ACLI League (2007/08); Simplicitas 1-2 Ambrit

 After some easier recent wins, Ambrit were tested today and came through with flying colours. After 3', Zach gave an early indication that he was in top form when he stole a ball from a defender and shot just over. This was typical of Zach's play today: he was a constant thorn in the opposition defence and was always available for his team-mates, holding up the play and laying off simple, intelligent passes.

Despite dominating possession, Ambrit went 1-0 down but continued to play the better football. After 14', Pedro found Zach who shot wide. Pedro himself then had a shot saved and Ale shot wide off an Alberto corner. Zach found Ale on the edge of the box for another chance but this one also went wide and then Zach took a pass from Alberto and shot high. Ambrit were making chance after chance without scoring while, at the other end, Giorgio, Vittorio and Bernard were clearing up everything, allowing no dangerous balls to threaten Theo.

In the second half, Ambrit went boldly to a two-man defence and continued to pepper the opposition goal with shots. Bertie played a good ball in from the left and Mattia turned it towards the bottom corner but the keeper got there to make the save. The scene was repeated 4' later, this time Alberto finding Mattia in space but the result was the same. Ambrit's pressure finally paid off mid-way through the second half when the referee awarded a penalty for handball. Ale was cool as a cucumber, planting the ball firmly into the back of the net.

The league leaders now had the familiar scent of victory in their nostrils and they continued to pour forward. The best move of the game almost produced a goal as Zach played a one-two with Mattia and then headed the return narrowly over the bar. Ambrit's winner came soon after. Zach's shot was blocked by a defender and, when the ball fell to Alberto on the edge of the area, he made no mistake!

Everybody played well today but a special mention must be made for Zach, Vittorio and Giorgio - all three outstanding!

TEAM: Theo, Bernardo, Giorgio, Vittorio, Ale, Alberto, Pedro, Mattia, Bertie, Zach.  

TEAM

ANSPI league (2009/10): CRIS 5-1 Ambrit

Ambrit flattered to deceive in the first 10 minutes of this match, settling quickly and looking like the better team. But everything changed when the home side went ahead with a goal against the run of play and Ambrit came in at the first break trailing by the single goal.

Early in the second period, Oliver struck with a beautiful left-foot volley to level the scores but CRIS hit back almost immediately to make it 2-1. A third goal for CRIS followed just before the break.

Ambrit came out for the third period determined to pull back but they struggled to contain the opposing No. 15 and struggled to cope with the uneven surface. 

TEAM: Gabriele, Trym, Giulio, Kendi, Tommaso, Ben, Grancesco, Diego, Oliver

MS girls 1-3 g6 Boys

 An exciting match today as the g6 boys managed to edge out the MS girls to wrap up the match schedule before Christmas. The first period finished 0-0, with Maya making a series of saves from Rocco and Daniel. But it was these two who, in the second period, turned the game in the boys' favour. Daniel was first to score and Rocco followed up almost immediately.

The girls pushed hard in the third period and deservedly closed the gap when Alice slotted home a penalty, awarded by VAR for a push by Adriano. The girls had chances to equalise but Adrian kept them out and Ben wrapped up the victory with a high, high lob that crept into the net between Maya's fingertips and the croossbar.

Boys Third Place Final: Sporting 1-0 Zenit

 A headed goal by Marco off  a Santi throw-in was enough to win the match.

BEST PLAYER POINTS: Santiago 6, Daniel 4, Daniele B 4, Antonio 4, Marco 2, Giorgio 2, Daniele P 2, Zach 2, Alberto 2

Juventus 3-2 Dortmund

 A packed crowd at Ambrit Stadium today witnessed a fitting final to the Autumn Intramural as the Italian Champions edged over the line by a one-goal margin.

Ale began with two quick shots to find his range and he then put the Germans ahead when Adam found him with a neat pass. From a corner, Vittorio almost equalised but Seb made a good save to preserve the Dortmund lead. Diego almost helped his team to another goal when he stole the ball on the right and crossed dangerously but the score was 1-0 at the break.

Ale began the second period with another couple of shots but Juve equalised when Rocco handled to keep a Gianmarco shot out. Cameron's penalty was precise. But Juve found themselves behind again almost immediately, another Ale strike sealing his place as Top Scorer.

Tiago had an early chance in the third period but it was Vittorio, receiving a pass from Theo, who struck the equaliser. Juve now looked stronger and Gianmarco had a chance to steal a winner when through on his own against Seb but he shot over. But he got an almost identical chance two minutes later and, despite a good challenge from Rocco, he slipped the ball in to trigger more celebrations for i bianconeri!

BEST PLAYER POINTS: Vittorio 6, Theo 6, Ale 4, Dylan 4, Gianmarco 3, Cameron 3, Tiago 1, Bernardo 1

ACLI league (2007/2008): Miracoli FC 1-9 Ambrit

 This was a much more even game than the scoreline would suggest and, particularly in the second half, the home team arguably played the better football for long periods.

So how do we explain the scoreline? Three factors... 

First, Ambrit played with more determination and will-to-win. This was exemplified today by Jonah who never gave his opponents a second to settle on the ball, never gave them a centimeter of space to turn. 

Second, Ambrit played as a team. While their opponents often passed well and tried to play football that was easy on the eye, there was always the feeling that each one was playing for himself. Not so with Ambrit, where the players helped each other all the time and nobody was looking for the individual glory. 

Third, Theo. As Miracoli poured forward in the second half, Theo made a string of saves that ranged from the ordinary to the exceptional and he kept out at least three near-certain goals.

On the mark for Ambrit in the first half: Ale (pen), Alberto, Ale, Vittorio (and what a game he had today... outstanding!), Bertie (fantastic header), Mattia (another header). Second half: Mattia, Zach, Bertie.

Team: Theo, Bernardo, Vittorio, Santiago, Jonah, Mattia, Alberto, Alessandro, Zach, Bertie, Pedro

BOYS SF2: Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Zenit St Petersburg

 The first period was all about Ale's left foot. Two sweet strikes produced two goals and it could have been more but for an attentive Zenit goalkeeper. Daniele B pulled one back before the break with a typically determined run and shot.

Diego took over in the second period, finding his range with an initial shot that went wide but making no mistake with his second opportunity, played through by Dylan.

Zenit began the third period brightly and created one or two chances. Zach pulled one wide and Daniele B came close too after a good passing move involving Zach and Oliver. But Dortmund were always more dangerous and Antonio was forced to make an excellent save to stop Ale from scoring a hat-trick.

BEST PLAYER POINTS: Ale 6, Daniele B 6, Antonio 3, Giorgio 2, Zach 2, Oliver 2, Dylan 2, Rocco 2, Diego 1, Daniel 1, Matteo T 1

Boys SF1: Sporting 2-2 Juventus

 In the first period, Juventus had a hat-ful of chances as Gianmarco's pace and positioning left the Sporting defence in tatters. Adrian made a great save from the first chance and then Gianmarco headed the second one over. It was third-time-lucky though when Gianmarco converted, following a good pass out of defence. Shortly afterwards, Gianmarco turned up again - and hit the bar - and then again - and headed over - and then again - and shot wide. After all that, a long throw from Santi canoned off Cameron and went in for the equaliser.

Another throw from Santiago led to another own goal and now Lisbon were ahead. But only briefly. Juve repaid the compliment, Tiago scoring from a Vittorio throw-in. 

In teh final period, Gianmarco struck again... almost. He crashed a shot back off the post and then saw his follow-up cleared off the line. And then it looked like Lisbon would win it at the end. Theo kicked the ball high over the South fence... penalty! Francesco was nominated to be Juve's executioner, but the ball finished just wide of the post.

The match will be decided by a penalty shoot-out on Monday, morning break.

BEST PLAYER POINTS: Santiago 6, Theo 5, Cameron 4, Tiago 2, Gianmarco 2, Adrian 2, Vittorio 2, Ryan 1, Adriano 1, Albero 1, Kevin 1, Ralf 1, Gabriele 1

GIRLS' FINAL: Chelsea 3-1 Manchester United

All'inizio dell'atteso match le Red Devils si sono contate e hanno realizzato di essere solo in 6, ma - con grande fair play, Carolina ha accettato di ridurre il numero delle sue giocatrici e ristabilire la parità, pur dovendo rinunciare alle qualità di Lavinia e Abby. Chissà se alla fine del primo tempo, con il Manchester in vantaggio grazie alla rete di Olivia, ben servita da un'imprendibile Camila, per un attimo il Chelsea ha ripensato a quella decisione...

La cosa certa è che dopo lo svantaggio le Blues hanno risposto con grande intensità, acciuffando prima il pareggio con un'azione di forza di Carolina, poi andando vicine al vantaggio con una bella azione di Sofia, murata dalla brava Annika in porta. Il punteggio si è infine sbloccato grazie al gol di Sofia, brava a correre più veloce di tutte su una palla lunga e a non sbagliare da due passi. 

L'enorme occasione avuta da Camila poco prima è stata forse la vera unica chance per la squadra capitanata da Maya di riaprire una partita ormai destinata al termine. La bella finale, proprio allo scadere, è arrivata infatti con la terza rete del Chelsea, questa volta grazie a Kendi, giusto ricompenso per un'ottima partita.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH POINTS: Sofia 5, Camila 4, Carolina 3, Annika 3, Olivia 3, Kendi 2, Ella 2, Maya 1, Belen 1, Sofia P. 1, Myla 1.

Sporting 0-0 Liverpool

 The scoreline says it all. A sterile match with few chances and an ignominious end. Santi hit the post in the first period and nobody came any closer after that.

A draw is enough to see Lisbon through to tomorrow's semi-finals.

BEST PLAYER POINTS:  Emilio 5, Leo 4, Santiago 3, Lorenzo 3, Ryan 3, Giulio T 3, Giovanni Z 2, Aron 2, Francesco 1, Mattia 1, Ruben R 1

ANSPI league: Ambrit 3-3 Sam89

 For the second week in a row, Ambrit collected a point when most observers agreed that they should really have taken all three. This was another good performance though, with several players making their debuts and others trying out new positions.

Emma and Kendi started off in defence and they bossed the pitch for the first two periods. After her first three decisive interventions, none of the opposing forwards was too keen on contesting the ball with Kendi. Emma won her tackles too, but she also added some classy distribution and it was her pass to Ruben that opened up the play and allowed Ruben to feed Oliver for the first goal.

Ambrit continued to dominate but Sam89 equalised with a lucky goal, Gabriele blinded by the sun when a high ball sneaked in behind him. But Ambrit went in for the first break with a 2-1 lead, Ruben firing home and Gabriele making a good save at the other end from a Sam89 free kick.

In the second period, Diego added pace and strength up front and scored off an excellent Ben assist to make it 3-1. Ambrit should really have won the game from here but our midfield was caught out of position too often and the visitors pulled two goals back to send the team in level at the end of period 2.

Francesco anad Vittorio took over in defence for period 3 and did a great job. Sara, Ruben and Diego all tried hard to find a winner but it was not to be.

TEAM: Gabriele; Emma, Kendi, Francesco, Vittorio, Trym; Ruben, Sara, Ben, Oliver, Diego

ACLI league (2007-2008): Ambrit 5-1 Monteverde

 Ambrit recorded their fifth consecutive win this morning with a solid display against competent opposition. The firs goal came from a clever free kick, Ale taking it quickly and Santiago heading home. The second goal followed not long afterwards, Pedro turning in a Santiago throw and, after that, Ambrit cruised to half time.

The only sticky moment came early in the first half when the visitors tested Theo a couple of times but Bernardo scored off a Zach assist to make it 3-0. Zach himself scored the fourth when Jonah found him with an incisive pass and Ale made it 5-0. Monteverde clawed one back but, for the moment, there is no stopping this Ambrit juggernaut.

TEAM: Theo; Bernardo, Jonah, Giorgio, Carlo; Ale, Pedro, Santiago; Zach

Breaking News.... Basketball: AOSR 24-27 AMBRIT

 Ambrit defeats AOSR in exciting basketball challenge - more details later!

Cosimo, Santiago, Alberto, Bernardo, Lorenzo
Massimo, Bertie, Pedro, Gianmarco, Theo, Gio

Sporting 3-3 Dortmund

 Dortmund got off to a flying start when Dylan hit the bar and then Kevin Sporting hit the post for Lisbon when Aron played him in. Lisbon took the lead through Alberto, straight from a corner, and Santi made it 2-0 before the first interval.

Dortmund dominated possession; Ale hit the bar and then shot narrowly wide but Sporting made it 3-0 when teh ball broke to Santi in a goalmouth scramble. But Dortmund didn't give up. They made chance after chance and, were it not for Adrian in goal for Lisbon, they would surely have come back to win this game. As it was, they came back to draw it! Ale made it 3-1, Rocco made it 3-2, Ale hit the post and then made it 3-3. The last few minutes saw Sporting come back into attack. Francesco played well and had some good chances but Rocco moved back to defend and made some great blocks-.

BEST PLAYER POINTS: Adrian 4, Ale 3, Santi 3, Alberto 3, Dylan 3, Rocco 3, Kevin 2, Ryan 2, Seb 2, Aron 1, Francesco 1, Matteo T