Game 20, Serie A
Sunday, February 9, 1958
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Inter 3-1
Two broken legs and a broken nose but Lazio deservedly win 3-1
So far, after 19 matches, the Biancocelesti were 13th on 16 points, with Sampdoria and SPAL and only two points above the relegation zone (Atalanta 14, Genoa 13). Lazio needed points. Manager Milovan Ćirić had been sacked just a week earlier after a 0-5 defeat at Bologna. The manager was now former player Alfredo Monza (1935-43).
Inter were favourites but Lazio urgently needed some positive results.
The match
A cold, cloudy February but a decent 45,000 crowd. A minute's silence was observed before kick-off in memory of the victims of the Munich air crash in which 8 Manchester United players and 3 members of staff were among the 23 victims. It was the tragic end of the "Busby Babes". In Italy the memory of a similar tragedy involving the Torino team in 1949 was still very much alive.
Back to today's game, Inter started with a cautious approach but their plans were thwarted almost immediately. In the 7th minute, from an Ermes Muccinelli cross, Renzo Burini put Lazio ahead with a diving header. Lazio 1 Inter 0.
Inter's game plan was up in the air and in the 23rd minute Lazio scored again. Ugo Pozzan found Humberto Tozzi in the area and the Brazilian controlled the ball and then swiftly spun round and beat Enzo Matteucci with a low strike. Lazio 2 Inter 0.
Lazio two-nil up despite having Franco Carradori injured and limping out on the wing (later diagnosed with a fracture). Inter were rarely dangerous, they were slow in midfield while Antonio Angelillo was too busy taking freekicks, corners and organising to be dangerous up front. Lennart Skoglund had some good forays but he was too isolated. Half time Lazio 2 Inter 0. The Biancocelesti were more than pleased with how things were going especially as they were practically in ten men.
In the second half Inter showed a bit more urgency but were far from dominant. They did however pull a goal back in the 63rd minute with Angelillo who beat keeper Bob Lovati with an unstoppable, precise and angled shot. Lazio 2 Inter 1.
Lazio did not panic and ran no excessive risks but instead scored again themselves. In the 74th minute Pozzan took the initiative and scored with a solo effort. Lazio 3 Inter 1.
At this point Inter, already in difficulty, suffered two serious injuries. First their keeper Matteucci broke his leg with about fifteen minutes to go. He was replaced in goal by defender Livio Fongaro. Then, towards the end, defender Vasco Tagliavini was forced off too with a fractured nose.
3-1 up against a team without a proper goalkeeper and then in nine men Lazio just played down the clock and clinched a deserved and extremely precious win. Final score Lazio 3 Inter 1.
A good win for the Biancocelesti in an unfortunate match injury wise. Matteucci would be out for at least 3-4 months, Carradori at least a month and Tagliavini at least 3 weeks. That was the bulletin in a match that had not been rough or dirty.
Lazio stayed 13th, on 18 points with Milan and SPAL but now had a four-point cushion on Atalanta who were second bottom.
Inter slipped down to 8th, with Alessandria, on 20 points.
Who played for Lazio
Lovati, Molino, Lo Buono, Carradori, Pinardi, Moltrasio, Muccinelli, Burini, Tozzi, Pozzan, Selmosson
Manager: Monza
T.D: Canestri
Who played for Inter
Matteucci, Fongaro, Vincenzi, Dorigo, Tagliavini, Invernizzi, Masiero, Pandolfini, Angelillo, Venturi, Skoglund
Manager: Carver
Referee: Pieri
Goals: 7' Burini, 23' Tozzi, 63' Angelillo, 74' Pozzan
Sources
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