ANSPI: Ambrit 2-6 Santos

After their win last week, Ambrit's players came crashing back to earth today, losing to a well-prepared Santos.
Their bigger opponents (!) got off to a flying start and Eric was kept busy early on: he made four fantastic saves in the first few minutes but then, when he clawed away a fifth attempt, the ball fell to an opponent and it was 1-0 to the visitors.
Nikos and Joell pushed forward when they could and gave the opposing defence lots to think about. Two more saves by Eric and some stout defending by Ale and Elias saw Ambrit safely to the first break, trailing by just one goal.
Joell went between the sticks for the second period and he was tested too! He beat away the first two shots but then Santos doubled their lead with a goal that was a photocopy of the first one.
But Ambrit fought back!
Man-of-the-Match Pietro was quicker to the ball when it mattered and he bundled in a goal for Ambrit: 2-1.

Ambrit's Man of the Match

The resurgence was short-lived though and Santos made it 4-1 before the second break.
But Ambrit came out for the last period and gave their supporters at Ambrit Stadium something to cheer about! When they might have thrown in the towel, our players instead got stuck into the game and really looked like they might turn it around, exemplified by Ludovico who stopped a dangerous Santos attack with a great last-ditch tackle. Pietro almost scored in the 3rd minute but then, in the 4th minute, he did! Filippo threaded a beautiful pass through the Santos defence and Pietro banged it home.
Ambrit continued to fight right to the death. Giacomo and Filippo might easily have added a couple of goals but it was Santos who scored on the break to seal what was, in the end, a deserved victory.