Game 12, Serie A
Sunday, December 21, 1958
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Bologna 2-1
Two late goals by the unpredictable Brazilian give Lazio victory
In Serie A Lazio were currently joint 11th on 10 points. The Biancocelesti had won 3, drawn 4 and lost 3 (including derby 1-3). They had a game in hand as the fixture away to Alessandria on December 7 had been postponed in the 46th minute due to fog (a crafty thing in those days to start the second half so as not to have to reimburse tickets). The game would be played on December 24, so in three days' time.
Today was actually Lazio's first game since November 30.
Bologna were currently in joint 8th place with Juventus on 11 points. The Rossoblu had won 3, drawn 5 and lost 3. Their most recent game had been a 1-1 away draw at Vicenza.
A mid-table clash today. Lazio hoped to overtake the Emiliani even before their mid-week game in hand.
The match
A cloudy day in the capital and the pitch was slightly slippery due to earlier showers. The crowd was about 30,000.
Lazio had no important defections while the visitors had to do without Danish midfielder Axel Pilmark.
Lazio attacked from the start but their shots were all off target; Bruno Franzini in the 5th and 8th minutes and Egidio Fumagalli in the 12th failed to dirty Attilio Santarelli's gloves. They went closer in the 20th but Fumagalli hit the post.
In the 25th minute Lazio appealed for a penalty. It looked clear to all as Giovanni Mialich tripped up Humberto Tozzi but the referee did not see or did not want to see.
Bologna at this point took courage and the game became more balanced. In the 31st minute Giulio Bonafin struck from about twelve metres out but Bob Lovati caught safely.
In the 34th minute a good move by Tozzi and Carlo Tagnin was wasted by Giorgio Bravi who shot wide from a good position.
As mentioned, the Rossoblu no longer only defended but counterattacked. On one of these breaks in the 45th minute they scored. Bonafin crossed to Cesarino Pivatelli who hesitated and Ugo Pozzan cleared but only as far as Ezio Pascutti, the striker pounced and beat Lovati. Lazio 0 Bologna 1 at halftime.
Lazio undeservedly trailing. The Biancocelesti had started well although the game had evened out after the denied penalty.
In the second half Lazio started out in attacking mode again. In the 47th minute Santarelli was finally called into action when he dived to stop a Tagnin volley.
Lazio pushed but Bologna were dangerous on the break. In the 50th minute Lovati had to rush off his line to interrupt a Bonafin-Pascutti combination and in the 58th saved from Marino Perani. In the 63rd minute Bonafin only had Lovati to beat but hesitated and put the ball wide.
At this point the game took on a repetitive theme. Lazio constantly on the attack and Bologna increasingly cautious. Tozzi led the way but his efforts and those of his teammates were repelled time and time again by the Bologna barricade.
In the 78th minute however came the breakthrough. Tozzi went past Luigi Bodi and then Mailich before hitting a low strike into the right-hand corner. Lazio 1 Bologna 1.
Tozzi was on a high and in the 85th minute scored again. He brilliantly skipped past three defenders and blasted the ball past Santarelli coming off his line. Lazio 2 Bologna 1.
Pascutti was then sent off for excessive protests for reasons unknown.
In ten men Bologna tried to react but Lazio never gave them a chance to start any counterattacks. It was Lazio who should have been awarded another penalty when Fumagalli weaved his way through the Felsinei's backline before being tripped by Battista Rota. A blatant foul but yet again Butti looked the other way.
Not to worry, the game ended with a Lazio win, 2-1.
An important win for the Biancocelesti. They had been more dynamic, had more chances and generally played better. The hero was of course Tozzi who with his brilliance had overturned the score.
Lazio were now up to joint 10th with Padova on 12 points but with a game in hand. Bologna were down to 12th.
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Bernardini
Who played for Bologna
Santarelli, Rota, Pavinato, Bodi, Mialich, Fogli, Perani, Pivatelli, Bonafin, Vukas, Pascutti
Manager: Foni
Referee: Butti
Goals: 45' Pascutti, 78' Tozzi, 80' Tozzi
Red Card: 81' Pascutti (B)
Sources
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