Game 2, Coppa Italia Group Phase
Sunday, June 15, 1958
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Napoli 3-1
Lazio win again to keep Coppa Italia dream alive
Today was the second game of Coppa Italia. Lazio had won their first match 5-1 against Palermo. In the first Coppa Italia game the Partenopei had lost 0-2 at home to Roma.
By winning today Lazio could potentially almost eliminate a dangerous rival for the group victory.
The match
Another late kick-off did not attract a big crowd despite it being a pleasant evening.
Lazio played with their new signings: Carlo Tagnin, Claudio Bizzarri and Maurilio Prini while Napoli were without top scorer Luis Vinicio, forward Beniamino Di Giacomo, midfielder Sergio Morin and keeper Ottavio Bugatti.
The visitors from Napoli started more positively than their Roman hosts. The Partenopei had three chances in the first twelve minutes. First a Luigi Brugula effort went just wide, then Carlo Novelli forced Bob Lovati into a difficult save and finally Amedeo Gasparini shot high from a favourable position.
After this initial burst however, Lazio started to dominate. In the 14th minute Mauro Benvenuti denied Renzo Burini's long range shot but two minutes later Lazio scored. In the 16th minute a Tagnin-Bizzarri move was finished off by Humberto Tozzi. Lazio 1 Napoli 0.
The Biancocelesti could have doubled their lead five minutes later but Tozzi was off target after a brilliant ball by Ugo Pozzan.
In the 22nd minute Lovati had to dive low and gather a threatening low cross from the byline but ten minutes later Lazio scored again. This time Tozzi did it all alone and sent a thundering long range shot past Benvenuti. Lazio 2 Napoli 0.
Lazio were rampant and in the 35th minute Bizzarri missed a sitter after an excellent Franco Carradori-Prini-Tozzi combination. In the 40th Benvenuti just anticipated Tozzi set up by Bizzarri. In the 41st the keeper saved a Burini header onto the crossbar, the ball then fell to Prini who hit the post. In the 45th minute another post hit by Burini again saved the visitors. Half time Lazio 2 Napoli 0.
After a good start by the Azzurri, Lazio had taken control and could have been leading by a larger margin.
The second half saw Lazio continue at the charge. In the 47th minute they made it three. Following a corner Benvenuti cleared with a fist but only as far as Tagnin who drilled home a low strike. Lazio 3 Napoli 0.
In the 49th minute Lazio went close again. Tozzi took a freekick but Burini was in its path and changed the direction of the ball, the keeper however did well to react and dived low to save.
Lazio then slowed down and at this point Napoli stirred and had shots by Brugola, Gino Bertucco and Bruno Pesaola saved by Lovati. The visitors continued to put pressure on Lazio’s defence as the subsequent five corners testify.
They were rewarded for their efforts in the 80th minute. Luciano Comaschi tried his luck from about 25 metres out and the ball took a deflection off Mario Colombo, giving Lovati no chance. Lazio 3 Napoli 1.
Lazio then controlled the remaining minutes reasonably well, also helped by Napoli defender Rodolfo Beltrandi being forced off injured.
The Partenopei did however have one last opportunity on the break in the 88th minute. A cracking shot by Gasparini was saved superbly by Lovati. Final score Lazio 3 Napoli 1.
A good win for Lazio. The new arrivals had played well, Tagnin in particular and Humberto Tozzi were on fire. Napoli had been well beaten but had the virtue of never having given up.
Lazio now had 4 points, Palermo 2, Roma 2 and Napoli 0. Things were looking good but next up was the derby.
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Bernardini
Who played for Napoli
Benvenuti, Comaschi, Greco II, Beltrandi, Franchini, Posio, Novelli, Bertucco, Brugola, Pesaola, Gasparini
Manager: Amedei
Referee: Lo Bello
Goals: 16' Tozzi, 32' Tozzi, 47' Tagnin, 80' Colombo (og)
Sources
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