Anyone for tennis?
The Biancocelesti crush Brescia 6-3 in a spectacular game
Also on this day: October 20, 1996: Lazio Cagliari 2-1. Lazio manage to win in 10 men with Cudicini, substitute goalkeeper, heroically staying in goal despite serious injury. Lazio hero of the day: Carlo Cudicini
The season so far
In the previous season the teams from Serie A and B had been grouped together and divided into two groups according to geographical location. This was in order to lessen the burden of travel in a devastated country following the end of World War II. Lazio finished seventh. A mediocre season for the Biancocelesti with a terrible first half and a better second.
The manager, Toni Cargnelli had been confirmed and there had been some new entries as far as players were concerned. Defenders Luigi Cassano (Alessandria), Emilio Carton (Verona), midfielders Antonio Sessa (Pro Gorizia) and Luciano Ramella (Como) and forwards Mario Magrini (Pro Gorizia), Bruno Ispiro (Genoa) and Cesare Ferronato (Bassano). There was a lot of optimism, and Lazio were considered a possible outsider.
But it had been a bad start. The Biancocelesti won the first game at Bari but then lost the next three, including the derby.
Time to start winning again.
The match: Sunday, October 20, 1946, Stadio Nazionale, Rome
Not a lot of people at the game today but those who did not show up would live to regret their decision. Lazio immediately started playing on the attack and in the 4th minute an Aldo Puccinelli shot was parried by Ivanhoe Sacchetti. Under siege, the Brescia goalkeeper was forced to work overtime on shots from Constantino De Andreis, Puccinelli and Bruno Ispiro. In the 15th minute Puccinelli missed an easy chance but three minutes later the Biancocelesti went ahead. Mario Magrini took a shot at goal, deflection from Oscar Messora and 1-0 for Lazio.
Ten minutes later the Rondinelle equalised with Sergio Bertoni after a slight deflection off Luigi Cassano without which Uber Gradella would probably have saved the shot.
In the 36th and 37th minutes the Biancocelesti scored twice with De Andreis. First Magrini put a low cross into the box, nobody intervened and De Andreis had a comfortable opportunity which he did not miss. The same happened again for the second goal only this time it was Henglebert Koenig to cross into the box.
The second half opened like the first with Lazio on the attack. Romolo Alzani tried a surface to air shot that was saved brilliantly by Sacchetti. Then against the run of play, Brescia reduced the deficit. Alessandro Ferri fouled Italo Rebuzzi in the box and for the referee it was a penalty. Romano Penzo scored.
The Rondinelle got enthusiastic and tried for the equaliser. But this boost of energy only lasted 60 seconds. A De Andreis header off a Puccinelli cross re-established Lazio’s double lead. In the 64th minute Puccinelli made it 5-2 with a great shot from outside the box and three minutes later a prolonged Biancoceleste attack forced Carlo Albini to save a probable goal with his hands. Penalty for Lazio which Koenig did not miss.
The players started to get tired but the match continued at a high rhythm. Spartaco Bulgarelli hit the woodwork and in the 87th minute Penzo, on a free kick, closed the game, 6-3. To note that Lazio had a couple of opportunities to make it seven but first Koenig shot wide and then De Andreis tried a volley on a Puccinelli cross when he could have easily controlled the ball to allow himself a better chance of scoring.
Great game from Lazio and big win.
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Cargnelli
Who played for Brescia
Sacchetti, Messora, Paolini, Perazzolo, Mariani, Albini, Defilippis, Bertoni, Penzo, Bulgarelli, Rebuzzi
Manager: De Vecchi
Referee: Bonivento
Goals: 18’ Messora (og), 25’ Bertoni, 37’ De Andreis, 38’ De Andreis, 52’ Penzo (pen), 53’ De Andreis, 59’ Puccinelli, 63’ Koenig (pen), 84’ Penzo.
What happened next
At the end of the first half of the season Lazio were tenth with a five-point cushion on the relegation zone and miles away from the top. Very inconsistent, the Biancocelesti had some good wins (Bologna 3-1, Sampdoria 4-0) but bad losses (4-1 against Fiorentina and 5-1 to Torino). After 25 games they were in the relegation zone, but thanks to Enrique Flamini's return they managed to work themselves up and reach tenth place at the end of the season. In the last 13 matches they lost just one and won five.
Aldo Puccinelli was the player with most appearances (36) as well as the top scorer with 13 goals.
Lazio 1946-47
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 38 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 56 |
Top five appearances
Player | Serie A |
Puccinelli | 38 |
Gualtieri | 36 |
Cassano | 33 |
Magrini | 31 |
Ispiro | 28 |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Serie A |
Puccinelli | 13 |
Koenig | 12 |
De Andreis | 8 |
Lombardini | 7 |
Ispiro | 5 |
Let's talk about Antonio Sessa
Antonio Sessa was born on January 18, 1924 in Trieste. He started playing professionally with Triestina in 1941-42 debuting in Serie A on May 31,1942, in the home win against Fiorentina. He played another year in Trieste but during the war he played for Pro Gorizia.
In 1946, on a suggestion from Giacomo Blason, he signed for Lazio. He made 17 appearances but a year later, despite having started the pre-season training with the Biancocelesti, he moved back to Trieste and became one of Triestina's most representative players. He played for four years with 141 appearances and one goal. In 1951-52 he moved to Padova for a season and played his last years of active football with Napoli in Serie A and then Verona in Serie B for two years.
He was a good man-to-man marker, both in defence and at midfield and rumour has it that the great Giampiero Boniperti was never pleased to face him.
He died in Trieste on June 3, 2017.
Lazio Career
Season | Serie A Appearances |
1946-47 | 17 |
Sources
Comentários