Fourth win in a row

Season 1954-55

Game 23, Serie A

Sunday, March 13, 1955

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio-Genoa 2-1

Two goals in two minutes early in the second half give Lazio’s survival hopes a further big boost

Source Lazio WIki

Lazio so far were having a similar season to the previous. The Biancocelesti were currently in joint 11th place, with Catania, Genoa and Triestina, on 20 points, four from relegation. Lazio had won 7 (including Inter 3-2, Juventus 2-1 at home and Roma 3-1 a week earlier), drawn 4 (including derby 1-1) and lost 11. The last three however had all been wins.

So far, Genoa were in 11th place on 20 points with Lazio, Catania and Triestina.

Both sides had to be careful today, the B zone was not far away (SPAL on 16).

The match

A mild but cloudy day brought a crowd of 50,000 to the Olimpico.

Lazio were without midfielder Luigi "Gegé" Fuin while Genoa were missing goalkeeper Angelo Franzosi and replaced by Enrico Gualazzi.

The first chance of the afternoon was for Lazio but in the 9th minute Sigvard Löfgren's effort went just wide.

Genoa stirred and had two dangerous shots by Attilio Frizzi and Giorgio Dal Monte just off target. In the 16th minute Giuseppe Zibetti was called into action on an Ivan Firotto strike.

The game was balanced. Lazio's Renzo Burini went close, followed by another Firotto attempt punched away by Zibetti and on the rebound Paolo Pestrin fired over the bar.

In the 21st minute Zibetti was busy again on a powerful Dal Monte shot and a minute later on, former Lazio player, Ragnar Nikolay Larsen.

Lazio responded with chances for Burini and Per Bredesen both wide while Gualazzi then saved on John Hansen.

In the last fifteen minutes or so the game went a bit flat and reached halftime goalless.

In the second half it revived again. Dal Monte had another thundering effort go wide while Löfgren kneed a glorious chance over the bar from a Bredesen cross.

The Swede redeemed himself three minutes later with a brilliant goal. He received the ball on the left byline, skipped past Ennio Cardoni, entered the box, went past Rino Carlini and, just when everyone was expecting a cross for Pasquale Vivolo or Hansen, he struck a low shot which hit the post and went in. Lazio 1 Genoa 0.

The Rossoblu almost equalised a minute later when Pestrin ran into the area but Zibetti pulled off a superb flying save.

The ball then reached Burini in midfield, the former Milan player looked around and went forward, stopped and then courtesy of hesitant defenders decided to continue, he reached thirty metres from goal and unleashed a wonderful shot which went into the top hand corner. Lazio 2 Genoa 0.

Lazio insisted on the waves of enthusiasm but Gualazzi saved a looping Attilio Giovannini effort.

Genoa then tried to get back into the game. First Benedetto De Angelis shot wide from a good position, Larsen hit the crossbar with a freekick and then Zibetti made a double save on Dal Monte and Pestrin.

The Ligurians were rewarded in the 73rd minute as they managed to halve the deficit. Larsen set up Riccardo Carapellese who ran into the box and sent a shot under the crossbar. Lazio 2 Genoa 1.

Lazio then decided the best form of defence was attack and spent most of the remaining fifteen minutes in the Genoa half. The game however slowed down and Lazio had no interest in accelerating, their last opportunity was with Bredesen but his shot went just over the bar.

Lazio ran down the clock in the last few minutes and secured an important win. Final score Lazio 2 Genoa 1.

The fans celebrated with the customary torchlight show. Genoa too had played well and were also applauded off the field.

The Biancocelesti were still joint 11th but now only with Triestina on 22 points and six points clear of the relegation zone.

Genoa were 14th on 20 points but still had a four-point cushion on 17th placed SPAL who had lost 0-1 in Florence.

Who played for Lazio

Zibetti, Antonazzi, Di Veroli, Sentimenti V, Giovannini, Sassi II, Bredesen, Löfgren, Vivolo, Hansen, Burini

Manager: Raynor

T.D: Copernico

Who played for Genoa

Gualazzi, Cardoni, Becattini, Larsen, Carlini, De Angelis, Frizzi, Pestrin, Firotto, Dal Monte, Carapellese

Manager: Sárosi

Referee: Guarnaschelli

Goals: 51' Löfgren, 53' Burini, 73' Carapellese

Sources

Il Messaggero