League Play-Off

Stadio Valleggia
Spectators: 33 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Ferdinando Gaudino stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Alexander Santo's shot from short distance in the 5th minute. In the 8th match minute, Rafiki United was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ciro Marulli to maneuver through the defense. Cosimo De Donatis hit a great freekick 10 minutes into the match. Alexander Simone fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 16th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Tayyip Akyol having to interfere. Francesco Campo's late challenge caught a Palermo's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Francesco Campo helped the player get up and apologised. In a very dangerous position, a player in Rafiki United fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 18th minute. Penalty! The goalkeeper, Tayyip Akyol, was totally fooled by Palermo's Antonello Costanzo, who 20 minutes into the game made a penalty shot that went in on the goalkeeper's left side. Ferdinando Gaudino stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Ermanno Bottaro's shot from short distance in the 24th minute. Fabrizio Camerlengo struck a weak shot in the 29th minute. Tayyip Akyol didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Palermo. After a rather tough play, Rafiki United's Cosimo De Donatis got a free kick in the 31st minute. The long shot by Antonello Costanzo in the 32nd minute really tested Tayyip Akyol's skills. The ball was on its way into the goal to the left of him when he managed to stretch himself and save the shot and avoid a goal. If Alexander Simone had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 33rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. A collision led to Rafiki United getting a freekick after 34 minutes play. Fabio Salvucci hit a great ball. In the 36th minute, Enrico Di Berardino hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 37 minutes into the match, Palermo's goal looked a bit too open when Alexander Santo came free, but Ferdinando Gaudino reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ermanno Bottaro's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Ferdinando Gaudino read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 40th minute of play. After 41 minutes, Enzo Cagnetta mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Palermo and the Rafiki United players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 42nd minute Alexander Santo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ferdinando Gaudino saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 44 played minutes Palermo got a freekick which was hit by Antonello Costanzo. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 1-0.

If Ermanno Bottaro had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 53rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. After a defensive mix-up in Rafiki United's zone, Fabrizio Camerlengo stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Tayyip Akyol came out of the goal and Fabrizio Camerlengo tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Alexander Simone sent away a hard shot on goal in the 57th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Fabrizio Camerlengo fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 60th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Tayyip Akyol having to interfere. After some fancy dribbling in the 63rd minute, Alexander Simone managed to get in a good position for a shot. Palermo's supporters rose to their feet, but Alexander Simone was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Tayyip Akyol breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. When Fabio Salvucci fell near the penalty area in the 69th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Rafiki United's protests and gave Fabio Salvucci a yellow card for diving instead. A collision led to Rafiki United getting a freekick after 69 minutes play. Fabio Salvucci hit a great ball. 74 minutes into the match, Palermo's goalkeeper Ferdinando Gaudino had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Ermanno Bottaro. When Rafiki United's Alexander Santo in the 76th minute got a chance for a shot 76th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Palermo's goalie prevented a goal. 78 minutes into the match, Palermo's goal looked a bit too open when Alexander Santo came free, but Ferdinando Gaudino reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Alexander Simone sent away a hard shot on goal in the 81st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 83rd minute, Fabrizio Camerlengo left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Palermo fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 2-0. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Dave Catucci during the 87th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. The supporters of Palermo booed when Rafiki United was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 87 match minutes in a wonderful position. Dave Catucci didn't get a good kick on the ball. When Fabrizio Camerlengo came up free with the goalie in the 90th minute, the Palermo 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 Fabrizio Camerlengo couldn't finish the play. After having played for 95 minutes, Ermanno Bottaro managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Rafiki United's supporters crossed their fingers, but Ermanno Bottaro was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Alexander Santo fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 97th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ferdinando Gaudino having to interfere. Rafiki United's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.