Game 14, Serie A
Sunday January 2, 1955
Stadio Comunale, Ferrara
Spal Lazio 2-2
The Biancocelesti were stopped by an absurd penalty in the last minutes.
Lazio had a terrible start to the season, In the first seven games they managed one win (against Fiorentina), a draw in the derby and the rest were losses. They were last. Manager Federico Allasio was sacked and the duo George Raynor-Roberto Copernico were called in to rescue the season. Raynor had done very well as head coach for Sweden and the previous year he had, briefly, managed Juventus.
With the new coaches the situation had not really improved that much. They were still last, but in the company of Spal. This year in Serie A, two teams would be relegated to Serie B.
The match
There were lots of Lazio supporters in Ferrara today to cheer on the team in the hope for a win. But the game was rather dismal. The Biancocelesti had difficulty in managing to create anything dangerous and break down the Spal defensive wall. In the 9th minute a Rinaldo Oliveri shot went across the Lazio penalty area without anybody ready to tap it in. In the 21st minute Oliveri crossed into the middle and Pietro Broccini headed the ball past Giuseppe Zibetti.
The Biancocelesti at this point doubled their efforts and in the 26th minute could have equalised with a Renzo Burini shot which unfortunately hit the crossbar. The rest of the first half was characterised by long balls into the box comfortably managed by the Spal defence.
In the second 45 minutes there were a few tactical changes and Lazio managed to equalise. In the 54th minute Pasquale Vivolo passed to Sigvard Lofgren who from outside of the penalty area gave the ball a big whack that beat Piero Persico.
The Biancocelesti insisted and ten minutes later went ahead. After a number of shots from both John Hansen as well as Primo Sentimenti V, it was Burini following a Per Bredesen assist, to score for Lazio.
The Biancocelesti fell back hoping that a better defensive organization was enough to bring back the victory, but the referee did not agree. In the 84th minute Sentimenti V successfully anticipated a Spal forward but for the referee it was a penalty. Broccini equalised for the hosts.
The Lazio players were furious and Attilio Giovannini was sent off for dissent. As he was leaving the pitch, he was heavily insulted by the Spal fans and he answered back. After the match the local police took him in for questioning.
Pity, it would have been a good win.
Who played for Spal
Persico, Lucchi, Pugliese, Morin, Ferraro, Dal Pos, Olivieri, Montagnoli, Rossi, Broccini, Busnelli
Manager: Biagini
Who played for Lazio
Zibetti, Antonazzi, Sentimenti V, Fuin, Giovannini, Sassi II, Bredesen, Lofgren, Hansen, Burini, Vivolo
Manager: Raynor
TD: Copernico
Referee: Liverani
Goals: 21’ Broccini, 54’ Lofgren, 63’ Burini, 84’ Broccini (pen)
Sources
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