Good start
In the first game of the season Lazio win in Padua
Also on this day: September 18, 1983, Lazio Inter 3-0. Lazio demolish Inter 3-0 with goals from Giordano, Cupini and Laudrup. Player of the day: Joao Batista
The season so far
After the mediocre 1954-55 season, Lazio realised that they had to do more as far as transfers were concerned. So, for the current campionato Lazio spent a lot of money. In came forwards Arne Selmosson and Lorenzo Bettini from Udinese plus Ermes Muccinelli from Juventus, defenders Giovanni Molino (Torino) and Nicola Lo Buono (Trani). Roberto Lovati and Franco Carradori returned from their loan spells at Torino and Palermo. Leaving Lazio were legends Aldo Puccinelli and Romolo Alzani as well as Per Bredesen, Vittorio Bergamo and Renato Spurio. Carlo Parola left active football but stayed as assistant to manager Luigi Ferrero. The technical director was still Roberto Copernico.
Today was the first game of the season.
The match: Sunday, September 18, 1955, Stadio Silvio Appiani, Padua
After initial skirmishes, Luigi Fuin in the 10th minute had the first real shot at goal, followed soon after by Marcello Agnoletto, well saved by Giampiero Bandini. In the 18th minute Lazio scored. Free kick for Padova just outside the Biancoceleste box, Silvano Moro’s shot hit Selmosson, Molino reached the ball and sent a perfect pass to Muccinelli who went off on the counter attack, dribbled by a few Padova players and then beat Giuseppe Casari putting Lazio ahead.
The Biancocelesti took control of the game and in the 22nd minute Selmosson tried to surprise Casari but with no luck. Two minutes later he tried again with a bicycle kick but it was saved by the keeper. Towards the end of the first half, Padova tried an offensive but Bandini made a good save on a Bruno Novello shot and then anticipated Giorgio Stivanello.
In the 65th minute Bandini again made a marvellous save on a Padova free kick. In the 82nd minute Selmosson tried a first shot, parried by the keeper. Ball back to the Swede who tried again and this time managed to score.
In the 90th minute there was a penalty for the home side due to a Renzo Burini handball, Corrado Zorzin had no problem in reducing the deficit but it was too late.
Good win for Lazio, very well played.
Who played for Padova
Casari, Scagnellato, Zorzin, Moro, Azzini, Zanon, Agnoletto, Pison, Novello, Chiumento, Stivanello
Manager: Rocco
Who played for Lazio
Bandini, Molino, Sentimenti V, Fuin, Giovannini, Villa, Muccinelli, Burini, Bettini, Selmosson, Vivolo
Manager: Ferrero
TD: Copernico
Referee: Marchetti
Goals: 18’ Muccinelli, 82’ Selmosson, 90’ Zorin (pen)
What happened next
After the first part of the season Lazio were 13th, just three points above the relegation zone. After 14 games Copernico was sacked as technical director and in came Jesse Carver. Ferrero resigned in solidarity. Carver took over all coaching responsibilities even if on paper Parola was the coach. Things went decisively better under the English manager and the Biancocelesti started to climb up, also thanks to a table that had a lot of teams within a few points. After match 26 they were fourth together with Atalanta, Spal, Roma, Padova, and Sampdoria. Third place was reached three games from the end of the season and then maintained (in the company of Inter). Lazio had beaten Bologna, Inter, Milan and Napoli away from home plus Roma and Juventus at the Olimpico.
The interesting fact was that the game against Roma had been postponed due to snow, something that happens very rarely in the capital.
Selmosson was the player with most appearances (34) and the leading goal scorer together with Muccinelli (10).
Lazio 1955-56
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 34 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 54 |
Top five appearances
Player | Serie A |
Selmosson | 34 |
Bettini | 32 |
Lovati | 32 |
Molino | 32 |
Muccinelli | 32 |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Serie A |
Bettini | 12 |
Selmosson | 10 |
Muccinelli | 10 |
Burini | 7 |
Vivolo | 5 |
Let's talk about Angelo Villa
Angelo Villa was born on February 1, 1929, in Sesto San Giovanni, near Milan. He started playing football with Pro Sesto and debuted in Serie B in 1949. After a year at Crema in Serie C he went back to play in the second tier at Fanfulla in the 1951-52 season. In 1952 he moved to Bergamo to play for Atalanta. He stayed there three years, all in Serie A, playing 97 league games with three goals.
In 1955 he signed for Lazio. It was his big chance to play in a top team but he did not fulfil expectations. He did however win the reserves league. He made 18 appearances and Lazio finished joint third with Inter. After just a season he was sold to Spal, also in Serie A.
At Ferrara he was one the most important players, becoming part of the backbone of the team that managed to avoid relegation and launch young players at the same time. He stayed for three years with 67 appearances and one goal.
Villa’s last two years of active football were spent with Pordenone and Pro Sesto. In his career he played 184 games in Serie A with 4 goals.
Lazio Career
Season | Appearances Serie A |
1955-56 | 18 |
Sources
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