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Writer's pictureDag Jenkins
May 242 min read

Lazio crush Verona and relegation worries

Game 34, Serie A

Sunday May 25, 1958


Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Verona 4-0


A convincing display shows Lazio deserve to keep Serie A status


Source Lazio Wiki

The Biancocelesti were not safe yet. Lazio needed a win today to be sure of Serie A football the following year. The table read Verona 26, Atalanta, Lazio, SPAL, Genoa and Sampdoria all on 28, Alessandria 30. Two teams went down so it was very close. In Lazio's favour SPAL were playing Atalanta, so a win would guarantee the Roman's survival.


Today's opposition Verona were practically doomed but still had a glimmer of hope.


The match


The last decisive game of the season was played on a sunny but not excessively warm day. A crowd of 40,000 was present to cheer Lazio on to safety.


There was tension in the air for this crucial clash and inevitably other scores would be monitored too.


Lazio came out determined to resolve the matter immediately. They attacked from kick-off and soon took the lead. After six minutes a Franco Carradori-Renzo Burini combination produced a long through ball which Ugo Pozzan (a former Verona player) ran onto and beat Italo Ghizzardi coming off his line. 1-0 and a perfect start for Lazio.


Verona at this stage were desperate and threw themselves forward. They had three chances to equalise with Finn Gundersen twice and Franco Bassetti. Lazio resisted the visitors' reaction and then doubled their lead.


In the 27th minute Humberto Tozzi decided to go solo and his brilliant run ended with his shot taking a somewhat lucky deflection off Arne Selmosson and ending up in the net. Lazio 2 Verona 0. The Scaligeri now needed a miracle and Lazio were in the driving seat. The visitors did not look like believers anymore and their heads dropped. Halftime 2-0 Lazio. SPAL vs Atalanta was still 0-0 so for the moment it was Verona and the Bergamaschi for the drop.


The second half started with Lazio keen to wrap things up and not run any risks. They did just that after only a minute, Tozzi made it 3-0. What followed was attack against defence with the visitors completely demoralised and Lazio playing on the waves of enthusiasm. In the 51st minute Carradori scored the 4-0. Lazio had several other chances and could even afford the luxury of missing a penalty, with Burini having his shot saved by Ghizzardi. Selmosson went off with cramp in the 85th minute but the game had stopped being competitive. Final score Lazio 4 Verona 0.


Lazio left the field with a standing ovation from their fans. Appreciation of the performance and also relief and joy for escaping relegation.


Who played for Lazio


Manager: Monza

D.T: Canestri


Who played for Verona


Ghizzardi, Basiliani, Cuttica, Tesconi, Benedetti, Stefanini, Galassini, Amicarelli, Del Vecchio, Gundersen, Bassetti

Manager: Tavellin

D.T: Bonizzoni


Referee: Bonetto


Goals: 6' Pozzan, 26' Selmosson, 46' Tozzi, 51' Carradori



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