A much needed win

Season 1954-55

Game 15, Serie A

Thursday, January 6, 1955

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Inter 3-2

Great game and great win for Lazio who put Inter in continuous difficulty

Lazio had a terrible start to the season, In the first seven games they managed one win (against Fiorentina), a draw in the derby and the rest were losses. They were last. Federico Allasio was sacked and the duo George Raynor-Roberto Copernico were called in to rescue the season.

With the new coaches the situation had not really improved that much. They were still last, but in the company of Pro Patria and Spal. This year in Serie A, two teams would be relegated to Serie B.

The match

Lazio began the game brilliantly putting Inter in great difficulty. The players changed positions continually creating great headaches for the Nerazzurri and they were constantly on the attack. Giorgio Ghezzi had made a number of important saves but in the 28th minute Lazio scored. Cross into the box, John Hansen and Fulvio Nesti went for the ball which fell to the feet of Pasquale Vivolo. The Lazio forward dribbled past Giovanni Giacomazzi and as Ghezzi was coming out to face him, he scored.

The Biancocelesti insisted but it was Inter who equalised in the 35th minute. Long pass for Marco Savioni then to Sergio Brighenti on the left. He went forward, feigned a shot and passed to Gino Armano who volleyed the ball into the goal. Two minutes later Attilio Giovannini to Sigvard Lofgren who saw Hansen was unmarked on the right. The former Juventus player got the ball, moved towards the centre and then, close to the penalty spot, beat Ghezzi. At the end of the first half Lazio 2 Inter 1.

In the second half, the Biancocelesti, having played at a very fast pace in the first 45 minutes, started to slow down and the Neorazzurri took courage. But despite the pressure Giuseppe Zibetti did not have much work to do. In the 68th minute the Lazio goalkeeper kicked the ball up in the air, Viviolo acrobatically collected it on the left and volleyed for the incoming Renzo Burini. Great run with the ball and just as he was being caught up by Giorgio Bernardin and with Ghezzi coming out of his goal to face him, Burini aimed high and scored Lazio’s third.

In the 87th minute, Brighenti headed towards Armano who with a spectacular acrobatic volley beat Zibetti. The Neroazzurri even got close to their third but the Biancoceleste defence held their guard.

Great win for Lazio.

Who played for Lazio

Zibetti, Antonazzi, Sentimenti V, Fuin, Giovannini, Sassi II, Burini, Lofgren, Vivolo, Hansen, Puccinelli