Challenge

Estadio Nagano
Spectators: 50 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 1) Jari Alenius started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Thanks to some nice moves Jari Alenius could shoot a difficult shot in the 5th minute, which Flavio Vittori however easily saved by the left post. Vellito Alguerdo showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gianpaolo Mascari, who was totally free with the ball in the 8th minute. Flavio Vittori made an important save on a dangerous shot by Ariel Ortega in the 10th minute. The audience was convinced that Jari Alenius's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Flavio Vittori was relentless in the 11th minute of the game. Jari Alenius's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Flavio Vittori read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 13th minute of play. Italy's Flavio Vittori played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ariel Ortega in the 14th minute of play. 15 minutes had been played when some careless play by Italy's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Ariel Ortega was slow to take the kick. During this time NAGANO F.C's players had a chance to rest. Vellito Alguerdo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Siricio Liotta, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 18th minute Italy were awarded a corner. Sigfrido Auletta went to the cornerflag to take it. Italy's Siricio Liotta quite brazenly broke a throw-in by Erk Hong, made in the 30th minute of the game. In the 34th minute Zaccheo Andolina shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Vellito Alguerdo saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Vellito Alguerdo made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Zaccheo Andolina in the 34th minute of play. Ariel Ortega fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 35th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Flavio Vittori having to interfere. With an all-out effort, NAGANO F.C's Flavio Vittori threw himself towards the right post 38 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Gabriel Batistuta, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Flavio Vittori made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gabriel Batistuta in the 38th minute of play. NAGANO F.C's Vellito Alguerdo played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Zaccheo Andolina in the 42nd minute of play. Sigfrido Auletta was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 43rd played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. The supporters of NAGANO F.C booed when Italy was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 44 match minutes in a wonderful position. Siricio Liotta didn't get a good kick on the ball. NAGANO F.C were furious when Cléber Medeiros was red carded, 46 minutes into the game, but the referee dismissed their protests. After 47 played minutes NAGANO F.C got a freekick which was hit by Cléber Medeiros. In the 48thth minute Deodato Magliozzi beautifully dribbled past NAGANO F.C's defense and it looked for a moment as a certain goal, but Vellito Alguerdo pulled off a phantom save to prevent the ball from scoring on his left hand side. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-1.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Zaccheo Andolina stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. The supporters of Italy booed when NAGANO F.C was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 52 match minutes in a wonderful position. Clodoveo Weather didn't get a good kick on the ball. 54 minutes into the match, NAGANO F.C's goal looked a bit too open when Siricio Liotta came free, but Vellito Alguerdo reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Italy were awarded a corner in the 55th minute after NAGANO F.C's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Sigfrido Auletta took the corner. The corner led Italy's Sigfrido Auletta to fire away a dangerous shot which Vellito Alguerdo despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Vellito Alguerdo made an important save on a dangerous shot by Zaccheo Andolina in the 57th minute. NAGANO F.C's Clodoveo Weather got a good chance for a goal in the 59th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Zaccheo Andolina's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Vellito Alguerdo read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 63rd minute of play. 69 minutes into the match, Porziano Marchitelli dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Vellito Alguerdo, 0-2. Zaccheo Andolina's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Vellito Alguerdo read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 73rd minute of play. In the 74th minute Italy were awarded a corner. Sigfrido Auletta went to the cornerflag to take it. The corner led Italy's Eliseo Cutri to fire away a dangerous shot which Vellito Alguerdo despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Italy's Flavio Vittori played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gabriel Batistuta in the 77th minute of play. The audience was convinced that Jari Alenius's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Flavio Vittori was relentless in the 81st minute of the game. Italy's Adriano Curto was substituted for Zaccheo Andolina. Italy's Sansone Vanella was substituted for Gianpaolo Mascari. Vellito Alguerdo showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Guiscardo Davide, who was totally free with the ball in the 95th minute. When the match had gone on for 96 minutes, Guiscardo Davide put it in 1-4 from a short distance just to the right of Vellito Alguerdo. Italy's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.