Italian giants AC Milan arrive in Perth shortly ahead of a blockbuster friendly against Serie A rivals AS Roma at Optus Stadium. It will be the second time the nineteen-time Italian league champions have played in Perth, their previous visit being the final game of an end-of-season tour of Australia 44 years ago.
On that occasion Milan fended off a late surge by Western Australia to claim a 3-2 win from an entertaining game at the WACA Ground. That fixture on 1 June, 1980, closed out not only the tour but also a bleak period in the history of the Rossoneri who, while in Australia, were found guilty of match fixing back home and demoted to Italy’s second tier for the following season.
The Milan squad brought to Australia in 1980 boasted an abundance of talent, highlighted by Italy international Fulvio Collovati and veteran Fabio Capello. Walter Novellino was one of the most expensive players in the world when he joined the club in 1978 for $2 million. And a teenage Franco Baresi was just starting out on a career in which he’d make over 500 appearances for the club, not to mention 81 for his country.
Milan touched down in Sydney on 15 May, only a few weeks after placing third in Serie A. Three days later – and with the spectre of a match fixing scandal hanging over them back at home – they went down 2-1 to Australia at the Sydney Football Stadium. It was shortly before dinner the following night that the players learned Milan were one of seven clubs found guilty of fixing the outcome of Serie A and Serie B games.
For their part in the Totonero scandal, Milan were demoted to the second tier and suspensions of varying lengths handed down to three players plus club president Felice Colombo. It was in that rather sombre environment that the tour continued. Milan defeated Victoria 2-0, drew in Queensland and downed South Australia 3-1 before heading west to the WACA Ground.
Preparations for the State team were hardly ideal. “Most of us had to play on the Saturday for our club and then back it up 24 hours later against Milan,” explained East Fremantle Tricolore defender Keith Jones. “It really wasn’t like we had the weekend off to focus on playing Milan. The clubs didn’t want you to play, particularly because if anything happened they would bare the brunt of your loss.”
A full round of league fixtures meant State coach John Ward was unable to finalise his line-up until Sunday morning. Jones, who had been nursing an ankle injury, was given the nod but a calf issue consigned his clubmate John Polykett to the bench. Into the middle of the defence came Steve Tombides for his senior State team debut. Also wearing the black and gold for the first time were Paul McKenna, Tony Pragnell and Neil Garvey.
Pre-game expectations of a big crowd were dashed when only around 3,500 spectators had made their way to the WACA Ground for the mid-afternoon kick-off. But every one of those in attendance were treated to an exquisite display of ‘continental football’ by Milan, whose inch-perfect passing and utilisation of the full width of the pitch saw them patiently moving the ball from one end to the other.
Western Australia adopted a similar approach and, at times, were very much equal to the Italian masters. In fact, the games first opening came the way of State striker Frank Smerilli whose grass-cutter on the quarter hour shaved the outside of the post. So it came as something of a surprise when, five minutes later, Guiseppe Galauzzo slid into a cross to score for the Italians.
Having taken the lead, Milan pressed for a second goal. Roberto Antonelli’s skill and pace caused some anxious moments for the State backline where Tombides and Peter Baczynski were working overtime. Behind the central pairing stood goalkeeper Willie McNally who, despite suffering a first half injury, ensured there would be no addition to the visitors score before the interval.
Any suggestion Milan were simply going through the paces at the end of a draining tour were silenced early in the second half. Referee Frank Green to awarded the visitors a 57th minute which Gabrello Carrotti brilliantly drilled low into the net. Six minutes later Antonelli beat the offside trap and raced clear to place the ball past a helpless McNally and make it three-nil.
The State team could have crumbled at this stage but instead took the game up to their opponents. “We started putting pressure on them in the last 20 minutes and created some good chances,” recalled Jones. “They didn’t like that and became quite physical. A couple of our players were on the receiving end of some very heavy tackles, unnecessary in my view, as we pushed for the equaliser.”
The fresh legs of Stephen Snell and Dave Fidoe were just what the doctor ordered. With 84 minutes on the clock Fidoe drove forward and laid the ball off to Smerilli, who unleashed a 20-metre shot which flew past ‘keeper Francesco Navazotti. Three minutes later it was Fidoe’s turn to find the back of the net in a frantic goalmouth scramble. And a third goal was almost conjured by McCulloch but his late header was narrowly high.
Milan breathed a collective sigh of relief soon after when referee Green blew his whistle for the final time. Midfield playmaker Novellino had been the standout performer for the visitors, who were also well served by Galuzzo and Carrotti. There were many heroes for the State team, none more so than the midfield trio of captain Stephen Sceats, Lee Adam and McCulloch.
On returning to Italy, many of the Milan squad sought fresh starts. Club captain Alberto Bigon joined Lazio along with Stefano Chiodi, Francesco Navazzotti moved to Reggina, Antonio Rigamonti signed with Varese, Roberto Mandressi switched to Como Calcio and Giorgio Morini transferred to Pro Patria. Capello hung up his playing boots and moved into club management.
Three weeks later a largely unchanged State team faced off with Northern Ireland, who claimed a 4-0 victory at the WACA Ground. On returning to club football, McNally, Tombides, Sceats and Garvey played their part in Kingsway Olympic winning the State League and Top Four Cup double. McCulloch and unused substitute John Alavakis collected D’Orsogna Cup winners medals after West Perth Macedonia’s 5-0 thrashing of Perth Azzurri.
Match Stats
Western Australia 2 (Frank Smerilli 84, Dave Fidoe 87)
AC Milan 3 (Guiseppe Galauzzo 20, Gabrello Carrotti 57, Roberto Antonelli 63)
West Australia (squad): Willie McNally, Keith Jones, Steve Tombides, Peter Baczynski, Paul McKenna, Lee Adam, Stephen Sceats, Gordon McCulloch, Tony Pragnell, Neil Garvey, Frank Smerilli, John Alavakis, John Poleykett, Stephen Snell, Johnny Fiamengo, Dave Fidoe
Coach: John Ward
AC Milan (squad): Antonio Rigamonti, Francesco Navazzotti, Sergio Battistini, Franco Baresi, Aldo Bet, Roberto Minoia, Aldo Maldera, Giorgi Morini, Fulvio Collovati, Walter De Vecchi, Gabrello Carrotti, Enzo Romano, Fabio Capello, Ruben Buriani, Alberto Bigon, Stefano Chiodo, Roberto Mandressi, Guiseppe Galuzzo, Walter Novellino, Roberto Antonelli, Nerio Ulivieri, Paolo Beruatto, Leonardo Menichini, Enrico Nicolini, Claudio Ranieri, Manlio Zanini
Coach: Massimo Giacomini
Officials: Frank Green, Ernie Lee, Andy Hassell
