Game 38, Serie A
Sunday, June 5, 1949
Stadio Comunale di Via Alcarotti, Novara
Novara Lazio 2-2
Heat and lack of motivation affect the game that however ends up 2-2.
Serie A had started badly and after ten matches Lazio were struggling on 4 points. The Biancocelesti were winless, having lost 6 and drawn 4 (including derby 1-1, with Magrini 83rd minute equaliser). They then changed managers, hoping to improve a worrying situation and Mario Sperone took over.
Since then, Lazio had won 11 (including Bologna 8-2, Genoa, Palermo and Modena all 5-1), drawn 7 (including the derby 0-0) and lost 10. The Biancocelesti were in 13th position, on 33 points.
A last game of the season with not much at stake for either team.
The Serie A season had however been hit by a huge tragedy. On May 4 the Torino squad had been wiped out in an air crash. The Granata were returning from a friendly game against Benfica in Lisbon when the plane crashed into the Basilica of Superga above Turin. There were no survivors. The Grande Torino, winners of four consecutive league titles, were no more.
The match
A cloudy but hot day saw about 6,000 spectators in the small Novara ground.
Lazio were without midfielders Salvador Gualtieri, Mario Magrini and Enrique Flamini while the hosts were missing midfielder Piero Pombia and winger Alfredo Spadavecchia.
Novara today played in maroon as the clubs have similar colours, the Piedmontese a darker shade of blue.
The heat was not ideal for a football match, sticky and humid.
The hosts took the lead almost immediately with the great former Lazio, Silvio Piola. In the 4th minute an Umberto Renica shot was cleared badly by Leandro Remondini and Piola took no pity and scored. Novara 1 Lazio 0.
The game was far from spectacular, end of season, with little to play for plus the uncomfortable conditions.
In the 21st minute however Lazio equalised. Costantino De Andreis scored after a prolonged and chaotic moment of play in the home side's area. Novara 1 Lazio 1.
In the 33rd minute Lazio went in front with Ferenc Nyers II but only five minutes later Pietro Ferraris II levelled with a quality goal. Halftime Novara 2 Lazio 2.
The second half was a dull affair. Both teams seemed content to finish the season unbeaten and were also tiring due to the heat. Both sides had potential chances but the score remained the same until the end. Final score Novara 2 Lazio 2.
An unspectacular game despite the four goals. The stand out players had been Aldo Puccinelli and Leandro Remondini for Lazio and Ferraris and the eternal Sivio Piola for Novara.
Who played for Novara
Corghi, Della Frera, Mainardi, Castelli, Galimberti, Baira, Pomola, Piola, Renica, Alberico, Ferraris II
Manager: Marini
Who played for Lazio
Brandolin, Antonazzi, Piacentini, Montanari, Remondini, Alzani, Puccinelli, Penzo I, Höfling, De Andreis, Nyers II
Manager: Sperone
Referee: Corallo
Goals: 4' Piola, 21' De Andreis, 33' Nyers II, 38' Ferraris II
Red card: 89' Galimberti
Sources
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