Brescia red cards help Lazio
Lazio beat Brescia thanks to Uneddu, Camolese, Levratto and two red cards
Also on this day: March 8, 1964, Lazio Modena 1-0. A Morrone goal takes Lazio into safer waters but there is still work to be done. Lazio Legend of the day: Idilio Cei
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had arrived fifth under manager Walter Alt. The Austrian was confirmed as head coach and there had been a lot of comings and goings in the transfer session. Fearing a possible call to arms, many South American oriundi had decided to leave. The club was forced to say goodbye to Armando Del Debbio and Alejandro Demaria who left for Corinthians, Joao and Leonzio Fantoni went to play for Cruzeiro and Enzio Serafini signed for Palestra Itália. Also leaving was Armando Bertagni.
The newcomers were defenders Alfredo Monza (Livorno) and Benedicto Zacconi (Torino), midfielders Giuseppe Baldo (Padova), Bruno Camolese (Vicenza) and Egidio Turchi (Pistoiese) and forwards Walter D’Odorico (Padova), Riccardo Okely III (Siena) and Umberto Visentin III (Napoli).
After the first half of the season Lazio were tenth, a little disappointing. The situation had improved slightly since then and before today’s game they were seventh. They had drawn at home against Milan and Ambrosiana Inter, beaten Juventus 3-0 at home, but lost the derby. However, in Coppa Italia, the Biancocelesti had eliminated Roma in the round of 16, so at least a partial revenge.
The match: Sunday, March 8, 1936, Stadio PNF, Rome
Lazio had played three days earlier against Sampierdarenese which was postponed from the previous Sunday due to the weather conditions that had waterlogged the pitch. As a consequence, Brescia might have expected the Biancocelesti to be tired. But that certainly was not the case. In the 10th minute Lazio scored thanks to a magnificent header from Luigi Uneddu.
The Biancocelesti tried to increase their tally, but Brescia managed to put up a wall that was rather difficult for the Lazio forwards to break down. In the second half, things changed. Silvio Piola, fed up with not having a decent ball to play, moved to the wing so that he could have a greater freedom for a shot. In the 56th minute he tried again but it was saved by Giuseppe Persichetti who then dropped it only to grab it again very close to the goal line. At this point Virgilio Levratto tried to take advantage of the fumble and probably kicked the goalkeeper who reacted by punching the Lazio forward. Brescia were not only forced to play with ten men but also without a goalkeeper. Bruno Bianchi went into goal.
At this point, the fans hoped that the hosts would attack with vehemence, but they did not and Brescia took control of the match despite being one man down. The Rondinelle though were then forced to play with nine men after Ugo Locatelli was sent off for kicking Turchi. Lazio too however lost Monza due to injury.
In the 74th minute Bruno Camolese ,with a shot from outside the box, scored Lazio’s second. No fault of poor Bianchi, even Persichetti would have had trouble saving that ball. Three minutes later Levratto made it three.
Brescia however really wanted to score and they had a colossal chance in the last minutes of the game. A great pass from Mario Provaglio reached Giovanni Chiecchi who was fouled from behind by Zacconi. Penalty. Chiecchi was a specialist but his spot kick was disastrous. They still have not found the ball after all these years.
Good win for the Biancocelesti, who were now just one point from fourth place.
Lazio played with black armbands due to the death of former player Ugo Ciabattini who had died on February 15, in the Ethiopian war. He was a pilot and his plane was shot down.
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Alt
Who played for Brescia
Peruchetti, Tamietti, Caligaris, Provaglio, Valenti, Gasparini, Schiavetta, Locatelli, Chiecchi III, Bianchi, Rier.
Manager: Caligaris
Referee: Gonani
Goals: 10’ Uneddu, 74’ Camolese, 77’ Levratto
What happened next
Not a season to remember for the Biancocelesti who in the end arrived seventh. They had never been involved in the battle to avoid relegation but never really on track to be in a better position. Lazio lost both league derbies and had been eliminated by Alessandria in the quarter finals of Coppa Italia.
The entire game plan was based on setting up Piola to score but this did not always work. Furthermore, the defence was not exactly up to par, hence the mediocre season.
The player with the most appearances this year was Monza with 33 games. Top scorer was obviously Piola with 21 goals.
Lazio 1935-36
Competition | Total played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 30 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 48 |
Coppa Italia | 3 | 2 | - | 1 | 4 |
Total | 33 | 13 | 8 | 12 | 52 |
Top five appearances
Players | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Monza | 33 | 30 | 3 |
Viani | 32 | 29 | 3 |
Baldo | 31 | 29 | 2 |
Levratto | 30 | 27 | 3 |
Piola | 29 | 27 | 2 |
Zacconi | 29 | 26 | 3 |
Top five goal scorers
Players | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Piola | 21 | 19 | 2 |
Uneddu | 7 | 7 | - |
Levratto | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Guarisi | 5 | 5 | - |
Camolese | 4 | 3 | 1 |
Let's talk about Benedicto Zacconi
Benedicto de Moraes Menezes, known in Italy as Benedicto (or Benedetto) Zacconi was born on February 10, 1910, in Rio de Janeiro. He started his career with Brasil de Pelotas and in 1927 he signed with Botafogo and stayed for five years winning the Campeonato Carioca in 1930 and 1932. He also played for Brazil in the 1930 World Cup in Uruguay. After a year at Fluminense, in 1933 he moved to Italy and played for Torino. He played a couple of years in Piedmont appearing in 57 league games with seven goals.
In 1935 he signed for Lazio. He arrived in Italy as a forward but was moved to defence and that is where he played in the Capital. Zacconi was not particularly tall, but very agile and could certainly play football. He stayed until 1939, with 121 appearances and four goals. One his goals was historic. On January 15 1939, Lazio played the derby at Testaccio and for the first time in history the Biancocelesti beat their eternal rivals “away from home” thanks to his goal in the 3rd minute and another one by Umberto Busani six minutes from time.
In 1939 he went back to Brazil and stopped playing. Unfortunately, he died from cancer on February 11 1944 in Rio at only 34 years of age. But his goal at Testaccio means he will forever be in the SS Lazio history books.
Lazio career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Mitropa Cup |
1935-36 | 29 | 26 | 3 | - |
1936-37 | 34 | 30 | - | 4 |
1937-38 | 28 | 26 | - | 2 |
1935-36 | 30 (4) | 28 (4) | 2 | - |
Total | 121 (4) | 110 (4) | 5 | 6 |
Sources
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