Game 34, Serie A
Sunday, May 30, 1954
Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa
Sampdoria Lazio 0-0
Lazio close the season with a goalless draw and an 11th place.
In the first half of the season Lazio were 8th on 17 points, but in the second part there were four consecutive losses between March and April and the Biancocelesti were just one point above the relegation zone. But a few home wins took the team out of trouble so the last games of the season were played in relative comfort.
The match
Today’s game was the final match of the campionato. Sampdoria were safe too so not much was expected out of this game, also because it was sunny and hot. Lazio lost Giovanni Di Veroli at the last minute due to flu so had to put Renzo Burini in defence.
The Biancocelesti were the first to be dangerous when an Aldo Puccinelli – Pasquale Viviolo one-two allowed the former to take a shot in the 13th minute which was just wide. Pierluigi Ronzon had a massive opportunity in the 21st minute when, after dribbling past Burini and goalkeeper Aldo De Fazio, he kicked the ball towards the goal but a great recovery from the Lazio goalkeeper saved the Biancocelesti.
From this point, the Romans took control of the game and had chances with Alberto Fontanesi and Puccinelli but were they well saved by Antonio Pin.
Early in the second half Ermanno Righetto hit the woodwork. For quite a lengthy spell, the players seemed to prefer sunbathing to actually playing football, but the pace of the game picked up towards the end when Mario Pistacchi twice had the chance to score but was stopped by Sampdoria defenders. The last excitement of the game came in the 77th minute with an indirect free kick for Lazio. The ball, after ricocheting through a number of legs, was cleared off the line by Righetto.
This was not a game full of entertainment but was appreciated by the fans who applauded both teams at the end of the game.
Who played for Sampdoria
Pin, Mialich, Podestà, Mari, Fommei, Coscia, Righetto, Gotti, Ronzon, Tortul, Baldini
Manager: Tabanelli
Who played for Lazio
De Fazio, Antonazzi, Burini, Fuin, Malacarne, Bergamo, Puccinelli, Viviolo, Bredesen, Pistacchi, Fontanesi
Manager: Allasio
Referee: Griggi
Sources
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