League Play-Off

Rupingrande
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Camillo Ascani took the kick off in the first half of the match. Alberigo Gelsomini hit a great freekick 7 minutes into the match. If Fabiano Ippoliti had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 11th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Alessandro Peca showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Camillo Ascani in the 13th minute of the match. Fabiano Ippoliti sent away a hard shot on goal in the 15th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 17 played minutes, Rupingrande FC's Ettore Grossi shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Francesco Falone came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Rupingrande FC reached it. After some fancy dribbling in the 18th minute, Cosimo Buffone managed to get in a good position for a shot. Rupingrande FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Cosimo Buffone was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Francesco Falone breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Cosimo Buffone received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 20th minute. Francesco Falone tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 27th minute, Fabiano Ippoliti hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The audience thought a goal was coming when Donato Citrullo got free with Francesco Falone in the 33rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 44th minute Cosimo Buffone shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Francesco Falone saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Cosimo Buffone might have been able to make a better finish in the 47th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Francesco Falone. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Cosimo Buffone ran back to his position shaking his head. Donato Citrullo received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 49th minute. Francesco Falone tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

The wind increased when Cosimo Buffone made the kick off in the second half. The audience was convinced that Cosimo Buffone's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Francesco Falone was relentless in the 55th minute of the game. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cosimo Buffone in the 60th minute of play forced Rho's goalkeeper Francesco Falone to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Donato Citrullo struck a weak shot in the 61st minute. Francesco Falone didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Rupingrande FC. With a little luck, Rupingrande FC's Alessandro Peca got control of the ball when Fabiano Ippoliti tried to sneak it across the goal line. Alessandro Peca stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Camillo Ascani's shot from short distance in the 69th minute. Francesco Falone made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Donato Citrullo in the 73rd minute of play. Fabrizio Della Rocca charged in rather forcefully in the 74th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Fabrizio Della Rocca the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 74th match minute, Rupingrande FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Fabrizio Della Rocca to maneuver through the defense. Francesco Falone took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Donato Citrullo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The supporters of Rho booed when Rupingrande FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 85 match minutes in a wonderful position. Fabrizio Della Rocca didn't get a good kick on the ball. Fausto Di Biagio took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 86th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Alessandro Peca. Rupingrande FC's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Francesco Falone made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Donato Citrullo in the 87th minute of play. Francesco Falone stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Donato Citrullo's shot from short distance in the 89th minute. When Donato Citrullo came up free with the goalie in the 91st minute, the Rupingrande FC fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Donato Citrullo couldn't finish the play. 93 minutes into the game, Rupingrande FC's Cosimo Buffone nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Francesco Falone made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-0.