May 27, 1934 – Aldo (Buff) Donelli scores only goal for U.S. in World Cup opener

Billy Gonsalves pushed for Buff Donelli to be included in the U.S. national team, and Donelli scored every goal for the U.S. in a 4-2 victory over Mexico in a playoff match in Rome May 24, 1934. Three days later, Italy took a 3-0 halftime lead before Donelli’s 57^th-minute conversion.

It seemed strange that FIFA would require two CONCACAF teams to travel to Italy to contest a play-in match, especially since a Trans-Atlantic voyage involved several weeks. If the U.S.-Mexico game had been considered part of the World Cup, Donelli would have tied with Czechoslovakia’s Oldrich Nejedly for the Golden Boot with five goals.

Donelli went on to play and coach the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL and also coached football at Boston University and Columbia. Donelli said playing for the U.S. in the World Cup was his greatest sporting experience and he confirmed this when we talked in the early ’90s.

Bologna’s Angelo Schiavio and Juventus’ Raimundo Orsi scored in the first half, and each added a goal in the second half, for Italy. Giovanni Ferrari and Giuseppe Meazza also scored in the second half. Another key to Italy’s victory was the defending of Luis Monti, according to Donelli.

“Monti,” Donelli told me. “He kicked like a mule.”

The U.S. team was captained by Tommy Florie of the Pawtucket Rangers, and included three of his club teammates: Ed Czerkiewicz, Walter Dick and 17-year-old Joe Martinelli.

Former Boston Wonder Workers stars Gonsalves and Werner “Scotty’’ Nilsen, who were playing for St. Louis Stix, Baer & Fuller, and Fall River native Tom Lynch were also members of the U.S. team.

Italy 7:1 U.S., World Cup first round at Stadio Nazionale PNF, Rome (Att.: 25,000)

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