TALES OF FOOTBALL | DRAMA ON "GOLDONI" STREET

 

"IF YOU WIN I WILL HEAL ......"

It is June 15, 1930. Another three weeks towards the end of the first Italian championship of "Serie A". At the old stadium on "Goldoni" street in Milan, the local team Ambrosiana has to face the last obstacle on the way to the title "Scudetto"; Genoa is second in the table standings with three points behind Ambrosiana, and now arrives in Milan, also the contender for the title of first Italian champion. A real final. The expectation is great. The wooden stands, obsolete by time, which are filled to the brim with enthusiasts, start to crackle from the left a few minutes before the start of this match, just as the public follows the development of the exercise of an airplane flying here and there over the playing field. The plane at some point gets a little landing to release on the field the long-awaited challenge ball "Scudetto" Ambrosiana – Genoa, while the simultaneous movement of those present provokes the irreparable; with a deafening noise the structures fall down, people lose sight of the "swallow" from a large dust. Voices for help are raised immediately. In the following confusion, the perimeter net is removed and the fans are dispersed on the playing field; however, they do not want to protest, although it is difficult to avoid the "risk" that the match will not be played. Among the wounded a call to Meazza: "Hey, if you win today, I will heal." While ambulances are rushing. After all this, 14 people will be counted injured and fortunately no one will die.

Referee Carraro from Padua gathers the leaders and players of both sides to decide whether the match will be played or not. With a joint decision, and which will be discussed much later the match takes place.

A "rocambolesche" match with special emotions and fascinating episodes. Genoa takes the lead in the 4th minute with Levratto, and it is even Genoa that doubles the result in the 14th minute with Bodini I; the locals seem disoriented but something must be done in front of their ardent public. They will not be left disappointed. And here is the protagonist of the "neroazzurra" team and the top scorer of the championship, the one who will later become the idol player of Italian football and one of the best in the world for the period, 19-year-old Giuseppe Meazza. He is the one who scores in the 22nd minute. But Levratto raises the result for the Genoa team to 3-1, thinking that everything was settled ... It is Meazza again (30`) and again Meazza in the 53rd minute that equalizes 3-3 with an eccentric end and the title in the "pocket" of Ambrosiana. The Ambrosiana fans are happy, the wounds are now as if they no longer feel .....

Here is the lineup of the first Italian champions – Serie “A” . Ambrosiana: Degani, Gianfardoni, Allemandi, Rivolta, Viani, Castellazzi, Serantoni, Blasevic`, Visentin, Conti, Meazza. Coach: Arpad Veisz.