League Play-Off

Bufalotta
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Carmine Cericola got the match started through his kick off. Cristiano Toppi received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 3rd minute. Fausto Taraborrelli tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 7th minute, Cristiano Toppi 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. The supporters of Bufalotta AFC booed when Mensa AFC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 8 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ciro Santangelo didn't get a good kick on the ball. Bufalotta AFC's Emiliano Prisco couldn't find anyone to pass the ball to, so he shot a long shot towards the goal in the 9th minute. The shot went wide which resulted in a goal kick for Mensa AFC. The audience thought a goal was coming when Edmondo Marziali got free with Fausto Taraborrelli in the 14th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. If Carmine Cericola had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 18th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Fausto Taraborrelli took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cristiano Toppi, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 25th minute, Edmondo Marziali 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. 27 minutes into the game, Alessandro Andreola was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Bufalotta AFC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Mensa AFC the free kick. Frank Cirigliano's shot from long distance was a real pearl which went to the right and just passed Ernesto Ucci - 0-1 was put on the score board in the 28th minute. After some fancy dribbling in the 31st minute, Carmine Cericola managed to get in a good position for a shot. Mensa AFC's supporters rose to their feet, but Carmine Cericola was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ernesto Ucci breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The supporters of Bufalotta AFC booed when Mensa AFC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 42 match minutes in a wonderful position. Alvaro Migliorati didn't get a good kick on the ball. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Ciro Santangelo during the 44th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 44th match minute, Mensa AFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ciro Santangelo to maneuver through the defense. Mensa AFC's defense didn't have a chance, in the 46th minute, when Cristiano Toppi scored to the left of an out of position Fausto Taraborrelli, making the score, 2-1. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 2-1 at half-time.

During the 51st minute of the match Ciro Santangelo completely mistimed his tackle and brought down his opponent. The referee gave Ciro Santangelo a yellow card, his second in the match, which meant he could no longer take part in the game. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cristiano Toppi in the 54th minute of play forced Mensa AFC's goalkeeper Fausto Taraborrelli to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpected shot in the 60th minute by Carmine Cericola got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. In the 73rd minute Cristiano Toppi shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Fausto Taraborrelli saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Carmine Cericola charged in rather forcefully in the 83rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Carmine Cericola the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After a defensive mix-up in Bufalotta AFC's zone, Cosimo Corvo stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ernesto Ucci came out of the goal and Cosimo Corvo tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Cosimo Corvo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 90th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 92 minutes into the match, Mensa AFC's goal looked a bit too open when Cristiano Toppi came free, but Fausto Taraborrelli reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Fausto Taraborrelli took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cristiano Toppi, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Edmondo Marziali received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 96th minute. Fausto Taraborrelli tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Jeers came from both ends of the stadium when the final whistle went. Neither team had looked impressive and the draw seeemd a fair result.