26.3.23

Serafico Bianco 4-3 Ambrit

 Ambrit dominated the first half but they were let down by some very poor shooting, some overly casual passing and some lazy tackling. The home side took the lead after 15' against the run of play but Vittorio equalised when he timed his run well to get on the end of Alberto's corner. Cameron made it 2-1 when he shot from the edge of the penalty area into the opposite corner but Serafico pulled it back to 2-2 at half time.

Cameron was on target again early in the second half bit Serafico's midfield began to find more and more holes in the Ambrit formation. They had strong runners and Ambrit's tackling was poor. They scored two late goals to take all three points. The only really bright spark for Ambrit today was Hugo's performance in midfield - easily his best game of the year.

24.3.23

Man City 2-1 Salzburg

 Rocco set the tone early on with a couple of shots that were narrowly wide. The Austrians were pinned down for much of the first half and City  had a deserved 2-0 lead at the turnaround, goals from Rocco (an angled shot from a short corner) and Aron ( a tap-in off a Rocco assist). Salzburg improved in the second half and their goal was emblematic: a well-constructed passing move from Michael to Leo to Adam to Leopoldo... goal!

BEST PLAYER POINTS: Rocco 4, Adam 3, Steve 2, Leo 2, Adrian 2, Gabriele 2, Daniele 2, Aron 1, Sam 1, Michael 1, Giovanni Z 1 

23.3.23

Chelsea 2-0 Lyon

 Chelsea dominated possession and territory today, rarely conceding any attacking chances to their French opponents and creating numerous opportunities for themselves.

Aurora drove the team forward and was always able to depend on intelligent support from Martina. Lavinia was everywhere in midfield, breaking down play after play and, when Chelsea did break through, Alessia made some super saves to keep the teams level at half time.

Chelsea scored immediately in the second half, Aurora'a shot spinning away from Alessia and into the corner of the net. The Blues added a second when Martina's free kick was deflected by Costanza, giving Alessia no chance.

BEST PLAYER POINTS: Aurora 4, Martina 3, Alessia 2, Lavinia 2, Costanza 2, Ella 1

18.3.23

ACLI League: Ambrit 1-5 Monteverde

 Ambrit suffered their first defeat of the season today and they fully deserved to lose. Only Dylan, Kevin and Carlo played to their usual standard - everybody else was strangely off-form. Coach Corcoran looked like the recent Jurgen Klopp on the sideline, with that 'where-is-our-winning-team-gone?' look on his face. Half-time 0-2 down; second half: 0-3, 0-4, 1-4 (Dylan), 1-5.

Next week: big test of character: can we bounce back!?

17.3.23

Ajax 4-0 Atletico

 The first period was even but Ale took advantage of some confusion in the penalty area to give Ajax 1-0 lead. In period 2, Tiago should have a added a second but he somehow blasted the ball over from 2 meters out! Diego shot well but Francesco made a good save. At the other end, Antonio was pouring in a series of shots but all were just too high or just wide of the post. Ale made it 2-0 off an Emilio assist; Emilio made it 3-0 off an Ale assist. Diego's third period goal closed off the match.

Best Player points: Ale 5, Antonio A 4, Emilio 3, Matteo 3, Adriano M 2, Francesco 2, Tiago 1, Joshua 1 

15.3.23

Man City 2-2 Real Madrid

 Another intensely competitive game, another draw, another match down and the classifica is getting tight! Daniele gave City the lead in the first period when he followed up on Rocco's run and shot, after the shot was well-saved by Ryan. But Real fought back quickly and Marco, scoring freely these days, bagged an equaliser.

In the second period, Real took the lead through Hugo but City forced an equaliser this time, Remy unlucky when the ball rebounded in off him. Both sides tried hard in period 3 to capture all three points, but neither side could manage it.

BEST PLAYER POINTS: Rocco 5, Marco 4, Carlo 3, Daniele 3, Gabriele 3, Hugo 1, Giovanni Z 1, Remy 1

12.3.23

Chelsea 4-0 Arsenal

 Nell'atteso derby inglese il Chelsea si dimostra squadra molto solida e liquida con un perentorio 4-0 le smarrite avversarie: Aurora mette a segno un terribile 1-2 nel primo tempo, consolidato dalla doppietta di Martina nel secondo tempo. Alle avversarie non resta che rimanere a guardare, visto anche il momento difficile dal punto di vista fisico della stessa delle Gunners, Sara.

A guidare le offensive dell'Arsenal ci hanno provato con grande insistenza e convinzione Marina e Alessandra, davvero lodevoli per impegno e tecnica, ma che di fronte a loro hanno trovato il "muro" di Naila ed Erica.

Nulla da fare per Annika, Lubiana e compagne, che sono però alla prima sconfitta e quindi possono ancora ben sperare di qualificarsi per la finale.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH POINTS: Aurora R 4, Martina 4, Marina 2, Freydis 2, Alessandra 2, Lubiana 1, Erica 1, Naila 1, Sara M 1, Vittoria 1.

11.3.23

ACLI League: Serafico 1-2 Ambrit

 This was one of Ambrit's best victories in their last two seasons of highly successful ACLI football: a bigger, unfamiliar pitch; some bigger, stronger opponents; a tired team after the morning's RISA endeavours and a hot Spring sun - but hey, no problemo! 

The home side did take the lead in the first half but some fantastic defending from Kevin and Trym kept the score down and allowed Ambrit to gain a foothold in the game as the first half wound down. A good run by Vittorio then won a free kick on the edge of the area and Dylan fired home an equaliser.

The half time break afforded some valuable rest time for the players and some of them were looking nearly as deflated as the ball(!). But they came out for the second half looking determined and ready to go. Dylan now had the big n.9 in his pocket and Kevin continued to play like a man possessed. Carlo was insuperabile again (just like this morning!). When Serafico did get some chances, Trym made two more fantastic saves. Emilio came into the game more towards the end, setting up Vittorio for one goal - converted! - and then for another - wasted, with a ballet move that did not come off😠.

TEAM: Trym, Dylan, Carlo, Kevin, Cameron, Vittorio, Emilio, Oliver, Antonio.

Ambrit pulls off a Spectacular Double!

 In an exciting morning of football, Ambrit pulled off a spectacular double win, taking both the u11 and the u14 RISA Football trophies on offer!


On the Big Pitch, the MS boys began the day with a 1-1 draw against a big, strong team from Marymount. Adam bagged the Ambrit goal and the team followed up with a 2-1 win over RIS (Daniele, Hugo on target) and a 1-1 draw with New School (Daniele again). Meanwhile, Marymount had won their other games easily and were already qualified for the final. St George's too were doing well and so the Ambrit vs SGBIS match was decisive. A draw was enough to put the team from La Storta into the final; Ambrit needed a win. After 10', SGBIS led 2-0, their no. 10 wreaking havoc. But then Vittorio broke through three tackles and fired home to set the stage for a brilliant Ambrit comeback, cemented by a brilliant performance from Ryana and a wonderful doppietta from Marco! The first was a shot into the top corner to make it 2-2, the second a last-minute header past a despairing goalkeeper!

And so to the final versus Marymount... 0-0 after 20'... penalty shoot-out... 3-0 to Ambrit!!!




10.3.23

MedCup News: Ambra signs a new contract with Ambrit!

 


Alessandro Ambra was welcomed back to the team today by a smiling Vittorio. With Ambra proudly displaying the No. 7 shirt that is surely destined to become as famous as Ronaldo's, di Paola commented: "Aho, e 'mo je famo vede' a questi de Verona!" 

Salzburg 1-0 Atletico Madrid

Salzburg's long wait for a win is over! With the return of Leo in defence, the team was transformed but they had a tough trial against this Atletico team. Vittorio was shooting at every opportunity: vicious shots that ere often blocked or just wide or saved by Adrian. He made one good stop in each period: the first two from Vittorio shots, the third from a Vittorio header. Salzburg's moment came in period 3: a move involving Michael and Leo worked the ball to Oliver in the area and his pass found Adam in just enough space to allow him to poke the ball home!

BEST PLAYER POINTS: Leo 5, Adrian 5, Vittorio 2, Antonio A 2, Adam 2, Francesco 1, Oliver 1, Michael 1, Emilio E 1, Giovanni V 1

8.3.23

Real 2-1 Atletico

 This was a typical derby game: hard tackles, constant effort, barely-concealed rivalry. Only one goal in the first half and it came when Tommaso stole a ball and found Ashton in space just 2 meters out and Ashton made no mistake. Vittorio almost equalised when he hit a good free kick but Ryan saved well. Atletico did score after the break, Max pouncing on a loose ball and turning it home. But Real came back again and Tommaso, always alert today, won the ball in the area, turned well and squeezed the ball home.

BEST PLAYER POINTS: Tommaso 4, Ryan 3, Vittorio 2, Antonio 2, Marco 2, Hugo 2, Carlo 2, Ashton 1, Matteo 1, Remy 1, Giovanni V 1 

4.3.23

RISA Girls Tournament

 Le ragazze Ambrit disputano un ottimo torneo con le pari età delle scuole internazionali di Roma e finiscono a pari punti con le vincitrici, ma al secondo posto per differenza reti, in una bellissima mattinata di sport.

Dagli esordi il torneo mette in mostra una squadra, la New School of Rome, che sembra in netta superiorità tecnica rispetto alle altre formazioni: la valanga di gol con cui sommerge prima la St. George's Dragons e poi la Castelli International non lascia molte speranze alle altre squadre presenti. In particolare una talentuosa giocatrice della NSR, che milita nelle giovanili della Roma, sembra letteralmente immarcabile dalle avversarie.

Tuttavia le ragazze dell'Ambrit iniziano con grinta e fiducia il loro cammino, sconfiggendo la St. George's con un netto 2-0 (doppietta di Aurora), e permettendosi di "sbagliare" almeno altre 3-4 occasioni nette.

La seconda partita - contro la Castelli - finisce 3-1, sempre in favore delle nostre ragazze, con doppietta di Aurora e gol di Irene.

Tutti ormai hanno capito che lo scontro diretto Ambrit-NSR sarà decisivo ai fini della vittoria, dato che non ci sarà una finale. La partita è accesissima: Mr. Antonio schiera una doppia marcatura sulla stella della NSR, che in effetti sarà totalmente bloccata da Bianca e Irene. Le nostre ragazze vanno in vantaggio con Aurora, ma vengono raggiunte quasi immediatamente dalla New School. La partita procede a fiammate, ma è l'Ambrit a tenere il pallino del gioco. Su calcio d'angolo di Martina una sfortunata deviazione riporta in vantaggio l'Ambrit, che ora ci crede davvero. Il punteggio regge fino alla fine della partita, quando un rimbalzo inganna la nostra grande Freydis e blocca il punteggio sul 2-2 finale. Peccato.

L'ultima partita vede la vittoria di misura 1-0 sulla seconda squadra della St. George's, ma ormai il trofeo è sfuggito.

In generale un ottimo esordio per le ragazze, che hanno dimostrato grinta, tecnica e tanto cuore.

MVP: Aurora e Martina.

3.3.23

Ajax 4-1 Salzburg

 Salzburg held the Dutch Champions for most of an even and highly entertaining game but then lost the ball at some crucial times and lost the points as well. Adam was very active all through the game and, in the first half, he tested Trym with four attempts. One was wide and Trym made some good saves for the other three. But Ajax stole the lead before half-time. Emilio passed to Antonio and the Brazilian ace finished it off.

Tiago made it 2-0 early in the second half but Salzburg continued to press forward. Adam and Oliver combined well with Sara, on-loan from Arsenal today, and Oliver pulled one back when he got a leg to Adam's long shot to force it home. But Ajax were back in front by two goals almost immediately, Diego shooting low past Adrian. Adrian made a great save shortly afterwards but an own-goal from Steve completed Salzburg's misery and their hunt for that elusive first point goes on.

BEST PLAYER POINTS: Adam 4, Oliver 3, Trym 3, Michael 2, Giulio 2, Emilio 2, Sara 1, Diego 1, Tiago 1, Sam 1, Steve 1



1.3.23

Ajax 6-1 PSG

 PSG showed a little more enterprise in attack today but the defence continues to leak goals. Ajax moved the ball around well, using their three touches economically and sensibly and the goals were scored by Ale, Diego, Tiago, Emilio, Ale again and Giulio. Aurora replied for the girls.

BEST PLAYER POINTS: Bianca 4, Ale 3, Emilio 3, Aurora 2, Sara 3, Lavinia 1, Ella 1, Adriano C 1, Clara 1, Diego 1