U18 League

Stadio San Nicola
Spectators: 154 (Terracing: 116, Seating: 35, VIP seats: 3) Empire of Soccer's Epigonoi Rousses started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Bari F.C.'s Ercole Del Grosso played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alkeides Mentis in the 3rd minute of play. 4 minutes into the game, Empire of Soccer's Epigonoi Rousses nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Ercole Del Grosso made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. Akheron Harames showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Enrico Addari in the 8th minute of the match. Akheron Harames made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristiano Gargano in the 9th minute of play. In the 11th minute, Bari F.C.'s Enrico Addari dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-1. Iakobos Papoulis charged in rather forcefully in the 13th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Iakobos Papoulis the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cristiano Gargano in the 19th minute of play forced Empire of Soccer's goalkeeper Akheron Harames to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Akheron Harames took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cristiano Gargano, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Through an outstanding action, after 23 minutes, Akheron Harames successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. Akheron Harames showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Enrico Addari, who was totally free with the ball in the 24th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Enrico Addari in the 27th minute of play forced Empire of Soccer's goalkeeper Akheron Harames to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. A collision led to Empire of Soccer getting a freekick after 28 minutes play. Aigimios Vrettos hit a great ball. In the 28th minute of the match Beppe Barbato shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Akheron Harames showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. With a little luck, Empire of Soccer's Akheron Harames got control of the ball when Enrico Addari tried to sneak it across the goal line. 30 minutes into the match, Empire of Soccer's goal looked a bit too open when Cristiano Gargano came free, but Akheron Harames reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 32nd minute, Enrico Addari left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Bari F.C. fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 2-1. Enrico Addari hit a great freekick 36 minutes into the match. In the 38th minute Alkeides Mentis shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ercole Del Grosso saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When the match had gone on for 41 minutes, Cristiano Gargano took a quick shot and it went in 3-1 without a chance for Akheron Harames to make any attempt to save it. 45 minutes into the match, Ferdinando Bergomi dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Akheron Harames, 4-1. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 4-1 at half-time.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Cristiano Gargano to make the kick off. Bari F.C.'s Cristiano Gargano got a good chance for a goal in the 58th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After a rather tough play, Empire of Soccer's Aigimios Vrettos got a free kick in the 59th minute. Ercole Del Grosso made an important save on a dangerous shot by Alkeides Mentis in the 61st minute. Ferdinando Bergomi hit a great freekick 61 minutes into the match. Ercole Del Grosso was a little too slow when Alkeides Mentis got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 64th minute. The score was now 4-2. 85 minutes into the match, Empire of Soccer's goal looked a bit too open when Cristiano Gargano came free, but Akheron Harames reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ercole Del Grosso made an important save on a dangerous shot by Alkeides Mentis in the 86th minute. Akheron Harames took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cristiano Gargano, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Akheron Harames showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cristiano Gargano, who was totally free with the ball in the 89th minute. After a rather tough play, Empire of Soccer's Briarios Fitzios got a free kick in the 91st minute. There was no doubt that Bari F.C. were the better team. Bari F.C.'s players enjoyed the ovations of the crowd after the victory.