Spectacular first half
Six goals all in the first half, give Lazio prestigious victory
Also on this day: March 28, 1948, Lazio Genoa 3-0. The Biancocelesti score early and leave it late to secure the two points. Lazio Legend of the day: Leandro Remondini
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had arrived fourth under the guidance of Alexander Popovic. Overall, quite a good year for the Biancocelesti in difficult circumstances. Playing football while elsewhere there was a World War cannot have been easy for the players or for the fans. But the show must go on.
Popovich was confirmed for this season and the new players were forward Hengelbert Koenig from Catania and defender Alessandro Capponi from Ferrara (a more Italianised name for Spal, those were the times). Leaving Lazio were Maximiliano Faotto (Ascoli), Bruno Camolese (Vicenza) and Otello Zironi (Modena). Giuseppe Baldo had decided to retire.
Lazio did not have a lot of ambition for this season and the objective was to stay out of trouble and this is exactly what happened. They were currently 10th with a good cushion over the relegation zone. They had beaten Ambrosiana Inter, Juventus (home and away) and had won the home derby. After today’s game there were only four games left until the end of the season.
The match: Sunday, March 28, 1943, Stadio PNF, Rome
The first half was a turmoil of emotions. In the 4th minute Aldo Boffi scored with a marvellous curled shot on a free kick giving Milano the 1-0. Immediately after Salvatore Gualtieri was unlucky and hit the woodwork. Then Walter Del Medico almost made it two but Uber Gradella managed to parry his shot into corner.
In the 15th minute Lazio equalised. Corner, cross into the box, Silvio Piola headed the ball in. Eight minutes later, a handball by Enrico Boniforti and penalty to the Biancocelesti. Piola took the spot kick and gave Lazio the lead. In the 29th minute there was a free kick for the Biancocelesti ten metres from the edge of the box. Gualtieri took it and it was Lazio 3 Milano 1.
The Lombards managed to reduce the deficit a minute later. Edoardo Valenti fouled Del Medico in the box and Boniforti scored the penalty. But the double lead was re-established in the 40th minute. Great pass from Piola to Lorenzo Borici and Lazio 4 Milano 2.
After this rather intense first half, the teams did not have much else in the tank for the second 45 minutes. Piola suffered an injury in the 48th minute so the Biancocelesti decided to play safe and erect a wall in front of the defence. Milano did try to break it down, but failed.
Another prestigious win for the Biancocelesti this season.
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Popovic
Who played for Milano
Rossetti, Toppan, Galimberti, Antonini, Boniforti II, Gallo, Boffi, Bonomi, Cappello IV, Granata, Del Medico
Manager: Magnozzi
Referee: Scotto
Goals: 4’ Boffi, 17’ Piola, 25’ Piola (pen), 29’ Gualtieri, 30’ Boniforti II (pen), 40’ Borici
What happened next
Lots of goals scored but also lots of goals conceded. This is a good summary of Lazio’s 1942-43 season. They won against strong teams but this was balanced with poor performances and defeats with weaker teams. Lazio finished 9th.
In Coppa Italia, Lazio lost to Roma in the quarterfinals.
Ramella topped the appearances and played all the 33 matches. Top scorer was obviously Silvio Piola with 21 goals. This was his last season with Lazio.
Lazio 1942-43
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals Scored |
Serie A | 30 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 56 |
Coppa Italia | 3 | 2 | - | 1 | 6 |
Total | 33 | 12 | 8 | 13 | 62 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Ramella | 33 | 30 | 3 |
Flamini | 30 | 27 | 3 |
Puccinelli | 30 | 27 | 3 |
Gradella | 28 | 25 | 3 |
Fazio | 27 | 24 | 3 |
Monza | 27 | 24 | 3 |
Pisa | 27 | 25 | 2 |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Piola | 21 | 21 | - |
Pisa | 9 | 8 | 1 |
Koenig | 8 | 6 | 2 |
Gualtieri | 6 | 5 | 1 |
Borici | 4 | 3 | 1 |
Manola | 4 | 4 | - |
Let’s talk about: Lorenzo Borici
Lorenco Borici, commonly known as Loro Borici and in Italy as Lorenzo, is considered to be one of Albania’s greatest football players.
Born on August 4, 1922 in Shkoder, he started his career in the local Vllaznia Shkoder club where he debuted at just 15 years of age in a friendly in August 1937. Wanting to pursue his law studies, in 1941 he went to Rome and enrolled in the La Sapienza University. Since he was there he signed for Lazio in January. He played mainly for the reserves in his first season and a half, and occasionally for the first eleven. In 1942-43 he had more playing time and made 16 appearances with four goals. At the end of the season he went back to Albania.
After four years with Vllaznia, where he won two titles in 1945 and 1946, in 1949 he started playing for Partizani Tirana. He stayed with the club until 1956, with 152 league appearances and 68 goals. He won the 1949 and 1954 titles. He closed his career in 1957 with Spartak Tirana.
Borici also played for Albania earning 24 caps with six goals. He was captain of the team that won the Balkan Cup in 1946.
After he finished his active football career he became a manager. After a year as head coach for Spartaz, he coached the national team from 1957 to 1963.
In 1962 he managed Partizani Tirana. In nine years, he won the championship three times (1962-63, 1963-64 and 1970-71) and four Albanian cups (1963-64, 1965-66, 1967-68 and 1969-70). He was also Albania head coach from 1965 to 1972.
Between 1972 and 1975 he was technical director for China and then in 1976 and again 1981 he returned to being head coach of Albania.
Borici at Lazio was mainly Silvio Piola’s reserve, but he made a good contribution in his 20 appearances.
Lazio Career
Season | Total games (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
1941-42 | 4 | 4 | - |
1942-43 | 16 (4) | 14 (3) | 2 (1) |
Total | 20 (4) | 18 (3) | 2 (1) |
Sources
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