Argentina 2-2 Cameroon

 After the opening skirmishes, Argentina took the lead when Jacopo passed to Giovanni V in a central position, 15m from goal. Giovanni hit the ball cleanly, aiming it past the defender and into the bottom corner - no chance for the Cameroon goalkeeper. Cameroon has one good chance to equalise before the break, but Antoine put in a fantastic block on Antonio's shot. Antonio made up for this immediately after the break though, making a good run and then shooting cleverly, using the defenders to screen the shot from Sam. Cameroon then took the lead when Antonio found Ryan with a long throw and Ryan tucked the ball home. Three points might have flattered the Africans and captain Antoine saw to it that the Argentinians would not go home empty-handed. With an acrobatic intervention to win a ball in midfield that he really had no right to win, he let fly a scorcher that flew into the net to salvage a point.

BEST PLAYER POINTS: Antoine 5, Antonio 4, Giovanni V 3, Ryan 3, Jacopo 3, Mostafa 1, Diego 1, Anan 1 

Mexico 5-1 Italy

 The Stone brothers weaved a web of magic today, lulling their opponents into a false sense of security and then sinking them with a series of cynical hits. Maverick supplied the pass for Max's opener but Italy hit back quickly, a great run down the left from Sara taking her around two defenders before she forced the ball past Tor in goal. Italy almost stole the lead when Sara opened up the defence again but Tor kept Livia's attempt out this time. Next, Max returned the favour of an assist and Maverick made it 2-1. Gianluigi set up  the third for Max just before half time. Immediately after the break, Sara broke free on the right and picked put Aurora with a good pass. Aurora's shot went wide and Mexico banged in two more goals - Max and Gianluigi - to take the points.

BEST PLAYER POINTS: Sara 3, Max 3, Maverick 3, Erin 3, Angela 3, Gianluigi 1, Livia 1, José 1, Simone 1, Aurora 1, Caterina 1

France 2-0 Cameroon

 Two teams today with a lot of players missing but, luckily, there were lots of girls eager to fill in. And how well they played! Though not eligible for points, Erin was Player of the match and Aurora wasn't far behind her!! Captain Freddie banged France into the lead with a 20-meter stunner half-way through the first half and Edo had the only other good chance when Matteo played him in but Christian saved well. In the second half, Christian did some good work down the left and cut back a dangerous cross but bone of his team mates had gambled and the chance was wasted. Cameroon's best chance of a goal came when the ball fell to Gabriele on the edge of the area. He struck it cleanly and the ball seemed destined for the net but Mattia pulled off an excellent save. France's second goal came from a penalty: Aurora slotted the ball home confidently and nearly added a second at the end but her header skimmed off the crossbar and over.

BEST PLAYER POINTS: Christian 4, Matteo 3, Gabriel 3, Mattia 3, Gabriele 2, Freddie 2, Diego 2, Edoardo 1, Ryan 1

Romania 4-2 Italy

 What looked early on in the match to be an easy victory for Romania turned into a bit of a scramble towards the end as Italy finally found their form. Half time saw the Romanians with a comfortable 3-0 lead, with goals from Lorenzo G (2) and Pier Valerio. It could have been more, but Erin cleared ball after ball out of defence and Aurora was, as usual, courageous in goal. Sara came on at half time and added some lucidity and calm to the Italian attack, and her passes brought Livia more into the game. Then, half-way through this second half, Megan had the ball in the net but referee Corcoran had already blown his whistle for a free kick... he should really have played the advantage. From the free kick, Rex was penalised for a handball on the line but Claudio saved the penalty! But nothing could stop Italy now as they drove forward in search of a goal. Powered in particular by Vittoria N's energy, they had Romania on the run and it was Vittoria who got the goal. Romania had barely kicked off when Italy stole the ball again and Livia rounded two defenders and rolled in a second goal. At 3-2, anything now looked possible and Claudio decided it was time to come out and play. First he tried a long shot that almost found the target and then he played an assist to Lorenzo G who gratefully accepted the gist and completed his hat-trick.

BEST PLAYER POINTS: Vittoria N 4, Claudio 3, Livia 3, Erin 3, Lorenzo G 3, Sara 2, Megan 2, Aurora 1, Rex 1

USA 3-1 Argentina

 No shortage of goalmouth action today as these two teams went at each other from the off. Lorenzo F tested Giovanni Vittorio in the Argentinian goal with two early shots - one an acrobatic bicycle kick - but GV was equal to them both. In between though, USA took the lead when Leopoldo's well-struck free kick went in, helped by a small but crucial deflection off Jacopo. USA double their lead before half time, this one coming from a shot driven in by Federico and going in off GV. Argentina's attacks lacked coordination though and their passing was poor. Steve did have a chance but Lorenzo C made a great blocking tackle, and Jacopo did have a shot that came back off the post.

Early inn the second half, captain Antoine played in Steve again but Steve was off balance when he shot and the ball trickled wide. Jacopo hit the post again, this time from a free kick, and then he had two more shots saved by Lorenzo C - now in goal for USA. At the other end, Giovanni Vittorio made a good save to keep out Federico but it was Argentina now dominating possession and territory. Jacopo played in Steve... another wide. Jacopo took a throw-in to Antoine and, finally, Argentina got on the scoreboard when Antoine's mis-hit shot went in! For a while, it seemed that Argenina might grab a point... but then Federico hammered home a third goal for USA and, when Steve chased down a ball in the hope of pulling one back for Argentina, he mis-timed a final lunge for the ball and took Lorenzo C's knee instead. Red card for Steve (misses next game), defeat for Argentina and three points for Ashton's team.

BEST PLAYER POINTS: Federico 3, Jacopo 2, Junio 2, Leopoldo 2, Lorenzo C 2, Lorenzo F 2,  Giovanni V 2, Filippo 1, Giovanni M 1, Noel 1, Mostafa 1, Steve 1, Ashton 1 

Romania 5-1 Mexico

 The absence of Tor today left Mexico without a first-choice goalkeeper and they paid the price. With Martti in goal for the Romania, Rex's team never looked like losing. Rex himself was a whirlwind of activity all through the game and good possession was constantly supplied to Lorenzo G and Claudio going forward. A first goal-  converted by Claudio - was canceled when referee Corcoran noted an extra player on the pitch. But not to worry, Romania were soon on the attack again and Lorenzo G and Claudio notched a goal each before the break. More of the same in the second half. Max and Maverick combined well on occasion; Gianluigi threatened too but Romania held firm, underpinned by Raul 'insuperabile'. Two more goals for Lorenzo and one for Pier Valerio, with Max grabbing a consolation goal late on.

BEST PLAYER POINTS: Lorenzo G 5, Martti 4, Rex 3, Claudio 3, Piervalerio 2, Gianluigi 2, Raul 2, Max 1

USA 4-0 Cameroon

 

A crazy and chaotic first half produced a lot of excitement but few chances and it finished 0-0. Federico did have a good shot well saved by Christian and he also set up Lorenzo F with a great chance but Lorenzo could only crash the ball off the bar from up close. 80 million-euro-man Antonio was busy for Cameroon but the US midfield/defence worked hard to limit his incursions - Gabriele and Ashton quick to intervene - while Junio did a job on Diego. In the second half USA, well-organised by captain Ashton, pushed on and Federico set up Lorenzo for the first goal. Federico himself almost scored but Lupo made a great block. At the other end, Cameroon had very few chances though Christian did get a shot in from the right after a solo break upfield. The USA continued to dominate though and would have scored two more except for some great defensive work from Ryan who blocked two clear goals. When Filippo scored the second though, the floodgates opened. Federico added a third with a savage strike from 20m out and Lorenzo F notched a second.

Best Player Points: Federico 4, Ashton 3, Lorenzo F 3, Ryan 2, Junio 2, Antonio 2, Leopoldo 2, Diego 1, Gabriele 1, Christian 1

France 2-3 Romania

 The classic 'game of two halves', with the first half belonging to France. After Mattia had made a miraculous save early on to keep out Lorenzo G after a lovely Claudio assist, Edoardo followed up a rebound to continue his amazing scoring streak (17 goals for Ambrit so far this season) with a simple tap in. Mattia then made another great save... another Claudio assist, this time to Rex, coming to nothing. Romania kept pounding away and Pier Valerio had the next chance but Mattia saved again. France took advantage of Mattia's good work and Edo scored again when he got onto the end of a Lorenzo I assist. The game followed a similar patter at the start of the seconf half: yet another Mattia save, keeping out Lorenzo G again after yet another Claudio assist. Another Pier Valerio shot... another save! But finally, Claudio did score; he dribbled right to left across the penalty area and planted a low drive back into the bottom right corner. Two late goals from Lorenzo G saw Romania snatch the three points though France probably deserved a draw.

BEST PLAYER POINTS: Claudio 5, Lorenzo I 4, Mattia 3, Rex 2, Raul 2, Lorenzo G 2, Pier Valerio 2, Edoardo 1, 

Argentina 4-2 Italy

One of the classic series in world football produced another fascinating episode today at Ambrit Stadium. Italy's players were focused from the start while Argentina struggled to accustom themselves to the three-touch rule. An Italian cross into the box was blocked by an injudiciously raised arm and referee Corcoran pointed to the spot. Megan slammed the ball home confidently from the spot. Buoyed by the breakthrough, Italy poured forward and a slick move down the left saw Angela passing to Livia to shoot home a second goal! In the second half,  Argentina slowly got to grips with the situation and their tackling and passing vastly improved. But Italy almost went 3-0 up when Livia fired in another great shot that Giovanni V barely managed to deflect onto the crossbar and out! But Argentina took over possession now and the shots rained in. Giovanni M shot wide; Jacopo shot wide; Steve scored... 2-1. Jacopo shot wide; Jacopo's shot was saved by Aurora... and again! And Antoine scored... 2-2. And Antoine scored again... 3-2. Livia almost equalised towards the end but Mostafa sealed the win with a fourth.

BEST PLAYER POINTS: Livia 2, Erin 2, Aurora 1, Jacopo 1, Giovanni M 1