League Play-Off

Verdena Stadium
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Amerigo Locatelli started the match with the kick off. Melquiades Louis hit a great freekick 2 minutes into the match. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Alexander Treglia in the 5th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Enzo Bolognesi saved VERDENA FC from getting behind. Enzo Bolognesi made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Fausto Di Natale in the 7th minute of play. In the 17th minute japanium were awarded a corner. Edmondo Camerlengo went to the cornerflag to take it. japanium's Afonso Sampaio proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 19th minute of the match, managed to save japanium from getting a goal against them. Afonso Sampaio made an important save on a dangerous shot by Eugenio Colecchia in the 19th minute. In the 22nd minute Donato Mandara shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Enzo Bolognesi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Through an outstanding action, after 23 minutes, Afonso Sampaio successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. Alexander Treglia recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 24th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. The audience thought a goal was coming when Eugenio Colecchia got free with Afonso Sampaio in the 26th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. An unexpectedly hard shot by Carlo Maggi in the 27th minute of play forced VERDENA FC's goalkeeper Enzo Bolognesi to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With a little luck, japanium's Afonso Sampaio got control of the ball when Amerigo Locatelli tried to sneak it across the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alexander Treglia in the 31st minute of play forced VERDENA FC's goalkeeper Enzo Bolognesi to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 36th minute of the match VERDENA FC got a corner. japanium's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Eugenio Colecchia ran over to the corner to take the kick. The attack was good, but when Mohamed Hanin in the 36th minute was about to shoot he didn't kick quite good enough and the ball went high over goal. Afonso Sampaio made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Raiola in the 40th minute of play. Disappointed in the 0-1 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Carlo Maggi was the one to do the kick off. 53 minutes into the match, Eugenio Colecchia had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Afonso Sampaio. japanium's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Eugenio Colecchia was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-1. If Amerigo Locatelli had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 57th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Alberto Raiola fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 60th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Afonso Sampaio having to interfere. 61 minutes into the match, japanium's goal looked a bit too open when Amerigo Locatelli came free, but Afonso Sampaio reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Alberto Raiola in the 64th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Afonso Sampaio saved japanium from getting behind. VERDENA FC:s Enzo Bolognesi showed great skill when he stopped Edmondo Camerlengo:s penalty. Alexander Treglia struck a weak shot in the 68th minute. Enzo Bolognesi didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for japanium. After 69 played minutes VERDENA FC got a freekick which was hit by Melquiades Louis. Alexander Treglia came free with the goalkeeper in the 70th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Enzo Bolognesi could save by the left post. After 71 minutes VERDENA FC's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Edmondo Camerlengo who took care of the corner kick. A nice corner shot did that Edmondo Camerlengo got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Enzo Bolognesi quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. After 74 minutes of play, VERDENA FC's Alberto Raiola made it 2-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Afonso Sampaio was left in no man's land by his defense there! 78 minutes into the match, japanium's goal looked a bit too open when Amerigo Locatelli came free, but Afonso Sampaio reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 84th minute Alberto Raiola shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Afonso Sampaio saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Enzo Bolognesi made an important save on a dangerous shot by Alexander Treglia in the 86th minute. japanium's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Edmondo Camerlengo in the 88th minute. After taking down the ball on japanium's corner Donato Mandara fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Enzo Bolognesi quite easily take care of the ball. Enzo Bolognesi didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Donato Mandara went, in the 89th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-2 was the resulting score. Eugenio Colecchia received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 95th minute. Afonso Sampaio tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Melquiades Louis was astounded when the referee showed him the red card after a seemingly innocent challenge, 97 minutes into the match. VERDENA FC were clearly unhappy with the draw, as they felt they had done enough to earn themselves a victory.