Brasillazio-Livorno 3-0
Three goals from the Brazilian oriundi allow the Biancocelesti to comfortably beat Livorno
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The season so far
The previous season had been pretty anonymous for the Biancocelesti, who despite winning against Juventus, Ambrosiana Inter, Milan and Roma, had thrown away points against lesser teams and arrived 10th. Manager Karl Strumer had been confirmed.
The summer transfers were practically zero. Lazio did not have a lot of money and since the youth teams had done so well, President Remo Zenobi decided to use the youngsters. There were only two major signings: Raggio Montanari from Foggia and Giovanni Battioni from Anconitana, both midfield players.
After the first eleven games of the season Lazio were 10th with ten points. They had not played well and had lost heavily with Milan, Roma and Inter and were just one point off relegation zone, but also only three points away from third place. Beating Livorno was a must.
The match: Sunday, November 26, 1933, Stadio PNF, Rome
It was pouring with rain and the pitch was in terrible conditions, but Lazio were optimistic since their star player Joao Fantoni I had solved his family problems in Brazil and had returned just in time for the match.
The Biancocelesti started well and had a massive chance in the 11th minute. Pietro Buscaglia took advantage of a Bruno Arcari mistake and whacked the ball towards the goal. Paolo Lami saved but the wet ball slipped out of his hands, Alejandro Demaria passed to Buscaglia who shot but this time the Livorno goalkeeper blocked.
In the 14th minute Lazio scored. Leonisio Fantoni III tried a shot, Lami saved but Fantoni I was ready for the easy tap in.
Livorno reacted but Ezio Sclavi had to wait until the 28th minute to make his first save on a Ulises Uslenghi shot. After an Octavio Fantoni II shot going just wide, Lazio in the 41st minute made it two thanks to a great free kick by Filò Guarisi.
During the interval both captains presented flowers to Edda Ciano, Benito Mussolini’s daughter, present at the stadium with her husband Galeazzo.
In the second half Livorno had a couple of chances, squandered at the last moment due to the awful state of the pitch. Lazio capitalised and in the 56th minute made it three. A long clearance by Enzio Serafini reached Pietro Rizzetti who passed to Fantoni I. Big whack, Lami as usual parried but gave Demaria another simple tap in.
Livorno did try to reduce the deficit and Lazio tried to make it four. The hosts had chances with Fantoni II in the 64th minute and Guarisi in the 78th but both shots were this time successfully saved by the Livorno goalkeeper. Sclavi was kept busy by Giovanni Busoni.
A storm broke out in the last 15 minutes and one could hardly see anything from the stands. Guarisi had a chance in the 84th minute but his shot was parried by the keeper. Livorno had one last attempt in the final minutes but Sclavi saved an Uslenghi shot.
Great win for Lazio in difficult weather conditions.
Who played for Lazio
Sclavi, Bertagni, Serafini, Rizzetti, Tonali, Fantoni II, Guarisi, Fantoni I, Fantoni III, Buscaglia, Demaria
Manager: Sturmer
Who played for Livorno
Lami, Biondi, Monza II, Persia, Uslenghi, Alberti, Martini, Arcari IV, Busoni, Magnozzi, Cappelli.
Manager: Lelovics
Referee: Levrero
Goals: 14’ Fantoni I, 41’ Guarisi, 56’ Demaria
What happened next
The club’s main objective for the 1933-34 season was to avoid relegation, consequently the modest 10th place achieved the desired result. The highlights were drawing 2-2 against the mighty Juventus and beating Milan 4-0. Lazio lost 8-1 to Ambrosiana (but had been reduced to 9 men due to two injuries, with no possibility at the time for substitutions) and 5-0 to Roma, but got a partial revenge in the return match when trailing 0-3 they managed to draw with an Alejandro Demaria hat trick.
Armando Bertagni and Anfilogino Filò Guarisi were the players with the most appearances (33). Filò was the top scorer with 13 goals.
Let’s talk about Alejandro Demaria
Alejandro Demaria, sometimes known in Italy as Alessandro De Maria, was born in Votorantim in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, on June 19, 1904. He started playing football for Independencia in Rio Branco but moved to Corinthians in 1928 where he formed a very strong attacking partnership with José Castelli. He won three Paulista championships in 1928, 1929 and 1930 and even played four games for Brazil and scored three goals. In 1931 he moved to Lazio where he stayed for four seasons.
His legacy is surely in the derby, on March 11, 1934. Lazio were 0-3 down after just 15 minutes but his hat trick allowed the Biancocelesti to clinch a draw. This was the first hat trick scored by a Lazio player in a derby but there is a dispute over who scored the first goal. The Gazzetta dello Sport gives it to Filò Guarisi whilst Il Littoriale to Demaria. Romantically we prefer the hat trick!!! He scored five goals against the Giallorossi, just like Tommaso Rocchi, one behind Ciro Immobile and two short of Silvio Piola.
In 1935 he returned to Corinthians and retired a year later. He was a very good winger but also very tall (1.90m) so when he attempted shots at goal he often lost his step and fell.
He died in Santos on March 17, 1968.
Lazio Career
Season | Serie A appearances | Serie A goals |
1931-32 | 31 | 10 |
1932-33 | 29 | 7 |
1933-34 | 26 | 8 |
1934-35 | 17 | 4 |
Total | 103 | 29 |
Sources
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