Picchio 4 - 4 cittadibaveno (365995032)

A scorching day at Team Picchio Stadium, where 52099 spectators were in place for today's match. Mark Boom was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Benicio Esaín and Valentin Ogiermann. Picchio started off with a 2-5-3 lineup. The following players took the field: Sardone - Limčević, Starink - Asúa, Billanti, Festa, Daddario, Piovani - Minola, Dessì, Ermida.

cittadibaveno decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. The following players had been chosen: Sgherri - Cubelli, Terzera, Liaci - Di Maggio, Mocini, Moya Prieto, Odabaş, Adomniţei - Kolb, Chevalier.

Picchio were mostly trying to use their skill at attacking on the flanks. Many thought A. Billanti ought to have been awarded a penalty 6 minutes into the game, as he went down trying to dribble around A. Sgherri after a determined run through the middle. Picchio broke through on the left 28 minutes into the game, with F. Minola firing in from an acute angle to give the home side a 1 - 0 lead. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave P. Daddario from Picchio a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 31 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! cittadibaveno levelled the score after 35 minutes to make it 1 - 1, as R. Moya Prieto struck home after a fine midfield combination through the centre, which left him completely unmarked. Several players seemed a little dazed by the warm weather, and were repeatedly tricked by the clever and agile B. Kolb. Picchio fans held their breath as E. Asúa scampered down the left side. He successfully avoided all challenges and cracked home the shot for 2 - 1! Cheers filled the stadium as M. Dessì broke through the visitors' central defence to put away the ball to increase the lead to 3 - 1 to Picchio. 3 - 1 was the halftime score. Picchio claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 56 percent.

Picchio's D. Limčević saw his fine effort strike the top of the bar following some good work up the middle by his teammates after 48 minutes. 49 minutes into the game cittadibaveno managed a counterattack, but J. Chevalier took a soft shot from the left flank that was easy prey for the alert keeper. B. Starink wanted to play on, but the Picchio coach had other ideas, and he was replaced 65 minutes into the game by N. Ritvonen. After 68 minutes, cittadibaveno's P. Di Maggio swiftly ran past N. Ritvonen and nutmegged the keeper! 3 - 2. The home team will be cursing S. Mocini for weeks; he finished off a great pass from the left, knocking it past the keeper without a problem. The match was level at 3 - 3 after 71 minutes. The home side put themselves ahead 4 - 3 after 86 minutes courtesy of a breakthrough from F. Minola, who scored with a stunning volley following a cross from the right wing. cittadibaveno's R. Moya Prieto had to watch the rest of the game from the sidelines, after twisting his ankle with 87 minutes having been played. F. Rosa was the replacement. A great save by keeper A. Sgherri after 88 minutes kept the visitors in the game after P. Daddario struck from the left with a real cannonball. 89 minutes into the match the visitors levelled the score at 4 - 4 as A. Odabaş struck home from a rebound off the crossbar, following a shot from the right. Players in Picchio heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their central attacks to the wings instead. Picchio had a good opportunity to take the lead as D. Limčević came up the left side, but he struck the ball weakly and it went straight into the arms of A. Sgherri. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Picchio, with 57 percent of the ball.

Most important Picchio player was D. Ermida. N. Ritvonen was a disappointment, however. The most dominating cittadibaveno player was without a doubt B. Kolb. On the other hand, A. Sgherri's play was disheartening. The match ends 4 - 4.