Giovanni 2 - 2 Mucche (382236398)

It had rained all day, but 7173 hardy fans still made it out to A.C. San Giovanni Ro Arena. Stefan Simon was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Gerwazy Kolęda and Ohad Almog. Giovanni started off with a 4-4-2 lineup. The following players had been chosen: Porzionato - Leonardis, Cecchi, Vezzani, Manuello - Schroeder, Buferli, Triarico, Vicenti - Angelelli, Gallitelli.

Mucche decided to use a 4-4-2 set up. Starters: Recinella - Pinnella, Folcarelli, De Bettio, Pirani - Piccirilli, Valiani, Cuppari, Marello - Inzisa, Grinovero.

The rain made it hard for players like S. Schroeder to show their technical control of the ball on this soggy day. Some great play up the middle by Giovanni led to a chance for G. Vicenti to score after 23 minutes, but the shot hit the crossbar. Some good play on the left wing created an opportunity for the visitors 24 minutes into the match, and M. Grinovero wasn't about to let it go by. He got past the defenders and fired a shot that the keeper just missed. 0 - 1 for the visitors. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave A. Vezzani from Giovanni a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 31 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! Giovanni's V. Gallitelli put his head to a high ball coming in from the right after 34 minutes, but the ball went wide. After 35 minutes Giovanni's G. Vicenti limped slightly after a late challenge, but he was able to continue. C. Cuppari did not have a good day today, often losing his footing on the muddy pitch. After 42 minutes of game time, T. Piccirilli had an excellent opportunity to add to the visitors' lead, clipping a volley hooked in from the right, but B. Porzionato was in the right place and tipped the ball over for a corner. With 43 minutes played, M. Grinovero nearly put the visitors another one up as he broke through in the middle and fired from just outside the box, but his shot passed just over the bar. The teams went for the halftime break at 0 - 1. Possession in this half belonged to Giovanni, who controlled the ball 53 percent of the time.

Having been awarded a free kick in an awkward position after 59 minutes, Mucche did not go for a shot but instead fired the ball hard into the 6 yard box. After a brief tussle with his marker, N. Folcarelli was able to power the ball past the keeper to make the score 0 - 2. A. Nuccio was called on to replace Giovanni's V. Gallitelli after 68 minutes following a nasty collision. The home crowd cheered when, after 74 minutes, M. Grinovero's charge up the middle resulted in the keeper making one of his best saves of the day. Mucche had to make a substitution after 78 minutes. G. Pirani limped off the field and was replaced by V. Caprara. The home team's supporters got excited again when C. Angelelli broke through the visitors' central defence and caught their keeper off guard, making it 1 - 2. With 82 minutes played, V. Caprara of Mucche fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. There was concern in the stands when, at the 86 minute mark, Mucche's N. Folcarelli hit the ground hard, but he refused the attention of the trainer and rejoined his teammates on the pitch. F. Valiani seemed highly inexperienced when, after 87 minutes, he was caught dilly-dallying with the ball and allowed F. Triarico to intercept and strike home the goal for Giovanni to make the score 2 - 2. F. Valiani came close to putting the visiting team one up 88 minutes into the match, following a solo raid down the middle, but B. Porzionato managed to tip the ball to a corner. Giovanni had most of the ball, with 54 percent of possession.

The most dominating Giovanni player was without a doubt A. Nuccio. However, B. Porzionato made a disastrous appearance. Mucche's best player was M. Grinovero. P. Recinella on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 2 - 2.