U23 World League

Stadio Montesacro
Spectators: 7541 (Terracing: 5657, Seating: 1734, VIP seats: 150) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Gabriel Toli got the match started through his kick off. A collision led to Talenti Roma Calcio getting a freekick after 5 minutes play. Ermanno Marcolongo hit a great ball. If Felice Barbato had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 7th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 11th minute Reynaldo Sabin shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Achille Fiordelisi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a rather tough play, NEWELL´S OLD BOYS's Albano Asteri got a free kick in the 12th minute. After a defensive mix-up in NEWELL´S OLD BOYS's zone, Felice Barbato stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Apolo Richie came out of the goal and Felice Barbato tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 16 minutes into the game, Ermanno Marcolongo cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-0. Apolo Richie was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Benito Handi charged in rather forcefully in the 18th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Benito Handi the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 25th minute Gabriel Toli shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Achille Fiordelisi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 30th minute Antonio Mundo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Achille Fiordelisi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 31 minutes of play, Talenti Roma Calcio's Ermanno Marcolongo made it 2-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Apolo Richie was left in no man's land by his defense there! If Ermanno Marcolongo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 38th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-1 at half-time.

Frank Anastasi hit a great freekick 54 minutes into the match. 65 minutes into the match, Talenti Roma Calcio's goalkeeper Achille Fiordelisi had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Antonio Mundo. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gabriel Toli in the 69th minute of play forced Talenti Roma Calcio's goalkeeper Achille Fiordelisi to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 74th minute Felice Barbato shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Apolo Richie saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Ermanno Marcolongo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 77th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. 78 minutes into the match, Talenti Roma Calcio's Ermanno Marcolongo sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Apolo Richie narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Talenti Roma Calcio were awarded a corner in the 79th minute after NEWELL´S OLD BOYS's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Frank Anastasi took the corner. Felice Barbato's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Apolo Richie read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 82nd minute of play. Achille Fiordelisi made an important save on a dangerous shot by Antonio Mundo in the 84th minute. In the 85th minute, Antonio Mundo reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Achille Fiordelisi. The goal made the score 2-2. Apolo Richie took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Antonio Teodori, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. When Ermanno Marcolongo came up free with the goalie in the 90th minute, the Talenti Roma Calcio 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 Ermanno Marcolongo couldn't finish the play. Felice Barbato received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 94th minute. Apolo Richie tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Benito Handi kicked well hit freekick during the 95th minute of the match. Talenti Roma Calcio were clearly unhappy with the draw, as they felt they had done enough to earn themselves a victory.