Denmark 3-0 Italy

 A goal-less first period in which the highlight was Erica's shot that was well-saved by Adrian led to a second period dominated by Denmark. Diego first struck the bar with a savage shot and then scored with a powerful strike that got past an excellent Freydis. In fact, the girls'm goalkeeper made two great saves from Lorenzo and Diego before the second period ended. Diego added two more goals in period 3: one a header and one a right-foot shot.

BEST PLAYER POINTS: Freydis 5, Erica 3, Diego 3, Giovanni Z 3, Naila 2, Aurora R 1, Margherita 1, Erin 1, Adrian 1, Livia 1

ACLI League: VIS Velletri 1-13 Ambrit

 Ambrit started well with an early goal from Dylan. Then, from a set piece situation, Dylan scored again and Kevin added another after lonking up with Dylan and Antonio. Kevin scored again to leave the home side reeling, but they did manage a goal to make it 4-1 before cancelling that with an own goal to make it 5-1. Antonio was next to get in on the scoring act, nabbing two to make it 7-1. No mercy from the visitors, with Dylan and and Giovanni swapping passes to send Giovanni in for a goal and Dylan scored again too just before half time. In the second half Ambrit banged in five more (two Martino, one Antonio, one Dylan, one Kevin). Gabriele made some very good saves.

Turkey 2-1 Austria

 Ancora una vittoria per la Turchia 🇹🇷 , capace di impressionare di fronte alla corazzata austriaca, con un Claudio indomabile, che quando ingrana la marcia diventa un bel problema per ogni difesa. Sono bastati, infatti, un paio di guizzi del campioncino da 56 milioni per sistemare un avversario temibile e ben organizzato come il team guidato da Aron.

Veniamo alla cronaca: i Turchi partono forte, con Claudio e Jacopo molto risoluti, ma anche molto individualisti (non si registrano passaggi tra loro). Proprio da una di quest azioni individuali nasce il vantaggio dei rossi: Claudio si libera di tre avversari e lascia partire un diagonale stretto all'angolino, su cui Aron non può fare nulla. La partita si accende e l'Austria prova più volte a lanciare Rocco, che con le buone o con le cattive viene arginato dalle buone prestazioni di Matteo e Dmitri. Sul fronte opposto non c'è grande movimento di palla, con Jacopo che prova a fare tutto da solo, idem Claudio e il povero Steve che cerca di fare da tramite tra centrocampo e attacco. 

A cinque minuti dal termine la svolta: Rocco protegge palla in area e viene messo giù da Matteo. Per l'arbitro è rigore, che lo stesso Rocco si incarica di trasformare: 1-1. La Turchia riparte a testa bassa e, di nuovo, trova il vantaggio con un'altra prodezza di Claudio, che stavolta si coordina bene su una palla vagante e la spedisce su palo opposto. L'Austria 🇦🇹 non ha più benzina, né convinzioni, nonostante qualche tentativo di Gabriele da lontano che non trova la porta.

Chi riuscirà a fermare la nazionale di Montella?

PLAYER OF THE MATCH POINTS: Claudio 6, Aron 4, Matteo T 3, Jacopo 3, Gabriele 2, Rocco 2, Dmitri 1, Steve 1, Lucas P 1.

Switzerland 2-0 Malta

 Una partita combattuta ed entusiasmante, in bilico fino alla fine, nonostante il punteggio sembri piuttosto punitivo per Malta.

La Svizzera 🇨🇭 inizia la partita con grande veemenza, conquistando subito il vantaggio grazie allo sfortunato autogol delle Maltesi, ma in fondo meritando per la grande pressione esercitata. Da quel momento inizia una grande sfida, fisica e tecnica, tra Erin - protagonista assoluta ma un poco solitaria - e Aurora - anche lei poco abituata a passare il pallone. Le occasioni si susseguono, da una parte e dall'altra, con un'ottima difesa di Sara W, da una parte, e di Maeve dall'altra. Per ben due volte le Maltesi sfiornao il pareggio, prima con Aurora su una bella punizione che si stampa sulla traversa, poi con Angela, che su respinta corta del portiere colpisce il palo.

Quasi a tempo scaduto giunge il raddoppio di Erin, velocissima, a suggellare i tre punti della vittoria.

Da sottolineare diverse buone prestazioni, come quella di Valerie e Carla a centrocampo, Gracie e Maeve in difesa per Malta 🇲🇹 , oltre alla già citata Aurora R; Erin, Sara W, Alessandra, Sophie nella Svizzera. Meno brillante del solito il talento di Erica, poco servita dalle compagne.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH POINTS: Erin 6, Sara W 3, Valerie 3, Maeve 3, Aurora R 2, Carla 2, Gracie 1, Sophie 1, Alessandra 1.

Denmark 3-1 Germany

 This was one of the best games of the year. Denmark dominated the first period, with shots raining in from Lorenzo G (terrible moss early on!), Carlo (over), Diego (fantastic save from Martti) and Antoine (wide) but then, out of the blue, Germany took the lead. Kevin's pass found Maverick who was marked by Giovanni but Maverick scored with an unbelievably good turn and shot! The lead was short-lived though. Lorenzo G headed in an equaliser a minute later off a corner (and then picked up a yellow card for provocative celebrations!). Denmark hit the ground running again in period 2, Diego shooting over. Next, Giovanni tested Martti but the g6 'keeper made another fine save. Next, Giovanni passed to Antoine and Lorenzo G slid onto his assist for 2-1. Federico almost hit back early in period 3 but Adrian made a brilliant save. Denmark scored again though. Lorenzo G's assist; Diego's goal. Denmark continued to press right to the end: Giovanni shot over and Carlo pulled another good save from Martti.

BEST PLAYER POINTS: Giovanni 4, Lorenzo G 3, Federico 2, Diego I 2, Adrian 2, Martti 2, Maverick 2, Antoine 2, Carlo 1, Kevin 1 

BOYS Friendly: St George's 4-4 Ambrit

 It might have been billed as a 'friendly' match but neither side lacked a competitive edge in this morning's encounter. Ambrit started well but, just like in last Sunday's ACLI match, a moment of distraction saw them concede an early goal. But the team settled down and then drew level, the goal coming from new signing Giovanni Z. In the second half, Ambrit conceded their customary early goal... and then another to find themselves 3-1 behind. But Ambrit were rescued from an unlikely source! Adriano used to be considered a defender but, employed this year by Mr Gabriele as an attacking wing-back or even as an out-and-out striker, he showed all his skills today to pop in a hat-trick to propel Ambrit into the lead. However, despite the solid pairing of Giovanni Z and Vittorio in defence, a lack of focus throughout the team allowed the hosts to equalise towards the end.

France 1-2 Turkey

 A match that was 0-0 after period 1 and still 0-0 after period 2 exploded into life for the last period of play. France looked livelier early on and Lorenzo I and Vittorio C both hit shots that might have troubled a less attentive 'keeper than Christian. Turkey came into the game more in period 2 and Jacopo sent a warning shot across the French bows, though Francesco hit back himself with a good attempt for France. Turkey almost went ahead when Jacopo latched onto a Rex shot but he headed just over the bar. He followed this up with a long range shot that also went over the bar... but Jacopo was just finding his range for later! 

It was France who took the lead. Giovanni V won the ball and played in Diego A; the 6th grader stroked it home calmly. But Turkey equalised almost immediately: Jacopo played in Steve, who was faster to the ball than Matteo and Steve slid it past him. The winning goal came soon after... and it was a beauty. Jacopo won the ball in midfield and decided he was going to score. He beat one man, looked up to check his position again; then he beat another man, looked up to check his position again; and then he hit a perfectly-calibrated shot high over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net!

BEST PLAYER POINTS: Giovanni V 6, Jacopo 6, Vittorio C 2, Lorenzo I 1,Diego A 1, Rex 1, Steve 1, Francesco 1, Dmitrii 1

Sweden 1-0 Croatia

 Una bella battaglia: così definirei la partita tra Svezia 🇸🇪 e Croazia 🇭🇷 di ieri. Molta fisicità da una parte e dall'altra, poche buone occasioni e due difese molto attente, almeno fino a 2 minuti dalla fine, quando una colossale distrazione del portiere croato ha permesso a Sara di accompagnare la palla in rete e regalare i primi tre punti del campionato alla sua squadra.

Bella la sfida tra Naila e Margherita, come quella tra Sara e Clotilde. Molto buone le prestazioni dell'esordiente Greta, di Anna, Emma e Caterina in difesa e - soprattutto - di Livia a centrocampo e...un po' ovunque.

Il campionato è ancora lunghissimo, infatti nel secondo intramural le squadre si incontreranno all'andata e al ritorno; quindi c'è modo, per ciascuna squadra, di riorganizzarsi, di aggiustare il tiro, di cambiare posizioni e di gestire le forze.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH POINTS: Livia 4, Naila 3, Margherita 3, Lavinia 2, Sara P 2, Caterina 2, Greta 2, Anna 2, Emma 2, Costanza 2, Clotilde 1, Freydis 1, Megan 1.

Belgium 3-0 Italy

 The first match of this new Intramural was a thriller. These two teams tore into each other from the very start and, despite the final scoreline, Italy played just as well as their victorious opponents. Daniele - Best Player in Autumn - had three good shots today but Freydis made three fantastic saves to keep him off the scoresheet. It was Captain Martino who finally broke the deadlock, following up in a goalmouth scramble to dribble past an unlucky Freydis. In the second period, Martino scored again, this time directly from a corner and, from another corner, he supplied the assist for Luca's expertly finished goal.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Freydis 4, Daniele 3, Luca 3, Naila 3, Martino 3, Lucas C 1, Erin 1, Sara P 1, Margherita 1, Ryan 1

Galatasaray/France 3-0 Teachers

 The teachers poor run of form continued today when they were totally outplayed in the first half by a rampant team of Intramural Champions. Worryingly (for the future of the teachers), the damage was done by two 6th graders; Lorenzo G fired home the first, Claudio numbers two and three - and all three goals were similar. All were well-struck shots from the left that flew low into the opposite corner of the goal.

ACLI league: Nomen FC 3-0 Ambrit

 Up against another one of the 'fuori classifica' teams in the group, Ambrit gave a good account of themselves today but they must learn to maintain their focus all the time to avoid those moments of distraction that inevitably lead to goals.

The home side scored really early in the first half but then Ambrit settled down and played well, quickly closing off the spaces between defence and midfield but offering little in the way of an attacking threat. Ambrit managed just one good shot, Dylan turning quickly on a neat assist from Kevin. Gabriele made a series of excellent one-on-one saves to keep the score to 0-1 at half time. 

The second half followed a similar patter, Ambrit tidy in defence but lacking conviction when attacking. A pity that so much good work was undone by two moments of distraction towards the end. Nomen went 2-0 up when a weak free kick sent the ball unchallenged through the Ambrit defence and into the corner of the net; and Nomen added a third when a high ball was allowed to bounce and get past an injured Gabriele.

TEACHERS 4-3 Grade 7

 A valiant but ultimately vain attempt by g7 to emulate yesterday's historic win was thwarted by a gritty comeback by th eteachers. After an opening period where Lorenzo and Jacopo tormented the Teachers' defence, the teachers turned the tables in the second half. The first goal of the game was scored by Lorenzo and he almost made it 2-0 but Mr H made a fantastic clearance off the line. Mr Martin then made a match-winning save, tipping a strong Jacopo shot onto the crossbar. Lorenzo did score again before half time though, combining well with Jacopo to score at the far post. 

Early in the second half, Christian made a miraculous save but, from the resulting throw-in, Mr Francesco bundled the ball over the line with some unidentifiable part of his body to make it 2-1. Now on a roll, the teachers continued to attack and, when the ball broke to Mr Chad, he used all of his considerable experience to find a route to goal: 2-2! 

Grade 7, stung by this equaliser, threw themselves into attack again. Max found Madison, Madison found Antoine, Antoine found the net: 3-2! But the teachers came right back at them and equalised again through Mr Basketball to set up a nailbiting finish! Soon after, each side could have scored to win: Carlo for g7 and Miss A for the teachers each spurned good chances and then Mr Basketball was tripped up on the edge of the area. Mr Francesco stepped up to take it. He studied the kick carefully, addressed the ball as if attempting to curl it into the opposite top corner and then slyly rolled it into the near post bottom-corner instead to capture a sweet victory for the teachers!

Grade 6 1-0 Teachers

 A historic win for Grade 6 today against a depleted teachers' team that was carried by a heroic Mr H in defence, a resourceful Miss Amendola in midfield and a group of g8 stand-ins that played well but not well enough to withstand a well-organised assault from the little g6 devils. Claudio and co. tormented the teachers in the first half; Antonio C and co. took over later. In both halves, the teachers were saved on numerous occasions by Giovanni Z in goal and were then saved by an attentive Mr Calento who spotted a handball to cut short Diego's premature celebrations. The teachers created little threat up front: an aging Mr Corcoran looked happy to stay on his feet but he never looked like scoring and, when Mr Gianluca joined him in the second half, the combined age of the teachers' forward line rose to 133. It was Lucas who finally put the teachers out of their misery, delivering the mortal blow five minutes from the end. Bravi i g6... domani tocca ai g7😱.

BOYS MARKET

 Cari amici di Ambrit Intramural,

Eccoci in diretta per il Calciomercato maschile, per vivere insieme le "bombe" di mercato...

L'inizio è incredibile: vengono estratti fior di giocatori (Lorenzo I, Lorenzo G., Christian, Steve...) e nessuno formula un'offerta...prima volta che accade una cosa del genere...

Il nome che stimola ora è Rocco, che va per 44 milioni all'Austria!

È il momento di Giovanni Z, che va alla Danimarca di Diego per ben 70 milioni!

Gabriele F, anche lui all'Austria, con un grande affare da 24 milioni! All'Austria anche Antonio C per 32 milioni: grande mercato di capitan Aron.

Josh si accaparra Kevin per il miglior affare della storia: solo 10 milioni! Assurdo...

Si lotta ora per il piccolo talento Claudio, che va alla Turchia per 56 milioni. Forse un record per un grade 6...

Martino prende Luca Tommaso per 6 milioni.

Si lotta per Federico, a 25 milioni viene preso dalla Germania: dopo Kevin un altro buon affare...

Daniele scatena l'asta più sanguinosa... 85 milioni per Daniele, che va al Belgio di Martino.

Diego pesca Lorenzo G per soli 5 milioni, davvero un ottimo affare.

Josh completa la squadra con Maverick, spendendo i 32 milioni rimanenti.

Francesco investe 45 milioni per Vittorio e 29 per Lorenzo I: un buon mercato... tutti e due alla Francia.

Matteo porta alla Turchia il talento di Steve per 30 milioni.

Gli ultimi giocatori estratti, vengono inseriti senza asta via via alle squadre che hanno più soldi nelle casse.

A domani per il Calciomercato femminile!