Game 12, Serie A
Saturday December 24, 1955
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Novara 2-0
The Biancocelesti beat Novara with two goals in the last 15 minutes
The beginning of the season had been terrible. Lazio were 14th, just three points clear of the relegation zone. They really needed to beat Novara.
The match
The Biancocelesti started the game strongly but it was Novara who had the first chance of the match. Former Lazio player Dionisio Arce, after having received the ball from Ivar Eidefjall, tried a powerful shot that Bob Lovati was only partially able to touch. The ball hit the crossbar. In the 20th minute Lorenzo Bettini got injured and had to move to the wing (at that time no substitutions were possible). Marco Savioni could have also scored for the Piedmontese but his volley off an Arce assist was too high. In the 44th minute Savioni hit another crossbar. Towards the end of the first half Renzo Burini was fouled in the box by Rino De Togni but the referee was not impressed.
This fact created tension among the players and it was not helped by offsides in the 56th and 58th minute called against Helge Bronee and Andrea Marzani that according to La Stampa (slightly biased in favour of Novara) were non-existent. In the 74th minute Luigi Fuin tried a shot from outside the box, Ivano Corghi fumbled but managed to avoid the ball going in. The Lazio players protested and the ref, after having spoken to the linesman, gave the Biancocelesti the goal. Corghi, fuming, decided he’d had enough and began to walk away. It took several teammates and the manager to convince him to continue playing.
In the 80th minute Antonio Baira was sent off for dissent and six minutes later Lazio scored their second. Arne Selmosson was fouled in the box by Corghi and the referee indicated the spot kick. Burini made no mistake.
A difficult and lucky win for the Biancocelesti.
Who played for Lazio
Lovati, Molino, Di Veroli, Villa, Giovannini, Fuin, Olivieri, Burini, Bettini, Selmosson, Muccinelli
Manager: Ferrero
TD: Copernico
Who played for Novara
Corghi, Pombia, De Togni, Feccia, De Giovanni, Baira, Marzani, Eidefjall, Arce, Bronée, Savioni
Manager: Ottina
Referee: Griggi
Goals: 74’ Fuin, 86’ Burini (pen)
Sources
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