Homeroom Championships: 8V 3-1 7H

 An exciting climax to the Homeroom Championships today as 8V recovered from an early deficit to win this year's title!

The first period was largely a time of the teams studying each others' play, but then 8V conceded a penalty and Daniel held his nerve to smash the ball home. 7H kept 8V at bay in period 2 but then, for the final period, Ale and Vittorio teamed up and the goals began to flow. Vittorio scored once, then again and Ale added a third.

Well done to a valiant 7H and congratulations to 8V!!!

Homeroom Championship - SF: 7H 1-1 8S

 This was a very even match characterised by crunching tackles, crisp passing and total commitment. 7H drew first blood in the first period, Gabriele firing in an unstoppable shot. In the second period, 7H held onto their lead and might have stretched it when Daniel's shot struck the bar. Great performances from Daniele, Daniel, Naila, Giovanni and Gabriele.

8S were trying hard all through the game but they re-doubled their efforts in period 3. Martina's passing was exemplary and Carlo was everywhere. Michael tackled everything and Bianca broke up attack after attack. Trym made a fantastic save when Patrick's shot was slightly deflected but 8S did manage a goal soon afterwards, Antonio pouncing on a loose ball to poke home a valuable goal. Penalty shoot out tomorrow!

PITCH INVASION: Rocco, Aron and Diego SUSPENDED for 1 match.

Homeroom Championship - SF: 8V 6-0 6N

 The Grade 6 champions crashed out of the tournament today but gave a good account of themselves against a strong 8V. Exemplary goals from Ambra (2), Di Paola (1) and a hat-trick from Cellini left little way back for 6N. But a number of the younger players deserve a mention. Once again, Alva made some great tackles; Steve too made his presence felt, though he was booked for a reckless sliding tackle. Rex had his best game of the tournament and Leopoldo almost nicked a goal at the end.

Homeroom Championship: 6N 4-2 6T

 The G6 teams continue to demonstrate great passion but little control, great determination but little clue of how to take a throw-in, great enthusiasm but a little too much aggression.

Antoine scored the first goal for 6N, Christian the second. 6T forced Steve into a mistake to make it 2-1 but a good pass from Tommaso found Christian again to restore the two goal lead. 6N suffered for a while when they were forced to play with one player less after Tommaso received a second yellow card and Max scored to make it 3-2. Renewed hope for 6T: Carlo, Max and Jacopo kept trying for another goal, with Vittoria making some key interventions to.... but 6N bounced back to seal the win with a Leopoldo goal.

6N now advance to face 8V in the semi-final, but without one of their best players, suspended for one match.

Homeroom Championship: 7H 2-1 7R

 Another passionate encounter today saw 7H emerge victorious by the odd goal and the 2-1 scoreline means that they advance to the semi-finals. Though even on points and goal difference with 7A, the H team goes through because of a healthier 'goals scored' column.

Daniele scored the opener in period 2, heading past Adrian in goal as he pursued a long Daniel clearance. Dani also provided the assist for 7H's second goal, his throw finding Sam in space and Sam turned well to shoot home. 7R worked hard throughout - Aurora, Rocco, Kevin and Olivia especially notable - and were rewarded with a penalty near the end. Rocco buried it convincingly. 

But time was almost up and 7H held on. Special mention too to Daniel in goal and Naila in defence.

Homeroom Championship: 8V 4 - 1 8S

 Carlo had the game's first shot, serving notice that 8S would compete with the red-hot favourites for this year's title. In fact, 8V went 1-0 ahead when Ale dribbled the length of the pitch and slipped the ball past Patrick. Shortly afterwards, Ale set up Emilio but his shot was wide; Adam shot wide too at the other end but then Emilio made up for the earlier miss to make it 2-0. Towards the end of Period 2, Martina rekindled hope for 8S, pouncing onto a ball from Antonio to shoot past Tiago. But chances for 8S were slim and the 8V defence, Ella in particular, was quick to tackle. 

In period 3, 8V dominated and the third goal was today's best. As Emilio ran down the right, Ale fizzed a perfectly-timed diagonal pass from the left and Emilio's first-time finish was masterful. 8S defended well though (Michael and Bianca in particular) but Vittorio made it 4-1 at the death.

Homeroom Championship: 6B 2-3 6T

 6T started more strongly and had the better chances in the first period, but Lucas in the 6B goal made some good saves.

Nicola opened the scoring for 6T in period 2 with a well-placed shot but this spurred 6B into an immediate reaction: Lorenzo dribbled past four defenders and fired home the equalising goal. The scoring spree continued though, with Nicola adding a second for 6T and the equaliser coming, this time, from Maverick. 6B might have gone ahead in this phase of the match but Giovanni P, in the 6T defence, was a rock.

The winning goal was scored 5' from the end by Jacopo, from a Nicola assist. 6B did everything they could to dig out a third equaliser but, this time, to no avail. 

BREAKING NEWS!!!! RULES UPDATE

 Following Matteo's wild shot that sent the ball over the East fence, the 'Penalty-for-the-ball-over-the-Fence' rule will now apply not only to the SOUTH fence but also to the EAST.

If the ball is not recovered in less than 60 seconds, a penalty will awarded. 

Homeroom Championship: 7A 1-0 7R

 In the end, this game was the story of Adrian and Vittorio C. Particularly in period 2, Vittorio had some chances, often created by his own pace and strength. Some of them he missed, some of them were saved excellently by Adrian. But he didn't miss the chance that fell to him in period 3. When the 7R defence messed up, he drilled the ball into the roof of the net.

Aurora almost made an equaliser immediately. He run on the left was followed by a tantalising cross that, sadly, non of her team mates was able to reach.

Other chances came and went in the game. Giovanni rose well onto a corner but his header went just over. Nicolas and Kevin worked hard but the final pass was not always there and Matteo had a good game in defence. 

Homeroom Championship: 8V 6-4 8H

 These two 8th grade teams lit up the homeroom championship today with a ten-goal thriller! 8V looked like they might have wrapped it up in the first period when goals from Ale and Emilio (2) put them 3-0 ahead, but Gianmarco's header at the death gave 8H some hope and Alessia and Remy made some crucial tackles to keep the scoreline down.

All changed in the second period. The teams made some changes and spaces suddenly opened up for 8H; Marco and Ryan added both physical presence and some good running and Hugo took advantage, scoring twice to even the scores. Marco then weighed in with a fourth and 8H led going into period 3. It could have been a lot more too, were it not for some outstanding defensive play from Ella and Leo.

Now 8H were looking tired and 8V re-invigorated as Vittorio and Ale took over again in midfield. Sara fed a good ball to Vittorio on the left and he banged it in spectacularly to even the scores again; Ale got his second to make it 5-4 and then completed his haf-trick with a delicious lob over a stranded Gianmarco.

Homeroom Championship: 6B 1-3 6N

 A raucous and sometimes violent game saw 6N take the three points but the result here was always in doubt. 6N went two goals ahead - one a well-struck free-kick from Tommaso, the other when Leopoldo got the last touch on a corner - but 6B never stopped attacking. Lorenzo, Emilio and Maverick made lots of chances and finally scored when Lorenzo's free kick was deflected in. Emilio almost equalised: he did everything right but Steve made an incredible intervention to block the ball. Antoine added a third goal with the last kick of the game. For 6N, Sara and Clotilde also impressed. 

YELLOW CARDS: Giovanni, Steve, Lorenzo

ONE MATCH BAN FOR PITCH INVASION: Rocco, Trym, Carlo, Diego

Homeroom Championship: 7H 2-2 7A

 A stormy day today produced an equally stormy match as 7A threw away a two-goal lead and were lucky to escape with a point in the end.

Giovanni Z closed the first period with a lovely shot into the top corner that Trym could do nothing about.

7A continued to dominate in period 2 and Trym was forced into two fantastic saves to deny Diego. But Vittorio C did then add a second goal and 7H could easily have killed off the game; instead, they fell back into defence and gave the ball away continuously, allowing Daniel and Daniele to prod and poke at their defence. When a free kick was conceded on the left, Daniele's shot was deflected off Diego and crept in: 2-1 and game on!

In period 3, Trym and Giovanni V shone for 7H as they defended stoutly and pushed for an equaliser. Daniele made a great run on the right, pulled the ball back to Trym and his shot struck the bar! But 7H did equalise, with a goal best described by Mr Antonio: "stop su lancio di un compagno si è smarcato due o tre avversari e ha calciato da fuori area un diagonale, sorprendendo il pur sempre attento Francesco che, protendendosi vanamente in tuffo sulla sua mancina, riusciva solo a sfiorare il pallone che finiva inesorabilmente in rete"

Homeroom Championship: 8S 2-0 8H

 A fiery game which began quite evenly but, as the game wore on, saw 8S imposing themselves all over the pitch and particularly in front of goal.

Carlo brought a good save from Victor early on and Marco had a couple of early shots that went wide. Some solid tacking in midfield saw Antonio stopping Marco at a crucial moment, and Bianca doing the same to Hugo. The deadlock was broken at the end of the first period when Carlo crashed in a shot from the edge of the area.

In the second period, Sofia almost equalised but her shot was just too high. Antonio had a good shot stopped by Victor but the 8H keeper could do nothing to stop Adam tucking away Carlo's assist.

8S controlled the third period too. Worth a mention were Patrick - a good debut both in and out of goal; Irene and Martina - creative going forward; and Alessia and Ryan - good positional play and solid tackling.