League Play-Off

Stadio Montecchio Em
Spectators: 33 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Dino Scirea started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. 4 minutes into the match, Francolino's goal looked a bit too open when Dino Scirea came free, but Dave Maiorano reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Edmondo Finocchi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 6th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Frank Salerno hit a great freekick 9 minutes into the match. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Antonello Tarquini during the 14th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 13th minute of the game. One of Francolino:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Montecchio Emilia:s goal. The goalkeeper, Dave Maiorano, was totally fooled by Montecchio Emilia's Anthony Lupi, who 15 minutes into the game made a penalty shot that went in on the goalkeeper's left side. After 19 minutes of play Francolino's Antonello Tarquini was too eager in his attempt to stop his opponent and brought him down. With that he got his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. Edmondo Finocchi scored 3-0 in the 30th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Dave Maiorano, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Dino Scirea in the 33rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Dave Maiorano saved Francolino from getting behind. Edmondo Finocchi sent away a hard shot on goal in the 35th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 37th minute Comunardo Cinque shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Alfredo Iob saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 38th minute Frank Salerno shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Alfredo Iob saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 40th minute, Edmondo Finocchi hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

After a rather tough play, Montecchio Emilia's Dino Scirea got a free kick in the 57th minute. In the 60th minute, Anselmo Gori hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Dave Maiorano made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Dino Scirea in the 63rd minute of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 68th minute, Ermanno Pascucci managed to get in a good position for a shot. Francolino's supporters rose to their feet, but Ermanno Pascucci was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Alfredo Iob breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. If Dino Scirea had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 73rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. After a defensive mix-up in Francolino's zone, Dino Scirea stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Dave Maiorano came out of the goal and Dino Scirea tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After 76 played minutes Francolino got a freekick which was hit by Frank Salerno. Francolino's Dave Maiorano played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Bruno Del Greco in the 82nd minute of play. After 88 minutes Ermanno Pascucci dribbled himself free with the goalkeeper and shot a hard ball that touched the crossbar and went into the goal, 3-1. Montecchio Emilia's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.