LYON 1-1 CHELSEA

Lyon e Chelsea si sono affrontate a viso aperto in una gara equilibrata e combattuta: il pareggio finale è forse il risultato giusto per quello che si è visto in campo. 

La formazione di Costanza ha preso da subito in mano il pallino del gioco, ma l'iniziale assenza di Naila ha costretto le inglesi a giocare tutto su Aurora e Martina, con l'ottima Erica in copertura. Il tandem ha funzionato bene fino al vantaggio, siglato proprio da Martina, lanciata a rete da Aurora dopo un intervento al limite.

Nel secondo tempo il Lyon ha preso coraggio e consapevolezza di non essere inferiore, riuscendo a dominare in difesa grazie alle buone prestazioni di Margherita ed Ella, e alla solidità di capitan Lavinia (oggi player of the Match). Il parteggio giunge proprio con Ella, con un tiro dalla distanza che sorprende il portiere, e nel finale Naila deve evitare addirittura la sconfitta con una scivolata spettacolare.

Un pareggio giusto, insomma, a tratti spettacolare, mai noioso.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH POINTS: Lavinia 4, Aurora R 3, Margherita 2, Ella 2, Martina 2, Clara 2, Naila 1, Erica 1, Aditi 1, Alessia 1.

ACLI League: Simplicitas 2-4 Ambrit

Without captain Vittorio and veteran midfielder Alberto, Ambrit's squad depth was tested today and was not found wanting. With Carlo, Kevin and Dylan in scintillating form in defence, Emilio doing a good impression of Martin Odegaard in midfield, Lorenzo in free-scoring form up front and Antonio, Nicholas and Daniele in top form too, the three points were scooped up again and Ambrit continue their unbeaten run this year.

Dylan was first to test the opposition goalkeeper with a rasping shot and then Lorenzo set up Antonio but he screwed the shot wide. This was a good day for the young g7 midfielder though, his best game to date. Emilio played Lorenzo in for another chance, but Lorenzo's opening goal came 4' later - this time off a Dylan assist. Cameron, heroically in goal today despite not feeling well, made a good save just before the break.

Emilio played well today in central midfield

Ambrit needed to convert their possession into goals in the second half... and they did. Lorenzo made it 2-0 very quickly and more chances followed. Lorenzo played in Daniele: a near miss; Emilio played in Daniele with a lovely reverse pass: another near miss; Daniele played himself in, beating two defenders to set up a one-on-one with the goalkeeper: another near miss as the keeper saved well. Dani played in Dylan: another near miss! The third goal finally did come, Daniele finally finishing one off. The hosts pulled one back (was it really a goal?) and then another but Lorenzo sealed the win with the third of his hat-trick.

TEAM: Cameron, Carlo, Kevin, Dylan, Emilio, Nicholas, Antonio, Lorenzo, Daniele

 

Man City 6-1 PSG

 A lack of discipline could have cost the Blues dearly today but the City players who were left on the pitch after the two red cards were able to maintain superiority over an improving PSG team. Victor and Daniele had City ahead by the time Rocco was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Alessia, and Daniele had made it 3-0 just before Aron followed Rocco off the pitch for a second yellow card. Both players will miss the crunch tie on Feb 3rd versus Atletico Madrid. The other goals today came from Gabriele and Giovanni (2), the Gallic reply from Clara.

BEST PLAYER POINTS: Daniele 7, Lavinia 3, Giovanni Z 3, Irene 2, Gabriele 2, Clara 1, Aron 1, Ella 1, Sara 1

Liverpool 5-0 Salzburg

 With multi-million Euro signing Becherini on the bench, the Austrian champions could do nothing to stop a rampant Liverpool in the first half. Patrick was all over the place in the first half, linking the play from defence to attack and scoring the opening goal. Gianmarco then took over the goalscoring duties and rifled home one, two, three, four before half-time.

Salzburg collected themselves during the break and played much better in the second half. Adam hit the post and had a couple of shots cleared off the line; Michael and Steve cleared everything at the back.

BEST PLAYER POINTS: Patrick 5, Gianmarco 4, Adam 3, Michael 3, Steve 2, Erik 1, Leopoldo 1, Vincent 1, Lorenzo 1

Arsenal 1-0 AS Roma

 Un'ingenuità nei primi due minuti ben sfruttata da Annika ha permesso all'Arsenal di guadagnare i primi tre punti del campionato 2023 e di portarsi momentaneamente in testa alla classifica. La Roma, d'altro canto, complice l'assenza del capitano Sofia, non è riuscita a creare molti pericoli dalle parti di Freydis, sempre comunque molto attenta e reattiva. Buone le prove delle due difese, con una menzione particolare per Alessandra, che non ha sbagliato un intervento.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH POINTS: Sara M 4, Sara P 3, Alessandra 3, Irene 2, Bianca 2, Lubiana 2, Freydis 1, Annika 1, Marina 1, Clotilde 1, Maeve 1.

ACLI League: Monteverde 2-5 Ambrit

 In what was possibly Ambrit's best team performance of the season so far, the boys from Via Tajani held off their bigger opponents and picked up another three points in the race for this year's title!

Ambrit is accustomed to a difficult match at this venue and, again today, the first 10' were a bit of a trial as Monteverde piled on the pressure and got three good shots on goal - but Trym was on form and kept them all out. Ambrit's starting defensive line of Kevin, Vittorio and Dylan were slowly getting a measure of the task though and, in midfield, Oliver was closing people down well on the right and Emilio was starting to find space going forward on the left. Cameron was everywhere and, in fact, was on hand to fire home a surprise opening goal when Lorenzo laid it back into his path. The home side now redoubled their efforts and, when Ambrit conceded an unnecessary free kick in a dangerous position, they nabbed an equaliser off the free kick. Half-time, 1-1, even game, all to play for!

Back row: Hugo Cameron, Vittorio, Emilio, Dylan, Lorenzo
Front row: Oliver, Trym, Kevin, Nicolas, Antonio

As the second half began, Nicolas and Hugo came in for Ambrit. Following their late first half equaliser, Monteverde should have had the momentum and confidence to pull ahead but it was Ambrit who scored with the best goal of the day. Dylan played a long ball down the left towards Emilio, who timed his run to meet the ball perfectly on the volley and into the opposite bottom corner beyond the desperate clutches of the goalkeeper. Emilio was then replaced by Antonio and, riding on a wave of enthusiasm, Ambrit added a third goal (Lorenzo) and a fourth (Hugo) and then the hosts pulled one back. But just as this might have been the spark for a late comeback, any nascent flame was snuffed out by Lorenzo's well-taken second goal. 

Liverpool 7-1 PSG

 Liverpool's bargain-basement signing lit up Ambrit Stadium today with an early hat-trick and left PSG with an uphill task in the Spring Intramural Champions' League.

Though kept at bay early on with some fantastic saves from Freydis, Liverpool did find a way through time after time and Gianmarco foolowed up Patrick's tripletta by adding a fourth with a trademark header. Two goals from Kevin and one from Matteo completed Liverpool's tally but some great defending from Lavinia and Bianca kept the scoreline down. A well-taken consolation by Aurora was the least that a courageous PSG deserved.

BEST PLAYER POINTS: Freydis 5,  Patrick 4, Lavinia 3, Aurora 3, Gianmarco 2, Louis 2, Kevin 1, Bianca 1 

Teachers 1-2 Grade 7

The crowds left Ambrit stadium in shock yesterday having witnessed one of football’s great upsets. The teachers expected to win comfortably and all was well as Mr Alessandro scored early on with a beautiful back-heeled shot. Later in the first half, Rocco broke through and equalised but the goal was disallowed for handball, a decision later confirmed by VAR.

In the second half, Rocco struck the crossbar with a good shot and then he tested Mr Martin with a free kick. The teachers now had a goal disallowed too, Mr Piccolo’s final touch judged to be illegal. Rocco shot wide again and then Mr Martin made a fantastic double save, first from Daniele and then from Rocco who was following up. IT seemed that g7 were destined not to score but then Mr Cristiani’s rigid interpretation of the penalty rule gave Giovanni a chance from the spot: he didn’t miss and now it was 1-1 with five minutes to play.

G7 got a corner on the right. Rocco went to take it. The situation seemed to be under control for the teachers but Rocco had other ideas. Taking everyone by surprise, he hammered the ball directly into the opposite corner to seal this historic win!

Transfer Market - Girls

 

Transfer Market 2023 - Girls

All four captains bid for Aurora but Costanza edged out her rivals and put a 75 million price tag on the g7 ace. Costanza picked up Martina for 15 million and wrapped up her spending with Naila.

Ella was also on everyone’s shopping list but she will play for Lyon, where she will team up with g8 colleague Clara (50 million!) and expert goalkeeper Alessia.

Irene was a bargain at 20 million and she will surely drive Roma to glory. Bianca cost 70 million and Sara P makes up the trio.

Arsenal did good business too, landing Lubiana and Sara M for a combined fee of 30 million! Alessandra joins them at Highbury.

Transfer Market 2023 - Boys

 The Spring Intramural got underway with some furious bidding in the January transfer market. Three captains launched significant bids for last year's Best Player but Antonio's 80 million won out to bring Vittorio to Atletico Madrid.

Another huge bid of 75 million was enough for Adriano to land Alessandro and the Dutch champions also managed to add two more g8 players in Tiago and Emilio P. 

Manchester City on the other hand are pursuing a youth policy and have invested in three g7 prospects, including goalkeeper Giovanni Z who cost a hefty 65 million.  

The prize for bargain hunter of the day must surely go to Louis who grabbed Top Scorer Gianmarco for a meagre 30 million and Patrick for just 10. 

Teachers 5-0 Grade 6

 A dominant display from the teachers today sent a warning to all of the student teams that these old fogies are not to be taken lightly!

Nicola spurned an early chance to score from the spot and then Mr. Max (with a header) and Mr Alessandro (with a shot) almost opened the scoring. Mr Piccolo did score though - merciless attacker that he is - to put the teachers ahead.

But the students, despite the final scoreline, did play well. Tommaso played Emilio in but he couldn't sort his feet out in time and he finished weakly. Emilio had another chance almost immediately but this too was wasted. Jacopo was next: another good chance spurned. All of these chances were the result of good running off the ball and good quick passing. But the teachers' finishing was sharper, and a lovely passing move down the left (Piccolo - Max - Alessandro) was finished by the tennis ace for 2-0.

Second half: Mr Max scored an early goal and then supplied the assist for goal four by Mr Piccolo. The teachers were cruising now and Mr Chad almost got onto the scoresheet, but Mr Piccolo supplied the necessary tap in and completed another hat-trick, his third in as many years.