Coppa Italia, Semifinal
Sunday, September 14, 1958
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Juventus 2-0
Lazio shock the "Old Lady" and now dream of historic silverware
Lazio in June/July had eliminated Palermo (5-1, 2-2), Roma (3-2, 1-1) and Napoli (3-1,4-0) in a group stage, then Marzotto Valdagno 2-1 in September. Today was the semi-final against the mighty Juventus. A difficult but huge opportunity to try and reach the final scheduled for September 24 at the Stadio Olimpico.
Juventus got to this stage by winning their group in June /July (Pro Vercelli 1-1, 4-1, Biellese 4-2, 3-1 and Torino 2-0, 2-1). In the quarter final the Zebras had defeated Sampdoria 3-2 away after extra-time.
Juventus were as always favourites today but Lazio had their sights on history. The winner would play Fiorentina who had already beaten Bologna 4-2 in the other semi-final game.
The match: Sunday, September 14, 1958, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A 60,000 crowd attended this semi-final clash on a hot Roman evening.
The team news was that Carlo Tagnin who had flu symptoms leading up to the game was fit, while of the two former Lazio players now with Juventus only Luigi Fuin was playing.
Lazio played in red shirts as the host team while Juventus wore their classic black and white stripes.
The beginning of the game was balanced but Lazio gradually gained a slight territorial superiority. In the 6th and 7th minutes Lazio had a Humberto Tozzi header and a blistering Maurilio Prini shot saved by Carlo Mattrel.
Lazio’s pressure intensified and in the 13th minute Mattrel saved a low Tozzi effort. The Juve keeper repeated himself three minutes later when he got an Egidio Fumagalli shot with the tip of his fingers. On the subsequent corner Fumagalli's header was high.
Soon after Juventus responded with a long range Giampiero Boniperti shot which shaved the post.
Then it was mainly Lazio again. Mattrel saved on Ugo Pozzan and Claudio Bizzarri and then Fumagalli's header hit the crossbar. Lazio pushed forward as their seven corners showed but could not get the breakthrough.
In the 40th minute a thundering freekick by Franco Carradori was punched away by Mattrel and a minute later Prini shaved the crossbar set up by Carlo Tagnin. In the 42nd minute at the other end a Gino Stacchini shot was tipped over the bar by Bob Lovati. Halftime 0-0.
Lazio had more or less dominated and would have deserved to be in front. Juventus had been quiet, only one dangerous shot and one corner with Omar Sivori and John Charles both uncharacteristically subdued.
Lazio continued to attack in the second half. Juventus were under pressure but did have a long-range strike saved by Lovati in the 47th minute.
Lazio had more chances with Tozzi saved by an acrobatic Mattrel and Carradori just wide.
In the 55th minute Lazio finally scored. A Tozzi -Fumagalli one-two found the Brazilian on the right vertex of the area, closely marked by Ferrario but the forward then turned and scooped a right footed shot into the far corner. A great goal and Lazio 1 Juventus 0.
Juventus predictably reacted but were nervous as Sivori's booking, for insulting his own teammates, testifies.
Lazio were now more cautious but still threatened on the counterattack with a Tozzi strike saved low by Mattrel.
Juventus gained a couple of corners and generally attacked more but were rarely dangerous.
In the 75th minute Lazio stunned them by scoring a second. Prini picked up a Giuseppe Corradi clearance and floated a ball into the middle where Tozzi was out of position but Fumagalli appeared from nowhere to hit the ball which took on a looping trajectory and went in under the crossbar. Lazio 2 Juventus 0.
Lazio wisely now pulled further back to defend their lead but were still dangerous with the ever-active Tozzi.
Juventus piled on pressure. In the 79th minute a close-range Giorgio Stivanello shot went all along the goal mouth without anyone managing to get a touch. Lazio's defence stood firm with Umberto Pinardi containing Charles well so all the Bianconeri accumulated were a few more corners.
With Juventus unbalanced the last chance was for Lazio. Bizzarri was hacked down by Rino Ferrario near the area and Carradori's subsequent low freekick was blocked low by Mattrel. Final score Lazio 2 Juventus 0.
Scenes in the Stadio Olimpico with the Lazio fans jubilant and lighting up torchlights with paper and fire to great visual effect to celebrate the great win.
A thoroughly deserved triumph for the Biancocelesti who played far better than their higher rated rivals. An epic evening but the best was yet to come. Next up was the final against Fiorentina on September 24. History awaited...
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Bernardini
Who played for Juventus
Manager: Brocic
Referee: Lo Bello
Goals: 55' Tozzi, 75' Fumagalli
Sources
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