League Play-Off

Stadio Borghi
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Amerigo Marinelli got the match started through his kick off. When Francesco Paolini came up free with the goalie in the 3rd minute, the Borghi 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 Francesco Paolini couldn't finish the play. Alberto Milani made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Carter Giolo in the 5th minute of play. A hard shot by Ernesto Maio from long distance, 10 minutes into the match, got Alberto Milani's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. In the 15th minute Carter Giolo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Alberto Milani saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Francesco Paolini sent away a hard shot on goal in the 20th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When Carter Giolo came up free with the goalie in the 22nd minute, the Borghi 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 Carter Giolo couldn't finish the play. The Borghi fans' excitement grew in the 24th match minute when Borghi's Francesco Paolini looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 1-0 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. Francesco Lorefice took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Amerigo Marinelli, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 33 minutes into the game, Alvise Felice was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Borghi's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Ponzana AFC the free kick. In the 33rd match minute, Borghi was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alvise Felice to maneuver through the defense. After a defensive mix-up in Borghi's zone, Amerigo Marinelli stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Francesco Lorefice came out of the goal and Amerigo Marinelli tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Francesco Paolini got free with Alberto Milani in the 45th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The audience thought a goal was coming when Concetto Romanese got free with Alberto Milani in the 47th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 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.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Carter Giolo to make the kick off. Concetto Romanese's late challenge caught a Ponzana AFC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Concetto Romanese helped the player get up and apologised. Ettore Arpaia held his arms out in dispair when he, after a nice solo performance in the 55th minute, finished the attack by shooting the ball on the wrong side of the right post. In the 58th minute, Cristiano Mannucci hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Francesco Paolini in the 60th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Alberto Milani prevented the ball from getting in the gole. A collision led to Ponzana AFC getting a freekick after 61 minutes play. Fausto Barchiesi hit a great ball. After a rather tough play, Borghi's Diego Mansueto got a free kick in the 63rd minute. Alberto Milani came out of the goal in the 67th minute to try and stop a shot by Borghi's Francesco Paolini. But to his dismay, Francesco Paolini quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-0. In the 73rd match minute, Borghi was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Andrea Berardi to maneuver through the defense. It was beautiful to see Ponzana AFC's Fausto Barchiesi in action when he in the 76th minute dribbled his way through a couple of opponents and the fired away a shot from almost standing still. First the ball seemed to get in, but turned out to be on the outside of the net. A great chance! In the 78th minute, Francesco Paolini made a precise shot to the right of Alberto Milani. Ponzana AFC's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 3-0. Francesco Lorefice made a fantastic save in the 83rd minute, when Enzo Evangelista sent off a good shot on target. Amerigo Marinelli recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 84th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. If Enzo Evangelista had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 85th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Francesco Paolini had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 88th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Ponzana AFC's Alberto Milani played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Francesco Paolini in the 90th minute of play. Amerigo Marinelli sent away a hard shot on goal in the 96th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The Borghi fans cheered their team off the field, for while Ponzana AFC had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.