Larione 1 - 1 Dorica (381735917)

Fairly good weather for football had drawn a crowd of 28648 to Peace stadium. Shawn Sherman was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Andrea Amoroso and Till Collaud. Larione decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. They fielded: Meles - Canfora, Andrisano, Engmo - Maestri, Muscoli, Chiodarelli, Vialli, Ketikidis - Shtengel, Wellke.

Dorica started off with a 5-3-2 lineup. The following players took the field: Trivisonno - Gundersen, Coatti, Speranzon, Mella, Norsjö - Sarcinelli, Bottero, Clausi - Fraviga, Dellacasa.

Dorica were relying on their ability to counter-attack. After a fine move down the middle R. Shtengel nearly gave the home side a goal after 9 minutes. However the finishing shot went just wide. Some great play up the middle by Larione led to a chance for R. Shtengel to score after 16 minutes, but the shot hit the crossbar. The celebrations in the stands could only mean one thing - F. Chiodarelli's free kick had found the back of the net and put Larione ahead 1 - 0! P. Parosti was called on to replace Dorica's F. Speranzon after 25 minutes following a nasty collision. Larione's C. Wellke got himself booked for a foul. Larione's R. Shtengel saw his fine effort strike the top of the bar following some good work up the middle by his teammates after 34 minutes. Halftime score was 1 - 0. Larione enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 72 percent of possession.

After 54 minutes, a couple of quick and successful challenges followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area by R. Shtengel might have resulted in another goal for Larione. However, N. Trivisonno made a spectacular save. Dorica's counterattacks were lethal to the opposing defence, allowing O. Fraviga to score easily from the right flank for 1 - 1. Dorica's defence sent a ball soaring up the middle on a beautiful counterattack with 63 minutes gone, but R. Bottero's finish was met by the reaching hands of the keeper. With 70 minutes gone, G. Dellacasa suddenly found himself completely free on the right wing when a counterattack by Dorica caught their opponents by surprise. Only a great save by the opposing keeper prevented him from scoring. Slack defending gave Larione a chance to take the lead with 74 minutes played, but R. Shtengel's cross from the left flank was fumbled in front of the goal and easily dealt with by the opposition. 82 minutes into the game, M. Andrisano had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury. In came M. Pagnini. Larione had most of the ball, with 73 percent of possession.

Larione's best player was R. Shtengel. M. Pagnini on the other hand, had a terrible day. O. Fraviga performed admirably for Dorica. P. Parosti was a disappointment, however. The match ends 1 - 1.