Official Cup

Merceron Arena
Spectators: 158 (Terracing: 119, Seating: 36, VIP seats: 3) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Demetrio Giampieri started the match with the kick off. The Merceron United fans' excitement grew in the 7th match minute when Merceron United's Carlo Mandelli 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. In the 11th minute, Andrea De Angelis hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 20 minutes into the match, Monkey D.Luffy's goalkeeper Emiliano Scarpone had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Carlo Mandelli. Monkey D.Luffy's Emiliano Scarpone played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ermanno Mammarella in the 24th minute of play. Andrea De Angelis hit a great freekick 29 minutes into the match. With a little luck, Monkey D.Luffy's Emiliano Scarpone got control of the ball when Carlo Mandelli tried to sneak it across the goal line. When Andrea Russo fell near the penalty area in the 33rd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Monkey D.Luffy's protests and gave Andrea Russo a yellow card for diving instead. In the 33rd match minute, Monkey D.Luffy was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Andrea Russo to maneuver through the defense. In the 35th minute, Ercole Proia hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Emiliano Scarpone made an important save on a dangerous shot by Carlo Mandelli in the 45th minute.

If Carlo Mandelli had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 53rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 57th minute Carlo Mandelli shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Emiliano Scarpone saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Carlo Mandelli might have been able to make a better finish in the 59th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Emiliano Scarpone. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Carlo Mandelli ran back to his position shaking his head. After 63 played minutes Monkey D.Luffy got a freekick which was hit by Emanuele Grieco. Carlo Mandelli received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 66th minute. Emiliano Scarpone tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Alberto Giorda made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Demetrio Giampieri in the 70th minute of play. 75 minutes into the match, Merceron United's goal looked a bit too open when Demetrio Giampieri came free, but Alberto Giorda reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. There were very few away supporters still in the ground by the end of the match. Most of them had left early, disgusted by the way their team had been torn apart. Merceron United fully deserved thier win.