Flacco Flamini gives Lazio deserved derby glory
A game largely dominated by Lazio is decided by the Argentine fifteen minutes from time
Also on this day: October 15, 1995: Lazio Padova 2-0. Lazio struggle to create chances but ultimately clinch win in last fifteen minutes. Player of the day: Alessandro Romano
The season so far
Lazio had unexpectedly finished 4th the previous season and were hoping to confirm that positive season. The manager had been Mario Sperone and top scorer Romanian Norberto Höfling with 13 league goals. Lazio had also won a derby 3-1 and drawn the other.
This season Sperone was still manager but there had been a few changes to the squad. The main new players were: defenders Stefano Malacarne (Salernitana), Primo Sentimenti V (Bari) and Paraguayan forward Leongino Unzain (Olimpia). Leaving were defenders Leandro Remondini (Napoli) plus forwards Ferenc Nyers II (Hungaria FbC Roma) and Romano Penzo (Fiorentina).
So far Lazio had won 3 (Pro Patria 4-2, Torino 1-0, Udinese 3-2), drawn 1 (Inter 3-3 on debut from 0-3 down) and lost 1 (Padova 0-2). Their three wins however had come in the last three matches.
Roma had finished 17th the previous season first under Fulvio Bernardini (1-35) and then Luigi Brunella (35-38). The Giallorossi narrowly escaped relegation.
This year the manager was Adolfo Baloncieri. The main new arrivals were goalkeeper Luciano Tessari (Verona), defenders Amos Cardarelli (Ludovisi), Alberto Eliani (Fiorentina) and Knut Nordahl (IFK Norrköping), midfielder Sune Andersson (AIK Stockholm) and forward Stig Sundqvist (IFK Norrköping).
Leaving were long serving keeper Sergio Andreoli (Reggina), defender Corrado Contin (end of contract), former Lazio Alessandro Ferri (Reggina), forward and top scorer Aleksandar Arangelovich (Novara) and Bruno Pesaola (Novara).
Roma curiously had two players with past and future Lazio connections. One was defender Armando Tre Re who had been loaned to Lazio for one match, their 50th anniversary game against Celtic Glasgow, while the other was future Scudetto manager and Lazio legend Tommaso Maestrelli.
Roma had a shaky start with 4 defeats (Bologna 1-3, Palermo 1-2, Triestina 2-4 and Juventus 2-7) and 1 win (Padova 5-0).
Taking into account the previous season and the early signs of the current one, Lazio were considered favourites but it was a Roman derby with a fierce rivalry and always open to surprises.
The match: Sunday, October 15, 1950, Stadio Torino, Rome
A crowd of about 35,000 were present on a perfect day for football, sunny and mild.
Due to recent friction between the fans, before the game a flock of doves, with ribbons in the two teams' colours tied on their feet, were made to fly in the stadium. The pacifying gesture seemed to work and there was no trouble in the ground.
Lazio dominated from the start. The Biancocelesti had numerous dangerous attacks: Vittorio Sentimenti III and Höfling had shots well saved by Luciano Tessari who then came out well to block at Unzain's feet. The Paraguayan also saw a shot shave the top hand woodwork. Halftime Roma 0 Lazio 0.
A convincing performance so far by Lazio but without the goal they deserved. The Biancocelesti had been vastly superior to their city "cousins" but had nothing to show for it yet.
The second half was in a similar mould, Lazio well on top. The Eagles had several more opportunities, the most dangerous being an Enrique Flamini shot set up by Höfling but the Roma keeper was on top form.
The goal finally came in the 74th minute. It was a brilliant move by "Flacco" Flamini (El Flaco Italianized). He received the ball from an Aldo Puccinelli throw in and darted past Gianfranco Dell'Innocenti and then from a seemingly impossible angle finally beat Tessari with a surgically precise shot. Roma 0 Lazio 1.
It was a thoroughly deserved lead and it was only at this point that the Wolves stirred. The Giallorossi had two late chances to equalise; first Lucidio Sentimenti IV showed feline qualities in saving a Sune Andersson strike and then in the dying minutes Renzo Merlin, unmarked in the area, managed to put the ball wide. Final score Roma 0 Lazio 1.
A great derby win for Lazio who had been superior technically and physically for 80 minutes. Roma were poor and did too little too late to feel hard done by.
Who played for Roma
Tessari, Tre Re, Cardarelli, Dell'Innocenti, K. Nordahl II, Venturi, Merlin, Maestrelli, Tontodonati, Andersson, Sundqvist
Manager: Baloncieri
Who played for Lazio
Sentimenti IV, Antonazzi, Furiassi, Alzani, Malacarne, Sentimenti III, Puccinelli, Magrini, Höfling, Flamini, Unzain
Manager: Sperone
Referee: Galeati
Goals: 74' Flamini
What happened next
Lazio had another good season and finished 4th again. The Biancocelesti won 18, drew 10 and lost 10. They won the return derby too, 2-1 with goals by Vittorio Sentimenti III and Flavio Cecconi. Lazio's top scorer was again Romanian Norberto Höfling with 11 league goals.
Roma had a disastrous season and became the first Roman team to be relegated to Serie B. They changed managers twice; Adolfo Baloncieri was replaced by Pietro Serantoni after fifteen games but he in turn was replaced by Guido Masetti for the last five games of the season. Masetti won 3 out of 5 but it was too late and the Giallorossi slumped down to the "purgatory". The "Lupetti" (The Wolf Cubs) won 10, drew 8 and lost 20 (including both derbies of course, Juventus 2-7 and Inter 0-6). Top scorer was Stig Sundqvist with 9 league goals.
The league was won by Milan for their 4th title (with the famous Gre-No-Li trio). Gunnar Nordahl alone got 34 league goals. Roma's travelling buddies on the dreaded trip to B-land were Genoa.
Lazio 1950-51
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 38 | 18 | 10 | 10 | 64 |
Zentropa Cup | 2 | - | - | 2 | - |
Totale | 40 | 18 | 10 | 12 | 64 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Zentropa Cup |
Puccinelli | 40 | 38 | 2 |
Sentimenti IV | 40 | 38 | 2 |
Alzani | 38 | 36 | 2 |
Flamini | 35 | 33 | 2 |
Antonazzi | 33 | 31 | 2 |
Hofling | 33 | 33 | - |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Serie A |
Hofling | 11 |
Flamini | 10 |
Puccinelli | 9 |
Cecconi | 9 |
Sentimenti V | 7 |
Arce | 7 |
Let’s talk about Stefano Malacarne
Stefano Malacarne was born in Porto Santo Stefano (Grosseto), on April 21, 1925.
He played his early football with local teams San Donato and Orbetello before joining Salernitana in 1948.
The "Ippocampi" from Campania were in Serie B and coached by former Roma and Lazio, Pietro Piselli. Malacarne stayed two seasons and the Granata finished 4th and 13th. In the second season Piselli was replaced by Arnaldo Sentimenti (brother of all Lazio connections) in March. Malacarne played 60 league games in Salerno. He played alongside past and future Lazio keeper Aldo De Fazio.
In 1950 Malacarne joined Lazio. The Biancocelesti came from a good 4th place but had sold defender Leandro Remondini to Napoli. The manager was Mario Sperone and Lazio repeated themselves with another 4th place, winning both derbies. Malacarne played 30 league games and 2 in Coppa Italia.
In 1951-52 Lazio had a new manager, Giuseppe Bigogno, but again finished 4th. There were no derbies as Roma were in Serie B but Lazio beat eventual champions Juventus 2-0 at home. Malacarne played 28 league games.
In 1952-53 Bigogno was replaced by Alfredo Notti after 25 matches and Lazio finished 10th. They again won both derbies (Roma were back up) and Malacarne played 21 league games.
In 1953-54 Mario Sperone returned but was replaced by Federico Allasio for the last ten matches. Lazio finished 11th and Malacarne played less, only 11 league games due to the emergence of a young defender called Giovanni Di Veroli and the signing of Vittorio Bergamo. The Biancocelesti lost one derby and drew the other.
The 1954-55 season would be Malacarne's last in Rome. Allasio started off but was then replaced after eight games by Englishman George Gaynor (with Roberto Copernico as TD). Malacarne only played 2 league games and was considered old at 30. Lazio finished 12th, drew one derby and triumphed 3-1 in the other.
After five seasons in the capital in 1955 he joined Foligno in Serie D. The "Falchetti" (The Hawks) narrowly missed out on promotion, finishing 2nd behind Romans Chinotto Neri.
Malacarne retired at 31 and did not remain in the football world.
He was a solid and versatile defender. He was 1.76 and 76 kilos. He was a quick player, skilful feet, great timing and was good in the air. The peak of his career was with Lazio, especially his first three seasons. He was part of the famous "difesa di ferro"(iron defence) alongside Sentimenti brothers III, IV and V plus Francesco Antonazzi, Zeffiro Furiassi and Romolo Alzani. It is considered one of Lazio's best ever defences. In his period at Lazio he also won five league derbies (W5, D2, L1), not bad at all.
Stefano Malacarne died on March 14, 1988.
Lazio Career
Season | Appearances | Serie A | Mitropa Cup |
1950-51 | 32 | 30 | 2 |
1951-52 | 28 | 28 | - |
1952-53 | 21 | 21 | - |
1953-54 | 9 | 9 | - |
1954-55 | 2 | 2 | - |
Total | 92 | 90 | 2 |
Sources
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