Challenge

ACR Olimpico
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) In the 9th minute of the match Italy got a corner. AC Roma's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Sigfrido Auletta ran over to the corner to take the kick. A nice corner shot did that Siricio Liotta got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Cristoforo Brillante quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Zaccheo Andolina's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Cristoforo Brillante read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 11th minute of play. A throw-in in the 17th minute of the game was made by Horia Nasta with Armin Ascenzi as target, who quickly passed the ball forward. 20 minutes into the game, Horia Nasta threw the ball into play from the sideline. Italy's Eliseo Cutri quickly snatched the ball and retained possesion. Cristoforo Brillante took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Zaccheo Andolina, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Alvaro Sforza in the 27thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Flavio Vittori, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Zaccheo Andolina's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Cristoforo Brillante read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 29th minute of play. Alvaro Sforza could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 31st minute of the match, but Flavio Vittori made a huge save. Cristoforo Brillante made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Zaccheo Andolina in the 33rd minute of play. 34 minutes had been played when some careless play by AC Roma's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Sigfrido Auletta was slow to take the kick. During this time Italy's players had a chance to rest. The corner went over the outstretched arms of AC Roma's goalie and right to Zaccheo Andolina. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. AC Roma's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. Alvaro Sforza might have been able to make a better finish in the 36th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Flavio Vittori. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Alvaro Sforza ran back to his position shaking his head. Italy's Eliseo Cutri quite brazenly broke a throw-in by Horia Nasta, made in the 39th minute of the game. Cristoforo Brillante showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Porziano Marchitelli in the 43rd minute of the match. In the 44th minute, Zaccheo Andolina got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Alvaro Sforza stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. In the 53rd minute Zaccheo Andolina shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Cristoforo Brillante saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. AC Roma's defense didn't have a chance, in the 57th minute, when Zaccheo Andolina scored to the left of an out of position Cristoforo Brillante, making the score, 0-1. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Zaccheo Andolina in the 61st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Cristoforo Brillante saved AC Roma from getting behind. Porziano Marchitelli could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 62nd minute of the match, but Cristoforo Brillante made a huge save. Italy's Siricio Liotta got a good chance for a goal in the 66th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. 69 minutes into the match, AC Roma's goalkeeper Cristoforo Brillante had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Zaccheo Andolina. The audience thought a goal was coming when Porziano Marchitelli got free with Cristoforo Brillante in the 79th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 84 minutes into the match, Italy's goal looked a bit too open when Alvaro Sforza came free, but Flavio Vittori reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Zaccheo Andolina in the 86th minute of play forced AC Roma's goalkeeper Cristoforo Brillante to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Italy made a substitution. Adriano Curto replaced Zaccheo Andolina. After 90 played minutes AC Roma got a freekick which was hit by Damazy Kissel. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Adriano Curto in the 94th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Cristoforo Brillante prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 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.