Lazio topple league leaders

Season 1951-52

Game 22, Serie A

Sunday, February 17, 1952

Stadio Torino, Rome

Lazio - Juventus 2-0

Lazio shock the "Old Lady" with a goal per half

Source Lazio Wiki

Lazio were having another good season and were joint 4th with SPAL on 25 points. Lazio had won 9, drawn 7 and lost 5. They came from three draws and were unbeaten since December 23. There was no derby this year as Roma had been the first team from the capital to be relegated to Serie B.

So far, Juventus were top of the table on 34 points, with a four-point lead on Inter and Milan. The Bianconeri had won 15 (including Lazio 5-3), drawn 4 (including derby 0-0) and lost 2 (including a surprise 0-2 defeat at lowly Como a month earlier).

Juventus looked on course for their 9th league title but Lazio were a good team so Juventus had to be careful..

The match

A sunny day brought about 35,000 to the Stadio Torino in Rome.

Lazio were missing defender Zeffiro Furiassi and Swedish midfielder Sigvard Löfgren.

Juventus were without midfielder Giacomo Mari.

The beginning of the game was immediately lively. In the 2nd minute Enrique Flamini showed off wonderful skill but then put too much weight on his final pass. A minute later Giampiero Boniperti had some space but shot too soon and Lucidio Sentimenti IV dived low and saved comfortably.

Both sides created potential threats but Juventus gradually started to control the game more and Karl Aage Præst had an excellent volley just off target.

In the 18th minute the Lazio forward Gülesin Şükrü was forced off injured temporarily. While the big Turk was being seen too and put back in place Lazio scored.

In  the 24th minute the Biancocelesti started a move with Stefano Malacarne, Flamini and then Aldo Puccinelli who weaved his way past three defenders and set up Lelio Antoniotti about nine metres out, the striker from Valle d'Aosta hit a low precise shot into the corner. Lazio 1 Juventus 0.

Soon after the goal Lazio's Turkish striker came back on and Lazio were rampant. In the 29th minute Giovanni Viola denied a Ragnar Larsen header after a good Puccinelli- Flamini combination.

At this point the Bianconeri reacted and just after the half hour John Hansen hit a crossbar, then in the 36th minute Pasquale Vivolo fired high and soon after Sentimenti IV had to save a Hansen header.

In the 40th minute however Lazio almost doubled the score when a Puccinelli cross went very close to the goal line and Şükrü could not get a touch on it. Half time Lazio 1 Juventus 0.

The beginning of the second half was balanced and both sides had chances. In the 49th minute Lazio threatened with a Primo Sentimenti V freekick but Viola parried into corner and in the 51st minute Giampiero Boniperti called Sentimenti IV into action. In the 62nd minute Boniperti was clear on goal but "Cochi" Sentimenti IV rushed off his line and narrowed the angle causing the striker to shoot high.

There followed a period in which Lazio’s solid midfield barrier avoided any Juve attacks. In the 70th minute Şükrü, in a possible offside position, hit the post and soon after Puccinelli had a shot from a good position but it was weak and Viola blocked.

In the 75th minute Lazio put together an excellent move. A superb through ball by Puccinelli found Antoniotti who ran forward and struck a wonderful shot which only a brilliant save by Viola prevented from going in.

Lazio grew in confidence while the Bianconeri were increasingly frustrated. In the 77th minute with Puccinelli on the ground he was attacked by Alberto Bertucelli and others while the referee had his back turned so they got away with it.

Juventus almost equalised in the 81st minute when an angled John Hansen shot beat Sentimenti IV but was kept out first by Malacarne and then Romolo Alzani.

Juventus threw defender Sergio Manente into attack too but Lazio's defence held firm and with a minute to go Lazio struck again. Şükrü gained and then took a freekick which Puccinelli then fired in from close range. No way back for the "Old lady now and final score 2-0.

A deserved win for Lazio. The Biancocelesti had battled hard in defence and midfield, limiting the Zebra's chances, and then been more dangerous with Flamini, Puccinelli, Şükrü and Antoniotti all having excellent games up front.

Lazio were inferior technically to the Bianconeri but had made up for it with their speed, agility and desire to win.

Who played for Lazio

Sentimenti IV, Antonazzi, Sentimenti V, Alzani, Malacarne, Fuin, Puccinelli, Larsen, Antoniotti, Flamini, Şükrü

Manager: Bigogno

Who played for Juventus

Viola, Bertuccelli, Manente, K. Hansen, Ferrario, Piccinini, Muccinelli, Vivolo, Boniperti, J.Hansen, Praest

Manager: Sárosi

Referee: Bernardi

Goals: 24' Antoniotti, 89' Puccinelli

Source

Il Messaggero