League Play-Off

Brigata Cremona
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Ciccio Barberio started the match with the kick off. Emiliano Fabrizi made an important save on a dangerous shot by Ciro Caroli in the 6th minute. 7 minutes into the game, one of Linate:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. The referee gave Alfonsine FC 1921 a penalty, 9 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Christian Mori, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of Linate's Emiliano Fabrizi. 1-0. Alvise Facchini sent away a hard shot on goal in the 13th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Linate's goalkeeper couldn't reach when Alvise Facchini 17 minutes into the game got a good kick on the ball which found its way into goal just inside left pole. 2-0. When Alvise Facchini came up free with the goalie in the 21st minute, the Alfonsine FC 1921 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 Alvise Facchini couldn't finish the play. Alfonsine FC 1921's Ciro Caroli got a good chance for a goal in the 24th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 29th minute Alvise Facchini shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Emiliano Fabrizi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Alfonsine FC 1921's zone, Claudio Malatesta stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Arturo Mantini came out of the goal and Claudio Malatesta tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After 42 played minutes Linate got a freekick which was hit by Achille Puce. Alvise Facchini struck a weak shot in the 43rd minute. Emiliano Fabrizi didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Alfonsine FC 1921. Ciro Caroli struck a weak shot in the 46th minute. Emiliano Fabrizi didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Alfonsine FC 1921. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 2-1 at half-time.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Alvise Facchini to make the kick off. Claudio Malatestas short, quick shot in the 53rdth minute got Arturo Mantini to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. A collision led to Alfonsine FC 1921 getting a freekick after 55 minutes play. Cesare Zarrella hit a great ball. In the 55th minute, Bruno Antognoni sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and Alfonsine FC 1921's Arturo Mantini didn't even have to move. Ciccio Barberio received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 57th minute. Arturo Mantini tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Arturo Mantini made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ciccio Barberio in the 64th minute of play. 66 minutes had been played when some careless play by Alfonsine FC 1921's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Bruno Antognoni was slow to take the kick. During this time Linate's players had a chance to rest. After a defensive mix-up in Alfonsine FC 1921's zone, Ciccio Barberio stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Arturo Mantini came out of the goal and Ciccio Barberio tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 74th minute, Claudio Malatesta 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. Ciro Caroli sent away a hard shot on goal in the 80th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Emiliano Fabrizi took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alvise Facchini, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Alfonsine FC 1921's Arturo Mantini played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ciccio Barberio in the 84th minute of play. Ciccio Barberio received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Arturo Mantini came out and tried to block the shot, but Ciccio Barberio slotted it home off the left post making it 3-2 in the 90th minute. 94 minutes into the match, Alfonsine FC 1921's goalkeeper Arturo Mantini had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Claudio Malatesta. Linate's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.