The Match for which the Movie “Five to Nil” was shot!

Bernardini, Volk, AS Roma….

It is the 1930-1931 season of Series “A”.
The 22nd week is expected to take place

Juventus is first in the table standings and is preparing to win the first “Scudetto” title of the magical five on the row.

It is March 15, 1931, and Roma have never beaten Juventus before. But that hoodoo is about to end…

The “Bianconeri” land in Rome. It`s not with them Gigi Cevenini, but a worthy heir has arrived from Argentina, master Renato Cesarini. At his feet is the essence of football as a fantasist and creator.

While Roma is led by the class of Fulvio Bernardini, it is second in the classification and aims for the title as well.

An event in its own right, as well as battle for top spot.
It’s been a year and a half since the opening of Campo Testaccio, located in the working-class neighborhood in the heart of the capital, and Roma’s record so far there reads 21 wins, four draws and two defeats from 27 games.
Roma lost badly in Naples 0-3 a week before, and the fans claim a reward in this decisive match and trying to stop Juventus to go further in first position, breaking away from them.

A battle match is expected, a fierce sports fight!

It`s 3;00 Pm in the afternoon.

Both teams led by the referee Carraro from Padua and in the presence of thousands of passionate local fans, entered on the Testaccio field!
The stadium is packed: 30,000 people (the capacity is 25,000), the stands are starting to creak. Another 5,000 watch the match from the nearby Monte dei Cocci. Record takings: 257 thousand lire.

Roma: Masetti-De Micheli, Bodini, A. Ferraris (IV), Bernardini, D`Aquino, Costantino, Fasanelli, Volk, Lombardo, Chini
Coach: Herbert L. Burguess
Juventus: Combi-Rosetta, Caligaris, Barale (III), Varglien (I), Vollono, Muneratti, Cesarini, Vecchina, Ferrari, Orsi.
Coach: Carlo Carcano

Immediately, as soon as the whistle blows for the start of the game, the players of Rome jump into the attack with momentum and persistence.
Their game is fast, beautiful and seems like a rapid flow river.
And this is proven very quickly, when in the 6th minute, Roma’s Midfielder Lombardi scored, concretizing the superiority of the “Giallorossi” jerseys.

The crowd of fans in the stands of Testaccio cannot contain themselves. They cheer loudly!

Roma 1, Juventus 0!
And this is just the beginning!

As Juventus look to respond to the conceded goal, making the rest of the game an uphill battle with an impenetrable Roma defense. Its dangerous attackers, Orsi and Ferrari, try in vain, but they don’t manage to score.

The first half ends 1-0 for the locals!

It will be the second half where everything will happen.
In the second half, Roma resumes the attack, and Juventus, “kneeling” from the pain and fatigue, submits. Barrage of “romanisti” attacks that Juventus cannot withstand any longer.

And here, another goal for the locals. 2-0 when the time marks the 51st minute. It`s him, the most dangerous center forward in Serie “A”, whom ardent Roma fans call him “er Zigefrido”; “Forke” or “Sciabolone”!!!

His real name though is Rudolfo Volk!!!
A top scorer for the time, a player who can score from any position. He is the one who makes Roma fans excited to the point of madness! He is the first bomber of Rome, and he is also among the first to write the history of this special club.

“One time I saw him hit a ball, buried two thirds in mud and made heavy with water, and lash it thirty metres into the top corner. It was one of the most incredible displays of technique I’ve ever seen.”
-Fulvio Bernardini, this is how the legendary captain of Rome of that time and his best friend will say!

Everyone embraces him, while Rome now leads 2-0;
Of course, Juventus does not like such a situation. Her players become angry.

Four minutes after conceding the second goal, Cesarini and Ferraris reacted badly, mutually incorrect to each other. The referee sent both of them off with red cards.

Roma doesn’t give up, continues to attach, and five minutes after the departure of Ferraris and Cesarini, they score the third goal, exactly with the captain Fulvio Bernardini at 61`.

Roma 3, Juventus 0!
And it’s not over yet!

Rome’s downpour continues. They have understood that it is the day, the moment and the time to beat Juventus badly. They have realized that Juventus is against the ropes, and falling from moment to moment, and for this Roma does not retreat, but continues to hit without mercy.

In the 78th minute, it is Fasanelli who raises the score to
4-0!

Roma`s “Poker”!

The Juventus players are now shocked and react too nervously, losing their cool. In the 84th minute, Caligaris commits a very serious interference, a foul that will be punished by the referee with a red card!

It is the third red card in this match, two of which for Juventus, which is on its “death bed” from the sports point of view.

Roma responded to Caligaris’s foul with another goal, just 3 minutes later, making the score 5-0 in the 87th minute.

A legendary work. The sensation, the commotion is immeasurable, for Rome it is a historic day and so humiliating for the team that is destined to win the tricolor of Scudetto!

And that there is something unforgettable, to the point that it will be inspired to make a film with the clear title “Five to Nil” (Cinque a Zero) with several “lively” players appearing in the film and the center forward Volk in the role of the side defender.

A year later, 1932, the well-known director of the time, Mario Bonard, and the production company “JHA Film” will shoot this movie with the theme of this match, and of the sports comedy genre.

By Pjerin Bj | October 26-2024
(C) Copyright | Reserved material

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