Game 20, Serie A
Sunday, February 14, 1954
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Novara 2-1
Two vital goals from Fontanesi gave Lazio a precious win.
Lazio after the first 19 games of the 1953-54 season were only three points clear of the relegation zone.
A win today would be important.
The match
Lazio needed to win this game but had two mountains to climb: nerves and former players Silvio Piola and Dionisio Arce. Both in some way and form will be decisive for the Lazio win.
In the 3rd minute a great shot from Renzo Burini was saved into corner by a deflection off Rino De Togni. Three minutes later an acrobatic bicycle kick from Alberto Fontanesi was saved on the line by Piero Pombia. The Lazio forward got his revenge in the 11th minute. Per Bredesen crossed the ball into the box, Fontanesi dribbled Pombia and put the ball past Fausto Lena. 1-0 for Lazio.
The Biancocelesti hit the woodwork with Vittorio Bergamo a minute after the goal and Fontanesi also had chance well saved by Lena. Another opportunity came in the 14th minute with a Bergamo shot just wide. At this point Lazio took a break with the exception of Bredesen who hit the crossbar in the 28th minute.
In the 29th minute Piola and Primo Sentimenti V clashed heads. The former Lazio legend had to be taken off the field and go to hospital and Sentimenti V came back with a very visible bandage 10 minutes later. Novara were forced to play with ten men and Arce became centre-forward.
Despite being one man down, Novara re-organised and started being dangerous. In the 39th minute Silvio Feccia’s shot was just wide and three minutes later Arce, unmarked in front of Lucidio Sentimenti IV missed a massive chance.
In the second half things proceeded slowly. Lazio had a few chances to double the lead but everything seemed to be under control. Until the 52nd minute when a disastrous mistake by Sentimenti V allowed Arce to fly towards the Lazio box undisturbed. This time he put the ball past Sentimenti IV.
Lazio had to start all over again, they did so in a disorderly manner and the crowd began to boo. A Fontanesi header in the 55th minute was saved by Lena and ten minutes later Bredesen had a chance, Lena was beaten but Luigi Molina saved on the line.
It was up to Fontanesi to provide a solution to Lazio’s problems and this is exactly what he did in the 66th minute. One-two with Aldo Puccinelli, who crossed for the Lazio forward. His header was saved on the line by Feccia, but it became an easy tap-in for Fontanesi. 2-1 for Lazio.
Arce got sent off for a dangerous tackle in the 75th minute but Novara, despite being down to 9 players, controlled possession. However they were never dangerous and Lazio were able to cash in the two vital points.
Who played for Lazio
Sentimenti IV, Antonazzi, Furiassi, Montanari, Sentimenti V, Bergamo, Puccinelli, Bredesen, Vivolo, Burini, Fontanesi I
Manager: Sperone
Who played for Novara
Manager: Senkey.
Referee: Campanati
Goals: 11’ Fontanesi, 52’ Arce, 66’ Fontanesi
Sources
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