Lazio into Cup Final
Lazio shock the "Old Lady" and now dream of historic silverware
Also on this day: September 14, 2014, Lazio Cesena 3-0. A goal and an assist for Candreva as Lazio demolish Cesena. Player of the day: Edson Braafheid
Lazio had arrived 12th the previous season and only narrowly avoided relegation. They had gone through three different managers in the process.
This season they had kept the last manager on, Fulvio Bernardini. They already had started their Coppa Italia campaign in June. Lazio had eliminated Palermo (5-1, 2-2), Roma (3-2, 1-1) and Napoli (3-1,4-0) in a group stage, then Marzotto Valdagno 2-1. Today was the semi-final against the mighty Juventus. A difficult but huge opportunity to try and reach the final scheduled for September 24 at the Stadio Olimpico.
There had unfortunately been a major change to the Lazio squad. It was more a trauma, as Swedish idol Arne Selmosson, (nicknamed "Raggio di Luna", Moonbeam, for the pallor of his skin) after 3 highly successful seasons and 31 goals in 101 games for Lazio, had done the unmentionable; he had swapped “sides of the Tiber” and signed for bitter rivals Roma.
It was a major event in Rome and some people, especially non-Romans, were even said to have changed teams siding with the Giallorossi just so they could continue following the Swede (such as former Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema, just to name one). Until 2018 he was the only player to have scored for both Lazio and Roma in derbies (since emulated by Kolarov and Pedro). So, Lazio would start the season "Selmossonless".
This was the main talking point but there had been other changes too.
Lazio had added goalkeeper Idilio Cei (Foligno), defender Franco Janich (Atalanta), midfielder Carlo Tagnin (Alessandria), forwards Maurilio Prini (Fiorentina) and Claudio Bizzarri (Fiorentina).
Other players leaving apart from "Raggio di Luna" were midfielder Luigi Fuin (Juventus) and forwards Ermes Muccinelli (Juventus) and Pasquale Vivolo (Genoa).
Juventus were reigning champions. The previous season the Bianconeri had won their tenth Scudetto, under Yugoslav Ljubiša Broćić. Top scorer was Welshman John Charles with 28 league goals. The Old Lady had beaten Lazio 3-1 in Turin and 4-1 in Rome.
This season the Slav stayed on. The main new players in the squad were defenders Ernesto Castano (Triestina, he would stay 12 years), Gianfranco Leoncini (from youth academy, he would stay 12 years), midfielder Luigi Fuin (Lazio), forwards Ermes Muccinelli (Lazio) and Karl-Erik Palmér (Legnano).
Leaving were keeper Giovanni Viola (Brescia, after 9 years and 242 league games) and midfielder Giorgio Bartolini (Livorno).
The league had not started yet but today was the Coppa Italia semi-final. Juventus got to this stage by winning their group in June /July (Pro Vercelli 1-1, 4-1, Biellese 4-2, 3-1 and Torino 2-0, 2-1). In the quarter final the Zebras had defeated Sampdoria 3-2 away after extra-time.
Juventus were as always favourites today but Lazio had their sights on history. The winner would play Fiorentina who had already beaten Bologna 4-2 in the other semi-final game.
The match: Sunday, September 14, 1958, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A 60,000 crowd attended this semi-final clash on a hot Roman evening.
The team news was that Carlo Tagnin who had flu symptoms leading up to the game was fit, while of the two former Lazio players now with Juventus only Luigi Fuin was playing.
Lazio played in red shirts as the host team while Juventus wore their classic black and white stripes.
The beginning of the game was balanced but Lazio gradually gained a slight territorial superiority. In the 6th and 7th minutes Lazio had a Humberto Tozzi header and a blistering Maurilio Prini shot saved by Carlo Mattrel.
Lazio’s pressure intensified and in the 13th minute Mattrel saved a low Tozzi effort. The Juve keeper repeated himself three minutes later when he got an Egidio Fumagalli shot with the tip of his fingers. On the subsequent corner Fumagalli's header was high.
Soon after Juventus responded with a long range Giampiero Boniperti shot which shaved the post.
Then it was mainly Lazio again. Mattrel saved on Ugo Pozzan and Claudio Bizzarri and then Fumagalli's header hit the crossbar. Lazio pushed forward as their seven corners showed but could not get the breakthrough.
In the 40th minute a thundering freekick by Franco Carradori was punched away by Mattrel and a minute later Prini shaved the crossbar set up by Carlo Tagnin. In the 42nd minute at the other end a Gino Stacchini shot was tipped over the bar by Bob Lovati. Halftime 0-0.
Lazio had more or less dominated and would have deserved to be in front. Juventus had been quiet, only one dangerous shot and one corner with Omar Sivori and John Charles both uncharacteristically subdued.
Lazio continued to attack in the second half. Juventus were under pressure but did have a long-range strike saved by Lovati in the 47th minute.
Lazio had more chances with Tozzi saved by an acrobatic Mattrel and Carradori just wide.
In the 55th minute Lazio finally scored. A Tozzi -Fumagalli one-two found the Brazilian on the right vertex of the area, closely marked by Ferrario but the forward then turned and scooped a right footed shot into the far corner. A great goal and Lazio 1 Juventus 0.
Juventus predictably reacted but were nervous as Sivori's booking, for insulting his own teammates, testifies.
Lazio were now more cautious but still threatened on the counterattack with a Tozzi strike saved low by Mattrel.
Juventus gained a couple of corners and generally attacked more but were rarely dangerous.
In the 75th minute Lazio stunned them by scoring a second. Prini picked up a Giuseppe Corradi clearance and floated a ball into the middle where Tozzi was out of position but Fumagalli appeared from nowhere to hit the ball which took on a looping trajectory and went in under the crossbar. Lazio 2 Juventus 0.
Lazio wisely now pulled further back to defend their lead but were still dangerous with the ever-active Tozzi.
Juventus piled on pressure. In the 79th minute a close-range Giorgio Stivanello shot went all along the goal mouth without anyone managing to get a touch. Lazio's defence stood firm with Umberto Pinardi containing Charles well so all the Bianconeri accumulated were a few more corners.
With Juventus unbalanced the last chance was for Lazio. Bizzarri was hacked down by Rino Ferrario near the area and Carradori's subsequent low freekick was blocked low by Mattrel. Final score Lazio 2 Juventus 0.
Scenes in the Stadio Olimpico with the Lazio fans jubilant and lighting up torchlights with paper and fire to great visual effect to celebrate the great win.
A thoroughly deserved triumph for the Biancocelesti who played far better than their higher rated rivals. An epic evening but the best was yet to come. Next up was the final against Fiorentina on September 24. History awaited...
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Bernardini
Who played for Juventus
Manager: Brocic
Referee: Lo Bello
Goals: 55' Tozzi, 75' Fumagalli
What happened next
Lazio went on to win the cup, their first historic silverware.
In the final on September 24 against Fiorentina, in Rome, Lazio triumphed 1-0 with a Maurilio Prini goal after thirty minutes.
Bob Lovati lifted Lazio's first ever trophy after 58 years of trying. A memorable evening for the club that had brought football to Rome.
In Serie A the Biancocelesti finished 11th after 10 wins, 10 draws and 14 defeats, on 30 points. Their best result over the rest of the season was beating Juventus again 1-0 at home. Lazio's top scorer was Humberto Tozzi with 27 goals (14 in the league). In the 1958 Coppa Italia the Brazilian scored an impressive 11 goals plus another 2 in the 1958-59 edition.
After today's disappointment Juventus also failed to retain their league title and finished 4th. They did however win the 1958-59 Coppa Italia defeating Inter 4-1 in the final in Milan.
In the European Cup the Bianconeri crashed out in the preliminary round losing 3-8 on aggregate to Austrians Wiener Sk (0-7 in return leg). Top scorer was John Charles again with 29 goals (19 in A).
The Scudetto was won by Milan for the 7th time. Triestina and Talmone Torino slumped down to Serie B. Triestina have never been back since.
Lazio Coppa Italia 1958
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Coppa Italia | 9 | 7 | 2 | - | 23 |
Appearances and goals
Player | Appearances | Goals |
9 | - | |
9 | 2 | |
9 | 10 | |
9 | 1 | |
8 | - | |
8 | - | |
8 | 1 | |
7 | - | |
7 | 2 | |
6 | 1 | |
6 | 5 | |
3 | - | |
3 | - | |
2 | - | |
2 | - | |
2 | - | |
2 | 1 | |
1 | - | |
Dante Castellazzi | 1 | - |
Let's talk about John Charles
William John Charles was born in Swansea in South -Wales on December 27 1931.
While still at school he joined the boys section of Swansea Town who later became Swansea City. He left school at 14 but due to his young age never got a first -team call up with Swansea who were in the Third Division.
In 1949 he moved to Leeds in Yorkshire, England. Leeds United were in the Second Division. He made 3 league appearances in the 1948-49 season. The following season he became a regular and played 42 league games with 1 goal and 5 games in the FA Cup. In 1950-51 he played 34 games with 3 goals and 2 games in the FA Cup. In these early years he was used more as a defender than a forward.
In 1951-52 he played less, 18 league games and 5 in the FA Cup, as he was doing his National Service and played for the Army team but also had operations to repair cartilages on both knees. When he returned, he started being used more as a forward and in the 1952-53 season scored 26 league goals in 40 games and 1 in the FA Cup. In 1953-54 he was the Second Division's top scorer with 42 goals in 39 games. The following season he scored 11 goals in 40 league games and 1 FA Cup goal. In 1955-56 he was made Leeds United captain and the Whites finally won promotion to Division One, under manager Raich Carter and helped by Charles' 29 goals in 42 games.
Back in the top flight in 1956-57 Leeds finished 8th and Charles was top scorer with 38 goals in 40 games plus a goal in the FA Cup. His influence on Leeds' success was so strong that reporters nicknamed the team "John Charles United".
In August 1957 he joined Juventus for the then record 65,000£ transfer fee. Lazio (through English manager Jesse Carver), Inter and Real Madrid also made offers but the Turin club had moved sooner. He was one of the first British professional players to go abroad after John Fox Watson had led the way by joining Real Madrid from Fulham in 1948.
At Juventus Charles was an immediate success scoring winners in his first three games. In his first season he was top Serie A scorer with28 goals, was voted player of the season and the Bianconeri won the Scudetto under manager Ljubiša Broćić.
He stayed in Turin for five years, scoring 108 goals in 179 matches, winning the Scudetto three times and the Coppa Italia twice. In 1959 he was third in the prestigious "Ballon D'Or". His prolific partnership with Omar Sivori and Giampiero Boniperti earned the trio the nicknames "The Holy Trident" and "The Magical Trio". His style of play combined with Sivori's in particular almost to perfection. In his Italian period Charles was also called the "Il Gigante Buono" (The Gentle Giant) due to his physical size and strength and also due to his fair play as he was never booked let alone sent off in his career. A famous episode was when he slapped teammate Sivori to calm him down while the Argentine was having a petulant outburst against the referee.
In the summer of 1962 Charles returned to Leeds who were now in the Second Division again. He only stayed until November playing 11 league games with 3 goals. In the autumn he returned to Italy.
He joined Roma but it was not a great success. Charles only played 10 league games with 4 goals (Bologna, Fiorentina, Genoa, Sampdoria), 2 games in the Fairs Cup with 1 goal (Real Zaragoza) and 2 games in the Alps Cup with 1 goal (Grasshoppers). Roma finished 5th but the main forwards were Pedro Manfredini, Antonio Angelillo and Alberto Orlando.
In 1963 Charles returned to his homeland and joined Cardiff City. The Bluebirds were in the Second Division and Charles stayed three seasons. He played 68 league games with 18 goals. Cardiff City finished 15th, 13th and 20th. In 1964 and 1965 they won the Welsh Cup and in 1965 reached the semi-final of the League Cup and the quarter finals of the Cup Winners Cup (Real Zaragoza 2-3 on aggregate).
In 1966 at 34 he joined Hereford United near the Welsh border. The Bulls were in the Southern Football League (7th tier). He stayed five seasons playing 173 league games with 80 goals and acting as player-manager.
His last club was back in South-Wales. He played one last season for Merthyr Tydfil in the Southern Football league before retiring at 41.
He stayed on at Merthyr as manager until 1974 and then had a brief spell with the Hamilton Steelers in Canada.
He then returned to Leeds and opened a pub on Elland Road, the New Inn.
John Charles is considered one of the greatest British players of all time. He was a versatile player who was used both as a centre-back and then as a centre-forward. He was a prolific goal scorer, netting with both feet and with his excellent aerial skills. Despite his size, 1.88, he was fast and possessed good technical skills and passing ability.
He is not only regarded as one of the best football players ever but also one of the greatest men to ever play the game. His human qualities included loyalty and honesty. His sporting behaviour led international referee Clive Thomas to say, "If you had 22 players of John's calibre, there would be no need for referees - only time keepers". This was confirmed by the fact that he never received one single yellow card in his whole career.
At international level played 38 times for Wales over fifteen years and scored 15 goals. He took part in the 1958 World Cup but missed the quarter final game against Brazil which Wales lost 0-1 to the eventual winners but manager Jimmy Murphy said that "with John Charles in the team we might have won". Along with Ryan Giggs and Gareth Bale he is regarded as Wales' best ever player.
In Wales and at Juventus and Leeds United he is a legend. At Juventus he was voted best ever foreign player to have worn the Bianconero jersey. At Leeds he was voted second best player ever, only after the great Billy Bremner. His legacy lives on in Leeds with the West Stand named "The John Charles Stand", the John Charles Centre of Sport, a street name and a bust of Charles inside Elland Road. He continued to attend every Leeds United home game until his death.
In January 2004 he suffered a heart attack just before being interviewed for Italian television, and required the partial amputation of one foot. He then died in Wakefield, near Leeds, early on February 21, 2004. His ashes were returned to the city of Swansea.
A wonderful career and a wonderful man.
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