Game 4, Coppa Italia Group Phase
Sunday, June 29, 1958
Stadio Comunale, Palermo
Palermo Lazio 2-2
Lazio consolidate their top spot in the Coppa Italia group with a draw at Palermo.
Lazio had started their cup campaign positively. They were in a group with three other teams (Roma, Napoli, Palermo) all to be played twice. So far, Lazio had won three out of three. They had beaten Palermo 5-1 at home, Napoli 3-1 at home and Roma 3-2 away. After three rounds of matches Lazio had 6 points, Napoli 2, Roma 2, Palermo 2.
So far, in the cup Palermo had lost 5-1 to Lazio, then beaten Roma 3-2 at home and lost 4-2 away to Napoli.
This late afternoon game saw Lazio trying to consolidate their top spot while for Palermo it was possibly a last chance to give them any hope of qualification.
The match
A sunny late June day did not attract a big crowd, obviously losing out to the more appealing Mondello seaside. The game kicked off at 17.45, Palermo and the west side of Sicily are generally not as hot as the east side (Messina, Catania etc) but could still be uncomfortable.
Lazio already played with some of their new signings: goalkeeper Idilio Cei, midfielder Egidio Fumagalli and forwards Claudio Bizzarri and Maurilio Prini.
The game started at a slow pace which suited Lazio fine, but then with the first real attack the home side scored. In the 12th minute Giuliano Piovanelli passed to Gianni Sandri on the right who took off and dribbled the fullback and then put in a perfect cross for Enrico Cecchi, on his debut, to control and power in. Palermo 1 Lazio 0.
The Biancocelesti however showed their superior level by equalising immediately. In the 14th minute a cross by Fumagalli was headed on into the area by Prini to Humberto Tozzi who struck and drew Lazio level. All in two minutes Palermo 1 Lazio 1.
The rhythm then slowed down again even if Palermo were more aggressive. In the 19th minute Sandri shot over the bar and Cei was kept on his toes by the Palermitani forwards. The Rosanero's positivity was rewarded in the 21st minute when an Alberto Malavasi cracking low shot from about 30 metres beat Cei in the bottom left corner. Palermo 2 Lazio 1.
Lazio again reacted well and forced a series of five corners in quick succession. Tozzi had a shot which shaved the post and then Lazio equalised again. A scramble in the area saw Renzo Burini take advantage of defenders Piovanelli and Corrado Danti's hesitancy to sneak in and score. Palermo 2 Lazio 2.
The only other chance before halftime was a good acrobatic scissor kick by Sandri, well saved by Cei.
The impression was that Lazio were in control and could change gear when necessary but they had to be careful as Palermo were giving it their best shot.
For the second 45 minutes the Sicilian "Aquile" changed keepers from Danti to Robert Forte. The game restarted at a slightly faster pace and Lazio seemed more willing to take the initiative. Fumagalli had a dangerous close-range header kept out by Forte and the visitors had a series of corners.
As the game went on, however, Lazio settled for a more passive approach, obviously pleased with a point. Palermo had a couple of late opportunities, first a Malavasi bicycle kick just wide and then Sandri missed a good chance after a neat move with Cecchi. Lazio then controlled the last minutes and earned a precious away point. Palermo 2 Lazio 2.
Lazio topped the table with 7 points ahead of Roma on 4 (the Giallorossi had beaten Napoli a day earlier), Palermo 3, Napoli 2. Two games to go, next up an away trip to Naples in a week's time. Lazio were in a healthy position.
Who played for Palermo
Danti (46' Forte), De Bellis, Sereni, Lodi, Piovanelli, Malavasi, Barbieri, Biagini, Sandri, Azzali, Cecchi
Manager: Rigotti
Who played for Lazio
Cei, Lo Buono, Di Veroli, Carradori, Napoleoni, Castellazzi, Bizzarri, Burini, Tozzi, Fumagalli, Prini
Manager: Bernardini
Referee: Angelini
Goals: 12' Cecchi, 14' Tozzi, 21' Malavasi, 36' Burini
Sources
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