Game 18, Serie A
Sunday, February 1, 1959
Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa
Sampdoria Lazio 1-2
One zero down after twenty minutes against superior opposition, Lazio stage surprising turn around
Lazio got off to a reasonable start then things took a turn for the worse and Lazio had lost the last five matches. They currently had 14 points and were struggling.
Lazio had not won a game since December 24. Sampdoria were on form but missing some key players; Guido Vincenzi, Mario Bergamaschi and Bruno Mora.
The day in Genoa was grey and showery and the pitch slightly slippery. There was a crowd of 15,000 at the Ferraris.
Sampdoria, today playing in red, came out attacking. After six minutes they had their first goal scoring opportunity when a Giuseppe Recagno cross was headed towards goal but well saved by Idilio Cei. The goal, however, came fifteen minutes later. A free kick was awarded to the home team at the edge of the box for a foul by Franco Janich on Aurelio Milani. Tito Cucchiaroni took it and due to the badly positioned wall and goalkeeper's inexperience the ball went in. Sampdoria 1 Lazio 0.
The Blucerchiati almost doubled their lead at least twice, first with Azeglio Vicini in the 21st minute and then Austrian Ernest Ocwirk in the 31st. In the 42nd minute, and completely out of the blue, Lazio equalised. A perfect through ball by Ugo Pozzan reached Humberto Tozzi who got past Vicini and as the keeper was coming out beat him with a delicate chipped shot. Against the run of play but Sampdoria 1 Lazio 1.
In the second half Sampdoria almost immediately took back the lead after Cei had fumbled the ball but Nicola Lo Buono saved the day. Constant pressure by Sampdoria produced several goal line scrambles and it looked as if they would score any minute. Instead, in the 59th minute, it was Lazio who scored. Claudio Bizzarri found Tozzi who, with his back to the goal, turned swiftly and sent a powerful shot that came off the crossbar and Renzo Burini was there for the rebound to put Lazio in front. Sampdoria 1 Lazio 2.
Sampdoria at this point went for all out attack. The Lazio area was put under siege but Carlo Tagnin, Janich, Giovanni Molino and Maurilio Prini held firm protecting the shaky keeper Cei.
From the 75th minute on, Lazio started having some space on the break. They had some dangerous counter attacks and almost scored twice; Tozzi first forced Ezio Bardelli into making a difficult save in the 80th minute and then hit the outside of the post one minute from time.
So, full time, Sampdoria 1 Lazio 2. A shock away win for Lazio whose defence had been solid, apart from Cei, and Tozzi had come to life in a few decisive moments.
Who played for Sampdoria
Bardelli, Marocchi, Sarti, Delfino, Bernasconi, Vicini, Bolzoni, Ocwirk, Milani, Recagno, Cucchiaroni
Manager: Monzeglio
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Bernardini
Referee: Famulari
Goals: 21' Cucchiaroni, 42' Tozzi, 59' Burini
Source
Comments