Azzurre 0 - 5 Warriors (382236391)

It was an exceptionally sunny day for the crowd of 5135 that came out to Fiamme Azzurre Arena. Ignacio García Lopez was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Oskar Desanghere and Bernd Goebel. Azzurre decided to use a 4-4-2 set up. Lineup: Taccone - D'aniello, Manasseri, Giassi, Rocchia - Benveniste, Trobbiani, Clementelli, Fiume - Viganò, Chiozza.

Warriors had chosen a strategic 4-4-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Piscazzi - Alioto, Buratin, Caccetta, Sabia - Anedda, Sapienza, Zarattini, Carosio - De Laurentis, Semboloni.

Warriors took the lead 24 minutes into the game, making the score 0 - 1 after some elegant movement down the middle. V. Anedda was the scorer. M. De Laurentis's technique was perfect on this sunny day and led to some breathtaking tricks that bamboozled the defence. R. Sabia was, after 41 minutes, almost able to extend the visitors' lead with a well placed diving header after the ball had looped into the centre, but the home side's keeper M. Taccone made the save. 42 minutes into the match, the visitors put themselves ahead 0 - 2 as M. Zarattini finished off an attack from the left with a spectacular scissors kick. M. De Laurentis came close to extending the visitors' lead when he found himself completely unmarked in front of the goal after a pass through the middle. He tried to lift the ball over M. Taccone but overcooked it and hit the bar instead. Warriors came close to extending their lead as F. Semboloni delivered a low effort on goal from the right after 44 minutes, but the angle was too narrow and the shot went harmlessly into the side netting. A drive down the left side allowed M. De Laurentis to get in close and score another goal for Warriors after 44 minutes, taking the score to 0 - 3. 0 - 3 was the halftime score. Possession in this half belonged to Warriors, who controlled the ball 60 percent of the time.

M. De Laurentis increased Warriors's lead to 0 - 4 with a superb free kick strike that flew in just under the far top corner. The players of Warriors now seemed to think the job was done and acted more defensively, just waiting for the ref to blow the final whistle. The visitors added to their lead 59 minutes into the game, after a sensational penalty kick by Warriors's M. De Laurentis slid just past the home keeper. 0 - 5. That made three goals for M. De Laurentis and he was marked down for the hat trick. 69 minutes into the match, M. De Laurentis came through the middle and almost added to his team's lead, but the shot went wide. The home crowd cheered when, after 80 minutes, J. Carosio's charge up the middle resulted in the keeper making one of his best saves of the day. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave R. Buratin from Warriors a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 83 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! Warriors enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 62 percent of possession.

E. Chiozza performed admirably for Azzurre. M. Taccone turned in a dismal performance, however. Most important Warriors player was M. De Laurentis. A. Piscazzi was a disappointment, however. The match ends 0 - 5.