and Triestina, on 29 points. They had definitely achieved survival a week earlier by beating Triestina 3-1 away. Lazio had won 11 (including Inter 3-2, Juventus 2-1 at home and Roma 3-1), drawn 7 (including derby 1-1) and lost 15. Top scorer was John Hansen with 15 league goals.
An end of season game with not a lot to say. Bologna could arrive 3rd and Lazio 11th.
The match
It was a sunny and hot day in Rome with a sandy scirocco wind blowing. The crowd was about 30,000.
Lazio were without defender Primo Sentimenti, midfielders Luigi Fuin and Per Bredesen plus forwards Pasquale Vivolo and John Hansen.
Bologna were missing defenders Ivan Jensen and Battista Rota, midfielders Axel Pilmark and Ugo Pozzan plus forward Gino Pivatelli.
The lack of motivations and sticky atmospheric conditions soon made it clear this would not be a classic. The rhythm was pedestrian and the defences constantly prevailed over the attacks.
The few chances in the first half were for Bologna but Gino Cappello was either off target or anticipated by Lazio keeper Giampiero Bandini. A bland first half finished 0-0.
The second half was at least a bit livelier. Lazio looked more interested and had a good Renzo Burini effort well saved by Anselmo Giorcelli. The Biancocelesti even managed to score but it was inexplicably disallowed. In the 62nd minute a long ball by Burini found Sigvard Löfgren with space between the defenders, the Swede pushed the ball forward and beat the keeper coming off his line. A perfectly good goal but the linesman, to the general surprise, put his flag up. The Laziali protested vigorously but the decision was made.
A minute later Lazio had another chance when Burini glided past Guglielmo Giovannini and Dino Ballacci but managed to put the ball wide from about seven metres out. The Lombard forward then had another dangerous effort but with no luck.
In the 65th minute the Bolognesi had a seemingly justifiable appeal for a penalty when Giovanni Di Veroli pulled down Gino Cervellati in the area. The referee however, either incompetent, affected by the scirocco or falling into the compensation trap, gestured to play on.
A few minutes later Lazio were down to ten men. After a dirty foul by José Garcia on Di Veroli, the Lazio defender freed himself from the pincer position he found himself trapped in a little too energetically and there followed a scuffle between various players with Cappello even trying to show off some boxing skills. The referee in the end decided to only send Di Veroli off despite him probably being the least guilty. The Lazio defender shuffled off without a fuss.
In ten men Lazio pulled Renzo Sassi II back and played him in Di Veroli's position. Bologna with the extra player obviously pushed forward more but lacked urgency and the game ended up in a goalless draw.
A boring first half followed by a slightly better second. A point each was a fair result and both sides had suffered equally from the referee's off day too.
Playing in mid June with nothing to play for had inevitably resulted in a lacklustre affair. It was goodbye to September and hopefully fresher conditions and renewed incentives.
Who played for Lazio
Bandini, Antonazzi, Di Veroli, Alzani, Giovannini, Bergamo, Puccinelli, Lofgren, Burini, Sassi II, Fontanesi I
Manager: Raynor
Who played for Bologna
Giorcelli, Giovannini, Favalli, Tubaro, Greco, Ballacci, Valentinuzzi, Garcia, Cappello, Randon, Cervellati
Manager: Viani
Referee: Liverani
Red Card: 68' Di Veroli (L)
Sources
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