League Play-Off

Stadio Corticella
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Pioppa AFC's Flavio Gerola started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. If Bernardo Panella had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 4th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When the match had been going on for 7 minutes, Corticella's Emiliano Ruggieri got an opportunity to shoot a penalty. He stayed cool and waited for the goalkeeper to move, before he confidently shot the ball into the goal, to the left of Ferdinando Antognoni. If Flavio Gerola had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 11th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Corticella's Bernardo Panella came free and shot a quick shot against goal 14 minutes in the game, fortunately Ferdinando Antognoni had problems saving as it came toward the left post. 17 minutes into the game, Andrea Vani was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Pioppa AFC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Corticella the free kick. After 17 played minutes Pioppa AFC got a freekick which was hit by Andrea Vani. Corticella's Achille Del Vecchio got a good chance for a goal in the 20th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After a defensive mix-up in Pioppa AFC's zone, Bernardo Panella stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ferdinando Antognoni came out of the goal and Bernardo Panella tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Domenico Di Cicco came out of the goal in the 24th minute to try and stop a shot by Pioppa AFC's Alberto Scarinci. But to his dismay, Alberto Scarinci quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-1. Bernardo Panella received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 31st minute. Ferdinando Antognoni tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After a rather tough play, Pioppa AFC's Elia Marinetti got a free kick in the 32nd minute. Alberto Scarinci fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 36th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Domenico Di Cicco having to interfere. 38 minutes into the game, Ciccio Arioli was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Pioppa AFC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Corticella the free kick. In the 45th minute Alberto Scarinci shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Domenico Di Cicco saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Achille Del Vecchio was the one to do the kick off. 56 minutes into the match, Corticella's goalkeeper Domenico Di Cicco had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Alberto Scarinci. Pioppa AFC's Ferdinando Antognoni played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Bernardo Panella in the 58th minute of play. In the 62nd minute Flavio Gerola shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Domenico Di Cicco saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Achille Del Vecchio had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 64th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Ferdinando Antognoni showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Bernardo Panella in the 66th minute of the match. 66 minutes into the game, Corrado Sanna was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Pioppa AFC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Corticella the free kick. Corrado Sanna hit a great freekick 67 minutes into the match. Domenico Di Cicco showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Flavio Gerola, who was totally free with the ball in the 69th minute. Achille Del Vecchio sent away a hard shot on goal in the 78th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Ferdinando Antognoni made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Bernardo Panella in the 80th minute of play. If Alberto Scarinci had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 84th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Achille Del Vecchio struck a weak shot in the 86th minute. Ferdinando Antognoni didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Corticella. Ferdinando Antognoni came out of the goal in the 88th minute to try and stop a shot by Corticella's Bernardo Panella. But to his dismay, Bernardo Panella quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-1. In the 93rd minute, Emiliano Ruggieri sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and Pioppa AFC's Ferdinando Antognoni didn't even have to move. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The Corticella fans cheered their team off the field, for while Pioppa AFC had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.