This Week In Lazio History: April 14-20 | OneFootball

The April 14-20 games became ever so important as the seasons approached their end. There were Scudetto hopes in 1974 and 2000, a promotion to be reached in 1969, and a fourth place to consolidate in 1950. We also remember one of Lazio’s legends: Luigi Saraceni.

Matches of the Week

Date: Sunday, April 14, 1974 Location: Stadio Olimpico, Rome Fixture: Lazio Verona 4-2 Lazio come from behind to beat Verona and gain another point on Juventus

Date: April 14, 1957 Location: Stadio Olimpico, Rome Fixture: Lazio Milan 3-0 Lazio dominate the big match against Milan and crush the Rossoneri thanks to a Tozzi brace and Vivolo penalty

Date: Saturday, April 15, 2000 Location: Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence Fixture: Fiorentina Lazio 3-3 Lazio’s scudetto hopes seemingly shattered in Florence again. A spectacular game but a deja-vu situation as Lazio fall five points behind Juventus with only four games remaining.

Date: Wednesday, April 18, 2018 Location: Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence Fixture: Fiorentina Lazio 3-4 A dramatic match, Lazio behind twice, absurd refereeing decisions, hostile crowd, but the Biancocelesti manage to pull through and secure the win.

Date: Sunday, April 20, 1969 Location: Stadio Olimpico, Rome Fixture: Lazio Brescia 1-0 A Fortunato goal in the second half puts Lazio top of the Serie B table and a four-point lead over 4th place.

Match In Focus

Date: Sunday, April 16, 1950 Location: Stadio Nazionale, Rome Fixture: Lazio Inter 3-2

The new Lazio took a few games to develop into a team but when they did they became a force to be reckoned with. Coming into this game they were fourth, just three points behind Inter.

Lazio started the game much stronger than Inter and scored in the 7th minute. Vittorio Sentimenti III passed the ball to Aldo Puccinelli who crossed from the right. Enrique Flamini had everything figured out even before the ball left the Lazio winger’s foot. His volley was unstoppable and Lazio went ahead.

It could have been two almost immediately but Ferenc Nyers II shot was just wide. In the 11th minute Servaas Wilkes had a chance to equalise but he shot wide from a favourable position.

Lazio scored again in the 15th minute. Romano Penzo crossed into the middle of the box, Camillo Achilli had a second of indecision which Mario Magrini exploited to the fullest. 2-0 for Lazio.

Inter started pushing and Gino Armano, thanks to a Wilkes assist, had a chance but Lucidio Sentimenti IV saved. The Lazio legendary keeper did the same shortly after on an Aldo Campatelli shot from outside the box.

In the 30th minute Inter lost Achilli due to injury (there were no substitutions back then). Despite the inferiority, Inter reduced the deficit in the 38th minute. Campatelli crossed a free kick into the box that Wilkes headed towards the goal. The header was weak and Leandro Remondini left it for Sentimenti IV. Unfortunately for Lazio the ball hit his backside allowing Istvan Nyers I a comfortable tap in. An error of over confidence.

The second half started exactly like the first. In the 50th minute Sentimenti III had the ball 25 metres from the goal. “Who do I pass it to?”, he asked himself. All the Biancocelesti were marked, so Vittorio attempted a shot. The missile that flew off his boot would have been impossible to save even for Superman. 3-1 for Lazio.

Inter started pushing again and Wilkes hit the woodwork twice with a single shot. Francesco Antonazzi then fouled Nyers I in the box in the 75th minute. Penalty for Inter and Nyers I scored his double.

In the chaos that followed Penzo and Puccinelli missed easy chances. Campatelli had the last ball of the match. His cross in the box was headed wide by Renato Miglioli.

A great win for Lazio, now just one point behind third place.

In Memory: Luigi Saraceni II

Luigi Saraceni was born in Rome on September 28, 1903.

Younger brother of Fernando Saraceni, one of the legendary figures of the early Lazio days, he started playing for the Biancocelesti in 1921. For three years he played alongside his brother (together they reached the National Championship final of 1923), and was one of Lazio’s more talented players. Perhaps not as technical as Fernando, he however was more powerful and had a greater resistance.

He played 112 games for Lazio and scored 8 goals. Once he stopped playing he worked for the club in various roles even in difficult times from a financial point of view.

He died in Rome on April 20, 1972.

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