Montreal Cantalia took on Italian Serie A club Napoli at Faillon Stadium on June 25, 1959. The previous day Napoli had defeated the Ontario All-Stars 9-1 in front of 11,741 fans at Varsity Stadium in Toronto.
Napoli had finished the 1958-59 season in seventh place in the final standings of the Italian Serie A. Stars of the Napoli team were Italian national team goalkeeper Ottavio Bugatti, Italian international left half Celso Posio and Brazilian forwards Emanuele Del Vecchio and Luis Vinicio.
Cantalia manager Aldo Cecchi borrowed a number of players for the match. Former Cantalia player Gene Vinay came from New York to play in the exhibition match. They also borrowed Norberto Iacono and Antonio Bonezzi from the Montreal Alouettes. Bob Johnstone was borrowed from Ulster United and Michel Campo from Tridents.
The paid attendance was 6,422 but it was estimated that more than 7,000 watched the match. Cantalia held the advantage in the first half but failed to score despite having numerous chances.
Before the start of the second half Baranyai replaced Cibin in goal for Cantalia. The Montreal club continued to hold its own in the second half. Kurt Basta scored Cantalia’s goal two minutes into the second half. Napoli’s forward Rodolfo Beltrandi tied the game five minutes later.
Two minutes before full time Beniamino Di Giacomo scored the winner for Napoli.
The Montreal Gazette described right half Bobby Johnstone and the right wing pair of Vittorio Santini and Kurt Basta as being brilliant.
Read about the 1959 National Soccer League season here
Line-ups
Cantalia: Amadeo Cibin (Sandor Baranyai); Amosella Berretta, Tucci; Bob Johnstone, Nevio Varglien, Sergio Chiraz; Vittorio Santini, Kurt Basta, Agostino Mazzoni, Del Negro, Di Croce. Subs: Vinay, Norberto Iacono, Michel Campo, Tony Bonezzi, D’Altilia, Ros Valentino, Marchiolli.
Napoli: Ottavio Bugatti; Elia Greco, Luciano Comaschi; Sergio Morin, Cesare Franchini, Celso Posio; Carlo Novelli, Beniamino Di Giacomo, Luis Vinicio, Pesaola, Emanuele Del Vecchio. Subs: Gasperini, Gino Bertucco, Brenno Fontanesi, Pierluigi Del Bene, Alessandro Vitali, Luigi Brugola, Dolo Mistone, Rodolfo Beltrandi.