League Play-Off

Garofolo
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Damiano Alba kicked off to start the match. Garofolo's Dave Vanni got a good chance for a goal in the 4th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. If Antonello Di Battista had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 9th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Dave Vanni received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 11th minute. Aurelio Giammarino tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Garofolo were furious when Carmine Andreoli was red carded, 14 minutes into the game, but the referee dismissed their protests. 13 minutes into the game, one of Garofolo:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. 24 minutes into the match, Damiano Alba notched a goal, 0-2, to the right of Garofolo's Aurelio Di Falco. Aurelio Di Falco was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Angelo Righi charged in rather forcefully in the 26th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Angelo Righi the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. A collision led to Alberi getting a freekick after 27 minutes play. Angelo Righi hit a great ball. In the 28th minute, Claudio Polidori hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After 30 minutes, Antonello Furia mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Garofolo and the Alberi players grew even worse after the yellow card. 34 minutes into the game, Damiano Alba cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-4. Aurelio Di Falco was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Antonello Di Battista could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 37th minute of the match, but Aurelio Giammarino made a huge save. If Antonello Di Battista had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 42nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 43 minutes, Fabrizio Baratta mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Alberi and the Garofolo players grew even worse after the yellow card. After a defensive mix-up in Garofolo's zone, Fausto Luongo stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Aurelio Di Falco came out of the goal and Fausto Luongo tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-4 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Antonello Di Battista stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Eugenio Ascoli kicked well hit freekick during the 66th minute of the match. Fausto Luongo's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Aurelio Di Falco read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 67th minute of play. 69 minutes into the game, Antonello Di Battista cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-4. Aurelio Giammarino was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Antonello Di Battista sent away a hard shot on goal in the 74th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In a very dangerous position, a player in Garofolo fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 83rd minute. Penalty! Damiano Alba sent away a hard shot on goal in the 88th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Aurelio Di Falco showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Damiano Alba, who was totally free with the ball in the 97th minute. The Alberi supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Alberi would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.