31.1.15

Spain 5-0 Italy

Two goals from Noah G and three from Ricky were enough to sink Italy at Ambrit Stadium today.
Early in the first half, Sam threaded a beautiful pass through the Italian defence for Noah G to run on to and he slotted the ball neatly home. Eli seemed to have equalised three minutes later but his goal was disallowed for a foul on the goalkeeper which was spotted by the referee's assistant.
In the second half, Spain played some fantastic football and ran riot. Riccardo played Noah G in for his second goal. Sam and Giovanni came close and then, from a corner, Noah G played a ball to Sasha who knocked it in to Ricky for the third goal. The fourt goal was a gem; a lovely passing move involving Giovanni, Sam and Ricky ended with Ricky's second goal and he added another at the end.
BEST PLAYER POINTS: Noah G 6, Riccardo 5, Francesco B 5, Sasha 3, Sam 1, Tommaso R 1

28.1.15

France 0-2 Greece

With two extraordinary saves - one in each half - Anastasia helped to ensure that Greece got off to a winning start against a poorly-organised French team.
After a scoreless first half in which Anastasia made a series of important interventions, Edo popped up on the end of a throw-in to scramble the ball over the line early in the second half to give the Greeks the lead.
Riccardo did his best to lead by example, winning good ball in midfield and bringing his team mates into the play. Stuart was well-watched by the Greek defence and couldn't find the space he needed to get his deadly shots in and, when he did, they were blocked by Giacomo, Taro, Jacopo and Anastasia. Gabriele was always available wide on the left for France and also got some shots in, but to no avail.
The Greeks, as well as defending stoutly, were also looking for the second goal that would kill off the game. Noah almost grabbed it when he poked a clever shot that came back off the post, but Guerrino did grab the second when his last-miute shot was deflected past Alfonso in goal. But the highlight of the game was undoubtedly Anastasia'a second half save: as Stuart turned onto his left foot on the edge of the area and shot through a crowd of players, Anastasia, unsighted and seeing the ball late, dived to her right with lightening reflexes and stopped a certain goal.
BEST PLAYER POINTS: Anastasia 8, Jacopo M 3, Gabriele 3, Taro 2, Riccardo F 1, Giacomo 1, Noah I 1, Stuart 1, Edo J 1

23.1.15

Spain 2-4 Germany

The first game of the Boys' Spring Tournament saw Filipo C justify his price tag with three goals to take three points for his team.
It all started well for Spain though when Riccardo G pounced twice on defensive errors to score two goals. Germany, though rocked by this early double whammy, pulled themselves back into the game with some determined football and Filippo C had them level at 2-2 at the interval.
In the second half, Spain were forced back into defence and Luca fired home to put his team in front for the first time. Octavio made a couple of good saves and Filippo C sealed the victory with his third.
BEST PLAYER POINTS: Filippo C 5, Noah G 3, Riccardo G 3, Francesco R 2, Octavio 2, Ramnath 1, Lucrezia 1, Filippo T 1, Sam 1, Luca R 1, Tommaso 1

22.1.15

Argentina 1 - 0 Brazil

E' un penalty trasformato con freddezza da Anna - uno dei pezzi pregiati del mercato invernale - a decidere la prima sfida nel torneo femminile del 2015. Tutto sommato è una vittoria meritata, per la maggior determinazione con cui l'Argentina ha afforntato il classico derby sudamericano. Le brasiliane sono sembrate un pochino in difficoltà, troppo aggrappate alle folate offesive di Margarida e meno "squadra". Il torneo è ancora lungo però, e tutto da scoprire...

PLAYER OF THE MATCH POINTS: Valentina 5, Anna 5,  Sophie 3, Gaia 2, Carolina 2, Greta 1, Margarida 1, Lucie 1, Ginevra 1.

15.1.15

Ambrit 2-6 German School Rome

An Ambrit team decimated by the current bout of flu', which kept some key players on the bench, put up a good perforamnce and might easily have won or drawn this game but for some glaring defensive errors.
Trailing by 1-0 at half-time, there was still all to play for but Ambrit lost their concentration in those crucial minutes after the break and were soon 0-3 behind.
Captain Luca then took matters in hand and, after a sound defensive display in the first half, he moved forward more often and was on hand to poke home a goal from three mters out to make it 1-3.
Ambrit now pured forward and left spaces at the back which were ruthlessly exploited by their opponents. Luca's second goal - a beautifully struck shot into the top corner - was Ambrit's only consolation at the end.
TEAM: Octavio; Alex, Luca, Pietu (Tommaso); Noah, Francesco R, Michael (Eli); Filippo G (Giovanni)

Calcio Mercato

The Boys teams are now complete. As usual, the captains went crazy with their money!
This year's most expensive players were

BOYS

Jacopo M: 55 million
Filippo C: 47 million
Alex V: 40 million
Stuart: 35 million
Sasha: 30 million

GIRLS
Anna: 60 million
Elizabeth: 59 million
Margarida: 52 million