October 17, 1948: Roma Lazio 1-1

Lazio fight back and salvage a point

Lazio second best for an hour but finish strongly and equalise seven minutes from time with Magrini

Also on this day: October 17, 1937: Lazio Bologna 2-0. Two early goals and solid defence give Lazio prestigious win. Player of the day: Umberto Busani

The season so far

The previous season had finished 10th, first under Austrian Tony Cargnelli and then, from February 15, Orlando Tognotti. Lazio's best result had been beating Roma 2-0 in the return derby.

This season Tognotti had stayed on but the squad had seen some changes over the summer. The main new arrivals were keeper Marco Brandolin (SPAL), defender Serafino Montanari (SPAL), midfielder Paolo Todeschini (Atalanta) plus forwards Ferenc Nyers II (Strasbourg) and Norberto Höfling (MTK Budapest).

Leaving Lazio were: defender Alessio Ferri (in a rare deal to Roma), midfielders Cesare Brunetti (Rimini), Flavio Cecconi (Atalanta- he would be back in '49-50) and Luciano Ramella (Como) plus forwards Orlando Fantoni IV, the last of the dynasty (Cruzeiro) and Umberto Lombardini (Tivoli).

So far, in Serie A Lazio had played four matches and were struggling on 1 point. The Biancocelesti were winless, having lost 3 (Juventus 0-4 at home on debut, Padova 0-2 and Lucchese 1-2, both away) and drawn 1 (Inter 2-2 at home). The Biancocelesti were bottom with Bari and Pro Patria. The derby did not come at a good moment of form.

Roma had finished 17th and only narrowly avoided relegation. The manager was first Hungarian Imre Senkey (1-26) and then player-manager Luigi Brunella (27-42). Top scorer was Amedeo Amedei with 19 league goals.

This season the manager was still Luigi Brunella who had retired as a player. Roma had some new players: goalkeeper Luigi Albani (Ostiense), defender Alessandro Ferri (Lazio), midfielder and future Lazio legend, Tommaso Maestrelli (Bari), Arcadio Venturi (Vignolese) plus forward Mario Tontodonati (Bari).

Leaving were: defender Onofrio Fusco (Atalanta), midfielders Aldo Riva (Carbosarda), Enrico Schiavetti (retiring), Paolo Jacobini (Napoli) plus forwards Amedeo Amedei (Inter) and Stefano Ferrari (Seregno).

So far, Roma had won 2 (Bologna 2-1 away on debut and Triestina 4-2 at home a week later) and lost 2 (Torino 0-4 away and Milan 1-2 at home). Roma therefore had 4 points and were in mid-table.

Roma were slight favourites but the fact the Giallorossi had lost their last two games gave Lazio hope. It was also a derby so anything could happen.

The match: Sunday, October 17, 1948, Stadio Nazionale, Rome

A showery day in the capital for the "Stracittadina" and the field was a bit slippery. A crowd of 30,000 turned up for the 35th Roman derby.

Roma had more or less their full-strength squad to choose from.

Lazio were without defender Leandro Remondini, midfielder Enrique Flamini and forwards Costantino De Andreis and Ferenc Nyers. The Biancocelesti played Nibbio Bacci up front beside striker Romano Penzo.

The first half saw the Giallorossi on the front foot. The Lupa controlled the midfield and attacked more but despite all their possession and pressure they rarely threatened Marco Brandolin.

Until the 41st minute that is. Gianfranco Dell'Innocenti put a free kick into the box and Omero Losi out jumped the defence, including a hesitant Brandolin, and headed Roma into the lead. Roma 1 Lazio 0. A deserved lead so far for the Giallorossi.

In the second half Roma continued to be superior, at least in the first twenty minutes. They however failed to get a second goal and then the game changed.

Roma began to tire with the so far dominant José Valle fading. Lazio saw their chance and started to attack relentlessly. Paolo Todeschini, Romolo Alzani and Salvador Gualtieri all set up good chances but the forwards were imprecise with their finishing.

Lazio were constantly in Roma's half and their pressure eventually paid off. In the 83rd minute Alzani burst down the wing and crossed, the Roma keeper Franco Risorti tried to punch it clear but missed, leaving Mario Magrini with an easy header to equalise. Roma 1 Lazio 1.

Both sides then seemed to settle for a draw and that's how it ended. Roma 1 Lazio 1.

A fair result in the end. Roma had been on top for an hour but then Lazio had finished strongly and could have scored more than one goal.

In Rome derbies then and now, almost eighty years later, the prerogative is whatever you do, DO NOT LOSE.

Roma were now joint 9th with Sampdoria, Fiorentina and Novara on 5 points while Lazio moved off the bottom and were joint 18th on 2 points with Modena.

Who played for Roma

Risorti, Contin, Andreoli, Dell'Innocenti, Valle, Ferri, Losi, Maestrelli, Tontodonati, Venturi, Pesaola

Manager: Brunella

Who played for Lazio

Brandolin, Antonazzi, Piacentini, Gualtieri, Todeschini, Alzani, Puccinelli, Magrini, Penzo I, Tavellin, Bacci

Manager: Tognotti

Referee: Camiolo

Goals: 41' Losi, 83' Magrini

What happened next

Despite today's decent game Lazio continued to struggle and after five more winless games Tognatti was replaced by Mario Sperone. In Sperone's second game in charge Lazio beat Bologna 8-2 but it was a flash in the pan for Lazio as they then finished 13th, one place above Roma at least. The Biancocelesti after the Bologna thrashing did not win a game for another month, albeit 5-1 against Modena. They did however improve from January onwards (7 wins) and ended up winning 11, drawing 12 (including derby 0-0) and losing 15. Top scorer was Romano Penzo with 12 league goals.

As mentioned, Roma finished behind Lazio, in 14th place. The Giallorossi had a decent first half of the season and halfway they were joint 7th, 7 points above Lazio. From January onwards however, they faded and only won 4 more matches. In the end Roma won 12, drew 8 and lost 18. Top scorer was Mario Tontodonati with 12 league goals.

The Serie A was won by Torino for their 6th Scudetto (5th consecutive) but in tragic circumstances. The Granata had not won the title yet when on May 4 the terrible Superga air crash killed 18 players and staff. They were however four points ahead with four games to go. The remaining matches were played by Toro's youth team against clubs who out of respect played their youth teams too and Torino won all four.

At the bottom Livorno and Modena slipped down to Serie B.

Lazio 1948-49

Competition	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Goals scored
Serie A	38	11	12	15	60

Top five appearances

Player	Serie A
Piacentini	38
Puccinelli	38
Alzani	33
Magrini	32
Penzo	32

Top five goal scorers

Player	Serie A
Penzo	12
Magrini	9
Puccinelli	8
Nyers	8
Remondini	6

Let's talk about Guido Tavellin

Guido Tavellin was born in Legnago (Verona) on May 23 1920. His family were in the furniture business and when Guido was 13 moved to Verona.

He spent his youth career at Voluntas Verona and then Hellas Verona.

In 1939-40 he joined Hellas' first team squad. The Scaligeri were in Serie B and finished 13th and Tavellin played 5 league games with 1 goal. One of his teammates was the great Uber Gradella (Lazio keeper 1940-44 and 1945-49).

He then spent a year with Pro Ponte in Serie C before returning to Verona in 1941. He then stayed with the Gialloblu for another five seasons. The Scaligeri were now in Serie C and finished 5th, 1st (promoted to B), 2nd in the War League of Veneto and 4th in the B-C league after the war in 1945-46. He played 80 league games and scored 40 goals.

During the war Tavellin served in France and North Africa.

In 1946 he joined Bari for two seasons. The "Galletti" (Cockerels) were in Serie A and finished 7th and 11th. He had several managers including Hungarians, Janos Nehadoma, Andras Kuttik and Ferenc Plemich. Tavellin played 60 league games and scored 15 goals. One of his teammates was future Lazio Scudetto manager, Tommaso Maestrelli.

In 1948 Tavellin himself joined Lazio. It was a mediocre season and Lazio finished 13th, under first Orlando Tognotti and then Mario Sperone. Tavellin only played 7 league games with 1 goal (Lucchese). He did however get to play a Rome derby, which ended 1-1.

In 1949 he was sent back to Verona on loan. The "Mastini" (Mastiffs) were in Serie B and he played more regularly 34 games and was top scorer with 18 league goals. He had three different managers, Bruno Biagini, László Székely and Angelo Piccioli. One of his teammates was future Lazio, Ugo Pozzan (1957-61).

In 1950 he signed for Anconitana in Serie B. The Dorici were relegated under first Giovanni Degni and then Giovanni Corbjons. Tavellin played 30 league games with 7 goals.

Tavellin spent the 1951-52 season at Bolzano in the 4th tier before returning to Verona again in 1952-53 in Serie B. During the season he then joined Marzotto Valdagno in Serie B but only played 3 games.

His last club was Verona again between 1953 and 1955 in Serie B. The Gialloblu finished 7th and 15th and Tavellin played another 30 league games with 7 goals.

At 35 he retired and went into coaching.

He started assistant coach at Verona in 1956-57. The head coach was Angelo Piccioli and Verona won Serie B and promotion.

He was then manager of Verona from May 1958 to the end of the season which ended up in relegation to B, in 1959-60 (8th in B) when he coached future Verona legendary manager Osvaldo Bagnoli (Scudetto 1985) and in 1962-63 (7th in B and semi-finals of Coppa Italia). In 1966-67 he was manager of Rieti at regional level and won access to Serie D.

Tavellin was an attacking midfielder. He was extremely skilful, with excellent dribbling ability and a good shot. On the down side he was slightly inconsistent and not particularly physical. His best years were with Bari in Serie A.

He was only at Lazio for one season and only played 7 league games. He will be remembered far more fondly in Bari and Verona.

Guido Tavellin died on June 5 1994 in Verona.

Lazio Career

Season	Serie A Appearances (goals)
1948-49	7 (1)

Sources

Lazio Wiki

Wikipedia