Game 13, Serie A
Sunday, December 20, 1953
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Genoa 3-0
Despite a waterlogged pitch, once Lazio figured out how to play in these conditions there was nothing Genoa could do.
In the first 12 games of the season Lazio won four games (including one against Juventus), drew three times and lost five. It was a team that had potential, but only sporadically were able to produce good football.
For the first time Lazio and that other team from Rome started playing at the Stadio Olimpico, built for the Olympic Games of 1960.
The match
It was very wet and the players had difficulty coming to terms with the state of the pitch. Nothing happened for the first 24 minutes until a bad back pass to the goalkeeper by Per Bredesen was intercepted by Dario Seratoni who flew unopposed towards the Lazio goal, but Lucidio Sentimenti IV saved the situation. Seratoni did the same four minutes later but his shot went wide.
At this point Lazio stirred and pulled their socks up. A Renzo Burini header was saved by the Genoa goalkeeper with difficulty in the 29th minute. Two minutes later an Alberto Fontanesi shot was miraculously saved by Angelo Franzosi who repeated himself on another Burini attempt.
The goal was on its way and came in the 43rd minute. Vittorio Bergamo had a free kick opportunity. His first shot was walled but the ball came back to him and his volley put Lazio ahead.
Lazio consolidated their lead early in the second half. Another Fontanesi shot was saved into corner by Franzosi. Aldo Puccinelli’s subsequent cross fell in the goal area and Bredesen made it 2-0 in the 49th minute.
Genoa had a chance shortly after but Sentimenti IV had safe hands. In the 56th minute it could have been 3-0. Benedetto De Angelis saved a goal on the line after a powerful Bredesen shot and Fontanesi’s attempt on the rebound was again saved by the Genoa goalkeeper. But the goal came two minutes later. A spectacular three touch move between Luigi Fuin, Pasquale Viviolo and Puccinelli allowed Fontanesi to make it 3-0.
Genoa had the chance to score on a penalty, very generously given by Guido Agnolin, but Amedeo Cattani put it wide.
A good match for Lazio and there was a new wave of optimism for the rest of the season.
Who played for Lazio
Sentimenti IV, Antonazzi, Montanari, Fuin, Sentimenti V, Bergamo, Puccinelli, Bredesen, Vivolo, Burini, Fontanesi I
Manager: Sperone
Who played for Genoa
Franzosi, De Angelis, Becattini, Larsen, Cattani, Corrente, Dal Monte, Pravisano, Seratoni, Bennike, Carapellese.
Manger: Sárosi
Referee: Agnolin
Goals: 43’ Bergamo, 49’ Bredesen, 58’ Fontanesi
Sources
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