Game 17, Serie A
Sunday, January 17, 1954
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Sampdoria 3-0
A brace by Norwegian midfielder Bredesen leads Lazio to comfortable win over Sampdoria.
This season, after 16 games Lazio had 15 points. They had beaten Juventus, drawn the derby and so far had won 5, drawn 5 and lost 6.
Today's clash had no clear favourite. Lazio had home advantage but Sampdoria were three points above in the table.
The match
The game was played on a mild January day in Rome in front of 30,000 spectators.
Lazio had several absences. Alberto Fontanesi, Serafino Montanari and Luigi Fuin were all missing but the main worry was not having Lucidio Sentimenti (IV) to defend the goal. His place was taken by Aldo De Fazio. On the other hand, defender Zeffiro Furliassi was back after being dropped for several matches.
Lazio immediately started on the front foot and for the first 35 minutes there was only one team on the field. Sampdoria seemed poorly organized, leaving far too much space for Lazio, while their in form striker Conti was kept quiet by Furiassi.
Lazio went close to the lead after 13 minutes with a shot by an already lively Per Bredesen. The goal would come only a minute later. Renzo Burini and Aldo Puccinelli started the move with the latter at first pretending to shoot but then instead pulling the ball back to Bredesen, who from about 15 metres out hammered the ball into the top hand corner. 1-0 Lazio.
Sampdoria's response was all in a shot by Conti stopped with a double handed save by De Fazio. In the 35th minute Lazio scored again. A free kick by Primo Sentimenti V found Bredesen in the box. The Norwegian looked a bit too far forward but with a brilliant acrobatic bicycle kick beat Antonio Pin for his second of the afternoon. 2-0 Lazio.
In the 41st minute Sampdoria had a colossal chance to reopen the contest. The Genoese were awarded a penalty for a joint foul by Furiassi and Stefano Malacarne on Conti. Danish Karl Aage Hansen stepped up and despite a dummy his spot kick was superbly saved by De Fazio, who dived to his left to deny the former Juventus striker. That was the last excitement of the first half, Lazio 2 Sampdoria 0.
The second half saw Lazio continue to go forward. A Burini shot in the 53rd minute was well saved by Pin. The game was put out of the visitors reach only four minutes later. In the 57th minute it was Bredesen yet again who provided the assist for Pasquale Vivolo's powerful strike making it 3-0.
With a three-goal advantage Lazio slowed down and administered the game without running any ulterior risks. Even Bredesen adapted to Lazio's tactic of concentrating on ball possession and control while Sampdoria seemed almost to prefer limiting the score line than further provoking the unstoppable Norwegian.
Lazio, in red shirts as hosts for the day, cruised to the final whistle. A good 3-0 win and an outstanding performance by Bredesen.
Who played for Lazio
De Fazio, Antonazzi, Furiassi, Sentimenti V, Malacarne, Bergamo, Burini, Bredesen, Vivolo, Lofgren, Puccinelli
Manager: Sperone
Who played for Sampdoria
Pin, Gratton, Elia, Podestà, Mari, Mialich, Agostinelli, Conti, K. Hansen, Testa, Tortul, Sabbatella
Manager: Tabanelli
Referee: De Leo
Goals: 14' Bredesen, 35' Bredesen, 57' Vivolo
Sources
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