League Play-Off

Erasmo Jacovone
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Alex Maestri started the match with the kick off. The audience was convinced that Alex Maestri's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Ciro Scalabrino was relentless in the 3rd minute of the game. In the 4th minute, Francesco Giampieri hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 7th minute the ball was on its way in behind Palese FC's goalkeeper Ennio Lancia, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Ferdinando Tuzzolino sent away a hard shot on goal in the 9th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Alex Maestri fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 14th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ciro Scalabrino having to interfere. When Palese FC's Alex Maestri in the 17th minute got a chance for a shot 17th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye TARANTO F.C.'s goalie prevented a goal. 19 minutes into the match, TARANTO F.C.'s goal looked a bit too open when Daniele Vasco came free, but Ciro Scalabrino reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ennio Lancia took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ferdinando Tuzzolino, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Anthony Bartolomucci received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 25th minute. Ennio Lancia tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. With a little luck, Palese FC's Ennio Lancia got control of the ball when Anthony Bartolomucci tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 29th minute Daniele Vasco shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ciro Scalabrino saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a rather tough play, TARANTO F.C.'s Elia Consalvi got a free kick in the 30th minute. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Daniele Vasco in the 32nd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Ciro Scalabrino prevented the ball from getting in the gole. When Alex Maestri came up free with the goalie in the 33rd minute, the Palese 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 Alex Maestri couldn't finish the play. Ennio Lancia showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ferdinando Tuzzolino, who was totally free with the ball in the 47th minute. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Ferdinando Tuzzolino to strike the kick off in the second half. A collision led to Palese FC getting a freekick after 59 minutes play. Alfonso Macchia hit a great ball. Daniele Vasco scored 0-1 in the 65th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Ciro Scalabrino, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. 0-2 became the score in the 72nd minute when Alex Maestri elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. In the 78thth minute of the game Anthony Bartolomucci who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Palese FC's Ennio Lancia was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Daniele Vasco fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 81st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ciro Scalabrino having to interfere. In the 84th minute, Ferdinando Tuzzolino left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The TARANTO F.C. fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-2. Alex Maestri sent away a hard shot on goal in the 93rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance.