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by **San Ortelio** » Thu Apr 22, 2021 3:47 am

Virtus Redoccio
Your new favorite team if…
You think that the ideal moment to support a topclub is when they’re at their lowest. Only success ahead, right? If you ignore the question ‘when’.

Details

Home Stadium   Valle Farnese (5000 seats)
Nickname       The Strawberries
Manager        Albino Romero (JUV)
Sponsor        Odiol (shipping manufacturing)
Since          S1
Won            4 Serie A titles (last S12), 3 Coppa delle Stella (last S13)
Region         San Servazio

Outgoing - Alberto Sgarbi (Catrallo Calcio, 0.4 mil), Desiderio Pinna (injury enforced retirement), Mario Bovo (Juve Redoccio, free), Erasmo Garattoni (demoted to Primavera)
Incoming - Padrig Péricard (GVN, SC Gavados, GVN, 1.2 mil), Jubenar Mallerbury (KOR, Robur Astello, 0.6 mil), Lorenzo De Feo (youth academy), Livio Alessandri (youth academy)

Last Season - It is fair to say that the Virtus’ season slowly collapsed, like a flan in a cupboard. The off-season had been more than rough, with star player Salvatori jumping ship towards nemesis Catrallo Calcio: the workers club got financially snubbed by the team from the bourgeoisie, the fans cried. Yet it was a sign from a different reality, that Virtus - due to mismanagement and waning funds - slowly slipped out of the Big Three. Only confirmations of that followed: young striker Canova chose the thrill of the relegation battle in Brenecia over a prolonged stay in Redoccio and in the Serie Nazionale, seven losses were recorded. The most in twelve years. For a while, it was hard to find the right person to blame, but eventually the choice fell on Alberto Sgarbi. Brought in with a lot of fanfare, he didn’t deliver at first and then crashed head first with the manager Enrico De Valeris. Sgarbi’s talent remains unquestioned, but the relation with Virtus was indefinitely sour.

Things went from bad to worse. In the Coppa, the amateurs of FC Orsi easily disposed themselves of the major Virtus despite playing with ten men for half the game, leading to a second managerial change: U18 coach Valentini would end the season as caretaker. But he could not avoid that on the ultimate matchday, they kicked in their own windows with a home loss against Esca Unione which saw the Strawberries end up outside of the IFCF tickets. A disgrace for a side of their stature, to say the least. There are a lot of mitigating elements to call: Stramaccioni and Zsinko being too much the same type and failing to find the right chemistry, defensive leader Pinna suffering a career-ending injury, … But the summary is that the dressing room felt like sand with the old capo’s failing to make it one group and the youngsters not grabbing the opportunities left. A dark season in their history.

Targets and Means - And yet, Virtus Redoccio kicks off with high ambitions once more. In part because it is the nature of the team that, grounded in the docks and factories of the port city, grew into one of the powerhouses of the league. But mainly due to the financial injection from Odiol, the Juven shipping manufacturer that expanded its market. They not only invest in the Coppa Odiol - the friendly cup between Juvencus and San Ortelio - but also in the biggest club of the city where their main Ortelian wharf is located. According to the rumours, after the takeover, they found an organisation which doesn’t even pass the bar for professionalism in a country like ours and a shambolic financial structure. As such, the first focus seems to have been on changing things behind the screens, with significant investments in the stadium, the youth development and the marketing branch.

On the pitch, the Odiol management was limited considering a set of long-term contracts but they did make their mark with the appointment of Albino Romero. The former international has been a left midfielder for AC Vinceti - currently better known as Odiol Vinceti, closing the circle. It will be his first position as a head coach but he inherits a group that, considering the present talent, has more in store than previously shown. Having to sell Sgarbi, considered the biggest problem in the dressing room, at half his price to Calcio was tough to swallow but that Romero can look past those sensitivities and focus on the result might be in his advantage in the long run. The defensive rebuilding starts with the addition of Mallerbury, a versatile Ko-orenite who should link up with the clever, but very inaccurately named Pace. Both the left- and right-back are internationals and the same goes for Serafino Evacuo who didn’t have his best season but cannot have lost his mojo at 30.

Due to this, there might be more headaches to be had about the midfield. In theory, the “two Alberto’s” had been brought in for the attacking impulses but the faith of Sgarbi is known and Di Cosmo showed prodigy but also completely failed to show up in some key matches. Yet, the impulses will need to come from the man with razor sharp infiltration. Behind him, it’s the known double lock in Confalonieri and Fazio - despite the fading quality from the latter. Much is expected from Francesco Bagheria, a crafty fellow and still considered as a not fully finished product, but he’s more of a useful multitool than a goalgetter. So for that all eyes are on the new attacking pairing. Zsinko scored at a good rate last year but couldn’t dominate the big games - the Pasargan will now get the support from newcomer Péricard, whose agility should open up more space whilst also knocking in his goals. The bench isn’t half-bad but apart from Mirarchi and Stramaccioni, they definitely are less than the starters. This should open up opportunities for the younger generation: as the Primavera squad became national champions, two players were promoted and a few others are waiting in the wings. Most notable of them is Alessandri, still only seventeen but a potential worldbeater. With those good signals, Virtus fans hope that their squad can worry Catrallo Calcio already this year. That seems too ambitious, the Strawberries should focus on long-term building, aiming for the Coppa and an IFCF ticket in the first place. A major advantage for them is that Odiol is in it for the long run and should have the patience to allow Romero to grow and improve with his squad.

Selection

Pos Nr  Name                   Nat  Age  Since Role    ClGa ClGo  Previous Club     CaGa CaGo 
GK   1  Serafino Evacuo        SOR   30   S12  Start    174    0  US San Savola      362    0
GK  10  Ion Fio                AUD   23   S16  Bench      0    0  Equipo Caiman/TEQ    0    0
LD   2  Luca Curiale           SOR   25   S09  Start    180    7  Youth              180    7
LD  29  Marino Tomei           SOR   22   S14  Bench     31    1  Youth               31    1
CD   3  Rocco Mirarchi         SOR   29   S12  Bench    164    1  Sportiva Montel.   273    2
CD  22  Ricardo Pace           ETN   34   S16  Start     28    0  Silexhera FC/AUD    28    0
CD  15  Livio Alessandri       SOR   17   S17  Res        0    0  Youth                0    0
CD   4  Jubenar Mallerbury     KOR   22   S17  Start      0    0  Zilverstraat SC/KOR 36    0
RD   9  Domard Prudhomme       GVN   33   S16  Start     31    3  Olym. Sarantec/GVN  31    3
RD  13  Elia Riggiano          SOR   19   S16  Res        4    0  Youth                4    0
DM   6  Fabrizio Confalonieri  SOR   31   S08  Start    287   15  Juve Redoccio      287   15
DM  14  Giovanni Lazarri       SOR   26   S15  Bench     21    2  Madonna Nottori    119    5
CM  16  Marco Fazio ©          SOR   33   S08  Start    260   20  Robur Astello      317   24
CM   8  Francesco Bagheria     SOR   26   S14  Start     78   20  Pro Stampano       143   29
CM  26  Alessandro Cernigio    SOR   28   S13  Bench     62    9  Porto Querio        78   10
AM  17  Alberto Di Cosmo       SOR   25   S16  Start     29    8  Sportiva Montel.   142   38
AM  18  Lorenzo De Feo         SOR   19   S17  Res        0    0  Youth                0    0
ST  11  Flavio Stramaccioni    SOR   31   S13  Bench    110   49  Inter Catrallo     218   83
ST   5  Boldizsar Zsinko       PAS   29   S16  Start     34   22  Miare CosmoSt./HIN  34   22
ST  19  Padrig Péricard        GVN   24   S17  Start      0    0  SC Gavados/GVN       0    0
ST  20  Francesco Allieva      SOR   24   S15  Bench     31   11  Esca Unione         78   25
ST  28  Iacopo Fantacci        SOR   21   S14  Res       13    1  Youth               13    1

by **San Ortelio** » Fri Apr 23, 2021 4:44 am

Thursday July 9th
IFCF Challengers Cup
Extra Preliminary Round

Esca Unione (SOR) 1-3 Hawthorne Kickers (XAN)
Sportiva Montelcampo (SOR) 2-0 Shakhtar Rheinburg (PDN)

The honour of kicking off the season (or the punishment receiving the shortest vacation, pending on your viewpoint) befalls Esca Unione and Sportiva Montelcampo. The Stadio Scarpa welcomes the Kickers, former CEdC finalist and the juggernaut from the Omega Division: the Xannerians are known for the highs and lows in their form and had to settle for fourth last year after a domestic title. For them, it is another international venture and the experience is showing against a slightly hesitant Unione. A miscommunication between Moscati and newcomer Smith allows Preston Mouser to slip through the offside trap after only three minutes and Burrai is left with no reply: 0-1 early on. The game settles a bit back-and-forth after that: Jacopo Burrai makes two important saves whilst D’Annunzio nearly scores on a marvellous cross from Philipsdottir - quite the key player for Il Esercito tonight. Unfortunately her counterpart at the other wing has a tougher evening and a positional mistake from Melchiorri allows Kickers to double before the break. The second half has less entertainment: Unione fears a painful whipping and when Matsumoto heads in another one, that seems to be on the books. Late in the match, substitute Ciccone makes a good run into the box - Kulap Erer can deflect the ball but veteran Lenpi-Xelez Roz is in the right position to score the first international goal from Esca Unione.

Montelcampo picks up the gauntlet against the number three of the Super League, a return to the forefront after a long drought for Shakhtar Rheinburg. Recently in the shadows of their bitter cross-city rivals Union, some might remember them from their Champions’ Cup group stage exit in the final UICA cycle - especially their shock victory of Kingsgrove will be fondly remembered in Pridnestrovia. But now Shakhtar makes, after years of mid-table boredom, the trip across the Pavola subcontinent. Unfortunately for them, they met eleven extremely eager Robins, with Joan Nonhagatte in a key role. The midfield managed to surprise the opposition with dominance in possession but that didn’t mean results right away - to the contrary, the best chance eventually befell Yeremiy Tsvetsnov but Pino got some help from his post. Von must have been satisfied with what his side showed but he too must have given a sigh of relief when the sturdy Rheinburg eventually gave in for the opening goal: Luca Cadili with a neat inside cut and ditto finishing. The game now balanced on two thoughts: Rheinburg initially would have taken a goalless draw but this scoreline forced them forward, Sportiva wanted more as well but didn’t want to throw it all away. As such, the 2-0 final goal came a bit out of nowhere. A wild shot from Mazzone ended up in front of Angelo Cotillard and the youngster showcased his talent.

Thursday July 16th
IFCF Challengers Cup
Extra Preliminary Round

Hawthorne Kickers (XAN) 2-0 Esca Unione (SOR)
Shakhtar Rheinburg (PDN) 0-1 Sportiva Montelcampo (SOR)

The return confrontation in the Richmond Avenue Bowl had not sold out after the result in the opening leg but still there were more than twenty thousand fans around to witness whether Esca Unione could regain some honour. “For me, this is just a fresh match, starting from nil-nil,” manager Delphi had explained to the press but that statement quickly became nil and void as a wayward corner in the second minute suddenly ended up behind Jacopo Burrai - it’s still not clear to whom the goal should be attributed. To the credit of Unione must be said that they didn’t gave up, using the flat 4-4-2 to have overlapping wing defenders: both Melchiorri and Philipsdottir did their bit to make it entertaining but D’Annunzio doesn’t seem to be yet in the form with which he concluded last season. As the dust settled after a second goal for Hawthorne, this time via young potential Kraig Kyle, the conclusions were that Kickers’ coach Ben Dirk had outfoxed Esca’s grey fox. The midfield from Delphi simply couldn’t get their vertical movement with the lines being cut and if that’s the case, only Roz can create something. Reserve Baiocco offered a bit more, if only to throw crosses at, but his headers went in all directions except the goal from Erer. A tough loss and a wake-up call for Unione: last year is over, as is their IFCF.

Sportiva in their turn stayed within Rushmore to face Shakhtar Rheinburg for a second leg. The plan of the orange-and-black was clear: trying to make the most of the underused wings via international Tatarinov, forcing one of the defensive trio out of position. Etern-Tylyr Von anticipated that, leaving the inexperienced and sometimes twitchy Cattai off for veteran Sarcinella and that paid off. Compliments must be made on Edoardo Ferrera, who came into Sportiva after a departure from Fagli that left a sour taste in the mouth, but he has adapted quickly to the plans from his Qusmi manager. The defensive trio held on, often supported by Aventurine Kolar. The Treason midfielder is in her second and last loan year and the general consensus from the first twelve months was that she’s just not enough for the ‘Zenith’. However, we should hope for her that her own scouts were in the stands tonight as she directed the play and made two decisive tackles when things looked a bit awry. After sixty minutes, Shakhtar ran out of steam, giving Sportiva that bit more breathing room to wrap things up. A nifty combination between Mazzone, Nonhagatte and Cadili - the quick feet of the selection - and suddenly Andrea Pambianco was unmarked. The broad shouldered attacker is atypical in this line-up but this is already his sixtieth goal in less than one-hundred appearances for the Robins: a beauty.

Sat/Sun July 25/26th
Serie Nazionale
First Round

US San Savola 0–1 Robur Astello
Esca Unione 3–2 SSD Borgonovo
Sportiva Montelcampo 1–0 Pro Stampano
FC Pesari 0–1 Inter Catrallo
Catrallo Calcio 2–4 Fagli Cinquanta
Virtus Redoccio 3–0 Madonna Nottori

Under a blistering sun, the kick off was given for the domestic season and it seems as if the early rehearsal benefitted the respective squads. Sportiva Montelcampo played a very organised Pro Stampano and for long, it seemed as if the seven-man defensive block from Romolo Pambianco would hold the line for a hardfought point. But Sportiva showed patience and eight minutes before the final whistle, Nonhagatte curled the ball over a flock of defenders and out of reach for Trasciani. A bit more to the south, Esca Unione took on an enthused SSD. The return from Celli to their ranks was quite an event and the towering forward immediately made his mark with a rocket shot. Yet Esca refused a third consecutive loss: Roz played the kind of game that doesn’t show his age and a little help from Mosca helped - let’s hope for Borgonovo that putting all their faith in his gloves won’t backfire. For the fans of cynical freefights with the accidental ball floating around, Dietro Baracche had a charming confrontation. One red for San Savola, two reds for Robur, one lost teeth by defender Biancu and a cheeky goal by the inevitable Romeo Gozzi - it was all one could expect from that game.

But the sensation was of course with the shock defeat from the two title favourites. Inter Catrallo arrived in Pesari angling for a point but accidentally picked up three when Saligari dribbled into the box in minute 64 and whacked it past Moro - one shot, one goal. It all became utterly frustrating for FC Pesari: Murphy showed glimpses of her talent on her debut, but the communication with the teammates was lacking, the first appearance from Raltano on the other hand was no less than a disaster. Guerra still has a lot of homework left as Inter showed exactly how I Pappagalli can be frustrated. The loss from champions Catrallo Calcio is an even bigger surprise even if Fagli has been tipped as a serious Serie A candidate. The game became a personal triumph for manager Mario Anza who, judged by the ‘bras d’honneur’ to the away fans, is not fully over his sacking a good year ago. Anza, contrary to most, did not focus on keeping the feared Carmine Garofalo in check (two goals for his start of the season) but dismantled the three-man defense he installed himself with intelligence. Having a Chikelu Okonye helps for that, of course, the Osarians mightiness is now known and feared by Ortelian defenses. Rodgers got a goal on his debut as well. With these two surprise results, the win from Virtus 2.0 passed virtually unnoticed, although it is unclear yet in how far Madonna is a barometer for form.

Tuesday July 28th
IFCF Liga B Champions Trophy
First Preliminary Round

FC Orsi (SOR) 3-2 St Bart’s United (LCI)

Little FC Orsi (the name change from Orsi FC is now official) got the honour of facing off St Bart’s United, once a major name in the illustrious Licentiapacisterran Premier League. Oh how the mighty have fallen - these days they often operate in the shadow from local rival St Bart’s Dutch. United is on the way up again but that they aren’t there yet got evidenced in the ninety minutes against the semi professionals from San Ortelio. Dillon von Valen and Maria Hamilton brought St Bart’s in front but two goals from Stefano Parti rebalanced the scoreline. At 28 and after a dry spell with San Savola some years ago, Parti will probably not be picked up again by a pro team anymore but in his category, he’s an assurance on goals. The pointe was in the final seconds of the match as newcomer Guido Gorini pumped the last free kick in the box and Parti surprised Ryan Mackay to complete his hattrick.

Wednesday July 29th
IFCF Champions League
First Preliminary Round

Trondsnes FF (FJA) 0-2 Catrallo Calcio (SOR)

Was it the defeat against Fagli that motivated the troops from Tumellero? Or the chance, at last, to show themselves at the grandest stage of international club football? Fact is that Calcio came to Strafsund with the knife between the teeth to take on one of the Big Four of the Fyrstserien. The coach had made no secret of what he thought of their opener and made four replacements. One of those, Carlo Marchegiani, nearly opened the score but his shot went wide. FF showed grit and why they're known to be hard to beat and Lindt needed to play her game. Nonetheless it was Calcio that took the lead: Viveiros got his head on a corner, it deflected off a Trondsnes defender and Agostinone showed his quick wit. He might have lost his spot under Tumellero, being less of a worker, but this shows his value in the selection. One goal up, it became easier to control the game against a home side forced to turn things around but Nepharim Lindt remained flawless - she too wanted revenge after taking in four for the second time in her tenure here. Eventually, Tumellero showed that he is slowly dropping his tactical rigidity, falling back but bringing Vitteriti. It paid off as the little speedboat doubled it up and brought Catrallo to the brink of qualification.

Thursday July 30th
IFCF Challengers Cup
First Preliminary Round

FC Pesari (SOR) 2-1 Kistina Galaxy (PFA)
Sportiva Montelcampo (SOR) 1-2 AC Mariina (MRN)

Inspired by the example of Catrallo, Pesari would need to get rid of their disappointing opener with a difficult home fixture against what seems to be the eternal number five of the Apex. Thomas Cadilia - and quite some financial depth - honed this Poafmersian side into a feared opponent but I Pappagalli seemed unphased by the presence of an all-time legend such as Valrauncion. Maybe because the infamous Elf remained rested for newcomer Antoine Duchemin. The Ko-orenite tested the fists of Moro early on but didn't escape the attention from Corriere all too often. Nonetheless it were the visitors who dictated the pace so when Jules Haney successfully launched a rocket from outside the box, all were surprised. Galaxy replied with a string of attacks but Walter Moro filed his solicitation letter for the NT selection: Bates, Harrison, Duchemin, … All found the calm youngster on their path to goal. Veteran Bytia Hisel, however, showed that class is forever and with a subtle outside touch she could catch Moro off-balance. The smell of blood seemed to ooze from FC Pesari and when Rota needed a second yellow to stop Johnsen, the Stadio del Fiume feared implosion. But then Jessica Murphy showed why she is the incoming transfer record. Despite a bleak game, she started and finished a solo from her own half, nutmegging Di Pietro in the process. Ninety rough minutes ahead, but they start with a lead.

No start for Sportiva who found themselves dominated by the Mariiners. Formerly an elevator team, they were one of the few to remain afloat in the Mriin competition and so AC returned to international football, but a step higher than the SBCC. The result against Shakhtar inspired Von to take this game by the horns. It worked out initially: Cadili and Nongahatte placed Tjaeder under pressure with the first few chances. But energetic as it is, this ate into the reserves from Sportiva and after nineteen minutes Krzesimir Hadjiev punished them for it: his well timed shot ended out of reach for Pino. Montelcampo regrouped a bit but were lucky that Tútëlvógäs missed a huge opportunity due to a bump in the grass. The Robins tried to regain control with Sparandeo instead of Delvino and that seemed to pay off. A good combination got wrapped up by Mazzone for the equalizer and for about a quarter of an hour, going up and over looked like an option in a filled Corsa Quersia. But Tjaeder held the best shot from Valeri whilst a splendid combination between Gerfalcon and Kalabaan brought AC Mariina back in front. "We were just as good as them," Von concluded honestly, "but they were calmer in the zone of truth. And that's important."

Sat/Sun August 1/2nd
Serie Nazionale
Second Round

Robur Astello 5–3 Madonna Nottori
Fagli Cinquanta 0–2 Virtus Redoccio
Inter Catrallo 0–2 Catrallo Calcio
Pro Stampano 2–0 FC Pesari
SSD Borgonovo 4–1 Sportiva Montelcampo
US San Savola 1–0 Esca Unione

Last week we saw the worst of Robur, but they showed that if the opponent gives a ridiculous amount of space, then they are also willing to play football. They could have scored nine or ten tonight, but five sufficed for a clear victory. We pity Laurence Bryger who tried his very best to keep it together but this Nottori looks savagely underskilled. One bright spot, a brace for Federico Granocche, that strange breed of gifted grafter. The ‘hurrah-we-are-taking-it-to-the-Big-Three’ atmosphere in Fagli lasted exactly one week as Virtus displayed cool and efficiency. The midfield veterans Confalonieri and Fazio took a bit of stick in the off-season but in a tactical masterpiece like this, they remain valuable. Speaking of valuable, we’re not saying that Péricard paid back his hefty transfer sum already but the cheeky grin with which he and Zsinko celebrated the opener after a neat double pass showed promise for the attacking pairing. In Catrallo, however, all eyes were on the derby. They say it is the biggest game in the year for Il Viola but it didn’t show - ironically, it were the former Calcio players who had a hit and miss. Roscioli dropped a weak shot for Garofalo to tuck away and Sandri slid in a cross that was not particularly dangerous. Despite the opening week loss, it seems as if Calcio will get back in its beastmode as the year progresses.

No midweek boost for FC Pesari who ran straight into the trap set up by Pro Stampano. The Postmen showed their worst side, or their most efficient one, as they start timewasting in minute nine, seconds after Lenore Ranson opened her account of the year with a one-touch-one-goal beauty. Whilst not exciting for the fans, we must say that the sturdiness from Stampano deserves its praise and for the second week in a row, Pesari looked for answers against a well-structured block and failed to find them. They weren’t the only one seemingly suffering from mid-week fatigue, with Montelcampo taking a beating against the neighbours. We must warn to discard this result as just Sportiva looking tired: SSD’s Archer Pearson shows that his potential reaches beyond San Ortelio and the return from Federico Celli appears to be a perfect match. It was a better game than San Savola versus Esca that gets decided by a controversial goal. The volley from Wlatko Kowac had style and grace but how none of the referees noticed the body check from his teammate Ladinetti on goalkeeper Burrai is quite a shocker. A frustrated Burrai tries to explain his point using some more… ehm… convincing techniques so the long story short is that we will see 18-year old Qusmi Forza-Lucex Yem make his debut under the Unione crossbar for the next four weeks.

Tuesday August 4th
IFCF Liga B Champions Trophy
First Preliminary Round

St Bart’s United (LCI) 2-2 FC Orsi (SOR)

If you are used to playing on a small side pitch with a stand created from concrete root, it is quite the event if you can travel to an internationally recognised football temple such as St Bart’s Oval - the location of the first few CEdC finals. The numerous fans did not immediately give an impression of foregone glory but the performance from United echoed this a bit more. The Licentians dominated the play but two silly mistakes allowed Valenti and Pellegrino to go one on one with Ryan Mackay: with the break in sight, St Bart’s needed three goals to progress. End of the affairs and a solid appearance from FC Orsi, but it suddenly got close for comfort when striker Dillon von Valen knocked in two in a row. The Bears came through the final fifteen minutes with trembling legs but a solid game from goalkeeper Pasticcio ensured another set of international games for FC.

Wednesday August 5th
IFCF Champions League
First Preliminary Round

Catrallo Calcio (SOR) 1-2 Trondsnes FF (FJA)

It should have been so easy: a two-goal cushion, a rekindled confidence and your best eleven at the kick-off. But just seconds after the kick-off, Min Qian stole the ball of Dema, danced past Lucarelli and slotted it away in the furthest corner. One thing was clear, the Fotbollsforeining still thoroughly believed in a ticket for the next preliminary round and they were not to be stopped by a semi-Italian accent. Spadoni tried to reply quickly but even as he got it past the goalie, Anton Felland tackled it off the line. The Fujar wanted their first progression to a next round and came closer with every minute: Lindt did what she could but couldn’t stop FF from scoring the second goal. At a time like this, the cosiness of the Olimpico worked into the advantage of the home team and their support helped Calcio to stay adrift till the halfway point. With Pumeiros, Crilese and Agostinone instead of Dema, Mascolo and a very annoyed Sgarbi, Tumellero chose for a rare diamond 4-4-2, but it did tilt the balance substantially. Trondsnes had used up a lot of energy to battle themselves back into this one so Calcio could not only stop the flood but also regain the command. Emilio Salvatori, quite invisible so far, had the decisive inspiration in minute 79 when his through ball found the running Moreschini - he reached the backline, a sharp assist, a strong (maybe handsy?) Garofalo and Catrallo Calcio qualified for the next round.

Thursday August 6th
IFCF Challengers Cup
First Preliminary Round

Kistina Galaxy (PFA) 2-1 FC Pesari (SOR) (4-3 pen.)
AC Mariina (MRN) 1-1 Sportiva Montelcampo (SOR)

The drama, the nerves! First up, Attilio Quintarelli. The youngster didn’t have a rosy evening against Jesse Bates. In games like this, just twenty-one, he still needs to pay for his inexperience: Quinta didn’t look good in the second goal. But he is strong willed and scores the first penalty, neatly. So does Bates. Matteo Corriere walks up to the chalk with a certain flair, the Audioslavian knows the ropes, he’s no longer impressed by the fifty thousand shouting Poafmersians in the Theatre of Light: 1-2 and Johnsen skies her effort! If Jules Haney puts this one away, the knife is on the throat for Kistina. After all, he did score in the regular time through his typical ‘push till it hits the net’-style but his fake doesn’t fool Di Pietro. And Moro gets just a fingernail on a blast from Bytia Hisel, is he still a bit cold after a very uneventful extra time? Captain Zanoni takes his responsibility and does it his way: no fanfare, no show, just hard in the corner. Wisdom might come with age, Valrauncion makes it 3-3 without a blink. The final one for Spaviero. He has complained in the press about the arrival of Murphy, about his playing chances and was brought in only in the last ten minutes. He’s fresh and… Skies it. Captain Morce gives Pesari no second chance, Kistina Galaxy qualifies for the next round.

They will not be joined there by Sportiva Montelcampo. The Robins started the season with three consecutive wins but their track record fell apart as quickly as it was built. The visit to the Mriin side looked like a difficult endeavour to start with and even if the marvellous Pitch-By-The-Sea inspired them to a few good, quick attacks, it did not result in goals. Pinchhitter Christian Valeri missed two good chances to bring his squad back in the game but the towering newcomer is still searching to find his spot in the passing football from Sportiva - one could wonder whether young bencher Angelo Cotillard would not be a better option for a game like this. The skyblue, gold and white showed far less mercy eye-in-eye with the goalkeeper: the first big chance was a goal when Dietmar Sattelmaier nodded it in on a Hadjiev free kick, beating Ferrera on one of his few weaknesses. Montelcampo tried to bring what the press already monikered their ‘Qusmiball’, despite or due to a lack of deep knowledge of the tactical currents of the nation: lots of movement, one director in Nonhagatte and kicking it when it gets in the box. It leads to a fairly entertaining ninety minutes for the fans but not immediately to a result. We are already in the extra time of the second half when the flawless Eddara Tjaeder can get surprised over a Priola chip but it’s too little, too late. The end of a rough night for the Ortelian clubs.

Sat/Sun August 8/9th
Serie Nazionale
Third Round

Esca Unione 0–1 Robur Astello
Sportiva Montelcampo 1–0 US San Savola
FC Pesari 2–0 SSD Borgonovo
Catrallo Calcio 1–0 Pro Stampano
Virtus Redoccio 3–1 Inter Catrallo
Madonna Nottori 1–5 Fagli Cinquanta

We are three games into the season and the baffling names of the leaders are not Calcio or Pesari but Virtus Redoccio and Robur Astello. In a way, having Virtus top the table is not such a shocker but few expected new manager Albino Romero to regroup what seemed to be a dismantled squad so fast. The man himself remains cautious, “It is good for the atmosphere but nothing more - there is still plenty of work to do.” Fact is that they did not just win, but it did it with a seemingly natural ease against a decent Inter. In this renaissance, the rekindling of Francesco Bagheria - a bit shoved aside by predecessor Guerra - by Romero is pointed to as a confirmation of the positive man management from the Juven gaffer. More surprising is the presence from Robur at the top, but it must be said that their year-old recipe still works like a charm. A large defensive block that neutralises the main threats from the opponent, in this case Roz and Falzerano, Giulotti that slices an opponent in half when needed and a cheeky counter goal by Romeo Gozzi who takes on both Smith and Moscati on a helpless deep ball but still finds a way to send it past Yem. A bit of a silly debut for the young Qusmi who had to deal with just one shot on his goal but could in no way have stopped this rocket from disappearing behind him.

Despite the top two, nature is healing in the domestic competition. FC Pesari took a logical home victory over SSD - with confidence held in Murphy & Haney up front. Catrallo Calcio needed seventy minutes to crack the logical puzzle set up by Pro Stampano: Cappa had his grip on Salvatori, Ilari managed to stop Garofalo from scoring - a feat which is rarer than the reverse across the last three years - and the miles put in by Pill and Polidori made it hard for Catrallo to find a reply. Eventually, the, rather disappointing, answer was Spadoni falling down like a brick inside the box after a light contact and kicking it in from the penalty point. Sportiva Montelcampo might be out of the IFCF but they managed to take their defeat with the chin up high and return with a goal over US San Savola - still most clips on that game focussed on Giovanni Letti who seemed to be holding a nutmegging competition, tricking Delvino four times. “He’s not even good enough for the NT and he comes on that pitch all nagging and bossing,” Letti explained afterwards, but Delvino simply lifted his shoulders to the press and showed three fingers for the three points won. Last but not least, Fagli Cinquanta lashed out with Chikelu Okonye jumping up the ‘Capocannoniere’ charts with four roses in a bit more than fifty minutes. Currently, Nottori is at thirteen goals against. Auwtch.

by **San Ortelio** » Tue Apr 27, 2021 8:34 am

Sat/Sun August 15/16th
Serie Nazionale
Fourth Round

Robur Astello 1–0 Fagli Cinquanta
Inter Catrallo 3–1 Madonna Nottori
Pro Stampano 3–2 Virtus Redoccio
SSD Borgonovo 0–2 Catrallo Calcio
US San Savola 0–0 FC Pesari
Esca Unione 2–3 Sportiva Montelcampo

At what point is a fluke turning into a streak? It is a question for the analysts as Robur Astello scalps their fourth consecutive opponent with their usual methodology. If you know that thirty points more often suffice for a spot in the Serie A, this could be a very valuable flying start in the long run for I Detenuti. Their system murders all joy but is solid and newcomer Scampini showed no problem to adjust to the level - he hasn’t even punched anyone in the face yet. It was indeed a festive weekend for cynical tactics as US San Savola resorted to much of the same: time wasting and nasty faults, but also well-applied pressure and a vicious counterattack. In their defense, a string of teams have already shown that this brings FC Pesari in trouble this year. In desperation, Guerra tried playing with three attackers but with Bortolotto out of form and Raltano struggling to stay afloat, this team just missed the creativity to bring someone eye-to-eye with the goalkeeper. It’s a dull game, but USSS won’t mind as they caress their point won. No one will be surprised that Nottori lost again, but it is notable that Ciro De Luca scored against his ex-team… After dribbling past Tebaldi who made the transfer in the other direction this summer.

Catrallo Calcio wins their practice session ahead of the clash with Walstreim despite resting a few starters. The third consecutive clean sheet must please Bryony Lindt who needed one good save on a long-distance effort from Orjee. No surprise so the bulk of the headlines can go to two 2-3 results. Pro Stampano gave a solid showing in their own Corsa Quersia, handing Virtus their first loss under Romero. Lenore Ransom being very efficient definitely made a difference between the two, but the man of the match must have been Sanmicheli who rang rings around Confalonieri and marked a hattrick of assists by the final whistle, one even more beautiful than the next. Less sporting was the game between Esca and Montelcampo. A good match in theory and after forty-five minutes, with two each, the fans had been spoiled. At minute 65, Von decided to field Grigory Rijkhart, the Freeportian youngster, to overcrowd the midfield. Upon his first touch, Esca captain Moscati claimed handball and got the fans with him, who pelted the poor Rijkhart with their matchday brochures. After a long stop, the referee proclaimed that he can’t find anything about ponies in the rulebook and besides, it would be called hoofball. The crowd turned slightly nasty over the incident but it were Von and Rijkhart who had the last laugh as his infiltration and pass isolated Cotillard for the winning goal.

Tuesday August 18th
IFCF Liga B Champions Trophy
Second Preliminary Round

Secklow (KRY) 2-0 Politecnica Foot (SOR)
FC Orsi (SOR) 1-1 FC Savinge (SOL)

In itself, it is already a small miracle that we can see international football here at The Mound between Secklow and Politecnica - and that goes for both parties. The Krytenian side seemed ready to drop to the third tier just a few years ago but now they can celebrate their return to the Premier Division with IFCF football. The Ortelians, on the other hand, are a peculiar case in the footballing landscape. Composed nearly completely of students and faculty of the Scola Politecnica, the authoritative institute when it comes to engineering and techniques in the country, they suffer the disadvantage of seeing a few of their best players graduate every year. The departure of Scampini and Raltano left some glaring holes in the line-up and those showed against the more balanced opponent. That new goalkeeper Luigi Carpano made himself Man of the Match for the Studenti was telling in a game in which Secklow could’ve deepened the gap with a certain ease. Yet, Politecnica battled themselves to a second leg which will, considering the enthusiasm and spirit of the students corps, undoubtedly be a memorable match.

The second confrontation for the Bears brought the visit from a Saltsteadian setup that has fallen from grace, in a certain way. Long gone are the days when clubs like Tanrisal and East Franz Athletic were needed to keep them from the Globe Cup group stages. These days, FC (formerly FK) lingers near the pinnacle of the Seuverdivisie, always in the mix for promotion but never just enough to make it through. This time, play-off extra-time was needed to keep Savinge from finally reaching the Gouddivisie but it makes them one of the few regulars of the LBCT. Orsi looked unphased by the quality of their opponent but needed a bit of luck when the best effort from Savinge brushed the outside of the post. On the counterattack, Stefano Parti added another one to what is becoming a more than decent international record: 3 games, 4 goals. The Stadio Communale - a grand name for one of the most deplorable fields in the country - couldn’t witness a triumph as FC Savinge fought themselves back to a draw, making the visit to Saltstead immediately a tough one.

Wednesday August 19th
IFCF Champions League
Second Preliminary Round

Catrallo Calcio (SOR) 3-1 Walstreim Lions (SNL)

Truth to be told, when one takes on the IFCF tournaments, the aspiration always is to encounter one of the great names from the history of the Champions Cup and League. And yes, Walstreim does not possess the ridiculous trophy cabinet of a Raynor City United or 1830 Cathair but they did manage to become an overnight sensation on their debut two years ago. The South Newlandians not only qualified for the CL group stage - already quite a feat - but subsequently bossed around Brinemouth, Tropicorp FC and Freeport United. Directus halted the progress but it got a beautiful epilogue when the Young Lions won the Rising Stars Cup. The campaign catapulted the side straight into the hearts of many football fans who dreamed along with their meteoric rise. By now, the cupboard must carry additional silverware in a CEdC and two domestic titles, making them unrivalled powerhouses domestically. Quite the challenge but it brought out the very best in Catrallo Calcio with Emilio Salvatori rising above himself for the occasion - his opening goal past Wever was a beauty. Newcomer Kyran Knudsen equalized soon after but Di Masi kept the Audioslavian record sale in check for most of the game. With ten minutes left, Carmine Garofalo showed why he’s such a feared man on our pitches with a successful header. In extra time, the Olimpico got more than it came for when a miscommunication between Pearson and Rodier allowed Moreschini to go on the counter and score the 3-1. A flattered result, for sure, but a very important one if Calcio wants to upset this strong opponent in their City Stadium.

Sat/Sun August 22/23th
Serie Nazionale
Fifth Round

Sportiva Montelcampo 2–0 Robur Astello
FC Pesari 0–3 Esca Unione
Catrallo Calcio 2–2 US San Savola
Virtus Redoccio 3–1 SSD Borgonovo
Madonna Nottori 3–2 Pro Stampano
Fagli Cinquanta 1–0 Inter Catrallo

Holy fuck, Madonna Nottori won a football match in the Serie Nazionale. In a season where Il Cavalli look weaker than ever, they give Pro Stampano quite a cold shower. For clarity, that is after a series which saw them win a single point in twenty-one Serie Nazionale confrontations. Twenty-one. It’s ridiculous, which moron invented the system which keeps this club in the top tier? Either way, they are somehow three goals up after thirty-five minutes with a doozy from Tebaldi and Stampano recovers too late of their absolute offday to salvage this. These three points can be very costly in the always long Serie A battle. Bryger and co celebrate the win as if they just lifted the Coppa delle Stella. Another side which drops the ball is Robur Astello, but there is no shame in a loss at Montelcampo. Their IFCF run might have been cut short, the Robins are eyeing a high finish and if they bring the energy of tonight every week, they will end close. After managing to contain the opposition for four weeks, Robur couldn’t reply to the passing game of Sportiva. The use of Valeri became clear at last as in a game like this, he keeps two or three opponents occupied with his physicality, allowing Mazzone and Pambianco to steer the squad to a key win - only goal difference keeps them from leading the table.

That honour goes to Virtus Redoccio. Things aren’t perfect yet - their schedule so far was not the hardest - but it is amazing what some system and positive man management can do with a team. The last goal from Péricard, where he recuperates a seemingly lost ball near the corner flag before dribbling a defender and the keeper, makes him an instant fan favourite: hard work and class rolled up in one man. As joyous are the times are for Virtus, as rough has this seasonal start been for FC Pesari. The fourth loss of the year for Guerra, that’s a bad stat but it is mainly the way how which is shocking. Esca Unione doesn’t even need to put the pedal to the metal to humiliate I Pappagalli on their home turf. The self-proclaimed title candidate sits in tenth and rumour has it that a confidential vote about the future of the manager will happen in the course of the week. The result nearly doesn’t leave room for the slight mishap from Catrallo Calcio, who seem focused on their CL fixture and allow USSS to pick up a point. It is veteran Hythewater who heads home the 2-2, the Nepharim towers over Crilese, sixteen years his junior. Lastly, a neat Yannick Rodgers goal keeps Fagli in the top six - watch out for them.

Tuesday August 25th
IFCF Liga B Champions Trophy
Second Preliminary Round

Politecnica Foot (SOR) 0-1 Secklow (KRY)
FC Savinge (SAL) 1-3 FC Orsi (SOR)

No, Politecnica did not work a miracle. After only nine minutes, Secklow organised a splendid attack on the left wing and Luigi Carpano remained nailed to the ground on the shot - immediately the end of any hope for Foot as four goals were required now. But what a marvellous celebration of the sport, as the stands were filled to the brim with enthused youngsters, banners and fireworks. From the opening minute till the last whistle, Politecnica Foot got the treatment of a top club. Even if their parcours lasted only two games, it also offered insight into the potential future professionals. For that, wingback Valerio Righi caught most of the attention: the infiltrations of the 19-year old are well timed and adequate. Keep an eye out for central defender Niccolo Formati, a bit slow but very physical and a born leader. For Secklow, it must have been an enjoyable ninety minutes which brought them closer to reliving their greatest SBCC days - knock-out phase included.

Things went from good to great for the Bears as they surprised everyone with a perfect performance in Saltstead. The visit to Savinge had been anticipated as a difficult one but it shows once more that Orsi FC shows up for the big games. We had seen that last year already, when they navigated themselves past Virtus Redoccio to the semi-finals of the Coppa and tonight it happens again. Early on, a free kick from Gorini brings Orsi ahead and whilst FC Savinge raises the pressure with a few infiltrations, goalie Pasticcio keeps his nets tidy. A brace from winger Nino Valenti against an increasingly risk-taking Saving confirmed the composure FC Orsi has this year. They have not only kept all key players on board, but even reinforced since the previous season and make it no secret that their ambition is to break into professional football - which would be the first time in a decade. For now, they can be satisfied about getting one step closer to the group stages.

Wednesday August 26th
IFCF Champions League
Second Preliminary Round

Walstreim Lions (SNL) 0-2 Catrallo Calcio (SOR)

The tension was high for this encounter between South Newlandia's and San Ortelio's finest. Ahead of the game, David Watts had made quite clear that defeat was no option whatsoever, giving the City Stadium a tense atmosphere even before the ball rolled. Tumellero, on the other hand, had other things to worry about but the press. The yellow cards had caught up with captain Lucarelli and striker Davide Spadoni held a doctor's note after a slightly bizarre home injury: he had slipped over his cat and torn an ankle, although whisperers claim it was his mistress' cat. Fact was that this placed Vitteriti at the start and the diminutive attacker got a golden opportunity to launch Calcio straight from the start but Rinus Wever kept a cool head. Minutes later, his counterpart Lindt needed that as well: she kept her compatriot Bernard Zeman from scoring, twice in one attack. The Lions stalk their prey but seemingly forgot to lash out - 73% possession but only CEdC hero McMora came close to scoring. The crossbar allowed Calcio to walk free here. As time went by, Walstreim dominated more and more, and Catrallo folded back. Brescia was added to stop the centre from flooding and the crosses from the Lions found only the heads from Dema, Rocca and Viveiros. An increasingly frustrated Watts was left with no options but to take risks, leading straight to the 0-1. Garofalo prolonged a cleared ball, Vitteriti picked it up and didn't miss a second time one-on-one. Walstreim never dropped their shoulders as evidenced by the chances from Dawood and Knutsen but it was not to be for them - sub Marchegiani even twisted the knife, giving Catrallo more than deserved, but that was the least of the worries from the Capo di Capi.

Sat/Sun August 29/30th
Serie Nazionale
Sixth Round

Robur Astello 2–0 Inter Catrallo
Pro Stampano 0–2 Fagli Cinquanta
SSD Borgonovo 1–0 Madonna Nottori
US San Savola 0–1 Virtus Redoccio
Esca Unione 0–2 Catrallo Calcio
Sportiva Montelcampo 1–1 FC Pesari

We are not even the start of September yet and still various betting houses give you low odds on claiming five of the six qualifiers for the Serie A. Not such a surprise as five clubs managed to distance them already by six points, each of them offering sufficient reasons to stake their claim at the elite level of domestic football. Yes, even Robur Astello - it's very rigid but Robur can claim a third clean sheet (Scampini and Maurizi earning some praise there). Everybody knows the game plan they bring, it has been the same for years now, but it works. Notably, Marcellusi regained his spot over newcomer Iotti who is struggling a bit to adapt, the only blemish on the fine Robur run. A bit further up the road, Pro Stampano can’t bounce back after the Madonna loss and takes a beating by Fagli. Star player there was Tosi who gets all the space he needs with the trio of bloodhounds behind him. Also in the lead group is Virtus Redoccio, who struggled to unlock the plan from San Savola. It was a game destined for a scoreless draw because damn, USSS turned into an unattractive side. But Boldiszar Zsinko now is getting the confidence and support needed - maybe he’ll even challenge for the topscorer trophy, even if it will be hard to get past the on fire Okonye, the quirky Gozzi, silent killer and off course, the inevitable Carmine Garofalo.

Speaking of which, he once more was worth his value in gold. Esca Unione did not look particularly worse and Calcio seemed to suffer the side-effects from two intense weeks against Walstreim. If Ciccone was a bit more lucky, it might even have turned out to be a difficult night in Stadia Scarpa for the visitors but on the counter, Garofalo used his body and held off Sobrero to mark again, he is once more at a one goal per game ratio at the moment. The last one of the lead group is Sportiva and even if they did not win, it became more than a well deserved home draw. FC Pesari claimed, ahead of the match, that they would now shine - even more, Guerra betted his job on a victory and put his confidence on Spaviero, rather than Murphy. That seemed to be a good plan for ten minutes, Jules Haney made use of the smallest of spaces to surprise Pasquale Pino and the return to the lead seemed to start. But then I Pappagalli drowned in the waves of pressure from the Robins and bit by bit, Von put FC against the wall and Guerra out the door. One thing of comfort for the Pesari fans is that the defensive block - Moro with Corriere and Mazziero in front of him - still is quite solid, so it took a penalty to kick to equalize. But otherwise, Pesari barely crossed the middle line anymore. A few hours after the last whistle, the board thanked Guerra for his efforts in the last five years. The (former) manager lashed out to the press: “They sold Favaro and gave me Raltano. I mean, if they steal your computer and give you just a pencil, how many papers would you sell?”

Sat/Sun September 5/6th
Serie Nazionale
Seventh Round

FC Pesari 4–1 Robur Astello
Catrallo Calcio 1–2 Sportiva Montelcampo
Virtus Redoccio 1–0 Esca Unione
Madonna Nottori 2–6 US San Savola
Fagli Cinquanta 2–2 SSD Borgonovo
Inter Catrallo 1–2 Pro Stampano

Finding an available manager mid-season remained quite a task, so Primavera coach Primo Bettini was giving the reigns of FC Pesari for two weeks. Due to the ample time, he chose for known names and decided to play Robur at their own game: 5-3-2 with quick wings and a deep-lying midfield, and Mazziero only focusing on getting on Romeo Gozzi nerves. The Gozzer did score once, but also smacked his elbows into different faces before the break, giving Pesari 55 minutes with an additional man. A good chance for Jessica Murphy, who had to integrate in difficult circumstances (replaces popular youth product in a team with a power struggle and a faltering organisation) to show her mental strength and bang in three goals past Scampini. The loss from Robur allowed others to move forth, with Virtus Redoccio to grab the lead. There is a point where ‘they had an easy schedule’ becomes a fallacy and ‘they are just looking sharper than the past twenty-four months’ is simply the truth. Apart from manager Romero, Bagheria became the face of the new-found grit and even to a traditionally well-organised block as Esca, they kept true to the plan - and Zsinko scored again. Catrallo Calcio could have been up there but lost to Sportiva - a bit ironic as Calcio showed more football than last week, but had an energetic opponent with Nonhagatte shining. Ninety minutes of pure advertisement for the competition and in the end, the volley from Mazzone turned out to be a winner.

As Robur and Calcio faltered, La Fa got an amazing chance to go up and above but Borgonovo took their shot and end a four-game streak with four out of six now. Much to the frustration of Anza, at times like this the gap between a top team and a mid-tier one like Fagli shimmered through as they let Celli and Spizzichino catapult their side back into it: “If Cinquanta wants the Serie A, then they need to win these games” was the hard, but correct, conclusion from the gaffer. Another side stuck between their ambitions and their results this season is Pro Stampano. Such an optimism ahead of the year, plenty of players which are above average and still…. They seemed to be on their way to another loss after seventy minutes, with the frustration nearly piling up when Ransom did another hopeless charge to the sturdy Inter defense. Fellow striker Cianci had already put up his arms in anger for this useless attempt before the Chromatik dribbled past Chiurato, Kerraway ánd Calcaterra before nutmegging Roscioli. In some sort of anger-infused last-ditch attempt, Roscioli put his studs into the leg of Ransom and against ten, Sanmicheli scored a winner with a marvellous curl. Lastly, San Savola had themselves an enjoyable little goalfest - Cappelluzzo, Letti, Averroes, Kowac, Nzonzi and Elizabe made it six different scorers, which is only the third time in seventeen years of Serie Nazionale. Madonna, on the other hand, is in deep trouble. Young Ioime now has 25 goals against him, that is twice as much as any other side, and the only alternative is forty-one years old. This is gonna be a long season for them.

Serie Nazionale          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1 Virtus Redoccio         7    6   0   1    15    5  +10    18
 2 Sportiva Montelcampo    7    5   1   1    11    8   +3    16
 3 Robur Astello           7    5   0   2    11    9   +2    15
 4 Fagli Cinquanta         7    4   1   2    14    8   +6    13
 5 Catrallo Calcio         7    4   1   2    12    8   +4    13
 6 Pro Stampano            7    3   0   4     9   10   −1     9
 7 US San Savola           7    2   2   3     9    7   +2     8
 8 FC Pesari               7    2   2   3     7    8   −1     8
 9 SSD Borgonovo           7    2   1   4    10   13   −3     7
10 Esca Unione             7    2   0   5     8   10   −2     6
11 Inter Catrallo          7    2   0   5     6   11   −5     6
12 Madonna Nottori         7    1   0   6    10   25  −15     3

by **San Ortelio** » Fri May 07, 2021 1:12 am

Tuesday September 8th
IFCF Liga B Champions Trophy
Third Preliminary Round

Carvi Albion (MRC) 3-0 FC Orsi (SOR)

In a very generalistic way, there are parallels to draw between the home and away squad of this LBCT fixture. Both came agonizingly close to promotion last year and are considered as the number one candidate to join their respective top tier after the running season. Both fought valiantly in their cup tournament, punching above their weight bravely. But in the Arena di Carvi, there is also a clear gap visible between the two contenders. FC Orsi are shown each and every corner of the pitch by the yellow-and-blue and are lucky to keep the damage limited to three. Pasticcio saves a few impossible balls and tall centre-back Baldini does his bit, but if we take everything in account, the Bears are just less.

Wednesday September 9th
IFCF Champions League
Third Preliminary Round

Catrallo Calcio (SOR) 1-3 Arsenal de Releinthi (AFT)

It might not be a particularly popular opinion across the strait, in Wanda City, but Arsenal de Releinthi are not only the most recognisable Fleftic club - they confirmed with their title after a dry spell that they are also the best one. As such, Calcio received major guests in Il Olimpico tonight with the red-and-white. The choice from Tumellero to pick reliable veteran Agostinone over the quirky Sgarbi - not a first this season - reverberated in the stands but all-in-all, Calcio could count on their best eleven for this clash. Still, they could not find the recipe to stop Marcus Tabarez, the superstar and creative right wing from the Gunners. Agostinone tried to fall back in support of Dema but Tabarez simply did what he wanted to in the first 45 minutes leading to a goal of his signature and a splendid assist on Blue Vagay. After tea, Viveiros joins the fight just to halt him but this throws off the balance elsewhere, resulting in Jake Pimentel adding a score of his own. With fifteen minutes on the clock, Sgarbi joins the affair and immediately stuns the fans with an egotistical but successful rush and a ditto finish. A great one but Catrallo get no closer to Arsenal in what remains and it seems as if Oleg Mostovoi won this tactical battle with ease - Calcio seem out of the Champions Cup despite ninety minutes left.

Sat/Sun September 12/13th
Serie Nazionale
Eighth Round

Robur Astello 0–1 Pro Stampano
SSD Borgonovo 0–1 Inter Catrallo
US San Savola 1–2 Fagli Cinquanta
Esca Unione 4–3 Madonna Nottori
Sportiva Montelcampo 2–1 Virtus Redoccio
FC Pesari 1–1 Catrallo Calcio

Most eyes are on the Derby d’Ortelio in a packed Stadio del Fiume as I Pappagalli saw themselves at a crossroads. If this confrontation was lost, they were likely condemned to a whole season of chasing to ensure a spot in the IFCF ranks. Youth coach Bettini held on to the 5-3-2 that delivered three points against Robur: not an esthetic choice but an effective one as Calcio struggled to hit the ground running. Emilio Salvatori, most notably, found no space and only Spadoni got a shot on goal despite besieging the yellow-and-blue goal from Moro. Jules Haney only got in the opposing box once but the Tikariotian pulled the trigger for FC. Catrallo, visibly annoyed at the time wasting tactics scored against, via Mascolo, but left with just one point. After the match, Pesari announced they would continue for the remainder of the season with Bettini, even if his flavor of football did not immediately charm the fans. In the super fixture of the weekend, one deciding over the top spot, Sportiva got the better of Virtus but only through a controversial penalty. Closing in on what would have been a merited draw for both, Cadili and Prudhomme got entangled near the edge of the box but for some reason. The referee called it a penalty and gave a red card to the Gouvanarch. He quickly got company under the showers as an enraged Fazio attacked the man with the whistle - game over for Virtus.

A bit away from the limelights, Fagli remains picking up points. La Fa was not much better against San Savola but the decisiveness from Okonye once more showed to be crucial in picking up the points. Credits also go to Yang Tao, who confirms week after week why he is a starter in the Yuezhou NT and kept Letti away from the ball. Pro Stampano made an important claim for a Serie A ticket, giving Robur a dose of their own medicine. The free kick goal from Sanmicheli was artistic, the remainder of the ninety minutes hard and structured. Marcellusi, fighting his way back into the team for Robur, came closest to redemption but Trasciani remains a solid element between the stakes. For goals, we had to turn to Stadio Scarpa where Esca nearly were caught out by Madonna Nottori. The number last of the table is not a good team, but Tebaldi and Granocche do make a lot of war in the box, giving them an unexpected 1-2 lead after sixty minutes. Luckily for them, Luigi D’Annunzio finally jumped out of the starting blocks. Last but not least, Inter won three important points to avoid a drab season like the last one. Nonetheless, it should worry them that only the class of a Saligari stands between them and SSD.

Tuesday September 15th
IFCF Liga B Champions Trophy
Third Preliminary Round

FC Orsi (SOR) 2-0 Carvi Albion (MRC)

Despite this being only their second international venture, Carvi Albion has built a certain reputation internationally. Their first venture abroad saw a ten-win streak take them into the semi-final of the Taca das Federacoes. A long time midtable Premier League regular, Carvi is now doing its best to return to past glory but a cheeky score from Izzardi gives the Stadio Communale some unexpected hope and Albion a bit of a scare. This only grows when Parti towers over his direct opponent for another goal in the opening minutes of the second half. FC Orsi tries everything in and above their might but gets no further than the outside of the post. End of a good run, but Carvi was the better one across 180 minutes.

Wednesday September 16th
IFCF Champions League
Third Preliminary Round

Arsenal de Releinthi (AFT) 1-1 Catrallo Calcio (SOR)

Despite the opening leg result in place, there is not an empty seat found in the Monsanto Stadium for this second leg. Tumellero was aware that in order to qualify, a little miracle needed to be pulled and opted for a tactical plan which reminded all from his days in Montelcampo: three strikers and a midfield with a lot of movement. Another spot on the bench for Sgarbi, as a consequence, and an opportunity for Vitteriti to show his worth. But if anything, it confirmed that he’s a decent striker at national level, but falls short internationally unless used as a pure role player. The short forward remained neatly tucked in the back pocket of his direct opponent. It were the Gunners who dictated the pace, but a solid game from the defensive unit (managed by Lindt and composed of Rocca, Luccarelli and Viveiros, slowly becoming the starting trio) kept the damage limited. When Blue Vagay scored via a rocket from the edge of the box, the task had not changed substantially: score three goals. But time simply ran out for Calcio who barely managed to construct proper chances. Emilio Salvatori has shown his value already in the Champions League but once again failed to make the difference against Arsenal: his stats show an abysmal 68% passing ratio. And so it was Garofalo who did what he does best: shove aside his opponent on a corner kick and head it in, celebrating his goal with a slide in front of a booing North End. Catrallo leaves the CL after six educating games.

Sat/Sun September 19/20th
Serie Nazionale
Ninth Round

Catrallo Calcio 3–1 Robur Astello
Virtus Redoccio 0–1 FC Pesari
Madonna Nottori 2–4 Sportiva Montelcampo
Fagli Cinquanta 1–1 Esca Unione
Inter Catrallo 0–0 US San Savola
Pro Stampano 0–0 SSD Borgonovo

FC Pesari continue along the same vein in their visit to a Virtus in trouble: Prudhomme, Fazio and Curiale stuck on the sin bin, Zsinko and Pace out with minor injuries and an absent Bagheria who understandably focussed on the birth of his first child. With so many reserves between the lines, they were no match for an efficient Pesari. Bettini focussed on organisation first and this pays off: Corriere, Mazziero, Gioia and in front of them Quintarelli: it’s a block which managed to keep Péricard - best player for Virtus - under control. Murphy scored once more, a great step forward for the young striker but this keeps Spaviero on the bench. The young striker inadvertently is becoming the stick with which supporters will lash out against the gaffer if it goes wrong. Virtus sees the leader Sportiva now move away with a four point lead even if manager Von saw his men play one of their lesser games so far. He spared a few starters with an eye on the important fixture against Lublova but not all back-ups convinced: Cotillard scored, but Sarcinella and Zagaria made mistakes in the back, whilst Sparandeo lacks the vertical stretch from Kolar. It ensured that only a late goal from Pambianco ensured the three points and the continued lead.

The remaining four games provided few goals and even less spectacle. Catrallo Calcio might have gotten patchy results in their season start but their dominant win over Robur made it very clear that one should not be fooled: they remain the favourites to prolong their title. Garofalo (who else), Spadoni and Viveiros made the nets and the Robur fans tremble. The duel between Fagli and Esca did lack flair but was a tactical masterpiece between Delphi and Anza. Two men with a lot of years in the business who enjoy a game of chess. The starting spots from Maio and Tosi puzzled the Esca line-up for thirty minutes, but the home squad countered by pushing Smith one row up and letting Ciccone wander in no-man’s-land. The latter opened the score but Rodgers eventually decided on a fair draw: the Nepharim is no goalgetter but has a nose for goals when there is no space available. Inter versus US was boring, apart from the duels between Nzonzi and Chiurato, about 45 centimetres apart. The game at Corsa Quersia didn’t even had that - but there was a twenty-minute delay because a school of ducklings had to cross the pitch.

Tuesday September 22nd
Cup Winners’ Cup
Opening Round

Lublova Reds (SRS) 1-1 Sportiva Montelcampo (SOR)

Even if the Slavna-... Slarvanzes-... Slavnarzeczpolpos… Even if the local stadium had already celebrated the return to international football after eight long years with their presence in the Challengers Cup, it had still filled to the brim for this opening round fixture of the less heralded yet prestigious Cup Winners’ Cup. Molvania’s second squad had shown trust in the power of consistency - as evidenced by their trust in Seneca Matthews - and got rewarded. More importantly, they kept together the backbone of their squad as Sportiva discovered in the opening minutes: veteran Pino was warmed up within minutes as Wojewodka and playmaker Peikola heated his gloves. Montelcampo needed a bit of time to recover but did it in style: Aventurine Kolar with an elegant cross to Cadili, who reached the backline but wrongfooted all with a clever pass to the half crescent where Jon Nonhagatte thundered it past Drenel. It would be the only ball to disappear behind the strong goalie, who had an excellent reflex in store to a Pambianco header. The Reds definitely took over after the break, with pressure mounting on the Sportiva back three. Eventually it was Giannoti who cracked when young Vanorian Siegel was quicker on the ball and saw good old Elena Caldryn pick up the right position in front of Ferrera. In the extra minutes, there was some discussion on a potential penalty fault from Cattai on sub Nedeljkovic but the referee allowed Sportiva to fly home with a good situation.

Sat/Sun September 26/27th
Serie Nazionale
Tenth Round

Robur Astello 1–2 SSD Borgonovo
US San Savola 1–0 Pro Stampano
Esca Unione 1–1 Inter Catrallo
Sportiva Montelcampo 2–2 Fagli Cinquanta
FC Pesari 3–1 Madonna Nottori
Catrallo Calcio 2–0 Virtus Redoccio

As thunderous as the start from Virtus has been, as quickly it all is falling apart right now. It is not that the formation from Albino Romero suddenly plays poorly but in three successive encounters against last year’s top trio, they struggled to alter the course of the game and had to undergo the law of the strongest. No difference against Catrallo Calcio, who proved more powerful in the duels and more tidy in the back - Pace got outsprinted by Davide Spadoni for the opening goal, Evacuo and Mallerbury had a minor miscommunication to offer Agostinone the winner. The chase for leader Sportiva has started as the Robins seemed to suffer a bit from the midweek trip. In their own Corsa Quersia, they were lucky to retain a point as Fagli played what might have been their best game in ages. Giandonato, despite two goals against, seems the decisive winner of the duel for the gloves, newcomer Haukland adds experience in the defense and Lorenzo Tosi is in the form of his life - no wonder he got his first invite for the national team selection. Chikelu Okonye is putting some real challenge to Garofalo for the latter’s capocannoniere streak with another brace - can the Osarian end a five-year running tally?

As stellar as the start from Robur Astello was, as poor is their current streak. September gave them four consecutive losses and for once, it’s not really due to Romeo Gozzi’s form. It seems that the code from the season start has been cracked as even SSD Borgonovo could get the better from them. For manager Chiesa, these were three important points won. Not only due to a weaker period from his side, but also to keep the belief in his line-up with a clear defensive and attacking block high. The honeymoon weeks from newcomer Celli are over - his limitations to lead an attack are known - but tonight he was vital when heading in the winner past Scampini. The new goalie so far remained praised for his quality over worries about his temper but this situation got the better of him: claiming it was offside, he manhandled the assistant referee, so we won’t see him back in the first few weeks. Despite a positive goal record, San Savola was slipping towards the back of the table so when Kowac got a toe against a pinball situation in the box, the home crowd exploded. Another loss for Pro Stampano who were a bit unlucky tonight - Ransom and Polidori hit the post - but this might make the difference between a Serie A ticket and another frustrating year. Lastly, Esca and Inter share the points, a result which really helps neither of these teams.

Thursday October 1st
IFCF Challengers Cup
Playoff Round

Catrallo Calcio (SOR) 0-0 Sterling City United (DAR)

Immediately when the draw got announced, commentators in both countries licked their lips at the sight of this encounter. The clash between Calcio and City United meant a rematch in exactly the same phase of the competition for this duo. Twelve months ago, Catrallo Calcio stunned the football fans by annihilating the only team that can challenge the dominance from MTK Kingsville in Darmen: a four-nil blow-out that will go down in history. It only would motivate the visitors more who came here to right some wrongs. Even if veteran Darmeni football fans might disagree, Sterling City United has become a household name with a fair few international accomplishments. Group phases in both main IFCF tournaments in the last half decade and a semi-final of the Cup Winners’ Cup just two years ago: it took a Northern Union to stop the cup specialists from playing a CWC final. A few weeks ago, powerhouse Sabrefell Athletic knocked them out of the CL path, but the side from Aodh Hynes had their mind turned to a Challengers Cup spot. As exciting as the match-up presented itself, as blocked the actual game panned out. Both clubs came off a disappointment and knew that this time, there would be no fall-back competition, leading to a tactical confrontation. It is telling that Rod Hughes and Bryony Lindt presented themselves as the key players of the game. Captain Craig Blackwood did his best to alter that, but Lucarelli played impeccably and could count on the support of the outside of the post on one occasion. The best Ortelian chance befell Carmine Garofalo but Il Buffalo saw Seitz tackle his header out of danger. Nothing decided yet after ninety minutes.

Sat/Sun October 3/4th
Serie Nazionale
Eleventh Round

Virtus Redoccio 3–1 Robur Astello
Madonna Nottori 2–3 Catrallo Calcio
Fagli Cinquanta 1–0 FC Pesari
Inter Catrallo 1–4 Sportiva Montelcampo
Pro Stampano 0–0 Esca Unione
SSD Borgonovo 1–0 US San Savola

And before you notice it, we are halfway through. Sportiva celebrated what has been a very strong first part of the season with a perfect opening half to dominate against Inter. The side plays attractive football and gets rewarded: now Valeri molds in better and better, people start to consider them as the prime challenger to Calcio - a testimony to the good work from Von who built a real group. But in the rearview mirror, Catrallo Calcio pops up nonetheless. Even their reserve eleven overpowered Nottori and once we reach the Serie A, they can be at top speed - if they handle the additional international games well. Surprise in third as Fagli Cinquanta confirms with a hard fought victory over Pesari. La Fa consists of players who play with grit and determination to overcome their critics and if a Pesari board member calls them 'money without class', shrewd manager Anza can push the right buttons to propel them forward. As such, Pesari might have returned in the valuable top six but are eleven points away from the lead (and just four ahead of the final decent club). It is a worrisome situation and Bettini seems to have lost the fans when he refused to bring in Spaviero in the dying minutes. For a club aiming for the title, they are agonizingly close to the Serie B.

It is peculiar to see two top-six sides with a long losing streak take on one another and it is Virtus that keeps the three points at home, leaving them in a fairly safe spot for the Serie A battle. The conclusion so far for Romero is mixed: all duels against bigger clubs got lost and usually just on quality. But there clearly is a bigger base to build on (as evidenced by the panache win over Robur), the dressing room believes in his plan and so do the stands. The Strawberry fans, often dockers and workers, appreciate his "show don't tell" approach and the hardworking duo Péricard and Zsinko up front don't need exceptional production to get sympathy. For Robur, this is becoming a free fall and the landing is not yet in sight. And still, they hold on to a top six spot over Pro Stampano who don’t move an inch forward with a soulless draw against Esca Unione. Il Esercito remains a tough nut to crack, every day, all day. This conundrum of results offers a grand opportunity to US San Savola to manoeuvre themselves into the top six but they drop the ball despite a solid opening half. Just after the tea, Archer Pearson escapes the attention on the right wing, he rolls over the whole defence before sticking it behind Nobile. With this, SSD definitely made the jump from the relegation zone (also known as the Nottori Area) and will make a difference in this competition.

Serie Nazionale             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1 Sportiva Montelcampo      11    8   2   1    23   14   +9    26
 2 Catrallo Calcio           11    7   2   2    21   12   +9    23
 3 Fagli Cinquanta           11    6   3   2    20   12   +8    21
 4 Virtus Redoccio           11    7   0   4    19   11   +8    21
 5 FC Pesari                 11    4   3   4    12   11   +1    15
 6 Robur Astello             11    5   0   6    14   18   −4    15
 7 Pro Stampano              11    4   2   5    10   11   −1    14
 8 SSD Borgonovo             11    4   2   5    13   15   −2    14
 9 US San Savola             11    3   3   5    11   10   +1    12
10 Esca Unione               11    3   3   5    14   15   −1    12
11 Inter Catrallo            11    3   2   6     9   16   −7    11
12 Madonna Nottori           11    1   0  10    18   39  −21     3

Thursday October 8th
IFCF Challengers Cup
Playoff Round

Sterling City United (DAR) 1-1 Catrallo Calcio (SOR)

Sterling Stadium had not forgotten about last year and offers Catrallo a warm welcome - amidst a wall of sound created by twenty-two thousand fans, Catrallo struggles to find their footing. Aodh Hynes stayed true to his setup with three strikers and these push Calcio against the proverbial wall. Especially Craig Blackwood is in an exceptional form, as showcased by the opportunities he amasses in the opening minutes - for now, the crossbar says no. It has been three years since United last made it into the group phase and the hunger is real. MacEalair holds Salvatori on a leash and the chances to counter are limited for Calcio: one quick dribble from Moreschini and a shot sailing past Hughes is all that’s gathered before the break. Tumellero was just hoping his eleven would make it halfway when Firmin got away from Rocca and whipped it in the box. Lindt gets a glove on the header from Sabrefell but the inevitable Blackwood slides it across the line, Sterling City United in ecstasy. As time runs out, Sgarbi and Marchegiani are thrown on the pitch in a feeble attempt to find space between the lines, but the Darmeni control the game - but they’re stuck between two options: chase a second goal for security or fall back to defend the lead? Hynes opts for the first option and when Everett sends a rocket, that seems the best option… But the ball bounces against the inside of the post, in the hands of Bryony Lindt who thinks quickest: a long haul forward, three-against-three, an ice cold Sgarbi with the dribble, Hughes who needs to run out allowing Sgarbi to push it aside… And Garofalo never misses an empty goal. Sterling City United gets eliminated for the second year in a row by Catrallo Calcio - the Darmeni deserved to fare better but Catrallo Calcio can see the group phase appearing in the distance: one more cliff.

by **San Ortelio** » Wed May 26, 2021 3:00 pm

Tuesday October 13th
Cup Winners’ Cup
Opening Round

Sportiva Montelcampo (SOR) 0-0 Lublova Reds (SRS)

Ninety minutes for the Robins to drag this one over the line, but in the form they are in, it seems as if they are capable of everything. Huge tifo’s are a rarity in San Ortelio but the main stand is covered in red for this encounter - quite unfortunately this could also be taken as support for the away side. The eleven from Seneca Matthews seem most inspired by this canny bit of fan display, but Pino shows that he hasn’t lost his touch yet - in his 497th appearance for Sportiva, he is crucial when saving a Peikola screamer and carefully dismissing a Wojewodka one-on-one. It is not but in the second half that they amass a proper chance but Valeri skies it. Christian Valeri adds the power this line-up needs and sucks away the attention from opposing defenders, but with his double metre, he lacks the cool to bury a ball like this one. As time runs out, Von decides to fall back a little more, adding Spureo and Sparandeo to cement it all. Still, the small away side - already quite dosed in litres of Birra Celli, our local brew, and some import Burgunden - could almost cheer. Substitute striker Mulunzo escapes the attention of Ferrera, who opts to hack her down. At the edge of the box, but outside, the referee decides. Without their key defender, Montelcampo is in for ten long minutes but somehow saves the scoreless draw and their spot in the first round proper.

Wednesday October 14th
Copa de Campeones
Preliminary Round

Catrallo Calcio (SOR) 1-0 Home United (MAP)

Catrallo get spoiled with an interesting opponent for the Rushmori competition opening round. The visitors are widely considered as the biggest club in Mapletish suffered a six-year drought before gaining their eight domestic title. It goes without saying that the Protectors were hungry to show their might internationally after going lossless in the previous season, but Calcio clearly had ambition as well - a clash between two local behemoths. Both Tumellero and Severiano seemingly opted for a more cautious approach, making the first forty-five minutes only interesting for those with a penchant for tactical masterpieces. The red-and-gold came out of the dressing room just a little less focussed and Emilio Salvatori punished them for it with an early goal. Whilst the fans had hoped that this would light a spark, the reverse result happened: Catrallo Calcio was satisfied with a narrow win and leaned back with Gennaro ‘Fat Joe’ Di Livio being added for an unusual four-man defensive line. Home United from their side were well aware there were ninety feisty minutes at Rosfield to come and did not push their luck.

Sat/Sun October 17/18th
Serie Nazionale
Twelfth Round

Robur Astello 2–1 US San Savola
SSD Borgonovo 0–1 Esca Unione
Pro Stampano 1–0 Sportiva Montelcampo
Inter Catrallo 1–0 FC Pesari
Fagli Cinquanta 5–2 Catrallo Calcio
Madonna Nottori 0–2 Virtus Redoccio

Well there is a set of results no one would have predicted. Sportiva suffer from a bit of a hangover after their Cup Winners’ Cup success and fail to make it past Pro Stampano. The troops from Romero Pambianco with one of their best games of the season - will they have the engine definitively running now? Even if the winner came from the inevitable Lenore Ransom, most eyes were on the midfield. Most squads struggled so far against the ingenuity of Kolar, Nongahatte and Mazzone but an iron performance from Pill and captain Cappa disallowed them to produce their passing game. With this result, FC Pesari fall back to the Serie B spots, after a worrisome evening in Il Olimpico. Roscioli sees Il Viola survive the opening bombardement from Pesari, but after that the best opportunities are for Inter with up-and-coming Giuseppe Aymo as the surprising match winner. And there was another 1-0 in the scorecard, and the winner also gets up and beyond I Pappagalli. Esca Unione with a characteristic, gritty performance. Paulina Philipsdottir wreaked havoc with her rushes and presented the sole goal of the match on a silver plate for Luigi D’Annunzio. The game will, unfortunately, rather be remembered for an awkward collision between Nicoletti and Luo Lang. The Yuezhouan should be back in a week or two but for the Esca midfielder, a long revalidation awaits.

Aside from the exciting battle for the top six, most eyes turned towards Stadio Scarpa. Mario Anza will probably never forgive Calcio for booting him out and took on the challenge with a lot of hunger. One of his signature moves was to give Filippo Pompa, who in just two seasons moved from title starter to bench player for a midtier club, his first starting position of the year and the goalkeeper delivered. After the game, he claimed that Garofalo had walked up to him before kick-off and told him ‘it would be his easiest hattrick’ but the one to walk away with the matchball was Lorenzo Tosi. Indeed, once left at the bins by Catrallo, now the star player in another amazing Fagli performance. Especially the axis, with Haukland, Tao and Kinsella, shows that a technically stronger opponent can be shoved aside if the plan is right and the heart is in it. Is Fagli a title candidate? Hold your horses, but there is no one who would dare to rule them out for IFCF football now. Then again, we said that at some point about Robur as well - but I Detenuti needed a hardfought win to put an end to a five-game losing streak. You can take that literally: Carletti tackled Nzonzi off the pitch, Giulotti lost his elbow in Cappelluzzo’s face and even Szektkovsky, usually one of the more footballing elements in the line-up, used unconventional tactics to keep Letti in check. And still, the only red was for Iotti who took off his shirt when he scored the 2-0 after a few weeks on the bench. Robur, right? Oh, and Virtus won, but it was against Nottori, so.

Thursday October 22nd
IFCF Challengers Cup
Qualifying Round

Catrallo Calcio 0-1 Pitxi-Pitxi 77 (TEQ)

One more obstacle to circumnavigate for Il Capo dei Capi but it was one not to underestimate. The champion of the Liga-TQ Primera knew exactly which task they had in front of them: after all they had pipped Kingsgrove in a legendary encounter in Brenecia just last year at this exact stage - and that en route to a deep run into the knock-out phase. The navy home selection tried to startle the opposition with an early offensive but Eskaminzim had positioned his eleven in a perfect formation, turning the intended hurricane into a feeble breeze. Garofalo escaped the attention of Erick Ruiz only once, but his shot was a training exercise for Orm Hinisser. At last Alberto Sgarbi had earned a starting spot from Tumellero, but the fidget from the selection could not show himself to Il Olimpico and, after forty-five minutes in the back pocket of Ebardo Feliu, the fans saw Marchegiani run out instead. Not that he did any better. It felt as if Pitxi-Pitxi didn’t even need to put its best football on the grass to keep Calcio under control and when they did push a bit more, gaps were smashed in the line-up. Despite the presence of their star striking duo, it was Nepharim Con Hatzilefteriou who got the better of his compatriot Lindt burying a powerful shot into the left bottom corner. Tesco Zuniga got the opportunity to double up but Vito Puma Viveiros - even more motivated than usual playing against fellow Tequiloans - saved the second leg with an intervention on the line.

Sat/Sun October 24/25th
Serie Nazionale
Thirteenth Round

Madonna Nottori 0–0 Robur Astello
Virtus Redoccio 0–1 Fagli Cinquanta
Catrallo Calcio 1–0 Inter Catrallo
FC Pesari 1–0 Pro Stampano
Sportiva Montelcampo 1–0 SSD Borgonovo
Esca Unione 1–0 US San Savola

Six confrontations and a grand total of five goals. Let us go over each and every one of them, as this allows us to ignore the drab confrontation in Nottori - as much as we love the grit of Laurence Bryger, if the Stallion crowns himself as man of the match, it hasn’t been a great evening. The duel between Virtus and Fagli looked to go the same way but then the lacklustre streak of the Strawberries in games against high-ranked opposition manifested itself again: with ample minutes on the clock, Yannis Kinsella dispossessed Alberto Di Cosmo and launched substitute Giancarlo Laghi. The seasoned journeyman has not really enjoyed his season so far, being barred from a starting spot by the successful Nepharim-Osarian duo Okonye-Rodgers, but tonight the spotlights were on him as he chipped it over a frustrated Serafino Evacuo. With this goal, Fagli moves into second spot and their IFCF ambitions become more and more realistic. The derby in Il Olimpico was decided by Davide Spadoni, the man in form for Calcio. Being the fastest to collect a released save by Roscioli, Spadoni showed his value once more. Even if he doesn’t have the gargantuan production of his fellow striker Garofalo, but Tumellero knows why he needs him in the starting line-up.

A youngster saved the reputation of Bettini as it was a late goal in the duel between Pesari and Stampano - a fairly undeserved win for I Pappagalli, we must add. With Raltano as persona non grata and Albertoni missing out over injuries, Mammarella had to save the day. Still, it became glaringly clear that the only creative midfielder on the pitch was Savigliani Giaco Sanmicheli. When Bettini subbed 19-year old San Pietro on the pitch, it seemed a desperate move but in his fifth appearance for the club, the youngster nicked the ball in the final third, tried his luck and saw the ball go behind a baffled Trasciani. Far more deserved was the win of Sportiva, who washed away the loss against Stampano with ninety solid minutes: but the only one who got the ball past Giulio Mosca was Luca Cadili, the frivolous left winger whose breakthrough season was instrumental in the strong year of Montelcampo. The fifth - and final - goal of the day was a free kick by veteran Lenpi-Xelez Roz. Apart from the Nottori reserve goalie, the Qusmi striker is the oldest player in the league but he has a great click with manager Delphi and takes this eleven with a few young elements by the hand. As it stands, Esca Unione positions itself as a strong candidate for a second year in a row in the Serie A.

Thursday October 29nd
IFCF Challengers Cup
Qualifying Round

Pitxi-Pitxi 77 2-0 Catrallo Calcio

Estadio ‘77o is a majestic football temple, true to the status of the green-and-white powerhouse that in fairly little time carved itself quite a reputation in international football. Just under sixty-thousand football (or pitxi) crazy fans had gathered to see the green-and-white assure themselves of a group stage ticket. Quite a few of them were still lining up for a beer when Davide Spadoni appeared out of nowhere and got a foot on a wayward back pass from Noxochinich. His shot got deflected by a very attentive Orm Hinisser. The safe Wightian hands assured this was just a scare, so Pitxi-Pitxi could start to raise the pressure on I Capo dei Capi - far less powerful on Tequiloan grounds. In the next twenty minutes, Calcio rarely left their own half and the stranglehold only halted when Tlacolotl powdered the leather past Bryony Lindt. Whatever Tumellero tried afterwards, he did not manage to regain the initiative: Marchegiani on the wing, Vitteriti into space, … The high quality from the Pitxi-Pitxi 77 line-up shrugged and kept the same merciless pace on. Viveiros, slightly unlucky after a more than average game, got himself on the scoreboard but that was due to getting a toe on a cross from Xecoto that caught Lindt wrongfooted. Once again, the group stage is just one bridge too far for Catrallo.

Sat October 31th
Serie Nazionale
Fourteenth Round

Robur Astello 0–0 Esca Unione
US San Savola 4–1 Sportiva Montelcampo
SSD Borgonovo 2–2 FC Pesari
Pro Stampano 1–1 Catrallo Calcio
Inter Catrallo 3–2 Virtus Redoccio
Fagli Cinquanta 0–1 Madonna Nottori

A dramatic game fixture for the big clubs sees the table fold together like an accordeon, but it might be Fagli that leaves behind with the most frustrations. Owner Di Callare threw a few million to see his eleven blossom from an ugly duckling to a beautiful swan and could see them take the lead in the table for the very first time. But this rendezvous with history clearly caused lead in the legs. Against Madonna, they produced only a handful of chances and when Tebaldi got a header against the net, their dreams collapsed. Painful as the lead was for the taking due to a hesitant Sportiva. US San Savola has not been stellar so far but against a free flowing opponent, suddenly the class of their midfield duo Letti and Averroes shined through. Giovanni Letti, the quirky talent, had a hattrick of assists and every striker scored his goal. The third squad to lose was Virtus, a bit of a surprise. To the credit of Inter, they saw old foxes Kerraway and Calcaterra keep the Redoccio forwards in check. Add to that Di Luca with the first brace in his career and a winner for 37-year old Dotti and you have a beautiful night for Il Viola.

But in a way, these are all teams that just seem to suffer an offday - the same goes for Calcio who struggle to unpack their midweek legs against a Stampano that looks solid but in dire need of more points. The Postmen have only a limited margin of error but for I Pappagalli, there is none left. Bettini opted for a defensive approach against SSD of all clubs but a Murphy goal by mid-game seemed to confirm this. But Borgonovo isn't last year's pushover: an Orjee volley and a Castelli cannonball were out of reach for Moro. The away stand boo'ed their squad over this humiliation against the poor neighbours - a late equalizer from Haney didn't stop that. After the match, Bettini claimed the side did not execute his plan, but Audioslavian Corriere calmly remarked to the press that the plan sucked. To be continued, for sure. Amidst all those, one barely noticed that Esca failed to bag three crucial points. They dominated possession against a lacklustre Robur, but D'Annunzio missed a sitter and Roz skied a penalty.

Tuesday November 3th
Cup Winners’ Cup
First Round

Lajuno (EUR) 2-0 Sportiva Montelcampo (SOR)

There are very few clubs in domestic football that have such a rich and respected history without the international participations - let alone silverware - to back it up. Lajuno is more than just a Gold League regular, it is an institute ever since the halcyon days of the Astograthian Revolution. Lansbury Road saw greats such as James Clarke, Luar Dardan, Egil Fomitschow and Rook Branagh grace their shirt but little IFCF action, so even the visit of minnows Sportiva invited over sixty thousand fans. This weekend's dress rehearsal was a dud for the Robins but for this occasion, they showed up. The first shot was for Pambianco but Simm was in the right place. On the next attack, Lajuno showed the difference in class when Dini international Chillotov scored with a gentle touch past good old Pino. A few of Sportiva's players demonstrated their capacity: Kolar stood out in midfield, Cadili gave Peira a rough evening and Ferrera looked solid. But the Boatmen kept it tight in the back and a second goal from Nolan put the Euran side in the driver seat for the second leg.

Wednesday November 4th
Copa de Campeones
Preliminary Round

Home United (MAP) 1-4 Catrallo Calcio (SOR)

As dull as the first leg of this Copa de Campeones confrontation had been, as much life was sparked into this picture in front of a respectable crowd at Rosfield. Jaime Severiano opted for a different recipe than in the home, showing tactical flexibility by mirroring the 3-5-2 from Tumellero, leading to a spectacular opening half that somehow ended with just four goals scored, each and every one of them a beauty in their own right: Garofalo who crossed the final third before subtly putting it away. Home United truly living up to their name with a combination across seventeen stations leading into the equalizer. Lorenzo Moreschini popping up almost behind the second post, scoring from an incredible angle whilst carrying his speed to dart over the publicity boards. And Alberto Sgarbi, the most capricious of Calcio players, who showed why Tumellero kept some faith in him with a crafty volley. With 1-3, the Protectors got far less than they deserved but both sides ran out of steam and the end of the game was filled with mishaps and timewasting by the visitors. To add to the misery, Spadoni improved his stats with a harsh 1-4.

Sat/Sun November 7/8th
Serie Nazionale
Fifteenth Round

Fagli Cinquanta 1–0 Robur Astello
Madonna Nottori 2–3 Inter Catrallo
Virtus Redoccio 1–0 Pro Stampano
Catrallo Calcio 4–1 SSD Borgonovo
FC Pesari 4–0 US San Savola
Sportiva Montelcampo 1–0 Esca Unione

Sandro Fiorelli at the wheel - well that's quite a leftfield choice from Pesari for their third manager of the season. About fifteen years ago, Fiorelli was the rising star of the coaching guild but poor stints with Sportiva and Inter, combined with rumors about gambling, saw him dismissed to the amateur circuit. Now Fiorelli returns through the main gate and does it with a bang: Stadio del Fiume sees four goals, with a brace from Spavieri, who celebrates his return from the bench. It opens up a can of worms for Fiorelli as reliable starter Haney was missing over a minor injury but at least he can push those worries one week forward with this clear win over a flabbergasted San Savola. Four roses as well for Calcio with another hattrick for Garofalo - he's finding his Golden Boot rhythm. Sportiva tapped some energy from their solid performance in Eura and showed a less spectacular but very mature of themselves with a dry one-nil win over Esca. Unfortunately, the game will rather be remembered for a sickening injury when the studs from linchpin Gabriele Tozzuolo get stuck in the mud as he turns back - he will be out for months.

Fagli underlined that their gaffe against Nottori was exactly that as they get a clinical win against a Robur in trouble - five points in nine games for I Dilletanti and another round of squabbles between Romeo Gozzi and… about everyone else. After being replaced, Gozzi sat in the grass next to the dugout claiming to be "too good for the bench". Cinquanta won't mind, they see Rodgers score them three more points, keeping the IFCF dream alive. There was bickering in Redoccio as well, but rather on the pitch. With fifteen minutes left, Confalonieri decided to level Sanmicheli, a frustrated Polidori came in for a reaction, Mirarchi raised a fist and before we knew it, the game had to continue with four men less - and then the referee had even missed Mattia Arrigoni headbutting Domard Prudhomme. Somewhere amidst the kick-what-moves festival that ensued, Boldiszar Zsinko kept a cool head and won Virtus three points. Last but not least, a Bryger penalty put Nottori on its way for more points but within the final quarter, I Cavalli cracked and a brace from Saligari kept Inter in the race for the Serie A.

Sat/Sun November 14/15th
Serie Nazionale
Sixteenth Round

Robur Astello 1–1 Sportiva Montelcampo
Esca Unione 1–2 FC Pesari
US San Savola 0–3 Catrallo Calcio
SSD Borgonovo 0–4 Virtus Redoccio
Pro Stampano 3–0 Madonna Nottori
Inter Catrallo 0–1 Fagli Cinquanta

Can we conclude that Catrallo Calcio is now definitely on their title pace? The navy formation now joins the lead with another clear victory, the third in a row and the result of relentless pressure. For once, it was not Garofalo who provided the goals but even if Il Buffalo hits a rough patch, Calcio has the quality in abundance to dominate US San Savola on the road. Worthy of note, Manuel Volpe received one of his rare playing minutes yet ended the game with perfect statistics: one touch, one goal. The blow-out of the matchday nonetheless came on Virtus Redoccio. They were aided by Borgonovo’s Giulio Boffeli who caught a red after four minutes, yet this will be a welcome one after a difficult series for Romero and his men. The Juven can conclude that his side is still just three points behind the lead, showing that one can start a rebuilding process and get good results - albeit sometimes prioritising efficiency over elegance. The closeness at the top is in part due to Sportiva wasting points against a stubborn Robur. Star man for Astello was Scampini, who replaced Pellizarri after a long suspension and immediately caught everything - but for a Nonhagatte screamer.

Much highlighted before the weekend was the confrontation between Esca and Pesari - what would Fiorelli do with his abundance of strikers? The new FC coach tried his luck with a 4-3-1-2, dragging Haney one row back behind Murphy and Spaviero but it was not a complete success: Jules Haney is a gentleman and a killer in the box, not a playmaker for a side trying to find a new spirit. Luckily for I Pappagalli, they encountered a beheaded Esca. With an injured Tozzuolo and Nicoletti on the sin bin, the engine to facilitate the infiltrations from Ciccone and Philipsdottir was missing, so Pesari kept its perfect record under the new gaffer. Also prioritising result over flair was Fagli Cinquanta. Mario Anza sees that his tricks start to get known by the audience, but the organisation, leaning on Haukland, Marchetti and Tao, stands firm. Add to that a couple of killers in Osarian Okonye and Nepharim Rodgers and yes, a third 1-0 win in four games for Fagli. Last but not least, Pro Stampano got a well-deserved win - welcome, even if it’s over Madonna. The most notable of the three goals came from Carlo Qualla who tried his luck from forty yards out and saw Ioime miss it completely.

Sat/Sun November 21/22th
Serie Nazionale
Seventeenth Round

Inter Catrallo 0–1 Robur Astello
Fagli Cinquanta 0–0 Pro Stampano
Madonna Nottori 2–5 SSD Borgonovo
Virtus Redoccio 5–0 US San Savola
Catrallo Calcio 2–1 Esca Unione
FC Pesari 1–1 Sportiva Montelcampo

Victory number eleven of the season for Catrallo Calcio - but it was one of the hardest one to obtain for the team in navy. Unione realized that their ambitions for IFCF football were dwindling away if they didn’t get some points soon, but Delphi stuck to a tight plan with five defenders to salvage the absence of his best number six. Fairly unconventional, quite a nuisance to the purists but crossing the halfline once is enough if you’ve Riccardo Ciccone coming in the right position when needed. Calcio pressed with all they’ve got for a masterclass and in the final seven minutes, Esca crumbled: Garofalo with the head, Agostinone from close and Calcio grabbed the lead. A consequence from a second consecutive draw from Montelcampo but this time, it came after a good game. Sportiva’s ‘Qusmiball’ delivered for fans and foes but in the box, a bit of coldbloodedness was missing - Valeri is no born goalgetter and Pambianco suffers from a slump in his form. At the other side of the pitch, Jessica Murphy demonstrated exactly that: her side manufactured only one good chance but the Cassadaiguan forward fired a shot that Pino rarely saw in his five-hundred games between the stakes. Or to be correct, he didn’t even see this one. FC Pesari walk away with a point and seem on their way to salvage their Serie A ticket - but they’re still far from their best form.

On par with Montelcampo, we find Fagli Cinquanta who discovered first-hand that Pro Stampano might still be chasing the top six, but is one of the toughest clubs to beat out there. The game was a bit of chess between Anza and Pambianco, with the latter trying to entice Fagli to sacrifice their strict diamond midfield via a lot of pressure on playmaker Tosi. But Mario Anza has spent too many games at the helm to be phased and gave the initiative to Pro - who clearly had no idea what to do with it as Sanmicheli was absent. More goals at Valle Farnese where San Savola suffer a blowout - a hattrick for Péricard and a lot of worries for Fincato who saw his team struggle to win a single duel. Suddenly, Virtus get taken seriously as a candidate for the title - why not actually? No such claims when Borgonovo put five behind Di Nunzio - guess the 41-year old is not the answer for Nottori’s shambolic football either - but it’s a nice confirmation for Chiesa and his club: they made the jump from the relegation club(s) to the pack. We wrap up with the always tense duel between Robur and Inter which got decided from the penalty point: Calcaterra pulled down Gozzi, who was started by Senze as both alternatives were missing for injuries. Romeo Gozzi scored, ran in front of Senze, grabbed his, ehm, parts - “to show he lacks the balls,” the striker explained afterwards - and immediately got subbed off. To be continued.

Serie Nazionale            Pld   W   D   L   GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1 Catrallo Calcio          17  11   3   3   34   20  +14    36
 2 Fagli Cinquanta          17  10   4   3   28   15  +13    34
 3 Sportiva Montelcampo     17  10   4   3   28   21   +7    34
 4 Virtus Redoccio          17  11   0   6   33   15  +18    33
 5 FC Pesari                17   7   5   5   22   16   +6    26
 6 Robur Astello            17   7   3   7   18   21   −3    24
 7 Pro Stampano             17   6   4   7   15   14   +1    22
 8 Inter Catrallo           17   6   2   9   16   23   −7    20
 9 Esca Unione              17   5   4   8   18   20   −2    19
10 SSD Borgonovo            17   5   3   9   21   29   −8    18
11 US San Savola            17   4   3  10   16   26  −10    15
12 Madonna Nottori          17   2   1  14   23   52  −29     7

by **San Ortelio** » Fri Jun 04, 2021 2:04 pm

Tuesday November 24th
Cup Winners’ Cup
First Round

Sportiva Montelcampo (SOR) 0-1 Lajuno (EUR)

The visit to Lansbury Road had been a difficult endeavour for Sportiva but the small, cosy Corsa Quersia hoped to give the Robins wings and keep Lajuno from the second CWC round of sixteen in their history. Baxterrika rested three to four starting players but someone without prior knowledge of the Euran competition would barely notice: from the first second onwards, Lajuno took command. Montelcampo came off a few tougher weeks domestically and this also translated in this game. After his blistering first round, Nonhagatte fell back a little and with the captain dropping off, the midfield had quality but missed a drop of inspiration. Over ninety minutes, Sportiva only gathered two proper chances. ET Von tried to light a spark with youngsters Rijkhart, Barletta and Cotillard and these three constructed the best one, but the Quebecois-Ortelian found Lucchesi on his path. At the other side of the pitch, Cathal Keynes showed experience and metier as she lifted the ball over Pino after a long rush. One goal sufficed for a dominant Lajuno, 0-2 was closer than 1-1 but Nolan found the crossbar. End of the international road for Sportiva.

Wednesday November 25th
Copa de Campeones
First Round

Catrallo Calcio (SOR) 2-2 Yelichville Union (SWE)

Few of the Rushmori champions have celebrated their title in such an imposing style as Yelichville, who annihilated their domestic opposition with a thirteen-point gap. With this boost of confidence, they set foot on San Ortelian ground for the second year in a row. Last year, Union had to concede for Pesari but only after 180 close minutes, so Catrallo knew that gaining a good position was not a given. Tumellero put his faith in Marchegiani and the reserve playmaker lived up to the task: on his throughpass, Garofalo opened the score. Union, however, played more than their part and before halftime, Lindt had to turn around not once but twice - especially the screamer from Kevin Elder was quite something. The result was a nervy second half for Catrallo, evidenced by a small incident between Dema and Hernamez - but the referee solved it with yellow cards. To the rejoice of Il Olimpico, Manuel Volpe saved the return leg with an equaliser in the extra time - Calcio stayed adrift, but will have a rough trip to Southwest Eastnorth.

Sat/Sun November 28/29th
Serie Nazionale
Eighteenth Round

Robur Astello 0–0 FC Pesari
Sportiva Montelcampo 0–0 Catrallo Calcio
Esca Unione 0–1 Virtus Redoccio
US San Savola 4–1 Madonna Nottori
SSD Borgonovo 1–1 Fagli Cinquanta
Pro Stampano 1–0 Inter Catrallo

If it is US San Savola that needs to take care of the spectacle, then it has been a frankly mediocre match day but we cannot blame the fluogreen for that. In open games like this, the talent in their ranks stand out: the touch from Letti, the infiltrations from Tarallo, the rushes from Nzonzi, … Yet the man of the match was Astograthian Elizabe, who scored his first brace in the San Savola shirt and established himself as a starter. For Nottori, the story turns into slapstick: they have decent players (Granocche, Bryger and Pasciolo) but they’re too few and far between to make up for the various organisational mistakes made. The gap with SSD Borgonovo, last year limited, is now immense as evidenced by the solid game from Il Socio. It took a bit of luck and a brilliant goal from Pearson, but Borgonovo deserved a point for their spirit - and the fans got behind it quite well as many despise wealthy Cinquanta owner Di Callare. As bizarre as it would have sounded before the season, it’s a disappointment for Fagli as they could have gotten in first position. The clash between Sportiva and Calcio turned out to be a dud. Some point to the midweek matches getting to them, others claim it was caused by an uncharacteristically cautious approach from Von who pulled back Kolar to cover Garofalo but missed her in midfield right away. Either way, the game got the 0-0 it deserved.

This means that it gets very cosy at the top with four clubs within two points of one another - Virtus made proper use of the opportunity and grabbed a win at the expense of Il Esercito. It are games likes this which give Virtus a spot in the title race: composed, unphased by the attacks and capable to slice the central defensive duo Moscati and Smith through a clever run from Zsinko - not an easy task against the always arduous Esca Unione and an away win that gets valued. The last of the Big Three, FC Pesari, still isn’t where it is at. You might have three quality strikers, but if a side of hard hitters such as Robur can shut down the roads towards them, you’re not there yet. Youngsters Mammarella and San Pietro have potential for the long run, but these are not the attacking midfielders that will lead Pesari to the Serie A, that is for sure. We wrap up with a crucial victory for Pro Stampano. The Postmen have a defensive reputation but now start to make the results for it as well: the stability from Cappa and Polidori, combined with Trasciani in goal, deserves more praise as they are currently at three goals against in nine fixtures. If you’ve got this, you only need a beautiful Sanmicheli strike to ensure three points. With it, the race for the Serie A tickets behind the leading four seems reduced to three teams: Pesari, Robur and Stampano with the latter having the easiest path to the finish - will they rejoin the elite series of Ortelian football?

Sat/Sun December 5/6th
Serie Nazionale
Nineteenth Round

Pro Stampano 3–1 Robur Astello
Inter Catrallo 0–0 SSD Borgonovo
Fagli Cinquanta 4–1 US San Savola
Madonna Nottori 3–2 Esca Unione
Virtus Redoccio 2–1 Sportiva Montelcampo
Catrallo Calcio 3–0 FC Pesari

Be what it might, Pro Stampano takes a major step into the right direction with a victory in a surprisingly entertaining direct duel. Whilst many had feared ninety minutes of trying to strangle the opposition, Pro Stampano looked surprisingly elegant. Or it might be because Robur formed the ground of comparison. Without Gozzi, absent after his latest piece of shithousery, the black-and-white simply lacked the firepower to counter the goals from Ransom, Nannetti and Cappa - the youngster truly honouring his captain ribbon lately. Additional rejoicing for the Postmen as FC Pesari got annihilated in Il Olimpico. It is bizarre to see that three separate managers cannot get proper results out of such a talented squad as I Pappagalli. Sandro Fiorelli admitted that this game meant the end of his three-striker plan and protected his squad - a take which will be more appreciated by the players than the staunch vision of his predecessor Bettini. But it does not minimize the challenge ahead with the glaring holes in midfield, especially as Albertoni is not warranting his transfer sum whilst Bortolotto is out with an injury. The malaise at Pesari is so clear and large, that one barely notices the solid performance from Catrallo Calcio. Too often, they are envisaged as solely relying on the fruitful goal machine which is Garofalo, but when everyone is fresh, it is a machine in all compartments.

Even if the Derby d’Ortelio caught most attention from the press, the duel that defined the battle for first most was the one between Virtus and Sportiva. Montelcampo are not exactly helped by their schedule in their attempts to regain their original form and were a bit unlucky in front of goal but that won’t bother fans of the Strawberries. Redoccio finally managed to beat a top team and this result should give Juven manager Romero the confidence to steer his guys to more. The intriguing outsider for the glory remains Fagli who recovered well from last week with another stellar home performance. Standout man was Giandonato who made a decisive save on a penalty from Averroes to see his squad triumph and it must be said that the gap between both was not as large as the result suggests. At Dietro Baracche, Esca went through a bit of a nightmare. After four consecutive losses, manager Delphi went into this one hoping they could finally grab the points they often deserved but tonight, they simply had an off-day. Brace boy Tebaldi takes the spoils of the situation for Nottori. Lastly, Inter and Borgonovo shared the points in a game where the political chants were better than the football, so yeah.

Sat/Sun December 12/13th
Serie Nazionale
Twentieth Round

Robur Astello 2–1 Catrallo Calcio
FC Pesari 0–0 Virtus Redoccio
Sportiva Montelcampo 3–0 Madonna Nottori
Esca Unione 0–0 Fagli Cinquanta
US San Savola 1–1 Inter Catrallo
SSD Borgonovo 2–2 Pro Stampano

Filled to the brim with interesting fixtures, this weekend produced an unlikely matchday winner in Robur Astello. After their stellar start, I Detenuti had slowly drifted back in the rankings and many assumed ahead of the game that they would not make the Serie A. However, Valle Farnese saw them take the nicest scalp in Ortelian football. With an archetypal line-up, seven men behind the ball allowing Marcellusi, Iotti and prodigal son Gozzi to roam free, they lured Catrallo into a false sense of confidence. Is it sexy? No, but it’s counterattacking executed with perfection and a top mark for Szektkovsky and Maurizi who kept Salvatori and Garofalo from producing danger - immediately showing that Calcio can be smothered. It offered Virtus Redoccio a top-notch opportunity to take the lead but the visit to FC Pesari proved harder than expected. Is Sandro Fiorelli still looking for an attacking solution, he does have a defensive foundation to rely on in Corriere and Mazziero. Stadio del Fiume wasn’t too pleased with the fairly cautious approach from Fiorelli for this one, but the press lauded his realism: against the mature Virtus, a three-pronged attack would have only seen Pesari end up in shambles. For Virtus, we must note the performance from Mallerbury who fought strong duels with Haney - the young Ko-orenite keeps on improving.

In front of their home crowd at Scarpa, Esca Unione regrouped after the shameful result against Nottori with a hardfought draw against Fagli. Resolving your midfield woes by putting Philipsdottir one row up will not work every week but the Graentfjaller international did a better job in covering Tozzuolo’s absence then most whilst giving youngster Scotti Fusco his first start. Cinquanta fans will mostly think about the bad luck for Okonye who saw two balls end up against the post. And so, Sportiva makes sure that everything comes back together at the top with an easy win over Nottori. The most beautiful of the three goals was a screamer from Kolar, although a twenty-pass combination ending with Priola deserves praise as well. It was, in a way, a weekend of draws. Inter keeps up its fairly grey season by sharing the points in San Savola, although Marco Dotti scoring his fiftieth for the club - with a backheel, of course - was a beautiful moment. Pro Stampano, lastly tried a more frivolous brand of football but clever scores from Orjee and Celli showcase why Romolo Pambianco puts more attention in organisation than his former guide Tumellero. Some might say that he needs to, due to the quality from Stampano. Harsh… But not unfair.

Wednesday December 16th
Copa de Campeones
First Round

Yelichville Union (SWE) 1-2 Catrallo Calcio (SOR)

Union, domestic royalty with back-to-back titles, were the evident favourites going in the return leg. A good month earlier, they had already shown their capacity to decide this sort of game in the previous round against FC Cebuenas. And the match couldn't start better for Yelichville as Lucarelli lost the duel on a corner to Hernamez, Calcio now needed two goals. Coach Tumellero hesitated long to switch forward, afraid of a collapse but when Spadoni had to walk due to a heel injury, an unbalanced 3-4-3 came to fruition. Lorenzo Moreschini took on the whole right wing and the youngster excelled in style with the kind of performance that sees him knock on the door of the starting eleven of the NT. Il Motorino whipped in a cross to the inevitable Garofalo and with this goal, suddenly cracks in the Union armor appeared: a team with just two losses last year is not used to getting in this situation. The navy blue profited from this and Man of the Match Moreschini placed the cherry on top: Catrallo Calcio are in the quarters!

Sat/Sun December 19/20th
Serie Nazionale
Twenty-First Round

SSD Borgonovo 1–0 Robur Astello
Pro Stampano 0–1 US San Savola
Inter Catrallo 2–0 Esca Unione
Fagli Cinquanta 0–1 Sportiva Montelcampo
Madonna Nottori 3–4 FC Pesari
Virtus Redoccio 1–3 Catrallo Calcio

Is this the decisive match for the Serie Nazionale title? Catrallo Calcio won at Valle Farnese, the ground where they dropped the ball just one week ago, with one of their stand-out performances of the year. After the game, Redoccio veteran Confalonieri made a fair assessment: “We played at top Ortelian level but on their day, Calcio exceeds that.” Flying on the wings of their Copa de Campeones qualification, Catrallo came here to lay down the law. It must be noted how Tumellero managed to make this team no longer dependent on their pivotal number ten, as was a critic often heard when Del Prete captained the navy blue. His replacement Salvatori remains valuable but is no longer the sole key cog in the radarwork. Standout men tonight were Moreschini and Mascolo, who give body and grit to the midfield. In the other clash at the top of the table, Fagli showed these qualities as well and could have kept the victory at home if they were just a pinch more decisive. But the sole goal from the game came off a long run through Pambianco, a man with the strength and flair to overcome the often lauded Cinquanta back four. Nonetheless, after the final whistle, it became mathematically assured that this was the top four. Catrallo moves most confidently, but the small gaps show their margin for error remains modest.

Behind them, Pesari managed to do a good job for their presence in the Serie A and at the same time give themselves a mental blow. Three times, I Pappagalli came in front against national laughing stock Nottori but what Il Cavalli might lack in quality, they do make up in grit when appearing in their Dietro Baracchi with Spedalieri for once showing why Madonna emptied its pockets for the fickle playmaker. But in the end, Pesari prevailed even if it was through a controversial penalty: did Pasciolo commit a handball or did he get pushed by Haney? Close, but a win is a win gaffer Fiorelli stated, especially as the direct opponents slipped on the proverbial banana peel. Pro Stampano got a visit from San Savola who showed their machiavellian side. Apart from a screamer from Averroes they showed little - in attack, Nobile and his defenders stood strong - but it sufficed to put the pressure on Pro who enter the last match with one point ahead on Robur. Astello stumbled at SSD Borgonovo, an always heated duel, ideologically speaking. After the game, the speaker started the Bandiera Rossa song, to the rejoice of the taunting socialist home ultras. The visitors took it badly and raided the pitch. One Robur fan planted a flag with a facist slogan on the penalty point, leading to a counterattack from the SSD fans. When the dust settled, fourteen fans needed a visit to the hospital. One would almost forget the late surge from Inter, with a strong Aymo in midfield, at the expense of Esca who are in dire need of the winter break.

Sat/Sun December 26/27th
Serie Nazionale
Twenty-Second Round

Robur Astello 0–2 Virtus Redoccio
Catrallo Calcio 3–0 Madonna Nottori
FC Pesari 0–0 Fagli Cinquanta
Sportiva Montelcampo 0–3 Inter Catrallo
Esca Unione 0–0 Pro Stampano
US San Savola 1–0 SSD Borgonovo

No miracle happened as Catrallo Calcio professionally disposed of Nottori and ensured the title and the matching Challenger Cup top ticket. Throughout the season, Calcio was not flawless but their packed international agenda did play its role here. When in full force, the amazing axis of Lindt, Lucarelli, Di Masi, Salvatori and Garofalo remains unseen and worthy of a spot in the Catrallo pantheon. Madonna, on the other hand, knows that a hard task awaits them to survive in the Serie B. Second to last came Esca Unione, surprisingly as Il Esercito often troubled strong opponents but the boys from Delphi fell flat over a wave of injuries and the absence of an absolute killer up front. Their track record showed that defensively, guided by Burrai, they stand their ground - as Pro Stampano discovered. The Postmen needed a win for ease of mind but could not poke a hole in the set-up from Unione, with a long-range effort from Sanmicheli coming closest. Still, Pro Stampano could celebrate a return to the Serie A after the last whistle as Robur Astello could not overcome Virtus. The Strawberries started the season with a lot of question marks but go into the main league on an equal footing with Calcio. Against Robur, they once again looked robust and decisive, with Péricard and Zsinko really finding one another up front. The only question mark that keeps looming over them are the results obtained against the clubs that will be their opponents for the title: scoring 10 out of 30 again could see them land well outside the IFCF spots.

The back four from Virtus gained some well-deserved praise but the best-organised club of the Serie Nazionale might be Fagli Cinquanta. Last year, they played a horrendous Serie B but the injection in quality from the last two mercato’s now leads to results. A searching Pesari was lucky to walk away with a point as Fagli dictated the pace. The role of midfield duo Kinsella - Yang not always makes the highlight reels but those who watch a full game notice their importance for the balance and the sheer work they produce: it gives a player like Tosi the room to show his talent. Opponent Pesari must have looked with jealousy to the latter as they are in dire need of inspiration. The departure from Favaro in the off-season still rings through and after three managers, it is clear that no man in the dugout can do miracles with this selection. Another team with worries is Sportiva Montelcampo. Halfway through, they made a serious bid on the title but their recent form has dwindled. Has the code of Qusmiball been cracked or is a bit of rest all the Robins need to spark back into life? The confrontation against Inter leans into both reasonings, with Il Viola looking punchier and Saligari finding quite some space in the Sportiva back three. Fitting to the reputation, barely anyone noticed US San Savola beating Sportiva through a Kowac goal so they definitely didn’t hear key man Hythewater utter something about Serie B title ambitions.

Serie Nazionale          Pld   W   D   L   GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1 Catrallo Calcio        22  14   4   4   44   23  +21    46
 2 Virtus Redoccio        22  14   1   7   39   19  +20    43
 3 Sportiva Montelcampo   22  12   5   5   33   26   +7    41
 4 Fagli Cinquanta        22  11   7   4   33   18  +15    40
 5 FC Pesari              22   8   8   6   26   22   +4    32
 6 Pro Stampano           22   8   6   8   21   18   +3    30
 7 Inter Catrallo         22   8   4  10   22   25   −3    28
 8 Robur Astello          22   8   4  10   21   28   −7    28
 9 US San Savola          22   7   4  11   24   32   −8    25
10 SSD Borgonovo          22   6   6  10   25   33   −8    24
11 Esca Unione            22   5   6  11   20   26   −6    21
12 Madonna Nottori        22   3   1  18   30   68  −38    10

Wednesday December 30th
Serie Interregionale
Final Round

With the establishment of the Serie Interregionale, the three-tier system of Ortelian football now becomes official. It is the result of a long negotiation between the national organisation and the regional ones. Back in the day, football focused around the five constituting regions of the nations, who have been reluctant to pass on power (and clubs) to a higher level. The Serie Nazionale in itself was quite a shock already and with a new ‘intermediary tier’, another twenty clubs no longer limit themselves to the local level. However, considering the growing professionalism and internationalism of the Serie Nazionale, it was inevitable that those below tried to strengthen themselves. After all, it has been a decade since a club managed to jump up to the big twelve, as the financial possibilities for doing so were nearly nonexistent.

This Serie Interregionale should give clubs the positive push to grow into top tier sides whilst also avoiding that a fall from the top division would be a bloodbath. It is organised before the winter break in two groups of ten, with the champion of each side qualifying themselves for the Serie B and the LBCT - two valuable tickets. The top seven of each Serie also makes its way to the Coppa delle Stelle. After winter, the eighteen remaining clubs play single round-robin - but keep their points from the first tournament. The winner of this tournament grabs the third and final LBCT ticket but more importantly, the bottom four fall back to the third tier.

This third tier is organised on a regional level and can have a diverse structure as the approximately 180 Ortelian clubs are geographically not evenly distributed. For the Santa Sofia region, this concerns a single league, whilst the San Pancrazio council governs a complex three-tier system. For promotion, a spot is guaranteed for the San Pancrazio, San Bonifazio and San Servazio winners. The San Mamerto and Santa Sofia champions battle it out for the last spot. Before winter, all these regional tier clubs also partake in a knock-out qualifying system which leads into four tickets for the Coppa delle Stelle (as such, the opening round is now contested between all clubs apart from the Cup Holder and the Serie A champion). After winter, they compete in regional tournaments, together with the Primavera sides (U21) from the highest two tiers.

For the composition of the second tier, interested clubs could file a dossier and had to align with certain financial obligations, but were eventually chosen based on performances of the last four seasons - which was hard to compare. As such, it has gotten quite some debate on whether this all ran fair. Either way, the two champions were both established names in Ortelian football. FC Orsi already showed their prodigy in the LBCT tournament and steamed ahead in their league on that same pace. With an experienced and balanced group, they aim to promote in the Serie B this time, after coming close for two years running. There was applause for surprise package Porto Querio whilst VC Pesari disappointed and just narrowly qualified for the Coppa. In the Serie Sud, most people looked to the ambitious Catrallo Athletic, the vibrant Juve Redoccio or even to Politechnica - the students lost some key players but always recruit new talent. But in the end Motori Vitale came out on top, quite an accomplishment for the scooter factory club who edged out Juve on the penultimate match day.

Serie Nord                 Pld   W   D   L   GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1 FC Orsi                  18  11   3   4   34   21  +13    36   Serie B
 2 Stampano Socio           18   7   7   4   25   21   +4    28
 3 Porto Querio             18   8   4   6   29   27   +2    28
 4 Pro Patria Foot          18   6   8   4   29   24   +5    26
 5 Lovani FC                18   7   4   7   31   29   +2    25
 6 PRIND Razzi              18   6   6   6   24   28   −4    24
 7 Vittorio Club Pesari     18   5   7   6   25   27   −2    22
 8 Ars et Labor Rattaglie   18   5   5   8   30   33   −3    20
 9 RES Quartella            18   5   5   8   25   31   −6    20
10 Sporting Camporeale      18   4   3  11   28   39  −11    15

Serie Sud                  Pld   W   D   L   GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1 Motori Vitale            18   9   6   3   26   18   +8    33   Serie B
 2 Juve Redoccio            18   9   5   4   33   24   +9    32
 3 Catrallo Athletic        18   9   4   5   31   23   +8    31
 4 Barezzi Calcio           18   8   3   7   24   25   −1    27
 5 Astello Mare             18   7   5   6   28   22   +6    26
 6 Politecnica Foot         18   6   7   5   32   28   +4    25
 7 Delta                    18   5   6   7   17   22   −5    21
 8 Fratelli d'Anezzo        18   6   3   9   26   36  −10    21
 9 Forza Catrallo           18   3   7   8   28   33   −5    16
10 Young Boys Catrallo      18   3   4  11   19   33  −14    13

by **San Ortelio** » Mon Jun 07, 2021 2:53 pm

Saturday January 16th
Serie B
First Round

US San Savola 0–1 Robur Astello
Madonna Nottori 1–2 Esca Unione
FC Orsi 0–0 Inter Catrallo
Motori Vitale 0–2 SSD Borgonovo

The eight clubs from the second tier are the first to break the winter quiet but it seems as if for them, it could have lasted a little bit longer. Motori Vitale missed their debut in the Serie B a little bit, getting overwhelmed by SSD Borgonovo. It is rare to see Il Socio play so dominant, but Orjee and Pearson were given plenty of space to entertain the audience. The second goal was scored by Lorenzo Gambino who got an applause from the home fans as well - before joining SSD as a professional, Gambino worked in the Vitale scooter company for six years and played for the factory club. For FC Orsi, the stakes are higher and it was a nervous line-up that tried to outwit Inter Catrallo. Fezzardi reacted by letting his troops fall back and managed to grab the point. Quite some credit went to Brenecian stronghold Kerraway who, in the absence of Calcaterra, led a kindergarten defensive line: Chiurato, Sandri and Valetti are 20, 20 and 19. On the other hand, Madonna Nottori must have had some nerves stepping into this one - according to the bookies, their odds to fall back a flight are fifty-fifty and a game like this one will not help. Esca has played better games before but was more efficient than Nottori, with Roz and Tazzeri dragging the points over the line for Unione. And in the spirit of the ‘away game victory’ trend, Robur Astello picked up the points in San Savola after an extremely dull game. Romeo Gozzi scored the sole goal but there are rumours that the board’s patience with his shenanigans might be over now and they would be looking to sell him abroad. In his characteristic way, the striker replied to the question from the press by claiming that “Romeo is Robur and Robur is Romeo - without me, this club is as exciting as San Savola”.

Wednesday January 19th
Coppa delle Stella
Opening Round

Porto Querio 1–4 Fagli Cinquanta
SSD Borgonovo 2–1 Robur Astello
Stampano Socio 1–1 Nottori Duo
Astello Mare 0–0 Lovani FC
Juve Redoccio 4–1 Pro Patria Foot
Acciaierie Bondone 1–3 Delta
Motori Vitale 2–3 FC Pesari
US San Savola 0–1 Circulo Prata
Inter Catrallo 1–1 PRIND Razzi
Orsi FC 3–1 Madonna Nottori
Esca Unione 1–0 Vittorio Club Pesari
Barezzi Calcio 0–2 Virtus Redoccio
Catrallo Athletic 1–3 Pro Stampano
Politecnica Foot 4–0 Sparta Varisa

The opening round of the Cup should be the breeding ground for surprise results galore and some were produced tonight, even if the sides from the Serie Nationale clearly had been paying attention. Six of the ten in the line-up already punched their ticket for the next round - although we must give VC Pesari some credit for pushing Esca to a last-minute lucky goal from Falzerano. Inter Catrallo must give it a second spin next week in the rematch after a difficult team from Razzi. The club from the Kitaran minority played with vigour and that paid off - goalie Roscioli needed to bring his best gloves and the equalizer from Ciro De Luca was quite against the course of play. No opportunity for a second chance for Robur but the black-and-white had been unlucky in the draw: a visit to an in-form Borgonovo could always go wrong. Had the previous confrontation between these two teams been quite the battle on and off the pitch, then it ran without major hassle tonight - not in the least due to the presence of a large police force. After the game, unfortunately, the house of match winner Federico Celli was vandalized, putting everyone on edge for the same confrontation in the competition this weekend.

That results in two clubs who stumbled at the hand of lower-tier opponents. FC Orsi added some force to their claim for promotion with a splendid performance against Madonna Nottori. Whilst some additional elements will not go to waste in case of promotion, the axis from the Bears looks strong enough to hold itself: goalkeeper Pasticcio, captain Baldini, Pelegrino with the rejuvenated Gorini in midfield and a decent pairing up front in Parti and Izzardi… They are not exceptional, but they make few mistakes - the kind of players that Nottori has been missing all season. Luckily for Il Cavalli, the chalice of shame befell US San Savola who stumbled in their own Dietro Barracche to the amateurs of Circulo Prata. The club from the coastal hamlet scored early when local innkeeper Sergio Rossini surprised Nobile with a floater and then held on - in the last quarter with eleven men behind the ball, but result goes over style on these occasions. Quite a walk of shame for San Savola, with a few wondering if this was just an offday or if more is going on.

Lastly, these early cup rounds always offer an opportunity for youngsters in the semi-pro tier to showcase themselves. Three names that will go in the booklets of the scouts are Bonomi, Gualdi and Spinesi. Luca Bonomi only recently won his spot in the Politecnica line-up, but with another brace against Varisa, the eighteen-year old striker now is at ten goals in nine appearances. Barezzi might have lost against Virtus, but right-back Franco Gualdi stood out with his speed and crosses - he’s a late bloomer at 24, but can be of value for a Serie B side. And Valentin Spinesi might have just turned seventeen, that does not stop him from being an important element in the midfield of Juve Redoccio. He will undoubtedly be chased by the big clubs in the off-season.

Saturday January 23rd
Serie B
Second Round

Robur Astello 0–0 SSD Borgonovo
Inter Catrallo 1–0 Motori Vitale
Esca Unione 1–3 FC Orsi
US San Savola 1–5 Madonna Nottori

Had some Savolans voiced title ambitions, then there suddenly appeared a scramble for simple survival with the club from San Mamerto. In the derby against Nottori, US was wiped off the map with Granocche crowning himself the match winner with a hattrick. After the game, various fingers were pointed in all directions: Nobile blundered at the 0-1 just before the break; the defense, apart from Nzonzi, looked static; a carded Tornaghi was painfully missed in midfield; Marigu took a second yellow with still twenty minutes to play for. The main question for San Savola remains, how will they get out of this negative spiral? Gaffer Fincato is part of the furniture, so it will have to be the players that find a solution but it will have to be seen to avoid relegation. Especially as FC Orsi seems bound to win promotion in this Serie B - they overpowered Esca with fast, horizontal football, with winger Valenti as man of the match. The Bears are part of a leading quartet as Robur and SSD balanced out one another. With a lot of pressure leading up to the game, it became quite a dud. Celli had vowed sporting vengeance but disappeared in the backpocket of Maurizi whilst hard men Boffeli and Puuk managed to contain Gozzi. It is telling that the men of the match were two defensive midfielders: Paolo Castelli guided SSD and showed that age is just a number whilst the thirteen years younger Petor Szektkovsky played like a man with 240 rather than 40 games under his belt. Last notes go to Ciro Sandri who scored the goal of the matchday - his attempt from 35 metres out won Inter three points.

Sunday January 24th
Serie A
First Round

Fagli Cinquanta 3–5 Sportiva Montelcampo
FC Pesari 1–1 Virtus Redoccio
Pro Stampano 1–0 Catrallo Calcio

Questions had been hanging around Qusmiball but with a gargantuan performance, the Robins elevated themselves back into the pool of contestants for the title. The confrontation in Stadio Scarpa had everything a duel can dream of: lots of goals, players outdoing themselves and turning chances. The tone was set when Yannick Rodgers opened the score but Mazzone replied with a cheeky, successful chip - three minutes in and one each. Sportiva oozed energy again, with Nonhagatte and Kolar making them a difficult to stop opponent - not necessarily a machine but rather an octopus that can lash out from every side and angle: Giandonato has been quite good on goal so far, but tonight he took in five from five different players. It must be said that till the last ten minutes, Fagli could have won equally well and Lorenzo Tosi’s tricks were as good as any but the 3-4 from substitute Cotillard really broke La Fa’s spirit.

And so it is clear once more, everything you think to believe and know from the Serie Nazionale might be a lie in the Serie A. Catrallo Calcio stepped into the arena with the medal of the champion already hanging around their neck but slipped on a Pro Stampano-shaped banana peel. It was only the second time this season that the guns up front remained silent for Catrallo, a mark of honour for the Stampano defensive organisation. Pambianco seems to shy away from any naivety in this phase of the year, with Pill falling back deeper but the presence of the hardy Chromatik makes the double nod in front of Trasciani so much harder to untangle. Stampno did little in attack but if Nannetti (who keeps the more experienced Cianci and Pella on the bench) finds Ransom perfectly for the match winner, there is little need for that. “It’s a wake-up call,” captain Lucarelli remarked but Calcio won’t be able to afford a lot of these games.

The favourite even slips to third in the table, with Virtus Redoccio moving into the lead - but the Strawberries ruined a chance of widening the gap. Early on, Di Cosmo trembled the nets and afterwards, Pesari had little to reply. In their last eight confrontations, FC Pesari only won twice, against Madonna and in the Coppa to Motori. In charge now for two and a half months, Fiorelli hasn’t untangled yet how to turn his selection into a team. Various young players in whom the club invested, such as Spaviero, Raltano and Gioia, are no longer on speaking terms with him and the fans have seen quite enough. Captain Zanoni, a usual beacon of calm, had to admit that “there are things happening here which are not really normal”. Luckily for Fiorelli, there’s individual class which keeps Pesari afloat, such as demonstrated from a volley from Murphy. Not the first time that the Cassadaiguan shows why she’s a record signing with her decisiveness in tough circumstances.

Wednesday January 26th
Coppa delle Stella
Opening Round - Rematches

Nottori Duo 1–2 Stampano Socio
Lovani FC 0–2 Astello Mare
PRIND Razzi 1–1 Inter Catrallo (1–3 AET)

So far for the virtue of home advantage. The sympathetic amateurs from Nottori Duo managed to hold the line for the better part of the game but in the end, Socio simply overruled them on stamina with Errini scoring the winner against an exhausted opponent. The duel between Lovani and Mare should have been a balanced affair but an early red for the home squad ended their Coppa dream. Most eyes as such were on Inter who knew that Razzi away was no walk in the park - the club has a bit of a reputation when it comes to the cup. An early goal from Odion Mazi for PRIND put the pressure on Inter for sure. Il Viola eventually stumbled through but the equalizer, with Bignami looking a suspicious amount offside, will leave a bad taste in the mouth of all Razzi fans. In the extra-time, a screamer from Aymo dragged Inter to the second round.

Saturday January 30th
Serie B
Third Round

Madonna Nottori 3–3 Robur Astello
FC Orsi 0–0 US San Savola
Motori Vitale 3–4 Esca Unione
SSD Borgonovo 3–0 Inter Catrallo

About two years ago, we would have seriously considered SSD Borgonovo as the relegation candidate but now, they put themselves on the first row for the Serie B trophy fight. Diego Chiesa assembled his side with a shoe-string budget but made some good calls, especially with young players: Archie Pearson is ready for a stronger side as shown by another assist+goal game, no one knows why Pesari let go of Carlesi, Orjee is a bullettrain on the wing and youth product Bertolini will get more chances next year. With seven points of nine, Borgonovo leads the table as Robur missed out on a good chance. Gozzi and Marcellusi won them a 0-2 lead after seventy minutes but then goalie Scampini attacked Tebaldi out the box. Once the fighting ceased (that’s one red for Scampini and five yellows later) Nottori smelled blood and guided by a Spedalieri finally at level, they went up and over… But blew it themselves when a miscommunication in the back allowed Grandolfo to equalize. One point as well for FC Orsi and US San Savola, a result that really helps neither but the clean sheet should be a minor boost for the moral of San Savola. For goals, one had to travel to Redoccio where Vitale and Esca played an open and entertaining duel. Motori’s Giorgio Atala scored a brace but this was matched by Ciccone. Unione currently plays with three false strikers: Ciccone and Zambataro on the wing, veteran Roz roaming the place and D’Annunzio as supersub, and that works out oddly enough.

Sunday January 31st
Serie A
Second Round

Sportiva Montelcampo 3–4 Catrallo Calcio
Virtus Redoccio 0–0 Pro Stampano
Fagli Cinquanta 2–2 FC Pesari

This was one for the fans, what a duel between Sportiva and Calcio! For the second week in a row, the Robins show what football is all about but this time, the troops from Von must accept the might of Catrallo. In a game filled to the brim with remarkable moments, we saw the champions class from Catrallo shimmer through, quite the response after last weeks offday. "Our biggest strength is that every player in the squad lifts us up," is a very hippie attitude from Tumellero but the Calcio coach makes a point - there is no single star in the side and they can afford the luxury to replace three or four men without losing quality. Maybe that is what separates Montelcampo from the real tip of the iceberg at the moment: their substitutes did an effort but guys like Barletta, gifted as he may be, and Priola don't win you top clashes, whilst Roberto Agostinone scores the 3-4. An excellently executed counterattack and Catrallo regain the lead.

This as Virtus rains stuck at a goalless draw against Stampano. With the pressure to reach the Serie A off, it seems as if Pambianco can now play his side to their natural strengths: a low defensive line but aggressive pressure once the opponent enters the final third and fast counterattacks when the occasion arises. This suits bulldogs such as Cappa and Polidori in midfield, but also star striker Lenore Ransom who gets a number of opportunities for her beloved one-on-one attacks against opposition that needs to win. In a way, there was little you could blame on Romero and his Virtus: Fazio held Sanmicheli out of possession - something few manage this season - and they brought enough people in the box to do something with the crosses. But in a game like this, one of those balls also needs to fall in the right place and that just didn't happen for Redoccio. Péricard came closest but Trasciani got a finger on that whilst Bagheria saw his shot go wide. Just one point at home and if Virtus wants a surprise title, that's not enough.

The headlines of the third game of the weekend will be all about the final few minutes. Nearing extra time, Matteo Labruzzo gets the ball against his arm from up close. Not even the Pesari players were, despite the 2-1 scoreline, signalling for a handsball but the referee decided otherwise and pointed to the penalty point. Infuriated, La Fa owner Di Callare came down from the stands to the pitch and was only sent back to the stands after some shouting and rowing - we can’t believe his ‘money-in-pocket’ signal when being pushed off the pitch by the assistant referees will go on without consequences. Immediately after Zanoni buried the penalty, the referee ended the game, leading to another melee and a red for Marchetti and Rodgers. It’s a shame for Fagli that it ends like this because the focus should be on their dominance over a hesitant Pesari. In games like this, the stamina, quality and grit from central trio Yang Tao, Faini and Kinsella stands out - they had the Pesari midfield for dinner tonight.

Serie A                  Pld  W  D  L  GF  GA   GD  Pts   SN  TPts
1 Catrallo Calcio          2  1  0  1   4   4    0    3   14    17
2 Virtus Redoccio          2  0  2  0   1   1    0    2   14    16
3 Sportiva Montelcampo     2  1  0  1   8   7   +1    3   12    15
4 Fagli Cinquanta          2  0  1  1   5   7   −2    1   11    12
5 Pro Stampano             2  1  1  0   1   0   +1    4    8    12
6 FC Pesari                2  0  2  0   3   3    0    2    8    10

Wednesday February 3rd
Copa de Campeones
Quarterfinals

Lokomotive Jarnstad (SVJ) 4-0 Catrallo Calcio (SOR)

That Il Capo dei Capi was up for a difficult task was known ahead of the confrontation, but that they would fall into the trap from the Savojarsk Futbol Serien champion like this remains a harsh reminder of the glaring gap between San Ortelio and the IFCF (sub)top. A good crowd at Jarnsvägen had been spoiled already when it came to international domestic football as Lok also survived the group stage of the Challengers Cup, a warning bell tolled for the chances of Catrallo. Tumellero tried to stay true to his ideals, attacking with numbers and with inspired players on the wing in Moreschini and Sgarbi, a specialist in international evenings. But this one wasn’t to be the one of Alberto Sgarbi. Despite some courageous pressure from Calcio, they were down by two within fifteen minutes: two counterattacks sliced open every weakness in the Catrallo defense and with Bogdan Rawic, Lokomotive possesses a stone cold killer. With it, Calcio tried to can the naive optimism but against a composed and professional eleven such as Jarnstad, there is no chance they get back in this one. Garofalo escapes the attention from Ullqvist just once but Gerik Knassmuller is faster on the ball. In the second half and after the three-nil, coach Smolderhove can give some time to reserves, with Tikhichev putting the final score on the board. “A lesson in what football is all about at the top level for Catrallo,” Di Masi admitted whilst Lokomotive gets a boost of morale for their Champions Cup ambitions.

Saturday February 6th
Serie B
Fourth Round

Robur Astello 0–0 Inter Catrallo
Esca Unione 0–0 SSD Borgonovo
US San Savola 0–1 Motori Vitale
Madonna Nottori 1–3 FC Orsi

A fairly unspectacular match day in the Serie B for the casual bystander and… Well, for the fans as well if it weren’t for a few good underdog results. Although - can we still consider the Bears as underdogs? It’s their fifth game after winter now and with three wins and two draws, we can now say it’s no longer a fluke but a streak. FC Orsi looks ready for promotion. The resulting question is: who will lose his spot for them? Usually, we would stick with Nottori for that but even after a loss against this important competitor, Il Cavalli stay on the right side of the line. At the other hand, things are looking more and more precarious for US San Savola who suffered a loss at the hands of Motori Vitale - the first points in the league for the latter, but they didn’t steal them. A lull in form from Letti puts a lot of pressure on Averroes, but despite his best efforts, the former Alqamar player cannot carry the midfield by himself. Add to that a communication error between Hythewater and Nobile, usually two more reliable elements in the back, and this is turning into a crisis. Next week will be moneytime for San Savola. At the top of the table, there’s a lack of goals and if that’s a good thing depends on your point of view. SSD and Esca balanced one another well, with the goalies both performing outstanding: Jacopo Burrai is close to the Cup of Harmony selection for a reason, whilst Mosca warrants the confidence held in him by Chiesa with the fourth clean sheet in a row. In Valle Farnese, Robur was just lucky to keep a point at home as Inter dominated but missed a cool head in front of reserve goalie Pellizarri.

Serie B               Pld  W  D  L  GF  GA   GD  Pts
1 SSD Borgonovo         4  2  2  0   5   0   +5    8
2 FC Orsi               4  2  2  0   6   2   +4    8
3 Esca Unione           4  2  1  1   7   7    0    7  
4 Robur Astello         4  1  3  0   4   3   +1    6
5 Inter Catrallo        4  1  2  1   1   3   −2    5
6 Madonna Nottori       4  1  1  2  10   9   +1    4
7 Motori Vitale         4  1  0  3   4   7   −3    3
8 US San Savola         4  0  1  3   1   7   −6    1

by **San Ortelio** » Tue Jun 22, 2021 6:52 am

Wednesday February 10th
Coppa delle Stella
Second Round

Delta 1–0 Astello Mare
Stampano Socio 0–4 Virtus Redoccio
FC Orsi 0–1 FC Pesari
Sportiva Montelcampo 4–2 Circulo Prata
Juve Redoccio 1–0 Pro Stampano
Catrallo Calcio 2–2 Fagli Cinquanta
Politecnica Foot 1–4 SSD Borgonovo
Inter Catrallo 0–0 Esca Unione

High hopes and high stakes. Whilst some can take the pitch fairly relaxed, knowing that they’ve passed the first hurdle, others have the pressure on tonight knowing that only a good Coppa campaign can save their season. It is a predicate that goes for FC Pesari who just can’t catch a break in the competition. Fiorelli tried what, according to the pundits, was his fifth tactical plan, fielding a flat 4-4-2 against FC Orsi. The Bears did not look extremely worried and played with the composure we’ve gotten familiar with in the Serie B. As such, it was up to Haney and Murphy to keep Pesari afloat in a game with very few chances at either side. Eventually, it was the Tikariotian who knocked one past Pasticcio - not the first time this season that Jules Haney, despite a lower overall production, stood up for a key goal. Similar nerves were seen in the duel between Inter and Unione. Both Il Viola and Il Esercito started the year with hopes for a Serie A appearance but fell short. A deep cup run could make the fans forget that, but focus seemed rather on avoiding elimination rather than winning a ticket. The hero of the night was Qusmi youngster Yem who got his chance between the stakes in the Coppa and stopped a penalty from Saligari to ensure the 0-0.

The Coppa is also a chance to get to know lower league sides and the barely-highlighted game between Delta and Mare was exactly that. Delta has its roots in the Redoccio University, which centres around the remarkable triangular plaza in the outskirts of the city. Still, it manages to pick up young talents who happen to be studying at RU. Their opponent for the evening was Astello Mare who finished two spots above them in the Serie Sud. Contrary to Robur, which has a hardy and popular image, the club was founded in the residential marina area and is seen as as upper class as it gets - for reference, one of the two club presidents is an actual viscount. On the day, it was the students’ club who triumphed, 19-year old Consolaro brought Delta to the quarterfinals for the first time in their existence. They’re the last team standing from that level, along with the neighbours from Juve Redoccio. The second club in town tried to slam open the gates by buying a lot of experience but fell just short in the Serie Sud to Motori Vitale - a deep cup run can salvage that pain. A surprise win against Pro Stampano definitely deserves some praise with Juve goalie Ferri stopping everything that came his way. Notably for a line-up with the median age of 32, it was 21-year old winger Luca Bauci who popped up at the second post to get the leather past a scrambling Trasciani. A bit of a pain for Pro, who had ambitions.

Not every game can be a success for the lower-tier club, as was evidenced in the confrontation between Stampano Socio and Virtus. Socio, usually considered as the ‘socialist’ club of the town compared to the more ‘liberal’ Pro, stepped into the arena with some marks of honour. As number two of the Serie Nord, they should be able to make an impact at home. Virtus, however, was having none of that and that Albino Romero only fielded one reserve (Lazarri for Confalonieri) confirmed their ambition. Socio left the pitch with a harsh lesson learned, striker Boldiszar Zsinko left it with a hattrick. A bit further down the road, last year’s Serie B surprise package Politecnica took on SSD Borgonovo. In theory, this could have been a good matchup but Chiesa decided to keep them in their rhythm and SSD overpowered them, with Santoro, Pearson, Lang and Mangano taking care of the goals. Still, it was far from a perfect evening as starting goalie Giulio Mosca - on road to a sixth clean sheet - collided with a Politecnica striker and had to be carried off. He could be out for the season.

Lastly, we've ended up twenty minutes apart from a Cinderella story. Circulo Prata is an amateur side and not even a particularly strong one: the club from a small burrough resides in the relegation zone of the San Bonifazio amateur league. But against a second string of the Robins, who kept their focus on Sunday's game, everything clicked in place for them. Farmhand Elia Zamparetti scored a brace against Zagaria and suddenly, Von had to pick Kolar, Nongahatte and Pambianco off the bench to avoid a shameful defeat. With their star players between the lines - and the fitness levels of Prata wearing out - Sportiva turned the 1-2 into a 4-2: just a scare but one that will go down in lore. No loss of focus between Fagli and Calcio. La Fa played solid and were one of the few sides domestically who seemed to find an answer against the midfield pressure - aided by a powerful striking duo, the defenders simply whipped the ball forward when Calcio tried their characteristic quick regain of the ball. As such, the encounter went back and forth quickly and fittingly, neither side lost and the fans won - we'll get ninety more minutes of this.

Saturday February 13th
Serie B
Fifth Round

FC Orsi 1–0 Robur Astello
Motori Vitale 2–5 Madonna Nottori
SSD Borgonovo 4–3 US San Savola
Inter Catrallo 4–1 Esca Unione

The Serie B is not the top level of Ortelian football but the clubs sure did entertain tonight.By now, there are few observers left who doubt that FC Orsi have what it takes to remain on this level. With a shrewd, dedicated performance, they managed to beat Robur at their own game - strict organisation, looking for the counterattack and deadly on the few chances. Astello tried to get out of their shell and were unlucky when Iotti lobbed his ball over the crossbar, but the main takeaway is that after this loss, they need to look down first, rather than up. If they peek over their shoulder, they’ll only see two clubs left - both stuck to a relegation spot after a game which seems to confirm their stay there. Motori Vitale had an enthusiastic appearance against Nottori but Il Cavalli keeps on scoring at a ridiculous rate: five games in, they’ve hit the net fifteen times with Federico Granocche the man that keeps them afloat. Eight goals now for this grafter, he could become Nottori’s first one-million transfer and with that money, they can start building a team. Suddenly, the sky looks bluer than ever for Madonna. For US San Savola, things start to look grim as they’re five points below the relegation line. The opening half from them against Borgonovo was good, more than good even, going into the break with 1-2 after a very nifty Kowac goal. SSD equalized again but when supersub Elizabe scored with a clever header, US seemed assured. But with ten minutes left, Nzonzi gets a second yellow after a handsy duel with Pearson and it all collapses for San Savola. It’s not fatal yet, but now every next game is a must-win and the next one is against Inter that did perfect: Aymo as Man of the Match and youngster Marchese with his first brace.

Sunday February 14th
Serie A
Third Round

FC Pesari 0–1 Sportiva Montelcampo
Pro Stampano 1–2 Fagli Cinquanta
Catrallo Calcio 4–4 Virtus Redoccio

The pressure is on in Pesari as Sportiva Montelcampo comes over to visit and the result is a fair mix of sentiments. The analyst might note that during the opening half, FC came closest to playing like a well-rounded squad since Fiorelli took over the helm: rather than the flat 4-4-2 from last week, he opted for a 4-2-2-2 which saw Albertoni and Bortolotto roaming the pitch looking for opportunities. It’s not sexy, it’s not spectacular, but the defensive block of six makes one of the strongest cases against the attacking possibilities of the Robins and with a bit more luck, Haney would’ve gotten it past Pino for a slim lead. But just after the break, Venturato takes out Pambianco for a second yellow and the plan from Fiorelli falls apart like a house of cards. With space opening up, it’s quite the miracle that the damage is limited to one well-timed header from Valeri, but it is enough for Sportiva to grab three points and put the pressure on the others…

As Catrallo Calcio and Virtus Redoccio share the points in a spectacular fashion. Football is a game of two halves and few times has this been so visible as in Il Olimpico tonight. Before teatime, Redoccio made a solid bid for the title with Péricard knocking in a brace. The man in the spotlight, however, is Di Cosmo who has been given free reign due to a clever tactical trick from Romero - Di Masi, who would usually cut short such a danger for Calcio, was occupied with Zsinko walking about everywhere. However, it takes two to tango and Tumellero reacts by letting his unpressured backs infiltrate after the break, leading to an unlikely scoresheet featuring Lucarelli, Rocca ánd Viveiros with either a goal or an assist. The battle of wits looks to end with a draw, although Virtus sweats in the extra-time: Evacuo clumsily touches the ball outside the box when trying to get rid of a deep ball and sees the red card. Out of replacements, full-back Prudhomme takes his spot between the posts but luckily can limit himself to one fairly simple save. With the top three lumped together with one point between them and seven games left, the title race is more open than ever.

It’s the not only target to be reached in the Serie A. With FC Pesari still dropping points left and right, there is a decent chance for smaller sides such as Pro Stampano and Fagli Cinquanta to punch their ticket for the IFCF. But they do need to grab victories themselves for that and what better opportunity to do so than in a direct duel? The Postmen come out of the starting block better, but Giandonato, who now indefinitely has pushed his goalie rival Pompa towards the exit, stops Ransom and Pill from scoring. And as the iron law of football says, if you don’t grab your chances, the opponent will: Okonye with a brilliant chip and a successful infiltration from Faini lock up the game in just five minutes. As such, the most notable element of the second half is the debut in blue of Daniele Liretta. The right-back is the son of Evaristo Liretta, a man of notorious stature: according to the press and police, Liretta Sr. is the spider in a web of lies surrounding the Merala Bay Scandal where phantom apartments were sold. Evidently, rumours go around that Fagli owner and building promotor Di Callare had a hand in it as well, making the presence of the young player potentially even an exceptional form of hush money.

Wednesday February 17th
Coppa delle Stella
Second Round - Rematches

Fagli Cinquanta 1–1 Catrallo Calcio (1–2 AET)
Esca Unione 2–0 Inter Catrallo

In a period of continuous mid-week games, Oliviero Tumellero risks a gamble and decides to send some men on the pitch who usually need to satisfy themselves with a fringe role: Brescia, Vitteriti, Dolci and Crilese take a start. Especially the latter two are quite interesting: supertalent Luca Dolci plays his first competitive game on the eve of his 18th birthday whilst Tommaso Crilese gets a (final?) shot to change the pecking order. Despite being bought for a handsome 1.2 million from Esca Unione, the talented defender slowly slipped out of the image due to the development from Viveiros and now is fifth centre-back for Calcio. Unfortunately for him, things go south already after three minutes when he mistimes an easy tackle and lets Rodgers open the score - not much young Dolci could do about it. The goal is much to the amusement of Anza - still butthurt about being sacked from the club with whom he celebrated successes - who puts up a defensive double wall. Unfortunately for the gaffer, Salvatori finds a little loophole in his plan and in the extra-time, Cinquanta gets physically overwhelmed when some starters are thrown on.

Three hours later, there is a second duel in the Stadia Scarpa as the other rematch is fought between the two other professional clubs from San Pancrazio. Inter and Esca meet one another for the third time in seven days and it seems as if Luigi Delphi, the old sly fox at the helm of Il Esercito, has done the biggest advantage with that. His 5-2-3 is unusual but does neutralize the biggest dangers from Inter: Saligari can be followed up close and the midfield is simply surpassed with long crosses into space and crossing the fingers for the second ball. Evan Kerraway can’t head everything out of danger and Zambataro and D’Annunzio (who ironically seems to score more now he comes off the bench) ensure a quarterfinal for Unione. For both sides, this was a big opportunity to give their season a bit more shine and it’s Esca who remains on board...

Saturday February 20th
Serie B
Sixth Round

Robur Astello 4–2 Esca Unione
US San Savola 0–1 Inter Catrallo
Madonna Nottori 0–2 SSD Borgonovo
FC Orsi 3–0 Motori Vitale

… and thank god for that because in the Serie B, a title now seems further away than ever. It’s another cliché but it just felt as if Robur wanted it more. I Detenuti could be on a highway to a fairly boring season so reserves Soomre, Collins and Bulevardi were given a chance to add some fire to the line-up and they complied, especially the latter. Whilst Gozzi, despite a goal, looked sulky, the young midfielder ensured the entertainment, showing speed and technique. Two elements which were missing from the clash between San Savola and Inter - ninety raw minutes with midfield collisions, nasty tackles and balls kicked into space without much of a plan. Especially San Savola looked desperate: a result of two out of 18 loomed large as the strikers had an off-day but things went from bad to worse as the otherwise invisible Saligari tried his luck from far out, surprising Nobile. The whispers about a US relegation are resounding louder and louder. The gap to safety is six points now and it could have been more. Nottori played an uncharacteristically tight game against Borgonovo… Until they characteristically blew it all in the last ten minutes. Pearson at the cannon again for SSD, the question no longer seems to be if but when the Murphtanian will make the move to a bigger club. The night wraps up with the duel between the two second tier clubs and it confirms what we already knew: Motori Vitale is a sympathetic club but weighs too little, FC Orsi is Serie Nazionale material and will, after ten seasons without, become the newcomer at the top level. Most notably, they will not need to overhaul their selection to make a proper impression: every other week there is a new name popping up, this week 22-year old winger Scapelli who scores a brace.

Sunday February 21th
Serie A
Fourth Round

Sportiva Montelcampo 0–1 Virtus Redoccio
Fagli Cinquanta 0–4 Catrallo Calcio
FC Pesari 1–1 Pro Stampano

The eyecatcher among the results is evidently the harsh blow dealt by Catrallo Calcio. But even if the result suggests a one-sided thrashing, that's not a fair description of the game. Tumellero had done his homework for this third confrontation in a few weeks time and learned from them ahead of his clash with Anza. The veteran gaffer amused the press before the game, making remarks on the 'principe' of the trainers guild. "He still needs to learn the tricks." But after four minutes Tumellero had the best laugh: he let fast Moreschini run through the middle and before you knew it, it's 0-1. After that, Fagli had to come out of its comfort zone and then the lack of speed from Haukland and Rossi started to show. In the final quarter, Spadoni and Agostinone could run up the score, allowing Tumellero to cheekily mention that "the game was less tricky for us than anticipated". Buuuurn.

And that's another three points for Catrallo, with much fanfare and goals, but in the final table, they don't give extra points for spectacle. Juven coach Albino Romero paid attention in class the week they taught that. He deserves praise for how he turned a club ridden with doubts into a reliable block and a title candidate. What adds to that ambition is that Virtus took an extra step in their evolution: in the regular season, Redoccio was flawless against small clubs but struggled against strong opponents. More recently, however, they manage to defend a scoreline, even against fierce opposition. The game at Corsa Quersia started excellently for the Strawberries when Zsinko put his laces through a wayward ball and tore an extra hole in the net behind Pino. After that, Sportiva dictated the pace, giving Virtus reserve goalie Fio a true baptism of fire. In his second year with the club, it is the first time the eccentric Audioslavian appeared. His transfer, based on an Audio game show got criticism and as Evacuo remained fixed between the posts, there were rumors he was too poor to show. But Fio (stylised 10N F10 on the shirt) stood tall albeit with an often unorthodox style: his save on a Valeri header with a bicycle kick will make the rounds in regional clips shows. It sufficed for three points.

Lastly, FC Pesari did another attempt to get away from last place in the table. In theory, there was no easier fixture than the visit from Stampano but the Postmen showed their stubborness before and lived up to that anticipation with a solid block. Cappa, rumoured to part ways with Pro after this year, and Polidori kept all passing lines to Murphy and Haney in check. A bit of a blow to the 4-2-2-2 from Fiorelli that did well enough in the first half against Sportiva: with less space, the creativity issues shimmered through again. To make things worse for FC, they fell behind after fifteen minutes. Giaco Sanmicheli is not the type of player that scores fifteen goals in a season but every single ball he nets is a beauty: this one a sweet floater that caught out Moro. All to I Pappagalli after that and the yellow-and-blue tried their luck by throwing everything at the wall and hoping something would stick: few times we have seen so many crosses fly by, an annoying evening for Murphy who fought harsh aerial duels with Luca Ilari. The law of large numbers dictated that one ball fell in the right place but this draw really helps neither club.

Wednesday February 24th
Copa de Campeones
Quarterfinals

Catrallo Calcio (SOR) 0-3 Lokomotive Jarnstad (SVJ)

After the first leg, there was no one in Il Olimpico who did not know this was just a dead rubber, but even on their second string, Lokomotive had no trouble disposing of Catrallo Calcio. Youngster Luca Dolci got a second chance between the stakes and it is telling that the goalkeeper was the best man of Calcio - possibly bar Spadoni who was the only to give Jarnstads second goalie Nurminen a run for his money: that one ball on the post was worth a consolation goal. Still, Dolci is no Bryony Lindt yet, by far and had to turn around three times. After goals from Ericsson, Gren and Ruriksson, Catrallo follows the road of Cyrene Bay and Nangang Royals whilst Lokomotive can prepare themselves for their first ever international semi-finals.

Saturday February 27th
Serie B
Seventh Round

Motori Vitale 0–0 Robur Astello
SSD Borgonovo 2–1 FC Orsi
Inter Catrallo 4–4 Madonna Nottori
Esca Unione 1–2 US San Savola

It is not over yet for US! Just ahead of the halfway point, the humble formation from the San Mamertan village gets a fine boost to their morale - even if it didn’t look like that for seventy minutes. Esca Unione simply dominated from the start, celebrating the return of Gabriele Tozzuolo with a solid plan. The club veteran suffered a heavy injury in early November and his absence cost them dearly: one could see easily from the way Esca kept possession. But halfway the second half, his brother Alessandro spoiled the party when he ran into a second yellow. Against ten men, San Savola regained confidence and the quick equalizer from Averroes only added to that. Still, it took a minute 94 scrimmage for San Savola to take that much-coveted first win in seven league games: on a corner, all flocked the box and it was hardy veteran Kowac who knocked it in. All in all, it was a good day for the clubs from the bottom segment: Motori Vitale managed a surprising scoreless draw against Robur, not in the least via stellar goalkeeping from Arribaldi, the 26-year old jumping jack from the home squad. A frustrating evening for Gozzi, on the other hand, who hit the post twice. No glamour for the goalies in Inter versus Madonna: Ioime got another chance after getting sidelined for a 41-year old, Pandolfi stepped in as Roscioli amassed too many yellow in the last few weeks and both got four balls behind them - in part by their own fault. The prettiest goal was for Fabiano Scirea who has had a mediocre season so far but can still make marvellous slaloms. We wrap up with the duel for the leader spot and SSD Borgonovo remain flawless: Spizzichino scored a nifty winner, the crown on a really strong period for him. If they can keep his head on his shoulders, SSD Borgonovo could double up their trophy cabinet and they merit it: even against a well-organised FC Orsi, they kept an intricate flow in their game.

Sunday February 21th
Serie A
Fifth Round

Pro Stampano 0–4 Sportiva Montelcampo
Catrallo Calcio 2–0 FC Pesari
Virtus Redoccio 0–0 Fagli Cinquanta

Drama and upheaval in Stampano after only four minutes: near the sideline, Anderson Pill takes down Giusto Barletta with what seems a correct but quite harsh tackle. It’s just in front of the visitors bench, who jump up, words are exchanged and then goalkeeper coach Valleta tries to grab the Chromatikan by the throat. Out of instinct, Pill lashes out to defend himself and the mayhem is complete. When the dust settles, the referee hands out no less than eight cards amongst which three reds: Ferrera, Qualla and Pill are dismissed. With nine to ten, the much-praised Stampano organisation falls apart like wet sand and the energetic Qusmiball from the visitors can play out. Especially Andrea Pambianco is in form and the striker from the Robins nets a proper hattrick - against the club from his uncle, by the way. Still, the interviews after the game focus on the early debates. Both Sportiva goalkeeper Pino (“A serious lack of professionalism from Pill”) and Stampano midfielder Bunino (“This coordinated nagging shows their lack of class”) throw some extra oil on the fire so we can be assured that the confrontation on the final match day between the two will be spicy - even if one doesn’t have much to play for anymore.

Exactly that spice seemed to be lacking between Virtus and Fagli. It’s an old adagio that the perfect football match ends in nil-nil and in a way, this was a fairly correct representation of that. In theory, we saw solid performances: Serafino Evacuo had enjoyed his week of rest and dominated the box per usual, Riccardo Pace might be limited in radius but the tackling from the Ethanian back is flawless and the control from Yang Tao in the middle of the pitch was delightful - there is a reason he’s the first Serie Nazionale player who will play in the World Cup finals. But these are not the players for whom you come to the stadium and those weren’t there: Lorenzo Tosi got lost in the backpocket from Confalonieri, Zsinko found himself on a tight leash. A fair point to both clubs but especially Virtus, at home, should aim higher.

Because in the title race, Catrallo Calcio grabbed three important points. The third Derby d’Ortelio of the season might have been highly anticipated during the week, in the weekend it was a confirmation of what we already knew. Calcio is no match yet for strong international opponents but domestically they represent a machine built around pace and pressing. Add to that the best goalkeeper and striker in the league in Lindt and Garofalo, and you have a club that’s just a league above the current state of FC Pesari. We kind of start to feel sorry for Sandro Fiorelli - he puts a lot of time in his communication with the fans, he tries to find a solid base to work upon but despite his best efforts, it is not working out. The rumors that he will not be with the club for the next season are intensifying, which doesn’t help him to put some trust in a fairly rudderless dressing room. Add to that the disappearance from Dennis Spaviero, the promising young striker, and Fiorelli looks to be fighting a battle as lost as the one his eleven had on the pitch tonight: IFCF football looks further than ever.

Serie A                  Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD   Pts   SN  TPts
1 Catrallo Calcio          5   3  1  1   14   8  +6    10   14    24
2 Virtus Redoccio          5   1  4  0    6   5  +1     7   14    21
3 Sportiva Montelcampo     5   3  0  2   13   8  +5     9   12    21
4 Fagli Cinquanta          5   1  2  2    7  12  −5     5   11    16
5 Pro Stampano             5   1  2  2    3   7  −4     5    8    13
6 FC Pesari                5   0  3  2    4   7  −3     3    8    11

Wednesday March 3rd
Coppa delle Stella
Quarterfinals

Esca Unione 1–0 Juve Redoccio
Virtus Redoccio 2–1 Sportiva Montelcampo
Delta 1–2 SSD Borgonovo

Due to the continued confrontations from Catrallo Calcio, I Capo dei Capi was given a night off and only three quarter finals were contested tonight. For Esca Unione, the fixture was harder than it looked: when it comes to a one-off game, Juve (apart from FC Orsi) might have the hardiest line-up from the second tier and they visited with the intention of preying on a counter. Goalkeeper Fabio Ferri from Juve, dismissed at Robur in the off-season, showed he is not done with football yet - his save on a free kick from Lenpi-Xelez Roz was a beauty. Delphi let his Esercito play with a lot of forward pressure. With Tozzuolo back between the lines, the balance was restored, allowing Philipsdottir and Oliveto to overlap and give Esca the numeric advantage on the wings. Still, it took eighty minutes to translate that dominance into a goal: who else than supersub D’Annunzio to qualify Unione. It remains remarkable that the striker, last year their goalgetting sensation, morphed into this role so well, but it pays off with a semi-final ticket.

The second lower-tier side to appear was Delta. The university club attempted to ensure an enjoyable atmosphere for the visit from SSD by offering every student - disregarding their alma mater - a free ticket to the game, as long as they showed up in the blue from the side. A laudable attempt but it backfired when a right-wing movement hijacked a lot of the tickets. Opponent SSD is known as a staunchly socialist-inspired club. Before the match, the police already had to shut down some fighting and when Federico Celli scored, celebrating with the raised fist from the PSP (Partito Socialista Popolare), things looked gnarly. Things were thrown on the pitch, the referee guided the players to the tunnel and a bottle hit the head of Borgonovo goalkeeper Mosca. After an hour and a half of unclarity, most of the ‘supporters’ had left the stadium - allowing the referee to restart the confrontation in front of two-hundred remaining fans. These saw Delta play a courageous game, score against reserve goalie Helminen, but eventually crack under the rushes from Pearson - a marvellous 1-2 from the youngster decided the game.

Lastly, Virtus faced Sportiva, a rematch of two weeks ago. It was the most highly anticipated fixture of the list but after forty-five minutes, those present at Valle Farnese probably wondered why on earth they had spent some of their hard earned money on this. Even Montelcampo, usually an assurance of exciting football, didn’t live up to the expectation. But time brought wisdom and in the break, both managers made an attacking transition: young talents Cotillard and Barletta sparked life into the visitors whilst Albino Romero replaced an invisible Fantacci with the more reliable Péricard. It was the man from Gouvanarch who opened up the scoreline with a diving header but Angelo Cotillard - who hacks away the legs under the starting spot from Valeri at times - replied with a sensational chip in between four opponents. Both sides now prioritised scoring over losing with Cadili nearly marking the winner, but Jubenar Mallerbury slided it out of danger just in front of the line. Just as everyone licked their lips for ninety minutes more of this in a rematch, Flavio Stramaccioni decided otherwise - a shot out of nowhere and a winner for the man who hasn’t seen much action recently. Picking Zsinko over him still is a logical choice from Romero, but this goal could be a nice goodbye gift to his club of five years before finding playing minutes elsewhere.

Saturday March 6th
Serie B
Eight Round

Robur Astello 1–0 US San Savola
Esca Unione 3–2 Madonna Nottori
Inter Catrallo 2–0 FC Orsi
SSD Borgonovo 2–2 Motori Vitale

The duel against Delta left its marks on SSD Borgonovo: captain Castelli was out with a muscle injury and Giulio Mosca recovered from the head wound inflicted by a hooligan, giving Roope Helminen the reins in goal. For the young Herkalian, things started disastrous as he let a ball slip through for the opening goal. Even if he recovered well afterwards, it was the start of ninety difficult minutes for Borgonovo. In the end, Il Socio dragged a point out of the equation. They keep their lossless record unstained but games like this will impact them in the long term. Another hardy confrontation was fought between Esca and Nottori. Both clubs knew that a loss could drag them back in the relegation battle leading to the game going back and forth a few times. Esca started best, with Philipsdottir opening the scoreline, but Madonna Nottori fought back well. Bryger added a bit to his cult status in Nottori when he rushed forty metres for a lost ball, slidetackled the leather out of the hands from Burrai and somehow got away with this unconventional equalizer. But in the end, it was Unione’s game and their last thirty minutes, dominant and organized, made you wonder how on earth they ended up in the Serie B. Then again, they scored one and conceded one in that period, so that might be your answer. After the hardfought victory to Unione, the few existing San Savola fans hoped that their club got the train on the rails but it wasn’t to be. About five to eight times each season, Robur plays this format: an early goal, preferably from Romeo Gozzi, and then a double wall in front of Iuri Scampini. If someone creative, like Letti or Elizabe, hints at breaching that, you bully him out of the confrontation. It’s ugly, but it brings in three points, putting the warning signal for US on dark red again. With it, Robur looks saved, as are FC Orsi and Inter. The two had an enjoyable ninety minutes, but Il Viola were a bit more shrewd in the end, as evidenced via goals from De Luca and Chiurato - the first pro goal ever for the latter. Good game.

Serie B               Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD   Pts
1 SSD Borgonovo         8   5  3  0   15   6  +9    18
2 Inter Catrallo        8   4  3  1   12   8  +4    15
3 FC Orsi               8   4  2  2   11   6  +5    14
4 Robur Astello         8   3  4  1    9   6  +3    13
5 Esca Unione           8   3  1  4   14  19  −5    10
6 Madonna Nottori       8   2  2  4   21  20  +1     8
7 Motori Vitale         8   1  2  5    8  17  −9     5
8 US San Savola         8   1  1  6    6  14  −8     4

by **San Ortelio** » Tue Jun 29, 2021 1:18 pm

Wednesday March 10th
Coppa delle Stella
Quarterfinal

Catrallo Calcio 2–1 FC Pesari

A true classic on the agenda for this quarterfinal, a confrontation that merits to be the sole fixture on the bill. For FC Pesari, with international competition through the league table being quite a difficult task, this was the last chance to salvage their rotten season. But Catrallo possesses the depth in roster to rest a player or three and still come to the opening whistle with a sound formation. Fiorelli remained loyal to his defensive block of four, trying to create two-to-one situations on the wing and originally this worked out well: especially Rota and Bortolotto on the right wing managed to create some danger and a header from Jessica Murphy deserved more than the woodwork. Still, Il Olimpico saw the home side score in Spadoni. We must applaud Pesari for straightening their back afterwards, playing one of their best games of the season and when Albertoni equalised, a stunt was on the books. But luck just don’t seem to come FC’s way this year - Matteo Corriere, the otherwise reliable Audioslavian defender and one of the few Pappagalli who always plays his game this season, brushed with Garofalo in the box and Agostinone send Catrallo Calcio to the quarters from eleven yards out. FC Pesari can start thinking of next season whilst nemesis Calcio not-so-secretly dreams of the double.

Saturday March 13th
Serie B
Ninth Round

SSD Borgonovo 2–2 Robur Astello
Motori Vitale 1–2 Inter Catrallo
FC Orsi 2–0 Esca Unione
Madonna Nottori 0–1 US San Savola

Last season, Alessandro Cappelluzzo was the revelation from US San Savola. Having bumped up from the amateur ranks, the nifty forward knocked in fifteen goals - an exceptional debut. But this season runs far less smoothly and whilst his partner in crime Kowac remains an assurance to a steady stream of goals, only three had been counted to his name so far. As such, Cappelluzzo has been surpassed in the pecking order and was only brought in with eight minutes left, a blunt attempt from Fincato to win a crucial fixture against Nottori. At this point, with time running out, one point no longer sufficed. Madonna seemed capable to profit, but spoiled two good opportunities on the counter whilst Cappelluzzo got a shin against a cross, beating Di Nunzio: San Savola remained very much in the fight for survival and the tears from the goalscorer were more heartfelt than ever. Less drama in the other encounters at first sight, although the battle for the Serie B title became closer again. Leader SSD Borgonovo got no further than a draw in an entertaining duel, with Petor Szektkovsky keeping Robur in the title race through his very first goal of the year - a nice extra for the TJUN-ian who received his call-up for the Cup of Harmony this week. Il Viola comes within one point of Borgonovo again after a fairly standard victory against Motori Vitale, a duel which marked a notable confrontation between Illario Gallicardi and his twin brother Imerio - both got yellow for tackling the other. And don’t rule out FC Orsi yet - the promovendus currently has the least-passed defence of all and pushes Esca back in the relegation fight with a performance that borders between the cynical and the professional.

Sunday March 14th
Serie A
Sixth Round

Sportiva Montelcampo 1–2 Fagli Cinquanta
Virtus Redoccio 0–0 FC Pesari
Catrallo Calcio 1–1 Pro Stampano

Even if the results are not following suit, it is a rare occasion to see FC Pesari play two subsequent games in which they appear sturdy and robust. The 4-2-2-2 from Fiorelli, with duos on the wings, at least gives them a solid base. But it still shows the lack of balance in the current Pesari selection: Passuello nor Venturato is the type that will overlap Albertoni on the left wing, so the hard work from the newcomer often goes to waste. His coach, however, disallows him in the centre which is nearly abandoned apart from an infiltrating Zanoni or Haney dropping back. The result is a line-up that defensively stands, but is predictable in attack and that is exactly the kind of meal Virtus likes. In a way, they should always have turned this into a victory but winning is quite difficult for Romero’s men lately: Bagheria suffers from a lull in his form and Di Cosmo too often tries the difficult road, putting Zsinko and Péricard on an island, waiting for crosses that don’t come (or don’t arrive). As such, it was a game that offered a lot for the aspiring tactician, but for the football fan, these were ninety frustrating minutes.

Speaking of frustration, there was plenty of that doing the rounds in Il Olimpico. Whilst being the favourite for the title to the public, Catrallo Calcio failed so far to create a proper cushion against their main rivals, making every game a must-win one. Add to that a Pro Stampano that is very willing to abuse its role as underdog and you get ninety minutes of Calcio attempting to untangle a gordian knot. What didn’t help was that the navy blue knew that in the first leg, Pro Stampano had managed to nick three points of them that way, so when Cianci brought the Postmen in front, it was all hands on deck. Pambianco had ‘resolved’ the absence of Pill by throwing on a third defensive midfielder in Stanco: a recipe that shut down all traffic around Salvatori and poked a lot of frustration for Calcio. But the stamina of Pill got missed in the second half, when Calcio pushed even more. Domenico Cappa did a valiant effort in both keeping his team organized - the departure from the young captain to a stronger competition has been confirmed by his Quebecois agent Pierre McCarthy - but even he could not prevent Spadoni from equalizing. Still, a point on the road against the leader is a badge of honour for Pro and a worry for Calcio.

The duel between Sportiva and Fagli offered something for everyone, all believed. For the connaisseur, it was a clash between two styles, the playful and attractive Qusmiball set up by Etern-Tylyr Von versus the shrewd and disciplined scheme from Mario Anza. For the fan, it offered the capricious dribbles from Tosi against the telescopic vision from Nonhagatte. And yet, the result got determined by the individual efforts from less lauded players. Michele Faini rushed into the opposing half and, in a bit of panic, tried his luck from thirty metres out. But a strange bounce caught out Pasquale Pino, putting Fagli in front. La Fa even doubled up when Yang Tao dispossessed Sparandeo on the opposing half and found Okonye who scored one of his easiest goals. Sportiva did a bad move with an eye on their title ambitions and a late goal from Salvatore Rocco - on his way to the exit in the off-season due to the development from Cadili - didn’t do enough to help that.

Saturday March 20th
Serie B
Tenth Round

Robur Astello 2–3 Madonna Nottori
US San Savola 1–0 FC Orsi
Esca Unione 0–0 Motori Vitale
Inter Catrallo 1–0 SSD Borgonovo

“We were never in doubt, not the players, not the staff, not the board.” Big words from Oscar Fincato after a second consecutive narrow win for his US San Savola, especially as rumors about structural change intensify. Hero of the night was Benito Tarallo, a homegrown gem and the latest from their line of talents - although one could wonder in how far his chip over Pasticcio was brilliance or just him losing his balance. Doesn’t matter to San Savola, they’re fully back in the race for a prolonged stay and with a moral boost to boot. Similar scenes with their neighbours from Nottori, who overcame an early Gozzi goal with… Actually good football. It’s rare that their good axis (Pasciolo, Bryger, Granocche) manages to push their teammates to that level but when they do it’s good enough for the league. And goalie Ioime, back again in the endless cycle of Nottori trying to replace their two sub-par keepers with one another, even made some good saves, how about that. As such, the alarms are blazing suddenly at Esca Unione, a bizarre realisation. There’s a good selection, and with the return of Falzerano and Tozzuolo it is balanced enough. Manager Delphi plays a recognisable style which suits the players. And still, against Motori Vitale - who have traded a bit of their original naivety with grit - they couldn’t convert: Baiocco hit the post twice. All well, but that’s the way you get one point above the relegation line. With such a close and fierce battle for survival, you would almost forget the title race, in which SSD Borgonovo suffered their first loss at the hands of new leader Il Viola. Many say Marco Dotti’s time in the highest tier is up but every few months, he comes on and does something magical, like curling the ball in the top corner, out of reach for Helminen.

Sunday March 21th
Serie A
Seventh Round

Catrallo Calcio 2–1 Sportiva Montelcampo
Pro Stampano 1–0 Virtus Redoccio
FC Pesari 0–2 Fagli Cinquanta

It was an unreal image at the start of the second half in the Stadio del Fiume. Whilst I Pappagalli kicked off for forty-five minutes in which they would try to overcome a two-goal deficit against an in-form Fagli Cinquanta, the stands remained empty. Sick and tired of the woes of their club, the rumors swirling around the dressing room and the downright baffling results from the champion of two years ago (current status: 8 victories in 29 league games), the supporters protested the faith of their side by staying in. FC Pesari is one of the Big Three of Ortelian football and the volume of their fan base confirms that, but another season like this could see them slip out of that status fast. Manager Fiorelli himself seemingly threw the towel as well, staying on his bench instead of opting for his energetic coaching style - even mathematically, international football next season is impossible. Fagli either decided to not kick an opponent when they were down (unlikely) or opted to conserve energy (likely) as this result puts them even for second - quite an accomplishment for a small club like La Fa. Or should we no longer consider them like this, as owner Di Callare announced they would build upon this success?

The battle for second indeed seems to become legendary, but for the title, a very big blow was dealt by Catrallo Calcio. Sportiva Montelcampo has seen a rollercoaster of a Serie A already, following up every single win with a subsequent defeat, but it was evident that they can beat everyone, making them a dangerous opponent. In case of a loss by Catrallo, Montelcampo creeped on to a single point and Virtus could even draw level. With the pressure on, Catrallo Calcio emerged victorious. Whilst the striking duo Garofalo and Spadoni rightly gets a lot of praise, it’s a good moment to give some applause to the defensive block as well. In front of a nearly always impeccable Bryony Lindt, there are four players who solely focus on defense, allowing the other six to put the opposition with their backs against the wall. Captain Lucarelli is not the fastest but so important for the positioning. The two around him are chosen from a rotating cast, but it is no surprise that in crucial games, Rocca and Viveiros are the chosen ones. Add to that Alessio Di Masi as a defensive midfielder, a guy with passing percentages tickling 100%, and you understand why the usual forward press from Montelcampo didn’t materialize - only a gargantuan effort from Kolar got them a goal but that’s enough when Catrallo scores two.

And the fairly tight title race became close to decided through the third game of the fixture list: Virtus Redoccio suffers its first loss of the Serie A against giant killers Pro Stampano. We can highlight this from two angles: there is Virtus who are a solid block, never really ‘miss’ a game and play disciplined football - but there is a lack of creativity in the final third with Di Cosmo being a player for the highlight reel and the striking duo being goal-oriented. Coming up against an opponent which álso knows a thing or two about organisation and has the patience to exploit the need for a win from the favourite, this can go wrong. Let us mainly praise Stampano here: after a season or three in which they were seen as the bottlers of the league, they now strike fear in the hearts of their opposition again. The return of Pill in midfield highlights again the balance in that section: the leadership from Cappa, the omnipresence from the Chromatikan, the hard work from Polidori and the inspiration from Sanmicheli. It’s a good recipe, let’s enjoy it while it lasts.

Wednesday March 24th
Coppa delle Stella
Semi-finals

Esca Unione 2–1 SSD Borgonovo
Catrallo Calcio 3–2 Virtus Redoccio

Midweek madness for two major duels. Catrallo Calcio steps into their - whips out the calculator - 49th game of the year and it kind of starts to show. A few main figures, such as Garofalo and Salvatori, who rarely take a breezer, looked as if their shoes were lined with lead and after forty-five minutes, it seemed as if the Strawberries were on their way to their first cup final in four years. Alas, they had been a bit too sloppy in their finishing, with only Péricard getting himself on the scoreboard once. Oliviero Tumellero recognised the danger and with an off week in the league on the agenda, made his three substitutions right away: Volpe, Marchegiani and Sgarbi were thrown on. The first two got on the scoreboard (together with Spadoni, who is doing wonders to his statistics lately) but it was the latter who caught most of the attention. Internationally, his tendency for risky dribbles often pays off but in a dreary league game, where the opposition fears Calcio enough to double-mark him, this mainly leads to loss of possession and frustration - eleven yellows and counting for a player who doesn’t tackle because it would get his jersey dirty. Tonight, however, felt like an international clash. Sgarbi rang rings around Pace and Prudhomme, pummeling them promptly and keeping Calcio on the road for the double.

To grab their sixth Coppa delle Stella, they will need to get past Esca Unione. It is fair to say that the past nine months have not gone the way they hoped. Whilst Crilese was adequately replaced with the reliable Jordan Smith, the departure from Albertoni left a gap in their midfield. Add to that some poorly-timed injuries and you get a lot of close losses and bottom-table dwelling. Even now, Il Esercito is far from out of relegation danger - a shocker considering their 4th place last season. Tonight was the night that they could wash it all away, but their opposition looked ready to put a cherry on top of a great season: SSD Borgonovo made the reverse move. After a season lingering in the last two spots, they now are still in the fight for a Serie B trophy. In terms of momentum, all chips would have been on Il Socio but in a cup clash, it’s more often than not about the stars rather than the momentum. Paulina Philipsdottir is one of those. The Graentfjaller has waned a bit from the public eye in her home country: whilst the Snow Wolves prepare for a home CoH, the cries from Maigburg fans to get her in the national team have waned. In Unione, she’s admired as the big fish in their small pond and games like this keep it this way - a long-range rocket past a hapless Helminen and a cross for the winning goal from Ciccone. The clubs must be lining up for her (and rumor has it that FC Pesari is first in that queue).

Saturday March 27th
Serie B
Eleventh Round

Inter Catrallo 1–0 Robur Astello
SSD Borgonovo 1–0 Esca Unione
Motori Vitale 2–3 US San Savola
FC Orsi 2–1 Madonna Nottori

Lots of focus midweek on the performance from Esca who deny SSD Borgonovo their first cup final ever but Il Socio have their revenge. A professional goal from Federico Celli, who towers over Moscati on a corner, suffices to keep SSD in the title race whilst putting Unione in a dire position. It is bizarre to think that a club with their pedigree gets in troubled water, but the form of US San Savola puts them in the bottom two with only three games left. For the side from San Mamerto, everything now seems to go their way - even if the football isn’t great. At the field of the scooterbuilders, they seemed to throw it all away but a header from Kowac just before the break gives US hope. Afterwards, they pressed but couldn't score until Motori Vitale defender Ravazzi tried to clear the ball. He shoots on the back of Elizabe and somehow, it’s an equalizer. Two minutes later, a scrimmage in the box also ends up against the net and with their current form, San Savola leaps out of danger into fifth. Things go in the other direction for Madonna Nottori: Il Cavalli played well against FC Orsi but defensive blunders keep on costing them points - we’re almost hoping they stay up, but their few talents will probably be harvested. Amidst an extremely fierce relegation duel, one would almost forget there’s a title to fight for as well. Luckily, Il Viola has not. In the regular competition, they ended on a high and it deserves more highlighting that Inter managed to keep that up. Sixteen goals in eleven games is far from spectacular, but the organisation Fezzardi installed works. One wonders what they could do if Fabiano Scirea wasn’t having his worst season in half a decade, because the back four, a good mix of youngsters and shrewd veterans, stands fast.

Saturday April 3rd
Serie B
Twelfth Round

Robur Astello 1–0 FC Orsi
Madonna Nottori 5–3 Motori Vitale
US San Savola 3–2 SSD Borgonovo
Esca Unione 3–0 Inter Catrallo

It is money time and once more, we see that this competition is as much about the relegation dogfight as it is about grabbing the title. The top three stumbles, those below grab three points (with the exception of Motori Vitale who have abandoned their promotion ambitions a long time ago) and so, ironically, both battles remain exactly the same as was - but the finish line comes closer. At the top of the table, Inter Catrallo suffers a rare loss against Esca Unione, and with quite large numbers. Manager Delphi hinted after the game that it was the first time in months he could use his regular eleven and these delivered a stellar ninety minutes. It became clear that Inter can be hurt if they fall behind and need to release space - and in those circumstances the pace from Unione shines through. Luckily for Il Viola, SSD Borgonovo can not profit from their slip-up despite being the better club for seventy minutes against San Savola. We feel that Fincato should check on his lottery numbers as despite a very poor display from his midfield - especially the lacklustre Letti caught the criticism. The club dragged three points out of this one and the winner from Nzonzi, a long-range effort with a cheeky bounce, makes the highlights of the year. FC Orsi didn’t move up either and there is one man to blame. What’s not to tell about Romeo Gozzi. In just this week he got a passage in court (speeding), skipped three training sessions (couldn’t care) but also won hearts when he visited the birthday party of a young fan to play football with him for three hours (and clipped his ankle). But on Saturday, he scores a rocket, allows Robur to play their concrete football (well, football) and is the love of the stands. He’s still the devil for the staff room and we will see him leave for sure, but anyone who is not dependent on him for his pay will miss him. Three good games, but the goalfest was for Madonna and Motori. The latter wants to have some fun and Nottori knows nothing about defending so just attacks like madmen. It worked out for the three points and it could suffice to prolong their stay - a line no one thought to write back in December.

Serie B               Pld  W  D  L  GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Inter Catrallo       12  7  3  2  16  12  +4   24
2 SSD Borgonovo        12  6  4  2  20  12  +8   22
3 FC Orsi              12  6  2  4  15   9  +6   20
4 Robur Astello        12  4  5  3  14  12  +2   17
5 US San Savola        12  5  1  6  14  18  −4   16
6 Madonna Nottori      12  4  2  6  30  28  +2   14
7 Esca Unione          12  4  2  6  17  22  −5   14
8 Motori Vitale        12  1  3  8  14  27 −13    6

Sunday April 4th
Serie A
Eighth Round

Sportiva Montelcampo 1–1 FC Pesari
Fagli Cinquanta 1–0 Pro Stampano
Virtus Redoccio 2–1 Catrallo Calcio

After the madness of the Serie B, let us go back to the serious business which is the Serie A. All eyes were on the duel between Virtus and Catrallo Calcio - the former carries a negative reputation this year when it comes to crucial duels, the latter could confirm their title if they came out victorious. Calcio might be seen as the hegemon of the table, yet this did instill a certain pressure in the legs. We saw a lot of small technical and positional mistakes and - in all fairness - a rather unexciting forty-five minutes for what should be, in a way, the game of the season. More of a way looked to be coming after the break until Mallerbury headed a corner past Lindt. The Ko-orenite picked an excellent moment for his first goal in San Ortelio, admirable work. The goal seemed to awake Calcio from their lethargy and their high press and fast infiltrations returned spontaneously. In a way, we saw a champion play - but that champion did miss a series of good opportunities. To the dismay of Il Olimpico, Bagheria doubled up on a counter. In the final fifteen minutes, Catrallo Calcio had a stranglehold on Virtus but didn’t get closer than a single goal - Redoccio wins this one on resilience and rekindles the title race.

A title race which is, in fact, still a three-horse race, even if most of the bookmakers don’t believe in Fagli Cinquanta. Be what it is, seeing La Fa within three points of a Serie A title with the finish line fast approaching is a monumental accomplishment. More importantly, their victory in Stadio Scarpa ensured that we will see the club in the IFCF tournament next season. Tonight was the kind of game that gives confidence about them doing well there - smart in the back, efficient in the front, but mainly due to the raw working power in that midfield. It was fitting that Kinsella, the Tikariotian storm, scored the winner against this stubborn opponent - even if he got a yellow afterwards for celebrating by shouting direct opponent Polidori in the face. For Pro Stampano, the international dream is mathematically still possible, but the injuries from Qualla and Bunino in the business end could make it difficult to battle the odds.

We wrap up with a draw between Sportiva Montelcampo and FC Pesari, a result which helps neither. The Robins have been one of the, if not the, most attractive side in the competition this year but for next season, a bit more decisiveness eye-in-eye with the goalkeeper will be welcome: Pambianco is a killer but feels the years in games like this, Valeri is a breaking iron but not a goalgetter, Cadili mainly catches the attention for his dribbles and Cotillard has the potential to become the key striker from a club like this one - but you can’t expect that from a 19-year old yet. And so, quite a few chances lead to only one goal. For FC Pesari, it is now a matter of dragging themselves to the end of the season. The position of Fiorelli is now openly under fire, with rumors about the new gaffer doing the rounds. Whilst some claim Guerra could return or consider the arrival of SSD’s Chiesa, the latest rumor concerns Licentian Roselyn Bentum - maybe she can add some discipline to the current formation.

Serie A                  Pld  W  D  L  GF  GA  GD  Pts  SN  TPts
1 Catrallo Calcio          8  4  2  2  18  12  +6   14  14    28
2 Virtus Redoccio          8  2  5  1   8   7  +1   11  14    25
3 Fagli Cinquanta          8  4  2  2  12  13  −1   14  11    25
4 Sportiva Montelcampo     8  3  1  4  16  13  +3   10  12    22
5 Pro Stampano             8  2  3  3   5   9  −4    9   8    17
6 FC Pesari                8  0  5  3   5  10  −5    5   8    13

by **San Ortelio** » Thu Jul 01, 2021 11:49 pm

Saturday April 10th
Serie B
Thirteenth Round

Esca Unione 1–0 Robur Astello
Inter Catrallo 2–4 US San Savola
SSD Borgonovo 3–1 Madonna Nottori
Motori Vitale 0–0 FC Orsi

It is crunch time and no club knows it better than Esca Unione. Last season they used that little pinch of luck well to drive into fourth position, this year nothing goes their way - in the league at least. So when Marcellusi chipped it against the net after eighty-three minutes for I Detenuti, we feared the worst for Esca: another loss could send them to the second tier. Luckily for Unione, the linesman saw some sort of offside in the position from Gozzi. It seemed to release Unione, who scored on the subsequent attack via Tozzuolo and suddenly the sky looked clear. Clouds are definitely gone for US San Savola who make their longest winning streak in twelve years as they dominate Inter… after Il Viola midfielder Gallicardi grabs a red card. With this victory, San Savola ensures a prolonged stay in the Serie Nazionale whilst Inter see the title slip from their hands - that could be one costly tackle at knee height from Gallicardi. As such, they are overtaken by SSD Borgonovo who triumph in style. Nottori tries an uncharacteristically defensive approach and it works out, until Pearson dismantles their approach with a ridiculous sombrero and a thunderbolt past Ioime. After that, Nottori is forced to move forth but it only runs up the score. After a few years of hanging on by the skin of their teeth, the presence from Madonna in the top tier could be a closed book, they're three points behind. Or can they pull a Houdini stunt? For Borgonovo, the chance of silverware is real now as our resident lefties only have Inter in their rearview mirror left: FC Orsi plays a soulless draw at Motori. However, leading with just one point, Chiesa and his boys are assured of nothing yet.

Sunday April 11th
Serie A
Ninth Round

Virtus Redoccio 0–0 Sportiva Montelcampo
Catrallo Calcio 5–3 Fagli Cinquanta
Pro Stampano 0–2 FC Pesari

Is the Serie B still an open battle, then the Serie A knows its new champ tonight. Catrallo Calcio placed an exclamation point after a long season, but it was one that fitted their status as the primus inter pares from San Ortelian football. In their Olimpico, we saw exactly why the navy-blue grabbed the title in an amazing opening half. Fagli tried to avoid drowning, hanging on by their organisation, but simply got overwhelmed by the continuous attacking waves. The infiltration power in midfield, through Salvatori, Mascolo, Sgarbi and Moreschini - whose name gets requested more and more for the national team - simply cannot be halted. That these players have that liberty is due to a defensive block which rotates easily and picks up the dirty work, Di Masi symbolises that. And then you can add two killers in the box, the smart Spadoni and ‘Il Buffalo’ Garofalo who keeps on producing amazing numbers year after year. By the end of the game, Catrallo is at 87 goals across all competitions, a production no one is able to match.

As spectacular as the title game was, as dull was the confrontation between Virtus and Sportiva - and maybe that tells you everything you need to know about the title race. First of all, Redoccio deserves a lot of praise for bouncing back so fast after a very difficult and negative season. In no time, Albino Romero managed to create not just discipline, but true camaraderie in the selection and it pays off - these guys would walk through fire for one another. It is hard to imagine that this is the same side that missed out on IFCF football last year. The club is a block and always shows up… But also often opts for the safe route. Against Sportiva, they could play for a long shot towards the title or focus on grabbing a point with the second spot in mind - they did the latter and could keep Montelcampo from their explosive football. Not an easy feat, one that few manage to do, but not the one that gets the fans wired up. Romero declared after the game that, “One must work in the short term according to his abilities - but in the long term to his ambitions.” A nudge that was clearly understood by the fans as a signal for a sensational silly season.

To wrap up the matchday, there was a victory for FC Pesari. I Pappagalli triumphing should not be a spectacular element but considering their streak of nine games without a win (and fourteen games if we discount a victory over Nottori because, well yeah) it did make some headlines. Sandro Fiorelli’s departure from FC is a fact but that he decides to lead the ship into the off-season harbor with some pride in his job could land him a contract elsewhere. Pro Stampano looked a bit nervous at the kick-off, they’ve taken a big step forward this season - not necessarily in quality, but mainly in the whole vibe that hangs around the team. In a way, it’s then a pity that in this last chance game for international football, they let it slip out of their hands with one of their weakest games in months. Then again, we can also focus on the beautiful volley from Jules Haney that decided the match. The Tikariotian is rumored to part ways with FC, but definitely left his footprint on the club.

Saturday April 17th
Serie B
Fourteenth Round

Robur Astello 0–2 Motori Vitale
FC Orsi 1–1 SSD Borgonovo
Madonna Nottori 0–1 Inter Catrallo
US San Savola 0–1 Esca Unione

Most eyes from the casual onlookers were on the confrontation at Dietro Baracche between Nottori and Catrallo. For one, points are required to stay afloat, for the other, there is a chance of the title. Madonna knew that if they attempted reckless attacking, they would be toast and much to the dismay of the fans, Pecorino benched breakout player Granocche. A five-man defence led with a hard hand by Bryger had to do the rest and initially did: Il Viola created little actual danger despite possession. But as time ran out, Nottori couldn’t but go back to their usual plan, leading into a childishly easy walk through the defense for Ciro De Luca - indeed, the former Nottori player twisted the knife for Il Cavalli, they will fall back to the second tier. The question remains whether we will see them back soon: it is expected that key players such as Bryger, Pasciolo, Granocche and maybe Tebaldi or Spedalieri will find a different home. What remains is a mediocre group which doesn’t seem capable of excelling at that level. From a statistical point of view, their relegation is no surprise: in 36 league games, Nottori conceded one hundred goals against. But, to their advantage, they were always attractive and scored sixty as well. As such, they will be missed, not for quality but for entertainment. And every football fan cried along with veteran captain Rocchi who has been with the club for fifteen years and dreamed of a different goodbye.

Amidst the disappointment of the home audience, it almost felt like swearing in church for Inter Catrallo to celebrate their third Serie B trophy too boisterously. Whilst rarely valued, the Serie B title is quite a stimulus for the smaller sides in the competition and getting some silverware does deserve praise - it’s the result of keeping the trust in Fezzardi after a difficult season start. But to lift the winners’ scale, they needed Borgonovo to slip up in the final stretch. Visiting FC Orsi, whose promotion was already long assured, looked like a doable task for Il Socio but the nerves got the better of them on the day. A magnificent shot from Orjee could have released the pressure but ended on the crossbar, so their quest for silverware continues. Elsewhere, there was little to say. Esca Unione left their warm-up for the Cup final with mixed feelings: three points and a jump up the table looks positive but they needed a strange own goal from Biancu to get there. Elsewhere, Robur Astello demonstrated that they ache for the end of the season with an abysmal match at home against Motori Vitale: I Detenuti will start a new era after the summer without Gozzi and there is a lot of work to do.

Serie B              Pld  W  D  L  GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Inter Catrallo      14  8  3  3  19  16  +3   27
2 SSD Borgonovo       14  7  5  2  24  14 +10   26
3 FC Orsi             14  6  4  4  16  10  +6   22
4 Esca Unione         14  6  2  6  19  22  −3   20
5 US San Savola       14  6  1  7  18  21  −3   19
6 Robur Astello       14  4  5  5  14  15  −1   17
7 Madonna Nottori     14  4  2  8  31  32  −1   14
8 Motori Vitale       14  2  4  8  16  27 −11   10

Sunday April 18th
Serie A
Tenth Round

Sportiva Montelcampo 2–0 Pro Stampano
FC Pesari 0–2 Catrallo Calcio
Fagli Cinquanta 1–1 Virtus Redoccio

The title winner was known before kick-off as were the three clubs signing up to the Challenger’s Cup, so the only question left was who would pick up the second spot and the best berth for the IFCF second-tier tournament. Virtus Redoccio could start in the driving seat and knew that just one single point would see them through - but Fagli Cinquanta believed in the stunt: one year after almost dropping a tier, they were now playing for the title of vice-champion. In their Stadio Scarpa, La Fa played a monumental first half with Tao, Faini and Kinsella dictating the pace but their usually sharp shooters up front couldn’t get the leather past a strong Evacuo. Much against the course of play, Fazio nodded one in for the Strawberries and this did put a halt to their ambitions. A late goal from Simonetti rekindled the hope, but it was too little too late. A sigh of relief for Virtus who can back up their long-term ambitions with this important final result - for Fagli, there is mainly the moral victory to cherish alongside the previously assured international ticket.

It will, however, be an entry in the opening round for La Fa as Sportiva Montelcampo slipped past them in the final stretch. Facing a slightly discouraged Pro Stampano who had little to nothing to win anymore, Etern-Tylyr Von decided to end the season with all guns blazing. In the absence of a slightly injured Nongahatte, he fielded three strikers, three attack midfields and Aventurine Kolar directing the play. A bold choice, but the Nepharim midfielder ended her two years stay with Sportiva on a high note, keeping Sanmicheli in check whilst pushing her side forwards. All in all, it was a one-way game with Sportiva forgetting to run up the score. Nonetheless, it was mostly smiles after the match, even with the loser. Pro Stampano announced a prolonged stay from coach Pambianco and waved around some long-term contracts for talents Pilati, Qualla and Delafonte - for them, the chase to close the gap at the lead group next season has started already.

The final fixture became a painful last line to a dreadful season for FC Pesari. During the last twelve months, their fans had to endure a lot: non-winning streaks, the disappearance from striker Spaviero, rumors on dressing room fights and quarrelling, four different managers. As the proverbially rotten cherry on top, their nemesis Catrallo Calcio ended the year with a win in the Derby d’Ortelio at their ground. What makes things worse was that Oliviero Tumellero could field some reserves whilst the starters ~~relaxed after a feisty title party~~ rested ahead of the Cup Final. Among the line-up, one could spot youngsters such as Volpi, Crilese, Soppola and Dolci. But even this reserve line-up proved to be too much to handle for FC Pesari. Whilst Calcio goes into the final game of the year on a high, I Pappagalli have a lot of homework on their plate, starting with a new manager who can clean out the Augean stable.

Serie A                   Pld  W  D  L  GF  GA  GD  Pts  SN  TPts
1 Catrallo Calcio          10  6  2  2  25  15 +10   20  14    34
2 Virtus Redoccio          10  2  7  1   9   8  +1   13  14    27
3 Sportiva Montelcampo     10  4  2  4  18  13  +5   14  12    26
4 Fagli Cinquanta          10  4  3  3  16  19  −3   15  11    26
5 Pro Stampano             10  2  3  5   5  13  −8    9   8    17
6 FC Pesari                10  1  5  4   7  12  −5    8   8    16

Saturday April 24th
Serie Primavera
Final Matchday

A second consecutive title in the youth category for Virtus and that is no surprise. Whilst nominally part of the professional squad, Alessandri, De Feo and Riggiano often appeared for the youth formation and with Garattoni, Borghesi and Marcello Tomei, there is talent in abundance. It was a close season - close enough for number seven Pesari to lose less games than the champion - but in the end Virtus won on consistency. They return to the Rising Stars Cup and hope to do better than this year, when Navel Sharks easily disposed of them in two legs. Redoccio has confirmed that their pro players younger than 21 will appear this time.

Serie Primavera          Pld   W   D   L   GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1 Virtus Redoccio        22  12   4   6   33   23  +10    40
 2 Sportiva Montelcampo   22  10   9   3   45   35  +10    39
 3 Pro Stampano           22  10   6   6   37   27  +10    36
 4 Esca Unione            22  10   3   9   25   28   −3    33
 5 Madonna Nottori        22   8   5   9   38   42   −4    29
 6 Catrallo Calcio        22   7   7   8   34   29   +5    28
 7 US San Savola          22   6   9   7   25   29   −4    27
 8 FC Pesari              22   4  14   4   31   28   +3    26
 9 SSD Borgonovo          22   5  10   7   24   27   −3    25
10 Robur Astello          22   4  12   6   18   23   −5    24
11 Fagli Cinquanta        22   6   5  11   29   36   −7    23
12 Inter Catrallo         22   5   6  11   21   33  −12    21

Saturday April 24th
Serie Interregionale
Final Round

Serie Interregionale        Pld   W   D   L   GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1 Catrallo Athletic        35  17  11   7   51   35  +16    62
 2 Pro Patria Foot          35  15  10  10   67   50  +17    55
 3 PRIND Razzi              35  15  10  10   53   52   +1    55
 4 RES Quartella            35  15   9  11   50   43   +7    54
 5 Juve Redoccio            35  13  15   7   55   48   +7    54
 6 Politecnica Foot         35  13  14   8   59   49  +10    53
 7 Porto Querio             35  15   6  14   51   47   +4    51
 8 Lovani FC                35  15   5  15   57   52   +5    50
 9 Barezzi Calcio           35  14   8  13   39   41   −2    50
10 Vittorio Club Pesari     35  12  14   9   55   54   +1    50
11 Astello Mare             35  11  14  10   49   45   +4    47
12 Ars et Labor Rattaglie   35  12  10  13   53   57   −4    46
13 Stampano Socio           35  10  14  11   48   50   -2    42
14 Fratelli d'Anezzo        35  11   7  17   45   59  −14    40
15 Forza Catrallo           35   9  12  14   47   54   −7    39
16 Delta                    35   8   9  18   39   51  −12    33
17 Young Boys Catrallo      35   6   9  20   36   63  −27    27
18 Sporting Camporeale      35   4   9  22   43   68  −25    21

Sunday April 25th
Coppa delle Stella
Final

Esca Unione 1–0 Catrallo Calcio

Ahead of the game, it was fairly easy to predict the favourite in this one. Tumellero could rely on his best eleven apart from an injured Giuseppe Rocca and chose to rely on their own brand of football with the presence of Sgarbi - a man known to excel at the big moments. Underdog Unione opted for a conservative 4-5-1 with the clever but slightly static Roz as the sole striker, a choice from Delphi which indicated right away what their ambitions were. The opening thirty minutes as such felt like a game of handball - Calcio monopolised the ball whilst Esca patiently awaited more. Central defenders Moscati and Smith played excellently, getting any and all crosses out of the danger zone. On the few long-range shots from Salvatori and Mascolo, there was Jacopo Burrai who knocked down his frustration for being overlooked for the Cup of Harmony with some quality saves.

After the initial storm, the pressure from Catrallo Calcio slowly waned. Whilst the stranglehold on Unione had pushed their opponent to the edge, it also cost them a lot of energy and slowly but surely chances became scarcer. Not that Esca suddenly moved up the pitch, but Roz could keep the ball in attack for a few seconds now, allowing them to breath through the second half. With the final whistle approaching and everyone preparing for thirty more minutes, Burrai caught a slightly desperate shot from Sgarbi to immediately launch Philipsdottir on the left wing. She slid past Di Masi and all of a sudden, it was three against three. With a deep pass, she tried to bring substitute D’Annunzio in front of goal but the forward fell just in the box - was that arm from Dema just there or was it a vicious push? The latter is the case, believed the referee, awarding a penalty. Lenpi-Xelez Roz stepped forward, only to offer the shot to Gabriele Tozzuolo, the club monument who missed a good part of the year due to a terrible injury. Tozzuolo didn’t miss and so Esca Unione won their first Coppa delle Stella in their history, David overcame Goliath for a marvellous moment in their club history. Calcio leaves behind stunned, realising that chances for a double don’t come along that often.

IMPOSE - Inter-regional and Multiversal Player Off-Season Evaluation

Almuzahara - Rashid Averroes - 35 games, 6 goals
In what has been a shaky season for US San Savola, Averroes managed to keep a fairly stable form. San Savola hopes to keep him on their books for a third season, especially as the connection with youngster Letti shows promise for the future.

Astograth - Zadornin Elizabe - 27 games, 10 goals
A debut season behind a well-matched duo was not an easy task and it took a bit of time to establish himself. But as time passed, his creativity played a valuable role in US' prolonged stay in the highest tier, ensuring a starting spot for the future - if he stays.

Audioslavia - Ion Fio - 1 game, 1 clean sheet
10N F10 has a record of only clean sheets, but then again, he only played once this season. But what a game! A cult player who's a familiar sight near the beaches of Redoccio. Welcome to stay as backup goalie but might be more interested in travelling across the multiverse.

Audioslavia - Matteo Corriere - 34 games, 2 goals
For a club which had a shocker of a season, Pesari has a good duo in the back with Corriere and Mazziero. It's one of the rare parts of the line-up which will remain stable for next season… If Corriere fancies a prolonged stay with a club needing to rebuild and without international fixtures.

Brenecia - Evan Kerraway - 37 games, 1 goal
Inter and Kerraway fit one another like a glove: crude style but a lot of heart. Il Viola see in him a major partner for the development of their various young defenders and are probably willing to go far to keep him, especially after the Serie B triumph.

Brenecia - Laurence Bryger - 35 games, 3 goals
Last season, the Stallion could keep Madonna Nottori afloat but this year it was impossible. Despite his efforts, Nottori drops and Bryger is a free man. Inter, Robur and Orsi already showed interest, but the industrious midfielder could be up for a new international adventure.

Cassadaigua - Jessica Murphy - 31 games, 14 goals
Arriving in the middle of a proverbial plane crash, Murphy was dealt a poor hand at Pesari: four coaches, a dozen of gameplans and scepticism from the fans. She nonetheless ended up club top scorer and I Pappagalli hope she stays to explode next season.

Chromatika - Anderson Pill - 30 games, 3 goals
Pro Stampano finally returned to the Serie A and it is fair to say that Anderson Pill played more than his part in that. With Cappa bound to leave, Pro hopes that Pill stays on board as they envisage an even bigger but slightly more defensive role in the midfield for him.

Chromatika - Lenore Ransom - 32 games, 11 goals
Her erratic dribbling might still give her a special place among the fans, with some adoring her and others criticising her when things don't work but in a very defensive club, she nonetheless made double figures again. Preferably kept but her desire is unknown.

Ceyne Isles - Trisha Nzonzi - 31 games, 3 goals
In a not-very-attractive US San Savola line-up, Nzonzi remains a phenomenon. Rushes, energy, crosses and the occasional gaffe or card, she adds something. Hopefully kept on board, especially as she is a fan favourite, but could be up for another year of relegation battling.

Eastfield Lodge - Usher Collins - 13 games, 0 goals
The 18-year old was used sparingly by Elio Senze but that he overtook local youth product Della Torre in the pecking order should be considered as a promising signal. Considering Robur playing with three central defenders, more playing minutes should pop up next season.

Ethane - Ricardo Pace - 33 games, 1 goal
If used as per the standard plan from Virtus this year, close to his own goal, then Pace is still a very useful and appreciated defender for the Strawberries. But considering Romero's ambition to play more attacking, he might turn into a rotation player next season.

Farfadillis - Joan Nonhagatte - 37 games, 7 goals
The Farf wears the captain’s ribbon in the attractive Qusmiball from the Robins for a reason: he is the midfield director of Sportiva. Satisfied with his impact, the management offered him a contract which could see him end his career in San Ortelio - will he sign?

Freeport - Grigory Rijkhart - 10 games, 0 goals
A leftfield choice from Von, but on the few occasions where he played, promising. Good impact but needs to grow tactically. Big role in the diversity debate. Sportiva wants to keep him on board for the future but might be interested in loaning him out domestically.

Gouvanarch - Domard Prudhomme - 30 games, 1 goal
In a way, Prudhomme stands for the general season from Virtus: utterly reliable, rarely spectacular. Despite consistent performances, he is not particularly beloved amongst the fans and the coach doubts whether his lack of speed will fit in the future plan - intended to be sold...

Gouvanarch - Padrig Péricard - 35 games, 14 goals
… and probably separated from his compatriot. Péricard needed little time to get accustomed to the league and immediately clicked with his partner in crime Boldiszar Zsinko. The relationship between the two is almost telekinetic and forms a launching platform for Virtus to grow further.

Graentfjall - Paulina Philipsdottir - 39 games, 3 goals
Philipsdottir evolved into the face of Esca Unione, with infiltrations and pace - even if she’s a bit slow. Her future is a major question for the club. Delphi hopes she stays as Esca plays IFCF for the second year in a row, but there are offers internationally and nationally (from Virtus).

Juvencus - Albino Romero - 2nd spot in the Serie A
Calm, thoughtful and in control. Albino Romero turned a difficult dressing room into a reliable, albeit rarely spectacular line-up. He is well aware that consistency brings results and that those go first. Made it no secret that he aims for more, both in results as in play, for next year.

Ko-oren - Jubenar Mallerbury - 34 games, 1 goal
Despite his young age, the Ko-orenite is the rock on which Romero built his defense. Became more complete and stronger in the air - as evidenced by his goal in the key game against Calcio. One of the first names on the board and Redoccio will do everything in their might to keep him.

Murphtannia - Archer Pearson - 35 games, 10 goals
The nifty winger became a bit of a sensation in the league and a key player for Borgonovo across the past two seasons. His inspiration has not gone unmarked, so there is interest from stronger clubs. SSD will probably have to sell him but will break their transfer record with him.

Nephara - Aventurine Kolar - 33 games, 5 goals
Parting from the glorious Zenith for a stay in Montelcampo of all places, it was not really a gift. During her stay, she honed her skills becoming a deep-lying leader with a splendid defensive vision. Even if it might not be enough for a club of the stature of Treason, her IFCF appearances show she deserves a spot in a strong league.

Nephara - Bryony Lindt - 50 games, 16 clean sheets
The best keeper in the league, gloves down. Reliable, no temper and very few weak moments, she is held in high regard by fans and foes. Lindt is a gift that keeps on giving and she gives Catrallo class. Calcio aims for an IFCF group stage and sees Lindt as a vital part to reach that achievement.

Nephara - Rafael Hythewater - 33 games, 2 goals
As the oldest field player in the league, Hythewater is given a remarkable proposition: the role of head coach from US San Savola. The club wants more speed in defense but also wants to keep his vision after a difficult year. Does he go for playing minutes elsewhere or does he start his trainer career at the bottom of pro football?

Nephara - Yannick Rodgers - 30 games, 11 goals
Not a goal machine but among those eleven, there are more than a few that are scored to break open a difficult game. His quality in the box is known and valued - with La Fa moving into the IFCF, they will do everything to keep his power on board. Not a huge name but a big impact.

Osarius - Chikelu Okonye - 32 games, 20 goals
Two seasons, forty-four goals. It is fair to say that Okonye is the kind of player that changed Fagli from mid-tier fodder to top-class power. His pace is nearly unmatched in the competition and only Garofalo scored more. Could be making a transfer for good money if the player desires - Di Callare remains a businessman and sees the profit.

Pasarga - Boldiszar Zsinko - 30 games, 16 goals
A Virtus club hero who has found his partner up front in Péricard. Last year, the Pasargan scored, now he also lets his teammates play better. If Virtus regained their spot in the top of the league, it is also via him. Should be part of their title push and international ambitions next season.

Qusmi - Etern-Tyler Von - 3rd spot in the Serie A
In just twelve months, Qusmiball became a thing in San Ortelio. Whilst Von already inherited an attacking playing methodology in Sportiva, he gave it a vibrant new dynamic. The playing style sometimes bordered on the naive, which gave them trouble against strong, organised opponents but the board is satisfied about results and methodology.

Qusmi - Forza-Lucex Yem - 7 games, 3 clean sheets
Red cards from Burrai gave Yem a chance to gain experience in the highest tier. During these games, he was not always flawless but showed potential for a kid his age. As Esca hopes to keep Burrai on board for one or two more years, there should be long-term perspective for him to grow in due time.

Qusmi - Lenpi-Xelez Roz - 31 games, 9 goals
Fewer goals but a more pivotal role up front. In a season where the midfield got plagued with injuries and attacking partner D’Annunzio saw his form dip, Roz remained a consistent presence up front. The years might weigh him down in time, but till that point, Delphi wants to keep Roz on board.

Savigliane - Giaco Sanmicheli - 28 games, 7 goals
Pro Stampano is a club with more confidence nowadays and Sanmicheli played his role in that. He’s not very vocal or sturdy, but his flashes of brilliance embedded in a consistent level give a fairly defensive side an attacking touch. Stays with the Postmen if he wants to as well.

South Newlandia - Jordan Smith - 29 games, 0 goals
In his second season in San Ortelio, Smith had to step up his level. As did Esca, he had some rough patches in his season but after a rocky start, he and Moscati linked up well. It resulted in the end in a crucial role in the Coppa delle Stella final, so Esca wants to keep him signed.

Tequilo - Vito Puma Viveiros - 35 games, 3 goals
The man, the puma, the legend. Having proverbially drifted ashore two years ago without much credentials, Viveiros now crafted his way into the starting eleven of the champions. Gives Catrallo’s efficient but bland defence a bit of extra. Calcio wants to showcase him in the IFCF next year, raising his profile (and transfer sum).

Tikariot - Yannis Kinsella - 29 games, 3 goals
Not the best-known name for the casual football fan but greatly appreciated by the fans (and teammates) from La Fa. Is the puzzle piece they needed to give the midfield that hard as nails attitude. Kinsella will play in the Challengers’ Cup next year so the club hopes he’s ready for more of this.

Tikariot - Jules Haney - 27 games, 11 goals
It was a rough season for Pesari, but also for Haney. The arrival of Murphy as a new star offered opportunities but also caused various gaffers to use him in different roles. That he still managed these figures shows his craftsmanship. He no longer fits in the clean slate start Pesari wants to take next year but they’re in recognition of his time with the club and will be constructive for any transfer - national or abroad.

TJUN-ia - Petor Szektkovsky - 33 games, 1 goal
His spot on the Cup of Harmony confirms it, Szektkovsky developed into a more complete player. Being more versatile than the butchers around him, Robur Astello hopes he can play a major role in the new Robur 2.0 - the time post Romeo Gozzi and tactically uncharted territory.

Yuezhou - Luo Lang - 32 games, 2 goals
Some people in the stand still snigger when they see him run, but in time it seems as if the last laugh was for SSD Borgonovo after all. Lang plays to his qualities and that’s good enough for Borgonovo. Welcome to stay on board for the staff, but if a good offer comes along, they’ll consider.

Yuezhou - Yang Tao - 33 games, 1 goal
If you ask the fans for the best international player in the league, they will probably opt for Lindt, Murphy, Nonhagatte or Zsinko - pending on their allegiance. If you ask the players, they might pick Tao. No wonder that Fagli will do all in their might to keep the many suitors at bay.

Zeta Reka & Hugeltaldom - Wlatko Kowac - 33 games, 13 goals
There is a decent chance that Kowac will be the oldest player in the league next year - but that doesn’t stop him from scoring. It has been a year with ups and downs for San Savola and there are no promises made that the next season will not be a relegation fight. If he’s up for it, US gladly signs him for more but if he wants a last, different adventure abroad, San Savola will cooperate.

by **San Ortelio** » Wed Jul 14, 2021 1:52 am

Catrallo Calcio
Your new favorite team if…
You like winning so you support the best club. If you are the best, it’s not arrogant to say so, right?

Details

Home Stadium   Olimpico (9000 seats)
Nickname       Il Capo dei Capi
Manager        Oliviero Tumellero
Sponsor        Banco Fenice (financial)
Since          S1
Last Season    Title in the Serie A, play-off round CC
Won            9 Serie A titles (last S17), 5 Coppa delle Stella (last S15)
Region         San Pancrazio

Outgoing - Alessio Di Masi (Vrnovo Mesto (STL), 1.6m), Manuel Volpe (FC Orsi, 0.5m), Gennaro Di Livio (Forza Catrallo, free)
Incoming - Nidal Thamer (PAS, Tanrısal (PAS), 2m), Emanuele Bignami (Inter Catrallo, 0.4m), Giovanni Ossi (youth academy), Paride Lanchi (youth academy)

Targets and Means - If you’re the king of the castle and things are going well, it is not that difficult to keep the line-up together. Or at least, that’s what Catrallo makes it look like for the second year in a row. The navy blue dominated the table last year and come out of the transfer window with the same air of untouchable quality hanging all around them. The departure of a player such as Di Masi, a heralded international and an important stabilising factor in the tactical plan from Tumellero should in theory weaken them. But with Pasargan Thamer, not only a replacement but an improvement has been found - the young midfielder never became an undisputed starter with Tani but in his years with the Superliga side he honed his skills as both a builder and a destroyer, a combination much approved of by Tumellero. One new ingredient did not alter the taste of the soup, Catrallo Calcio will still play dominant football with high pressure, a crowded midfield and a high-quality defensive block of four. This should not only allow them to challenge for the threepeat title, but also break into the IFCF group stage phase. The board made it no secret that this is their wish for the season (and they might not even mind sacrificing a league game over that).

Between the sticks, Bryony Lindt remains the safest pair of hands on Ortelian soil. Integrated seamlessly, there is a calm consistency and professionalism coming from her which inspires the whole line-up and is a great example for megatalent Dolci. In front of her, Tumellero can pick and choose from a rotating cast of five quality defenders. On key games, we expect the clever Lucarelli and the rock-solid Rocca - whose NT invitation seems overdue - to be complemented with Tequiloan gem Viveiros. ‘The Puma’ pushed hard-as-nails Dema and the much-praised-but-rarely-materialized Crilese to the bench, but both will get their playing minutes to ensure everyone remains fresh in what is aspired to be another packed season. The fourth member of the aforementioned block is newcomer Thamer. One minor worry in the opening part of the season could be how fast he will be integrated - if they want to allow the other six players to move forward and put the pressure on, a perfect coordination is required from the defensive quartet. In days of need, Brescia can step in, the kind of player who disappears in a Calcio line-up but would be a starter for three quarters of the league.

In the remainder of the midfield, everything remained the same: playmaker Salvatori terrorises the opposition with his clever runs, whilst loyal club soldier Mascolo makes the miles in midfield. On the right wing, ‘Motorino’ Moreschini raised his profile last season with a series of important goals and fast decision making. He is a player that can break open a difficult match and the same can be said about his counterpart Sgarbi. ‘Principe Alberto’ Sgarbi is fickle, restive and nervous but has the capacity of the true talents to shine on the big moments. His integration in the team had its bumps in the road, but as the connection with Tumellero improves, he can use his skills for the team more and more. With Agostinone and Marchegiani, there are players on the bench who can give an extra injection of quality and keep an eye out on Lanchi, those in the know claim he’s quite something. Up front there is a duo which has netted 50+ goals together for four years in a row now: Il Buffalo Garofalo is the bulky targetman with the thundering shot, Spadoni forms the Robin to his Batman with movement and pace. Tumellero further cements that big man/shorty dynamic by replacing the good-but-not-Calcio-good Volpe with Bignami, a rather left-field move. Nicknamed Donkey over his physical, technical and mental skills - depending on whom you ask - he’s the weakest footballer in the team but you can throw crosses at him when the need arises. Viteritti and Ossi are both short types who run into space and are fun on the counterattack: Tumellero is far less cynical than his predecessor but in difficult IFCF games, he’s not afraid to use that weapon.

Selection

Pos Nr  Name                   Nat  Age  Since Role    ClGa ClGo  Previous Club     CaGa CaGo 
GK   1  Bryony Lindt           NPH   28   S16  Start     94    0  Chardonnay R./NPH   94    0
GK  17  Luca Dolci             SOR   19   S16  Bench      3    0  Youth                3    0
CD   3  Federico Dema          SOR   30   S12  Bench    186   12  Esca Unione        324   19
CD   4  Giuseppe Rocca         SOR   26   S15  Start    111    1  Inter Catrallo     205    2
CD   5  Gaetano Lucarelli ©    SOR   33   S07  Start    367   19  Catrallo Athletic  367   19
CD   2  Tommaso Crilese        SOR   23   S17  Bench     18    0  Esca Unione        130    3
CD  13  Vito Puma Viveiros     TEQ   22   S16  Start     56    3  SC Pedregal/TQL     56    3
CD  25  Ercole Labrazzi        SOR   19   S17  Res        5    0  Youth                5    0
DM  15  Mattia Brescia         SOR   29   S15  Res       39    2  Sportiva Montelc.  156    6
DM   8  Nidal Thamer           PAS   23   S18  Start      0    0  Tanrısal/PAS         0    0
CM   6  Fabio Mascolo          SOR   27   S11  Start    222   34  Youth              222   34
CM  19  Roberto Agostinone     SOR   34   S05  Bench    409   68  Esca Unione        429   69
CM  15  Mario Soppola          SOR   22   S15  Res       17    0  Youth               17    0
RM  29  Lorenzo Moreschini     SOR   23   S13  Start    135   17  Youth              135   17
AM  10  Emilio Salvatori       SOR   30   S16  Start     78   19  Virtus Redoccio    295   80
AM  24  Carlo Marchegiani      SOR   27   S13  Bench     97   16  Catrallo Athletic   97   16
AM  14  Albert Sgarbi          SOR   24   S17  Start     38    9  Virtus Redoccio    156   32
AM  17  Paride Lanchi          SOR   18   S18  Res        0    0  Youth                0    0
ST  11  Davide Spadoni         SOR   27   S14  Start    140   80  US San Savola      213  103
ST  18  Emanuele Bignami       SOR   29   S18  Bench      0    0  Inter Catrallo     253   70
ST   9  Carmine Garofalo       SOR   32   S11  Start    254  227  Sportiva Montelc.  362  278
ST  20  Franco Vitteriti       SOR   29   S09  Bench    119   30  Youth              119   30
ST  24  Giovanni Ossi          SOR   19   S18  Res        0    0  Youth                0    0

Esca Unione
Your new favorite team if…
You like it when a side is literally from the edge of the country and cultivates that stubborn, hard-nosed attitude with powerful football, humming chants and a grizzled gaffer.

Details

Home Stadium   Stadio Scarpa (4400 seats)
Nickname       Il Esercito
Manager        Luigi Delphi
Sponsor        PescaFresca (fishing consortium)
Since          S1 (as AS Esca)
Last Season    Fourth in the Serie B, Cup winner
Won            3 Serie B titles (last S13), 1 Coppa delle Stella (S17)
Region         San Pancrazio

Outgoing - Paulina Philipsdottir (Virtus Redoccio, 0.9m], Luigi D’Annunzio (Robur Astello, 0.5m), Gabriele Tozzuolo (retired to assistant), Alessandro Tozzuolo (Lovani FC, free)
Incoming - Roberto Tebaldi (Madonna Nottori, 0.4m), Imerio Gallicardi (Motori Vitale, 0.3m), Vera Shervatski (SVJ, Interblag (SRS), free), Livio Rinetti (youth academy)

Targets and Means - It sounded unlikely twelve months ago but it happened nonetheless - Esca Unione lines up without a single Tozzuolo for the first time in fifteen seasons. ‘Gabs’ suffered a painful injury during the season, making a courageous return in the business end of the year. An operation over the summer unfortunately made clear that another year of pro football would, best case, see him limping for the remainder of his years so the man who kept the midfield together called it a day… To reappear in a training suit the next morning as Delphi's right hand, an excellent choice. And Gabriele Tozzuolo went out with a bang on the pitch as well, scoring the winning penalty for Il Esercito to win the club's first Cup Final, a moment that has been written in golden letters in Unione's history. The departure of leadership is, however, the central theme of Esca's off-season: Alessandro Tozzuolo's value on the pitch had waned but he still made his mark in the dressing room whilst the energy and quality from Philipsdottir lead the way on the field, even during the difficult mid-season slump. No wonder she got picked up by an ambitious Virtus, a common theme in Unione off-seasons. But the money made available by the Strawberries did substantially supplement the meagre treasury, giving them a bit of margin - it deserves praise that Unione tried to remain frugal, knowing that it will be the only way in the long run to get out of that cycle where every off-season, they sell the gems they laboured for to hone.

Nonetheless, they sought and found an adequate replacement for fan fav Philipsdottir in Savojar Vera Shervatski - a reliable, no-nonsense right back who likes to play the odds but has enough between her ears to pick her moments. It gives the back four a bit of much-needed spice. Central defending duo Moscati and Smith gel together better and better but are focussed on their tasks whilst left back is a bit of a liability: Oliveto rushes in but is error-prone whilst Melchiorri often shows he's a converted central defender. However, the four of them together make a solid line-up supported by a decent bench and an above-average goalie. Jacopo Burrai lurks to a spot on the national selection, being yet barred by Moro for the position as third goalie. He's very present, spectacular to the point of theatrical and gutsy. On top of that, he gets the saves whilst entertaining the crowd. If and when the cards stack up, there's a young but solid back-up in Qusmi Yem. Whilst the quality in that section of the pitch is assured, it is the midfield that worries the fans the most. Last year they mightily struggled and the only addition lies in Imerio Gallicardi, brother of and solid in the Serie B last year - but whether that is enough to shore it all up?

Gallicardi is tasked with the difficult task of anchoring the midfield together with Elio Valletti, who showed the step up from the amateur ranks at a later age is an option, but who also had his games where he simply drowned. Nonetheless, it will be up to those two to cover up a lot of ground and plug the hole of Tozzuolo's forced retirement: Falzerano, an entertaining but inefficient showman, and Ciccone, a journeyman with a lot of energy and dribbles but moderate stats, will not be the ones who make the miles. Nicoletti could have been the guy who combines transpiration and inspiration, but he still struggles with the aftermath of a nasty ankle injury. As such, it is no surprise that Esca has a nose for hardworking strikers. Luigi D'Annunzio, a poacher, got replaced by Roberto Tebaldi, a bulky forward with powder in the legs. 'The Walrus' (over his impressive moustache) scored in bulk in Madonna Nottori but had a roadrunner encircling him there. In Esca, late bloomer Tebaldi will have to reinvent himself as he links up with LQ Roz, the Qusmi nestor of the league. Roz is no longer a scoring machine but has that, especially for forwards, rare capacity to make those around him better. He' ll have to link up with Tebaldi now, and fast, as Baiocco is running on his last legs as a pro and Alba's breakthrough has been in waiting for so long now, we kind of suspect it's not coming. It summarises Esca Unione in their current state: there's something to work with but things will need to fall in place. If they do, Unione could cruise through a calm mid-table season and maybe score an upset or two (who knows, in the Cup Winners' Cup). If they don't, however, the relegation battle which has been announced as the most open in ages could be closer than desired.

Selection

Pos Nr  Name                   Nat  Age  Since Role    ClGa ClGo  Previous Club     CaGa CaGo 
GK  13  Jacopo Burrai          SOR   25   S12  Start    144    0  Youth              144    0
GK   1  Forza-Lucex Yem        QUS   19   S17  Bench      7    0  Unattached/QUS       7    0
LD   5  Paolo Melchiorri       SOR   31   S13  Start    124    2  Fagli Cinquanta    170    3
LD  16  Ernesto Oliveto        SOR   28   S14  Res       62    1  Calabrese Club      76    1
CD   3  Jordan Smith           SNL   27   S17  Start     68    2  Sun City Atoms/SNL  68    2
CD   4  Salvatore Moscati ©    SOR   35   S05  Start    388   22  AS Esca            447   23
CD  99  Antonio Sobrero        SOR   33   S09  Bench    161    8  Inter Catrallo     206   10
CD  22  Livio Rinetti          SOR   18   S18  Res        0    0  Youth                0    0
RD  28  Scotti Fusco           SOR   21   S16  Bench     12    0  Youth               12    0
RD   2  Vera Shervatski        SOR   24   S18  Start      0    0  Interblag/SRS        0    0
LM  18  Stefano Falzerano      SOR   32   S14  Start    125   20  Virtus Redoccio    233   47
LM  40  Francesco Zanon        SOR   19   S17  Res        3    0  Youth                3    0
CM   8  Elio Valletti          SOR   24   S17  Start     35    2  Catrallo Athletic   35    2
CM   6  Imerio Gallicardi      SOR   23   S18  Start      0    0  Motori Vitale        0    0
CM  26  Domenico Tazzeri       SOR   26   S15  Bench     58    4  Madonna Nottori    120    9
RM  14  Francesco Nicoletti    SOR   23   S14  Bench     85   14  Lovani FC           85   14
LW  17  Alessio Zambataro      SOR   32   S11  Bench    124   20  FC Orsi            134   21
RW  21  Riccardo Ciccone       SOR   29   S16  Start     57   17  Fagli Cinquanta    220   33
ST  33  Stefano Baiocco        SOR   35   S12  Bench    119   22  Robur Astello      206   42
ST  19  Lenpi-Xelez Roz        QUS   39   S16  Start     56   22  KFC Pretarijz/QUS   56   22
ST  23  Mattia Alba            SOR   21   S15  Res       11    0  Youth               11    0
ST   9  Roberto Tebaldi        SOR   26   S18  Start      0    0  Madonna Nottori     62   35

by **San Ortelio** » Tue Sep 14, 2021 5:53 am

Fagli Cinquanta
Your new favorite team if…
You don’t mind that your side is bankrolled by a shady businessman - a small squad developing into a force by buying known names on a sidetrack is the train you want to jump on.

Details

Home Stadium   Stadio Scarpa (4400 seats)
Nickname       La Fa
Manager        Mario Anza
Sponsor        DiCallare (construction)
Since          S5
Last Season    Sixth in the Serie B, Final of the Coppa
Won            One Coppa delle Stella (last S8)
Region         San Pancrazio

Outgoing - Lorenzo Tosi (FC Pesari, 1.8m), Filippo Pompa (Robur Astello, 0.3m), Filippo Pannati (Pro Patria Foot, 0.1m), Mirco Rossi (retirement), Antonio Lamberti (retirement)
Incoming - Pietro Mazziero (0.8m, FC Pesari), Valentin Spinesi (Juve Redoccio, 0.7m), Gennaro Raltano (FC Pesari, 0.3m), Vera McKinnon (SYL, Avondale Beach SC (SYL), free), Gino Fiore (youth academy)

Targets and Means - In the last two transfer windows, Fagli showed a keen eye for the international market, a quality quickly shoved aside by critics as the result of a thick wallet. But this summer they showed that from now on, they are also a force to be reckoned with when it comes to the domestic scene. That Lorenzo Tosi, a nifty number ten who blossomed under the firm but fair hand of Mario Anza, would be highly sought after is no surprise - that Enzo Di Callare, club president and son of the construction tycoon, managed to arm wrestle nearly two million of a desperate FC Pesari is quite a stunt. And apparently I Pappagalli found a willing partner in Fagli when it came to the search for money to fund their squad renovation: picking up the disgraced but capable Raltano is nice, managing to convince international and one-club man Pietro Mazziero is another thing. No one expected the versatile defender to jump ship but his arrival is a sign that Fagli aims to confirm after their surprising IFCF qualification of last year. The target is to annoy the Big Three and they already did just that when they threw a lot of cash in the direction of Juve to pick up Spinesi. The flamboyant youngster is already touted as 'the next Del Prete' and not just by the press. Both Virtus and Calcio chased him but Fagli made the winning offer, a sign that the times are indeed a-changing.

Fagli wants success and they want it now - pundits might claim that that's best for them as the line-up ages rapidly with seven over thirty at the kick-off. Still, there are attempts at growing talents: by example McKinnon who replaces Pompa as back-up goalie. It is also a vote of confidence from the management on Giandonato, who now no longer has a frustrated triple champion behind him, but an eager youngster. Last year, the defensive prowess was a major weapon and even if their real strength lies in the way the collective system chokes the opposition out of space on the Fagli half, just the names alone of the back four have the allure of a top team: Labruzzo is better than what most people give him credit for whilst Ghidotti is loyal club soldier. Simen Haukland runs around with the speed of an injured turtle but his experience in the A-League allows him to outsmart opponents over a decade younger and with the addition of Mazziero, you’ve got a pairing that could go places. The bench is less charming, maybe apart from Liretta. The engine of the success could be found in midfield last year, with Yuezhou international Yao Tang forming the personification of this La Fa - hard, physical and very difficult to develop your own game against. With his class, Tao lifts up those around him, pushing them to give their best: the midfielder has a good connection with coach Anza as well, who adores this type of frontrunner.

If there would be some sort of lack of energy coming from Tao - quite impossible to imagine ahead of his retirement - then the midfield duo will ensure it: Kinsella came over from Tikariot to revive his career and did so in wonderful fashion. He links up with Faini, a player who seems little special but grew with the club, another hardworking type. This energy allows Fagli to sport a traditional number ten, one that barely moves around but focuses on producing dangerous passes. For the starting eleven, this is the most hotly contested position with three candidates: Gennaro Raltano, eager to show FC Pesari that they missed out on him, the slightly plumb but deliciously skilled Giorgio Maio and the only 18 year old raving talent Spinesi. It remains to be seen whether the competition will lift these up or whether - as one observer noted - 3 half players rarely make one good. If one of the trio finds his pace, then one of the best striking partnerships of the league will return in full form. In two seasons, Cobrio’s Chikelu Okonye made his name as one of the most feared forwards out there. His decisiveness eye-to-eye with the goalkeeper is a delight and gives Cinquanta an assurance that a difficult confrontation can be opened up with a goal. He will link up again with Nepharim Rodgers, less of a goalgetter but someone who weighs on a defense and sucks opponents towards him, so Okonye finds the space for his speed. That rounds up a lot of talent and that under the command of Mario Anza, a loudmouth but clever coach who thrives when he can exploit an opponent’s weakness.

Selection

Pos Nr  Name                   Nat  Age  Since Role    ClGa ClGo  Previous Club     CaGa CaGo
GK   1  Cesar Giandonato       SOR   30   S17  Start     32    0  US San Savola      158    0
GK  12  Vera McKinnon          SYL   19   S18  Bench      0    0  Avondale BSC/SYL     0    0
LD  19  Stefano D’Ausilio      SOR   24   S14  Res       22    0  Youth               22    0
LD   2  Luca Ghidotti ©        SOR   33   S11  Start    190   12  Esca Unione        253   14
CD   3  Simen Haukland         BYN   37   S17  Start     34    1  Pikemouth/BRE       34    1
CD  23  Michele Marchetti      SOR   26   S13  Bench    101    2  Virtus Redoccio    105    2
CD  29  Iuri Stucci            SOR   22   S15  Res       20    0  Youth               20    0
CD   4  Pietro Mazziero        SOR   30   S18  Start      0    0  FC Pesari          266    8
RD  14  Matteo Labruzzo        SOR   25   S15  Start     92    4  Sportiva Montelc.   92    4
RD  17  Daniele Liretta        SOR   20   S17  Res        6    1  Youth                6    1
DM   6  Yang Tao               YZH   27   S16  Start     68    5  Yincheng Cap./YZH   68    5
DM  16  Gino Fiore             SOR   19   S18  Res        0    0  Youth                0    0
CM   8  Michele Faini          SOR   26   S13  Start    150   20  Inter Catrallo     161   20
CM  21  Carlo Gennusi          SOR   32   S16  Bench     40    2  Virtus Redoccio    119    6
CM  15  Yannis Kinsella        TKT   32   S17  Start     29    3  Morannon Ath./TKT   29    3
AM  10  Giorgio Maio           SOR   22   S14  Bench     58    9  Youth               58    9
AM  18  Valentin Spinesi       SOR   18   S18  Bench      0    0  Juve Redoccio        0    0
AM  20  Gennaro Raltano        SOR   24   S18  Start      0    0  FC Pesari           20    2
LA  22  Giancarlo Laghi        SOR   35   S16  Bench     31    9  FC Pesari          242   57
ST  26  Chikelu Okonye         OSR   30   S16  Start     66   44  FC Capri/VAL        66   44
ST  11  Yannick Rodgers        NPH   32   S17  Start     30   11  Arrowsmith/EUR      30   11
RA  42  Alex Simonetti         SOR   21   S15  Bench     38   12  Youth               38   12

FC Orsi
Your new favorite team if…
You want to be the first one in town with their bizarre yet popular ‘bear ears’ fan gear.

Details

Home Stadium   Stadio Communale (2500 seats)
Nickname       The Bears
Manager        Bruno Passentini
Sponsor        Viale XXI (care products)
Since          S17
Last Season    Winner in the Serie Regionale Nord, Third in the Serie B
Won            Nothing
Region         San Bonifazio

Incoming - Manuel Volpe (Catrallo Calcio, 0.5m), Ercole Venturato (FC Pesari, 0.2m), Franco Gualdi (Barezzi Calcio, 0.2m), Luca Cigliano (Sportiva Montelcampo, 0.2m), Vasco Cardoso (CBZ, Sao Vicente (CBZ), free), Nigel Creighton (TMB, Melwood Rangers (TMB), free), Giovanni Filippi (youth academy)

Targets and Means - A newcomer in the Serie Nazionale, that alone should tickle the interest of every follower of Ortelian football. It has been a decade since a club managed to break through the glass ceiling of professional football but FC Orsi earned their spot in the inner circle fair and square, in as much that most assume the Bears are here to stay. Knowing that last year they already had the quality for a stable Serie B parcours, Passentini focussed on keeping the core of his squad together and signing them to contracts matching their new status. With the limited means left, he signed a string of players which are both young and eager to prove themselves. On paper at least, a great match with the splendid mentality displayed last year, but also with the aging dressing room. Tactically, Orsi opts for a 4-2-2-2 with wingers who operate both on the inside and outside. Of the central midfielders, there is always one that reinforces the backline, allowing the left and right defenders to move forward at times and create a majority on their side of the pitch. Nonetheless, don't expect too much adventure from the newcomers. Organisation always comes first with Passentini, a grizzled gaffer who never quite got his chance at the highest level and who looks forward to making amends. The crowd this will draw will be small, but loyal and fairly vocal - it should give the squad that little push in the back to take some points off bigger names.

Between the stakes, there is no doubt about Cesare Pasticcio. Tall but bullish and broad shouldered, he cannot be described as a modern goalie but in his box, he's an authoritative figure. With his size, he's an easy target for chants but he did respond once by actually bringing two bits of pastry and eating all the pies. A curious figure who will add some flavor to the top tier. This cannot be said about the four in front of him, but they should make a reliable unit - that is, if Venturato can find back the talent which saw him move up the ranks fast in Pesari. The once potential international threw in his own windows, time for him to find back his power and dominance. Central duo Baldini and Crippa are club men who take no prisoners and seem impressed by nothing - their talent is limited, their mutual understanding impeccable. On the right side, Franco Gualdi debuts as pro at 25, a clever scrounge of the amateur ranks by Orsi as his speed and crosses suit the plan like a glove. Don’t underestimate back-up Guerini, a local talent with a mature head. In front of the line of four, two more guards take care of the organisation of the Bears and it is telling that there was no more space for Guido Gorini anymore - or at least not as a starter. Gorini has a marvellous touch but lacks the speed and stamina for the Nazionale, he’s likely to be used as an impact sub. Instead, much confidence is placed on the shoulders of Barozzi and Pelegrino, neither of whom are elegant practitioners. The former is more the butcher type, the latter will do the miles. So far, as you see, it's result over style but a good mentality could go a long way in this league.

However, for those fearing the whole line-up is made up of gritty figures, there are four players left in the line-up which give the newcomer some on-pitch flair. The most lauding comments were made about Nino Valenti who amused during the LBTC confrontations with his dribbles and stellar finishing. An amusing shorty, always up for a joke during the interviews, he quickly gained a following in the stands and much is expected from him here. His counterpart Scapelli might be less noticed, but like many in the line-up, he once was ousted from the ranks of a pro team and runs now on a sense of revenge. Also worth a second look is Valenti’s back-up Cardoso, one of two youngsters (next to Tumbran Nigel Creighton) who are complete unknowns at the moment but who should pick up minutes from the bench based upon the preparation games. For the striking duo, Stefano Parti plays a big role. Last season, he was at the pinnacle of his game, banging them in left and right. If the tall powerhouse can reproduce that level this season, a big stride towards prolongation of Orsi’s stay is taken. To support him, he can rely on either Izzardi - a bit of a poacher - or Manuel Volpe. The latter is a peculiar story: his move from small amateur side Gruppo Compatto to national number one Calcio was too large a step, although he rarely disappointed for the navy blue. In theory, FC Orsi should be exactly the level where he can showcase himself as a mobile, versatile forward. He forms one of the rare changed parts in what looks to be a good plan from a club with a tight dressing room. FC Orsi will not challenge for the prizes, but if they keep their collective spirit, have enough on board to escape immediate relegation.

Selection

GK   1  Cesare Pasticcio       SOR   25   S11  Start      0    0  Youth                0    0
GK  12  Danilo Charlione       SOR   21   S16  Bench      0    0  Virtus Redoccio      0    0
LD   3  Ercole Venturato       SOR   26   S18  Start      0    0  Robur Astello      155    4
LD  15  Rino Uliano            SOR   30   S14  Bench      0    0  Juve Redoccio        0    0
CD  13  Luca Cigliano          SOR   26   S15  Bench      0    0  Sportiva Montelc.   18    0
CD   4  Giorgio Baldini ©      SOR   33   S04  Start      0    0  Youth                0    0
CD   2  Giuseppe Crippa        SOR   27   S11  Start      0    0  Youth                0    0
RD   5  Franco Gualdi          SOR   25   S18  Start      0    0  Barezzi Calcio       0    0
RD  26  Tranquillo Guerini     SOR   20   S16  Bench      0    0  Youth                0    0
DM  18  Nigel Creighton        TMB   19   S18  Bench      0    0  Melwood Rang./TMB    0    0
LM  30  Vincenzo Ranucci       SOR   32   S15  Res        0    0  VC Pesari            2    0
CM   6  Alessandro Barozzi     SOR   28   S10  Start      0    0  Lovani FC            0    0
CM  14  Guido Gorini           SOR   35   S17  Bench      0    0  Inter Catrallo     241   14
CM  11  Pietro Pelegrino       SOR   31   S12  Start      0    0  Pro Stampano        86   12
CM  25  Renato Petinatti       SOR   24   S12  Res        0    0  Youth                0    0
LW  45  Illio Scapelli         SOR   25   S17  Start      0    0  Pro Patria Foot      7    0
RW   7  Nino Valenti           SOR   23   S15  Start      0    0  VC Pesari            0    0
RW  23  Vasco Cardoso          CBZ   17   S18  Res        0    0  Sao Vicente/CBZ      0    0
ST  12  Manuel Volpe           SOR   24   S18  Start      0    0  Catrallo Calcio     26    9
ST  10  Eduardo Izzardi        SOR   32   S13  Bench      0    0  Robur Astello       24    4
ST   9  Stefano Parti          SOR   29   S14  Start      0    0  US San Savola       71   13
ST  22  Giovanni Filippi       SOR   19   S18  Res        0    0  Youth                0    0

FC Pesari
Your new favorite team if…
You like to support the challenger. Not the capital, but the second biggest town. Not the money club, but the one that has enough money to fight for titles while acting as the underdog.

Details

Home Stadium   Stadio del Fiume (5800 seats)
Nickname       I Papagalli
Manager        Roselyn Bentum (TLI)
Sponsor        ReZix (HR)
Since          S1
Last Season    Sixth in the Serie A, first prelim of the Challengers Cup
Won            3 Serie A titles (last S16), three Coppa delle Stella (last S10)
Region         San Bonifazio

Outgoing - Dennis Spaviero (Vantanoch FC (TKT), 1.4m), Jules Haney (Inter Catrallo, 1m), Pietro Mazziero (Fagli Cinquanta, 0.8m), Alberto Bortolotto (Pro Stampano, 0.7m), Sandro Zanoni (US San Savola, 0.3m), Gennaro Raltano (Fagli Cinquanta, 0.3m), Ercole Venturato (FC Orsi, 0.2m), Aniello Furlan (VC Pesari, free)
Incoming - Lorenzo Tosi (Fagli Cinquanta, 1.8m), Archer Pearson (SSD Borgonovo, 1.4m), Kathleen Lagrange (ZWZ, Orling College (ZWZ), 1m), Illario Gallicardi (Inter Catrallo, 0.6m), Christian Valeri (Sportiva Montelcampo, 0.5m), Giulio Boffeli (SSD Borgonovo, 0.2m), Franco Zappaterra (youth academy), Faustino Del’Ora (youth academy), Froila Urdampiyeta (ASG, Ituraitz FC (ASG), free)

Targets and means - After an abysmal season, it is out with the old and in with the new for FC Pesari who saw a rotation of four managers fail to bring any success to Stadio del Fiume. Only narrowly winning a ticket for the Serie A after a poor international showing was already a disappointment for the club, but being the hapless red lantern in that series made clear that some things had to change. And boy, did the board deliver on that. First and foremost, there is a new leader at the helm. Roselyn Bentum, a 53-year old with limited domestic experience - her record at St Bart’s Dutch has its ups and its downs. But her reputation as a hard nosed gaffer suited the ambition of FC Pesari, who saw their dressing room fall apart like sand last season and desired someone with a disciplinary style. This also meant the departure of a variety of names who each got the blame one way or another: from captain Zanoni and veteran Furlan whose leadership was disputed, over players such as Raltano and Spaviero who did not deliver what had been hoped for. Especially the departure of the latter, a major talent struggling with himself and the world once benched, can be considered quite a bump in the road for I Pappagalli who thrive on a reputation to be a fertile ground for youngsters. However, parting with players who haven’t delivered rarely brings in a big capital, so more names had to go even if they could have a spot in the future plans of Bentum.

Losing Bortolotto to Stampano was met with mixed feelings - his style suits the house but his efficiency and injury proneness caused question marks. Seeing defensive rock and international Mazziero leave to the upcoming powerhouse Fagli is seen as a grave mistake - especially at this mild price as he’s nowhere near his expiration date. But the departure the fans will lament the most is that of Jules Haney, the likeable Tikariotian who even at the deepest lows of last season always gave his best and remained an assurance on goals. It is the kind of transfer that puts the pressure on the coach from the first moment onwards. However, the exodus of starters also meant that there came funds for newcomers and the board dug deep to rejuvenate the lineup, a fairly risky move. Spending over five million in a single transfer window is unseen in San Ortelio and can well be described as a gamble: either I Pappagalli bounce back at once or they could be digging their own hole. Nonetheless, when it comes to talent, the cards look good for FC. Walter Moro paid his dues for his inexperience but tall and calm, he grew into his role as reliable guardian. In front of him, Audioslavian veteran Matteo Corriere picks up the captain’s ribbon in a back four that represents all experience in the line up. With Rota there is another international up there but one can wonder whether players such as Passuello and Boffeli - a clear afterthought as the confidence in young Gioia dropped - suffice to shore up a title-winning side. It immediately parks Pesari one level lower.

When we scout one row higher, there immediately is more optimism. Attilio Quintarelli has everything in him to become a club monument, a natural leader who doesn’t shy away from the dirty work but also picks the right moments to pop up in the box. He will be matched with Gallicardi, one of the breakthrough players last season with Inter - curious to see if he’s ready for the next step, but if they find a connection, this could be a long-term partnership for Pesari. With Gallicardi, we’ve opened up a whole can of newcomers which puts guys such as Albertoni - a bit inconsistent - and Mammarella - gifted, but not always crafty - on the bench. The trio of attacking midfielders was brought in for 4.2 million and that immediately dubbed them as the ‘Money Bags’. Left wing Lagrange is a character, but uses that for a good purpose as well and can find a teammate even with the smallest of space. Right wing Pearson got rewarded for two years of consistent growth with Borgonovo - his infiltrations wreak havoc for sure. But the lion’s share of the eyes will be on Lorenzo Tosi. With Fagli, he restarted his career as a short but skilled number ten after a false start for Calcio. One cannot deny that he developed into a versatile player, but the added mental pressure of a club with high expectations will be a new step up for Tosi. This trio is expected to deliver good assists for Jessica Murphy. The Cassadaiguan debuted last year in difficult circumstances, in a club in trouble but still netted fourteen goals. If Bentum aligns the troops and gets Murphy in position more, we could see her grow in a challenger for the top scorer title. It is clear, there is talent a-plenty but Bentum will have to bring confidence to players, board and fans.

Selection

Pos Nr  Name                   Nat  Age  Since Role    ClGa ClGo  Previous Club     CaGa CaGo
GK   1  Walter Moro            SOR   23   S16  Start     69    0  Virtus Redoccio     78    0
GK  23  Franco Zappaterra      SOR   19   S18  Bench      0    0  Youth                0    0
LD   4  Giancarlo Passuello    SOR   33   S04  Start    359    3  Youth              359    3
LD  28  Faustino Del’Ora       SOR   20   S18  Res        0    0  Youth                0    0
CD  26  Giuseppe Proietto      SOR   31   S14  Res       29    0  Inter Catrallo     174    1
CD  17  Alberto Gioia          SOR   21   S16  Bench     17    0  Youth               17    0
CD  18  Matteo Corriere ©      AUD   37   S16  Start     69    4  AC Izotz Zubia/AUD  69    4
CD   3  Giulio Boffeli         SOR   30   S18  Start      0    0  SSD Borgonovo      285    9
RD   5  Alessio Rota           SOR   29   S13  Start    167   23  Sportiva Montelc.  285   35
RD   2  Fabrizio Partipilo     SOR   24   S12  Bench     39    1  Youth               39    1
DM  15  Attilio Quintarelli    SOR   22   S15  Start     97    9  US San Savola      127   11
DM   6  Gioacchino Russo       SOR   35   S03  Bench    243   21  Youth              243   21
DM  18  Illario Gallicardi     SOR   26   S18  Start      0    0  Inter Catrallo     149    7
CM  14  Carlo Albertoni        SOR   24   S17  Bench     32    3  Esca Unione        141   17
CM  30  Emanuele Mammarella    SOR   21   S15  Res       19    1  Youth               19    1
CM  16  Froila Urdampiyeta     ASG   18   S18  Res        0    0  Ituraitz FC/ASG      0    0
AM  10  Lorenzo Tosi           SOR   25   S18  Start      0    0  Fagli Cinquanta    113   30
AM  24  Eberardo San Pietro    SOR   20   S16  Bench     11    1  Youth               11    1
LW  19  Kathleen Lagrange      ZWZ   22   S18  Start      0    0  Orling College/ZWZ   0    0
RW   7  Archer Pearson         MUR   21   S18  Start      0    0  SSD Borgonovo       60   18
ST  11  Jessica Murphy         CDG   22   S17  Start     31   14  Chester Guns./CDG   31   14
ST   9  Christian Valeri       SOR   29   S18  Bench      0    0  Sportiva Montelc.  185   55
ST  13  Michele Cambasso       SOR   26   S10  Res       32    4  Youth               32    4

Inter Catrallo
Your new favorite team if…
You hate Calcio. You like the alternative side of the city, with trendy outfits but also grit. You hate Calcio. You want quiet transfer seasons. You really hate Calcio.

Details

Home Stadium   Olimpico (9000 seats)
Nickname       Il Viola
Manager        Pietro Fezzardi
Sponsor        Mapeo (building materials)
Since          S1
Last Season    First in the Serie B
Won            3 Serie B titles (last S17)
Region         San Pancrazio

Outgoing - Illario Gallicardi (FC Pesari, 0.6m), Emanuele Bignami (Catrallo Calcio, 0.4m), Raffaele Marchese (0.4m, SSD Borgonovo), Giuseppe Nicoletti (Retirement), Antonio Loreto (Astello Mare, free), Flavio D’Oriano (RES Quartella, free)
Incoming - Jules Haney (TKT, FC Pesari, 1m), Aldon Busk (TKT, Bul Khungur Miners FC (TKT), 0.5m), Sonny Betrucci (Ars et Labor Rattaglie, 0.1m), Brieux De Harlus (OAM, Kerlaudy University (OAM), free), Gianni Marchegiani (youth academy), Roberto Faresin (youth academy)

Targets and means - Coming off a very good second part of the season, Pietro Fezzardi made it no secret that he aspired to keep the side together and aim for the Serie A. For the longest time, the board seemed able to align with that aspiration and even reinforce the club until no prolongation with Gallicardi was found and the midfielder parted for the greener pastures of Pesari. Even then, nothing much will change about what Inter stands for: lots of grit and craftsmanship, little spectacular, decent efficiency and if possible, a banger of a match against them bastards from Catrallo Calcio. In a way, that’s more than enough for the fans, especially as they are aware of the financial situation: as long as no big investor walks in and starts splashing the cash, that’s plenty of ambition as it is. In goal, Roscioli and his antics catch the attention: he’s a great shot stopper but a few times each year, things go blank in his head. Luckily for him, Pandolfi is barely good enough as a back-up. The back four from last season, which molded together over the course of the year, has been retained as it is a good mix of experience and youth. The central duo, captain Calcaterra and Brenecian Kerraway, are hard as nails and might pick up a good number of cards - young Valetti is a decent back-up - but the ‘Smash Bros’ do what they need to do in the low organisation from Fezzardi.

By their side, two defenders are building their career step by step. Mirko Chiurato is a fixture with the Young Swordfishes and his rushes forward become better and better timed. His counterpart, Ciro Sandri, surprisingly gained a spot in the line-up last year after being thanked for no services with Calcio, but he’s not the first who gets ousted by the big rival and then builds a proper career for himself with the modest neighbours. According to the rumour mill, Sandri was contacted by Calcio for a return but social media posts made clear that he's now a Viola for life. As such, stability is key in the organisation with only one defensive name changed. Tikariotian Aldon Busk picks up where Gallicardi left. The right-footed midfielder never really made his breakthrough with the Dwarves but could become a solid addition to this side. With the consistent Fidanza, owner of a piercing long-distance shot, by his side, there is a reliable square in front of the goalkeeper. Add to that Giuseppe Aymo, an underestimated hero of this squad with his workrate and rushes, and you understand why Inter hold a reputation for being a stubborn opponent, one which allows the opposition the ball but rarely gets torn apart themselves. It suits the hardy fan base which has its roots in the docks and industrial parts of town.

And all that is good and well, but from time to time, you'll also need to score a goal. Within the line-up from Fezzardi, there is only room for one creative midfielder and that place is well disputed. A few seasons back, Fabiano Scirea would have been the evident option: elegant, subtle and caresses the ball like a painter. But his star is waning early and we have seen too little for a player with still a good number of years in front of him. Marco Dotti, at 38, refuses to run out of steam and picks his moments but can't carry the team anymore. As such, many eyes will be on Ciro De Luca who was satisfactory last year. Not the virtuoso of his two seniors, fewer backheels and nutmegs - but at least some efficiency. His role will be to feed two bonafide strikers, two guys who get the appreciation from football fans across clubs. The only question is whether they can also find one another in the box. Giovanni Saligari is one of the rare players to mark a hundred goals for the same squad. He's not the type who will score all the time but with his power and presence, there always is a chance. Energetic and respectable, he is a natural leader and a face of this Inter, symbolising that they can reach heights even without a list of stars. Saligari will be partnering up with someone who, possibly against his will, did make a high-profile transfer. Jules Haney seemed destined to become a club monument at Pesari but in need of money, Il Viola saw an opportunity to pick up a high-quality finisher for a modest prize. With now two scoring strikers, as the departed Bignami, Marchese nor Loreto ever really gained that title, Inter could be more dangerous than ever - solid in the back, confident in attack can get you far in the race for the Serie A. If the bench, with currently unknown quantities such as Betrucci and de Harlus, can match the level of the first eleven, we wouldn't rule out Il Viola for an IFCF spot.

Selection

Pos Nr  Name                   Nat  Age  Since Role    ClGa ClGo  Previous Club     CaGa CaGo
GK   1  Davide Roscioli        SOR   30   S11  Start    216    0  Catrallo Calcio    225    0
GK  13  Daniele Pandolfi       SOR   23   S14  Bench     17    0  Youth               17    0
LD   2  Ciro Sandri            SOR   21   S17  Start     42    2  Catrallo Calcio     53    2
LD  29  Roberto Faresin        SOR   19   S18  Res        0    0  Youth                0    0
CD   3  Mariano Calcaterra ©   SOR   31   S05  Start    297    3  Youth              297    3
CD   5  Evan Kerraway          BRE   34   S16  Start     75    2  Falkner United/BRE  75    2
CD   4  Luigi Valetti          SOR   20   S17  Bench     12    0  Youth               12    0
RD  17  Mirko Chiurato         SOR   21   S15  Start     80    2  Youth               80    2
RD  25  Stefano Abagnale       SOR   28   S08  Bench    121    2  Youth              121    2
DM  16  Roberto Cecchin        SOR   29   S12  Bench    135    4  Fagli Cinquanta    215    5
DM   6  Eros Fidanza           SOR   32   S13  Start    160    5  Robur Astello      273    6
DM   8  Aldon Busk             TKT   29   S18  Start      0    0  Bul Khungur M. FC    0    0
DM  22  Luca Signorelli        SOR   21   S16  Res        9    0  Youth                9    0
CM  14  Giuseppe Aymo          SOR   24   S14  Start    102    4  Catrallo Calcio    105    4
CM  24  Sonny Betrucci         SOR   23   S18  Res        0    0  Ars et Labor Ratt.   0    0
AM  10  Fabiano Scirea         SOR   27   S12  Bench    180   26  Madonna Nottori    224   28
AM  23  Marco Dotti            SOR   38   S06  Bench    358   51  Catrallo Calcio    405   55
AM  16  Ciro De Luca           SOR   26   S17  Start     29    5  Madonna Nottori    114   13
ST   9  Giovanni Saligari      SOR   32   S10  Start    244  100  SSD Borgonovo      363  127
ST  11  Jules Haney            TKT   33   S18  Start      0    0  FC Pesari           56   34
ST  18  Brieux de Harlus       OAM   23   S18  Bench      0    0  Kerlaudy Univ./OAM   0    0
ST  20  Gianni Marchegiani     SOR   20   S18  Res        0    0  Youth                0    0

Pro Stampano
Your new favorite team if…
You like being frustrated and the laughing stock. But then again, if and when they do manage to break through, that last laugh will be a very good one. If.

Details

Home Stadium   Corsa Quersia (3500 seats)
Nickname       The Postmen
Manager        Romolo Pambianco
Sponsor        FederIT (IT services)
Since          S1
Last Season    Fifth of the Serie A
Won            5 Serie B titles (last S16), 1 Coppa delle Stella (S9)
Region         Santa Sofia

Outgoing - Domenico Cappa (Montfort Wanderers (TLI), 1.7m), Roberto Pella (Madonna Nottori, 0.4m), Ugo Cianci (Robur Astello, 0.3m), Gian Maria Cerretti (Juve Redoccio, 0.1m)
Incoming - Jordan Watson (PFA, Dury Juniors (PFA), 1m), Alberto Bortolotto (0.7m, FC Pesari), Federico Granocche (Madonna Nottori, 0.6m), Massimo Giusti (youth academy)

Targets and means - After a string of disappointing years, larded with last-minute heartbreaks and poor stints, the Postmen finally managed to shed off the veil of ‘dissatisfaction’ and properly use their potential. We are not saying that Romolo Pambianco is a tactical mastermind, but he did manage to get all noses in the same direction and push them to a common goal. The result was a satisfactory end season and compliments from the whole tier, although a few lamented no more being able to point to Pro Stampano as the example that “things could still be worse for the fan”. However, it is not supposed to end here. For some reason, there is a strange idee-fixe with the board of Stampano that they should be able to park themselves in the same class as the Big Three. Nice words, but the off-season doesn’t fully back this up as Domenico Cappa parts for a bigger name in international football. “When the Montfort Wanderers come around, you don’t hesitate,” the young midfielder shared and with it, Pro Stampano not only sees its highest valued player depart, but also the young captain and heart of the line-up. Cappa, at his age, was no finished product yet but steered the side on enthusiasm and vision - his departure could leave a big hole in the eleven from Pambianco. Initially, attempts were made to find a pound-for-pound replacement but domestically, there was little lust among the few targets to move to Pro. And internationally, people have no clue who Pro Stampano is - one of the downsides of narrowly missing out on international football.

As such, the money from Cappa was used to reinforce each line and saw some seeds in the form of young talents, with the aspiration to target to harvest later on. It is a tactic which deserves its credit, after years of chasing long-term success, although one can wonder whether the fans will appreciate it (and the potential dips in the trajectory) after finally tasting some glory after the grey seasons. Pressure is on, as such, and most notably on the defensive compartment. Goalie Ettore Trasciani is a household name there: just not good enough for the NT but for his club a reliable centerpiece. In front of him, his brother Roberto is supposed to guard the troops. At the start of last season, Roberto lost his captain’s ribbon to Cappa which led to some conflict but the current return to the position seems to indicate he and the gaffer are like peas and carrots again: at least for now. Especially as Roberto, a cunning and strong devil but a bit sluggish, will have a pivotal role in guarding the youngsters around him. His sidekick should be Pilati, a good manmarker but a bit hesitant at times, whilst on the right Qualla grows into a strong first tier defender. Both youngsters still make their mistakes, will Roberto be able to cover them? On the left, young Poafmersian newcomer Watson pushed Arrigoni to the bench in the preseason games. Pacy and energetic, the new kid on the block showed potential but he will need to learn to pick his moments.

All in all, this is a flawed base to rebuild a midfield on. Looking to the preseason, we expect a diamond midfield with quite a bit of reshuffling. Polidori, a raw and rumbling type, should act as the number six with Stanco as a younger, less clever back-up. Anderson Pill, the breakthrough star of last year, will fall back a little as box-to-box and pick up more dirty work, to allow his midfield partner to find space. That could be at times young Delafonte, a nifty talent, but will usually be Bortolotto. Everyone is in agreement he’s a dashing player but he struggled at Pesari to find consistency in his performance. Can Pambianco get more out of the already 25y old midfielder or will he remain an eternal talent? Mastermind and in-all-but-number-the-real-number-ten is Giaco Sanmicheli, the modest Savigliani who is held in high esteem by the fans for his marvellous free kick and positive attitude. Over the years, Sanmicheli raises his stats and stature - can this be the year he really carries the team? Sanmicheli provides for the striking duo, where Pro waved goodbye to veterans Cianci and Pella. Both had good days with the club, but neither matched, personally or professionally, with Lenore Ransom. Capricious and dribble-prone at times, she remains the one who ensures double figures and is vital for the line-up. Stampano might have done an undervalued steel by picking up Federico Granocche for a soft price at Nottori. But no one can tell if the two, both characters and fairly goal oriented, will manage to improve their partner or rather will focus on their own success. Still, a 20y old talent with these stats now dropped in a better team, that must give sparks, right? Right? Pambianco has question marks all over the field, but if he can turn enough of them in exclamation points, this Stampano is even better than last year’s version (but maybe not as consistent). Interesting times ahead - surprisingly interesting for Pro.

Selection

Pos Nr  Name                   Nat  Age  Since Role    ClGa ClGo  Previous Club     CaGa CaGo
GK  13  Ettore Trasciani       SOR   29   S14  Start    136    0  SSD Borgonovo      265    0
GK  24  Ivan Siano             SOR   22   S15  Bench      2    0  Stampano Socio       2    0
LB  22  Jordan Watson          PFA   21   S18  Start      0    0  Dury Juniors/PFA     0    0
LD   2  Mattia Arrigoni        SOR   26   S13  Bench    134    1  Virtus Redoccio    142    1
CD  23  Luca Ilari             SOR   27   S15  Bench     91    1  US San Savola      185    1
CD   3  Roberto Trasciani ©    SOR   34   S07  Start    327   24  FC Pesari          333   24
CD  26  Manuele Pilati         SOR   20   S16  Start     31    0  Youth               31    0
CD  15  Patrizio Grillo        SOR   21   S17  Res        1    0  Youth                1    0
RD  19  Simone Rossi           SOR   36   S09  Res      149    3  Sportiva Montelc.  248   12
RD   5  Carlo Qualla           SOR   22   S16  Start     66    3  FC Orsi             66    3
DM  13  Giacinto Polidori      SOR   29   S13  Start    109    5  Sportiva Montelc.  156   10
DM  19  Filippo Stanco         SOR   22   S14  Bench     16    0  Youth               16    0
CM  10  Anderson Pill          CMT   26   S17  Start     30    3  GT Molding/GRF      30    3
CM  21  Ezerio Delafonte       SOR   19   S17  Bench      6    0  Youth                6    0
CM   7  Alberto Bortolotto     SOR   25   S18  Start     22    2  FC Pesari          158   19
AM   8  Pietro Bunino          SOR   31   S14  Bench     80    3  Stampano Socio      80    3
AM  25  Giaco Sanmicheli       SVG   25   S16  Start     61   12  Porto Vecchio/SVG   61   12
ST   9  Lenore Ransom          CMT   31   S16  Start     66   25  Urrheddiao/CMT      66   25
ST  29  Lorenzo Nannetti       SOR   24   S15  Bench     50    5  FC Pesari           60    6
ST  27  Gregorio Boccardi      SOR   21   S15  Res        9    0  Youth                9    0
ST  11  Federico Granocche     SOR   20   S18  Start      0    0  Madonna Nottori     58   33
ST  35  Massimo Giusti         SOR   18   S18  Res        0    0  Youth                0    0

by **San Ortelio** » Sat Sep 18, 2021 2:44 pm

Robur Astello
Your new favorite team if…
You like to push the ‘nobody likes us but we don’t care’ card. And don’t really care about good or academic football.

Details

Home Stadium   Valle Farnese (5000 seats)
Nickname       I Detenuti
Manager        Elio Senze
Sponsor        Birra 52 (alcoholic beverages)
Since          S2
Last Season    Sixth in the Serie B
Won            1 Serie B titles (last S6)
Region         San Servazio

Outgoing - Romeo Gozzi (þingsnitz (GRF), 1.5m), Mirko Pellizarri (Sportiva Montelcampo, 0.3m), Mattias Soomre (HRK, Kuinopi Club (HRK), 0.1m), Christian Sassi (Delta, free), Alessio Bondioli (retirement)
Ingoing - Vsevolod Bogolyubsky (PYA, Dinamo Krasnograd (PYA), 0.75m), Luigi D’Annunzio (Esca Unione, 0.5m), Ugo Cianci (Pro Stampano, 0.3m), Filippo Pompa (Fagli Cinquanta, 0.3m), Laurence Bryger (BRE, Robur Astello, 0.2m), Paolo Varelli (youth academy)

Targets and means - It is the end of an era for Robur but maybe, after a season where they slowly slipped from ‘just good enough for midtable’ to ‘inches above the relegation line’, this could be the turnaround they are looking for. The Prisoners, after their striped outfit, part ways with Romeo Gozzi, one of the most eventful football players to ever grace the Ortelian pitches. After more than a hundred goals with the club and a similar amount of scrimmages, dramas and conflicts, he will take on the role of target striker with Graentfjaller promoted side þingsnitz. For a few seasons now, the line-up of Robur fully depended on him with all players acting in his service. After years of giving in to his pleas and demands, Astello is left with a line-up of players of whom no one is entirely sure whether they didn’t bloom due to Gozzi putting them in the shadow, or whether they’re just barely good enough to make Gozzi shine. Without him, Senze will need to rethink the strict 5-4-1 but he hasn’t lost his defensive ways: expect a five-man defensive line still in top shape. Well… Top shape. It’s more or less the same old: a series of players who focus on putting opposition against the grass and making it till the ninetieth minute without a red card. In a competition with a fair share of ruthless defenders, it is fair to say that Robur sports the most cynical, negative bunch of them all.

The rare exception to the rule, and the sole one who could find employment elsewhere, would be Maurizi, who possesses a neat crosspass and knows other ways to halt opposition than sniping their legs. The latter is a specialty of the house of both Martorelli and Lomolini, two elements feared by more nimble opponents. We should also pardon Lodgian Usher Collins, who showed footballing promise in his appearances and who could - due to the cards piling up - play quite often this season. Behind the hardest ragtag bunch of defenders, we would expect Yuri Scampini. He’s at least as dirty as the rest of the troop but also blessed with some actual skill, taking possession of his box and often having the kind of save which photographers crave for. Unfortunately, his wires cross a few times a year. In the past, Pellizarri would pick up the gloves then but he got snapped up late in the silly season by Sportiva. This suddenly offered a last chance for Filippo Pompa to get a second spring out of his career. Pompa once stood on goal for the title-winning Catrallo Calcio and seemed destined for the national team until he collided with the board over his more… worldly interests. His guru Mario Anza gave him a shot at Fagli but that didn’t materialize - in part due to a good run from Giandonato, in part due to Pompa spending more time in the nightlife. The match with Astello, the riviera city with the tourists and the clublife, could as such spell various things, few of them truly promising for a professional footballer.

If the defensive line builds around the same names, then the midfield sees a bit of a shake-up with the arrival of veteran Laurence Bryger. The Brenecian dragged the dead horse called Nottori to an extra year at the highest tier but there is only so much a man can do with a lot of stamina, swearing and kicking ass. Whilst the transfer policy from Robur is not always stellar, we do get the idea behind linking him up with young TJUN-ian Petor Szektkovsky, a modern six with a great attitude. Together, they can form the much-needed engine of this line-up. With Grandolfi and Pozzi, the replacements aren’t top notch but decent enough, at first sight. Question is who will carry the side as attacking midfielder. Marcellusi is homegrown, technically astute but lacks a bit of confidence - Iotti has tons of that going on but barely manages to bring consistency in his play. One of them will need to step up, or the two strikers will need to content themselves with running after long balls. With the cash left by Gozzi, three newcomers were brought in for this task and it seems as if Robur tried to find the three most diverse profiles possible, dreaming that somehow two of them will match. Luigi D’Annunzio is a poacher and a nuisance for a defense. He can be dominated, but could as well pop up at the second post for an easy tap-in. Veteran Cianci adds some amibility to the club but with the years, he slowed down and one needs to wonder whether his fine shot alone suffices for a role in this line-up if he struggles to get in position. The third entry, young tongue twister Bogolyubsky showed speed and nerve in the first encounters, if he can turn this into goals, he could be the sensation this club needs to steer them away from the relegation battle.

Selection

Pos Nr  Name                   Nat  Age  Since Role    ClGa ClGo  Previous Club     CaGa CaGo
GK   1  Yuri Scampini          SOR   25   S17  Start     29    0  Politecnica         29    0
GK  23  Filippo Pompa          SOR   30   S18  Bench      0    0  Fagli Cinquanta    174    0
LD  22  Matteo Martorelli      SOR   30   S13  Start    157    3  Virtus Redoccio    248    3
LD  21  Lorenzo Giacobbe       SOR   22   S15  Res       20    1  Youth               20    1
CD   3  Filippo Maurizi        SOR   29   S12  Start    185   12  Juve Redoccio      185   12
CD  19  Sebastiano Lomolini ©  SOR   34   S03  Start    471    6  Youth              471    6
CD   4  Michele Giulotti       SOR   28   S11  Start    126    2  Astello Mare       126    2
CD   2  Usher Collins          EFL   19   S17  Bench     13    0  Mount Salt FA/EFL   13    0
CD  26  Claudio della Torre    SOR   20   S16  Res        4    0  Youth                4    0
RD   5  Emanuele Carletti      SOR   25   S14  Start    128    2  Catrallo Calcio    128    2
DM   6  Federico Pozzi         SOR   31   S12  Bench    181    5  US San Savola      274    7
DM  20  Petor Szektkovsky      TJU   23   S16  Start     48    3  CSTO Academy/TJU    48    3
LM  16  Bernardo Ravelli       SOR   23   S16  Res       17    0  Astello United      17    0
CM  18  Gabriele Grandolfo     SOR   25   S15  Bench     80    9  Madonna Nottori    166   13
CM   7  Laurence Bryger        BRE   35   S18  Start      0    0  Madonna Nottori     70    8
CM  14  Paolo Varelli          SOR   19   S18  Res        0    0  Youth                0    0
AM   8  Jacopo Marcellusi      SOR   27   S08  Start    210   19  Youth              210   19
AM  10  Marco Iotti            SOR   29   S17  Bench     25    3  Pro Stampano       234   38
AM  30  Luca Bulevardi         SOR   23   S12  Bench     80   11  Youth               80   11
ST  55  Ugo Cianci             SOR   32   S18  Bench      0    0  Pro Stampano       293   70
ST  29  Vsevolod Bogolyubsky   PYA   19   S18  Start      0    0  Di. Krasnograd/PYA   0    0 
ST  23  Matteo Carannante      SOR   22   S15  Res       16    0  Youth               16    0
ST  20  Luigi D’Annunzio       SOR   23   S18  Start      0    0  Esca Unione         64   25

Sportiva Montelcampo
Your new favorite team if…
You like chaos and footballing fun. It's not always perfect but it's a spectacle with goals - and sometimes, they even end up with a trophy.

Details

Home Stadium   Corsa Quersia (3500 seats)
Nickname       The Robins
Manager        Etern-Tylyr Von (QUS)
Sponsor        Gianculasi (car manufacturing)
Since          S1
Last Season    Third in the Serie A, first prelim of the Challengers Cup
Won            1 Serie A title (last S6), 2 Serie B titles (last S11), 2 Coppa della Stelle (last S16)
Region         San Bonifazio

Outgoing - Christian Valeri (FC Pesari, 0.5m), Luca Cigliano (FC Orsi, 0.2m), Claudio Zagaria (Catrallo Athletic, 0.2m), Fabio Priola (Porto Querio, 0.1m), Aventurine Kolar (NPH, AFC Treason (NPH), end of loan), Grigory Rijkhart (FPT, SSD Borgonovo, loan)
Incoming - Nunzio Tornaghi (US San Savola, 0.8m), Giorgio Gucci (MRC, Cazadores Cathair (AUD), 0.5m), Markus Swyripa (QUE, Zenit Attawapiskat (QUE), 0.3m), Mirko Pellizzari (Robur Astello, 0.3m), Filippo Covi (youth academy), Fiorenzo Magnaldi (youth academy)

Targets and means - Twelve more months of Qusmiball! The board from the Robins announced with a big smile and the fans nodded in agreement, these are great days in the history of this club which might be the only one who truly, structurally, can put their foot next to the Big Three - whilst running on half the budget or even less. More of the same was also the steering motive in the off-season: in part because things are going well, in part because it is a fairly cheap tactic. Things ended however with Aventurine Kolar who, after two years of physically dominating Ortelian midfields, returned to the Zenith to win a spot with one of the best - if not, the best - club teams in the multiverse, AFC Treason. Quite a task, but during her time with Sportiva, she was both feared and inspiring. Kolar’s departure leaves a far bigger hole in the line-up than the other ones, which range from mediocre substitutes (Zagaria, Priola, Cigliano), over players needing minutes elsewhere (the appreciated Rijkhart) to players who simply didn’t fit the philosophy: journeyman Christian Valeri is a gentle giant and a hard worker, but going to your fourth club in as many seasons is never a good sign - maybe being a likeable back-up in a bigger club, rather than the sole technically limited element in a line-up, could be a lucrative career move for him. All in all, you could say that only one player’s departure will be lamented in the stands.

This means that Von can bring more of his signature, energetic 3-4-3 to the pitch. Between the stakes, Pino - the first player to hit five-hundred games at the top level in San Ortelio - gets a better back-up with Pellizzarri, although you could debate whether someone who didn’t play for Robur will form a genuine reinforcement for Sportiva. And, considering the international agenda, Pino will need some relief days. No changes in the defensive unit as, after a few ups and downs, the trio there grew to a higher level. Edoardo Ferrera needed some time to grow into his role as back three leader, being accustomed to having four guys in line, but seems closer than ever to an invite for the national selection. In due time, the same will go for Valerio Cattai, if he gets his headers sorted out. Nameless soldier Giannoti or veteran stand-in Sarcinella are some of the lesser known elements of this club, but they do what they need to do without much complaints. However, if an injury would hit Ferrera or Cattai, one can wonder whether the defense has enough mobility and passing skills to survive a high pressure. It seems as if Von has grown aware of that as well, especially as Kolar used to balance out the side. Despite tight finances, the Robins managed to take the ‘Moneyball’ approach and replaced her with two types. Nunzio Tornaghi is technically limited but the type of player you miss when he’s not around - he can pick up the defensive work for now. Operating from the left side, Giorgio Gucci is intended to fit in, bowing on his rich experience with Caza, he can have the volume and forward-thinking required in this tactical plan. Both additions seem to suit the house style - regular guys with a taste for teamwork.

Their addition leaves space for the maestro behind the line-up to do his thing. As the years go by, Jon Nonhagatte has completely given up on the physical work and we can't remember him actually sprinting, but as long as he keeps spreading those passes like butter on a hot toast, the Sportiva fans will adore him. The deep lying playmaker is the face of this eleven and that comes with a downside - without Kolar, he's hard to replace as the bench contains hard workers who boot it forward: Delvino, Sparandeo, Magnaldi, … good elements but there it is. The sole solution if and when Jon needs to sit out a game is to pull back Ercole Mazzone. No one would call him a star and he lacks the sparkly bit for that but for Montelcampo, he's a top notch attacking midfielder. His back-up Barletta has more potential but struggles with consistency and can be bullied out of a game. Von sticks to his three-man attack with Pambianco, the man who never seems to age, on the right. His production is a steady assurance and he does it through all methods, making him hard to stop. Opposite to him, the short and fast Cadili ravages opposition with his rushes. If he can convert a few more of the numerous chances he creates, he must be on his way abroad. Lastly, there's the deep striker. The experiment with the tall Valeri didn't work out, giving youngster Cotillard the floor. The Quebecois-Ortelian took his chance and looks ready to be a starter. However, given his inexperience, Von deemed it wise to cover him with a veteran back-up. Swyripa might be 35 already but doesn't seem to be here just to cash out. Curious whether the two will reinforce one another or not. In summary, Sportiva has a great attacking section but they can't rely on a defensive front - expect goals, drama and a spot near, but not in, the title race.

Selection

Pos Nr  Name                   Nat  Age  Since Role    ClGa ClGo  Previous Club     CaGa CaGo
GK   1  Pasquale Pino          SOR   37   S01  Start    519   0   Youth              519    0
GK  13  Mirko Pellizzari       SOR   24   S18  Bench      0   0   Robur Astello       19    0
LD   2  Manuele Giannoti       SOR   30   S12  Start    162   2   Robur Astello      211    2
CD   4  Francesco Sarcinella   SOR   35   S11  Bench    178   6   US San Savola      277    8
CD  20  Valerio Cattai         SOR   22   S15  Start     53   2   Youth               53    2
CD   3  Edoardo Ferrera        SOR   29   S17  Start     38   1   Fagli Cinquanta    203    4
CD  25  Filippo Covi           SOR   20   S18  Res        0   0   Youth                0    0
RD  15  Daniele Spureo         SOR   31   S15  Res       41   1   Fagli Cinquanta    181    9
DM   6  Fabio Sparandeo        SOR   31   S12  Bench    198   8   FC Pesari          246    8
DM  18  Nunzio Tornaghi        SOR   24   S18  Start      0   0   US San Savola      143    4
LM  18  Giorgio Gucci          MRC   28   S18  Start      0   0   Caza. Cathair/AUD    0    0 
CM   7  Leonardo Delvino       SOR   28   S09  Bench    198  18   Youth              198   18
CM   8  Joan Nonhagatte ©      FFD   36   S16  Start     65  15   KT Moreazerua/AUD   65   15
CM  14  Fiorenzo Magnaldi      SOR   18   S18  Res        0   0   Youth                0    0
AM  10  Ercole Mazzone         SOR   26   S11  Start    187  51   Youth              187   51
AM  22  Giusto Barletta        SOR   22   S16  Bench     30   5   Youth               30    5
RW  11  Andrea Pambianco       SOR   34   S14  Start    130  70   Pro Stampano       385  151
RW  19  Francisco Priola       SOR   27   S13  Bench     86  20   Fratelli d’Anezzo   86   20
ST  12  Angelo Cotillard       SOR   20   S16  Bench     36  15   Youth               36   15
ST   9  Markus Swyripa         QUE   35   S18  Start      0   0   Zenit Attawap./QUE   0    0
LW  17  Luca Cadili            SOR   21   S16  Start     74  17   US San Savola      104   23
LW  16  Salvatore Rocco        SOR   24   S16  Res       19   4   Catrallo Calcio     38    9

SSD Borgonovo
Your new favorite team if…
You believe that football should be for the regular people and not some cash cow. Oh, and you vote for the Partito Socialista Popolare, of course.

Details

Home Stadium   Stadio del Fiume (5300 seats)
Nickname       Il Socio
Manager        Diego Chiesa
Sponsor        NutriPe (canning)
Since          S3
Last Season    Second in the Serie B, semi-finals in the Coppa
Won            1 Serie B title
Region         San Bonifazio

Outgoing - Archer Pearson (Pesari, 1.4m), Mattia Santoro (Catrallo Athletic, 0.2m), Giulio Boffeli (FC Pesari, 0.2m), Gianluca Boffeli (Stampano Socio, free), Giorgio Fietta (retirement)
Ingoing - Faith Krupp (ESL, Ottawa Geese (ESL), 0.5m), Raffaele Marchese (Inter Catrallo, 0.4m), Marco Fazio (Virtus Redoccio, 0.4m), Simone Pasciolo (Madonna Nottori, 0.2m), Grigory Rijkhart (FPT, Sportiva Montelcampo, loan)

Targets and means - One point four million. Well how about that. Il Socio won the lottery with the departure of Archer Pearson but as much as the Murphtannian youngster adds to the treasury, he leaves as a hole on the pitch. His infiltrations and goal oriented skills gave Borgonovo their best season in a decade with a deep run in the Coppa and a Serie B appearance where there was no need to look behind (aka a massive success). When Diego Chiesa took over three years ago, there was a lot of doubt on the laptop manager but the club stuck to their guns and got rewarded for it. Question is whether he will be able to continue building his club without the star talent. The off-season didn't look particularly bad, but it was difficult to determine a logic. The goodbye to Santoro made sense, he never really fitted in. That the homegrown brothers Boffeli left was met with more raised eyebrows. Chiesa calmly explained that the static defenders no longer suited the style of play and whilst this seems to be a valid argument, expect the fans to chant the names of the local, popular duo when things go downhill. On the incoming side there was… A bit of everything as long as it wasn't too expensive. It's a continuity throughout the transfer windows of SSD so we're not too surprised but it makes it hard to look to the upcoming season with a 100% certainty they won't battle against relegation again.

In goal, the duo remains the same. Giulio Mosca still suffers from ups and downs. For Chiesa it suffices that he's tall and has decent feet, so that works out. The notably anonymous back four gets reinforced with Simone Pasciolo and that could be a good steal. His club Nottori was known for its defensive inaptitude but many direct opponents had positive words for his workrate and tackle. Still, it leaves Borgonovo with a back four which is on the slower side and will not push forward that much - so without the Boffeli's, they mainly lose experience. Take a second look at Bertolini, he's got potential to be a starter once the years inevitably get Puuk. Are most alternatives meagre in defense, than the central midfield is rather stacked. Four names with a claim for a spot and only two positions. Based on the warm-up games, we put our money on Fazio and Lang, which would remarkably prioritize work rate over technical baggage. Luo Lang has the profile of a basketball player but his miles and sacrifice get appreciated by fans and teammates. Next to him, newcomer Fazio is out for a vengeance. Tossed aside by Virtus over his age, he wants to prove that his fighting spirit, energy and omnipresence still can add something to a Serie Nazionale side. A born captain, expect him to push his mates to the limit. But that means that the actual man with the ribbon, Paolo Castelli, needs to wait for playing minutes. A deep-lying general, Castelli has been vital to this side so often it seems unthinkable to bench him - Chiesa is taking another risk here. Luckily, Castelli is a gentleman, but the passionate fan base might not appreciate this move.

Next, there are the 19y old talents, starting with Carlo Carlesi who convinced during his ample playing minutes and will make the decision making only harder for coach Chiesa. Fairly short for his position, he nonetheless is both crafty in possession as in getting in possession. Lastly, there is Sportiva loanee Rijkhart who came here in search for on-pitch time but who will have an uphill battle - despite his hard work and positive spirit. In some games, one of the benchers could take up the spot of the creative but fragile number ten, Spizzichino. Slightly mopy off the pitch, he's no fan favourite. This cannot be said about Nkechi Orjee, the lightning bolt on the left wing. A proud Kitaran-Ortelian, he quickly grew into a household name for the leftist club. Curious whether his counterpart Faith Krupp can win the hearts of the fans as swiftly but during preseason, the Eshian seemed ready for the hard task which will be replacing Pearson. A good pair of wingers, in short, but one that lacks backup in this rather unbalanced squad. For the position of sole striker, that backup exists although the quality is contested. Homegrown Ciriello has some potential but hasn't scored anything which wasn't a tap-in and newcomer Marchese got his marching orders from Inter over his lack of production. So expect more of born Borgonovan Federico Celli, a peculiar figure with a loud and clear opinion, but a decent enough targetman for this club. In general, this SSD has a strong engine in the heart of the pitch and a good enough attacking line-up, but Chiesa will need to work miracles with the defensive setup to truly aim for more than a "season with not too much worries".

Selection

Pos Nr  Name                   Nat  Age  Since Role    ClGa ClGo  Previous Club     CaGa CaGo
GK  99  Giulio Mosca           SOR   26   S13  Start     70    0  FC Pesari           71    0
GK   1  Roope Helminen         HRK   20   S17  Bench      7    0  Dünamo Tüparu/HRK    7    0
LD  13  Luca Mangano           SOR   29   S12  Start    174    2  Esca Unione        240    3
LD   2  Lorenzo Gambino        SOR   33   S10  Res      156    3  Motori Vitale      156    3
CD   4  Tommi Puuk             HRK   36   S16  Start     55    0  Linn. Harseni/HRK   55    0
CD  14  Simone Pasciolo        SOR   25   S18  Start      0    0  Madonna Nottori     65    3
CD  16  Fausto Bertolini       SOR   20   S17  Bench     11    1  Youth               11    1
RD   5  Davide Dellavedova     SOR   24   S14  Res       50    1  Virtus Redoccio     50    1
RD  17  Giovanni Fontana       SOR   28   S17  Start     71    4  Forza Catrallo      76    4
DM   6  Paolo Castelli ©       SOR   36   S09  Bench    276   38  Inter Catrallo     396   58
DM  21  Carlo Carlesi          SOR   19   S17  Bench     16    2  FC Pesari           16    2
CM  66  Luo Lang               YZH   27   S16  Start     62    5  Yincheng Guo./YZH   62    5
CM  16  Marco Fazio            SOR   34   S18  Start      0    0  Virtus Redoccio    350   26
CM  27  Grigory Rijkhart       FPT   19   S18  Bench      0    0  Sportiva Montelc.   10    0
AM  10  Lorenzo Spizzichino    SOR   26   S15  Start     83   19  FC Pesari          106   22
AM  20  Mario De Lucia         SOR   28   S11  Res      102   10  Forza Catrallo     102   10
LW  23  Nkechi Orjee           SOR   22   S16  Start     59   16  PRIND Razzi         59   16
RW  11  Faith Krupp            ESL   23   S18  Start      0    0  Ottawa Geese/ESL     0    0
ST   9  Federico Celli         SOR   29   S17  Start     47   12  Sportiva Montelc.  225   84
ST  15  Pasquale Ciriello      SOR   20   S16  Bench     31    5  Youth               31    5
ST  22  Raffaele Marchese      SOR   23   S18  Bench      0    0  Inter Catrallo      99   13

US San Savola
Your new favorite team if…
Ehm. That’s a tough one, they’re the grey mouse of the league despite those shirts. San Savola sits on the geographical outside of the map and does its own thing. It’s not sexy but it works. If that’s your thing?

Details

Home Stadium   Dietro Baracche (3000 seats)
Nickname       None, really. No one talks about them enough for that
Manager        Rafael Hythewater (NPH)
Sponsor        Il Falco (household tools)
Since          S1
Last Season    Fifth in the Serie B
Won            2 Serie B titles (last S14), 1 Coppa delle Stella (last S4)
Region         San Mamerto

Outgoing - Rafael Hythewater (NPH, retired to coach), Nunzio Tornaghi (Sportiva Montelcampo, 0.8m), Saverio D’Agostino (RES Quartella, free), Alessandro Cappelluzzo (Nyva Zvornik (MYT), 0.3m)
Incoming - Sandro Zanoni (FC Pesari, 0.3m), Pietro Spedalieri (Madonna Nottori, 0.2m), Flavio Stramaccioni (Virtus Redoccio, 0.4m), Ansom Payne (NPH, Anhedron Wanderers FC (TKT), free), Emilio Jørnsson (GRF, Altendalur (GRF), free), Guiseppe Zungri (youth academy)

Targets and means - From today onwards, US San Savola starts a new era with Rafael Hythewater at the helm. The Nepharim globetrotter had two prolific years in the defense of the club and has been handpicked by former manager Oscar Fincato as his successor. The previous one disappears behind the screens as director, a role possibly better suited to his character and will do his best to help the debutant to make it through a potentially difficult debut season. In part as he gets thrown for the lion's cage with no experience, but also with little budget and a mixed bag of a squad. US San Savola has a small but nifty talent factory on its premises, but it's par for the course that they finance the whole undertaking - sponsor Il Falco puts the least money on the table of all Serie Nazionale outfits, according to those in the know. This year, it was Nunzio Tornaghi who balanced the books by exchanging Dietro Baracche for glory at Sportiva, leaving behind some money but also tactical woes: whilst not a completely finished product yet, he did more than his bit for the balance. Hythewater, aware that staying up is the key task now weakest link Nottori dropped for the promising Bears, focussed on getting experience and fighting spirit on board, players with something to prove and hopefully the same grinta as the skipper.

Between the stakes, Nobile got mixed feedback but did grab some key points in last year's Serie B where relegation came too close for comfort. As long as his back-up is Agnano, we don't see much reason for worry for the man with the number one shirt. He might scratch his head a bit, nonetheless, when inspecting the state of the four in front of him. The gaffer was replaced by another battle-hardened Nepharim in Ansom Payne but in combination with Biancu, that’s not really the recipe for mobility with back-ups that are either quite old, very young or inexplicably still signed with a professional club (I’m looking at you, Santi). Fast feet are available on the left with the energetic Trisha Nzonzi whose diminutive size hasn’t stopped her from becoming a fan favourite. She’s both an asset and a liability, depending on the game and might need her side to play forward more to really shine - but can San Savola execute that? On a positive note, she is an example of the youth that Hythewater hopes to develop amidst the relegation woes: her back-up Pardini has some potential and on the right, old-timer La Rosa got surpassed by Zungri, a youngster that could develop into a reliable wingback. Whilst in individuals there are good things available, it will be Hythewater’s first and foremost task to mold them together into a strong unit so their limitations are covered. We can expect this to go with ups and downs. This sentiment of a ‘mixed bag’ runs on towards the midfield which has theoretically a bit of everything: working horses, playmakers and wingers. The question is what four will get the highest result.

Based on the pre-season, Hythewater tried to shield his back four with a fairly defensive line-up with often unnoticed number six Ladinetti taking care of the dirty work. He’s a player with limitations, but opens up the floor for others. In his two seasons with the club, Rashid Averroes grew into a determining player with his initiative and volume. Not everything the former Alqamar player touches turns into gold, but last year he often was the sole link between attack and defense. This should be reinforced with Sandro Zanoni who parted with FC Pesari but arrived with lots of hunger for vengeance. The former Pesari captain was deemed a negative force for the club but his experience and grit could bring out the best with young talent Giovanni Letti. In this squad, few doubt that he’s the one who possesses that rare (definitely in San Savola) magic but as much of a crafty passer he might be, he needs a better action radius. This weakness might lead to chances for Spedalieri, the prototype of a big talent but at his third club in as many seasons - if he fulfills his potential, he’s a great playmaker near the box, but that’s an ‘if’. Similar sounds around Tarallo, who exchanges the best with the worst to the frustration of the stands. And there’s more unhoned talent there, with the nifty Emilio Jornsson. The general sense of the midfield is that talent is not the issue but turning that into statistics. For that, we’ll probably need to turn to the four forwards who each make a decent claim for a starting position. Flavio Stramaccioni was barred at Virtus and left in search of minutes - he’s hardworking and a very good second striker, but no goal machine. Brand-new captain Kowac ain’t either (anymore) but he does have the positioning and header to score that difficult first one. Based on the numbers, Astograthian Elizabe might be the clearest head in front of goal - he really took a step forward last year and grew from an unknown quantity into a looked-after forward. In theory, the nimble Marigu should challenge all three but his last years were unconvincing and he might be on the road down despite not hitting thirty yet. Considering the young talents and diversity in the selection, this is not the worst San Savola selection in recent history but Hythewater will have a lot of work to turn that into an effective, winning team that escapes relegation.

Selection

Pos Nr  Name                   Nat  Age  Since Role    ClGa ClGo  Previous Club     CaGa CaGo
GK   1  Giacomo Nobile         SOR   26   S17  Start     35    0  Madonna Nottori    177    1
GK  22  Domenico Agnano        SOR   22   S14  Bench      7    0  Youth                7    0
LD   2  Trisha Nzonzi          CYI   22   S16  Start     61    5  Rosche. Pride/CYI   61    5
LD  12  Mattia Pardini         SOR   20   S17  Res        8    0  Youth                8    0
CD   3  Giorgio Biancu         SOR   25   S14  Start     89    2  Lovani FC           89    2
CD   4  Antonio Cocco          SOR   36   S05  Bench    308   33  AS Esca            364   37
CD  24  Rafaelle Santi         SOR   28   S13  Res       41    1  FC Pesari           64    1
CD  13  Ansom Payne            NPH   31   S18  Start      0    0  Anhedron Wand./TKT   0    0
CD  17  Giuseppe Zungri        SOR   17   S18  Res        0    0  Youth                0    0
RD  15  Paolo La Rosa          SOR   34   S07  Bench    305    1  Pro Stampano       325    1
RD   5  Gaetano Zungri         SOR   20   S16  Start     19    0  Youth               19    0
DM   6  Bernardo Ladinetti     SOR   28   S10  Start    190    8  Youth              190    8
CM  20  Giovanni Letti         SOR   21   S15  Start     76    9  Youth               76    9
CM   8  Sandro Zanoni          SOR   35   S18  Start      0    0  FC Pesari          433   74
CM   7  Rashid Averroes        AMH   26   S16  Start     64   11  Alqamar/AMH         64   11
CM  21  Flavio Sbrissa         SOR   19   S17  Res        3    0  Youth                3    0
AM  25  Pietro Spedalieri      SOR   21   S18  Bench      0    0  Madonna Nottori     32    6
LW  99  Emilio Jørnsson        GRF   20   S18  Res        0    0  Altendalur/GRF       0    0
RW  23  Benito Tarallo         SOR   21   S16  Res       25    1  Youth               25    1
ST  10  Flavio Stramaccioni    SOR   32   S18  Start      0    0  Virtus Redoccio    234   84
ST  11  Samuele Marigu         SOR   29   S12  Bench    151   37  Pro Stampano       218   50
ST   9  Wlatko Kowac ©         ZRH   38   S16  Start     61   23  DD Porto Nowi/ZRH   61   23
ST  34  Zadornin Elizabe       ASG   24   S17  Bench     27   10  Bakartirla B./ASG   27   10

Virtus Redoccio
Your new favorite team if…
You think that the ideal moment to support a topclub is when they’re at their lowest. Only success ahead, right? If you ignore the question ‘when’.

Details

Home Stadium   Valle Farnese (5000 seats)
Nickname       The Strawberries
Manager        Albino Romero (JUV)
Sponsor        Odiol (shipping manufacturing)
Since          S1
Last Season    Second in the Serie A, semis of the Coppa
Won            4 Serie A titles (last S12), 3 Coppa delle Stella (last S13)
Region         San Servazio

Outgoing - Alberto Di Cosmo (Lanar (CMT), 1.2m), Marco Fazio (SSD Borgonovo, 0.4m), Flavio Stramaccioni (US San Savola, 0.4m), Domard Prudhomme (GVN, Railyard (SFD), 0.3m), Alessandro Cernigio (Juve Redoccio, 0.2m), Iacopo Fantacci (Northern (SFD), 0.1m)
Incoming - Bryant Marshall (BOL, Vreton City FC (BOL), 1.2m), Paulina Philipsdottir (0.9m, Esca Unione), Luca Bonomi (Politecnica, 0.4m), Falco Borghesi (youth academy), Marcello Tomei (youth academy), Yegor Uralets (PYA, Pyazhnny Futbolni Akademiya (PYA), free)

Targets and means - It’s the third year since the Odiol company took over the ownership from the second-most decorated club of the country and they surely are not regretting it yet. Was Albino Romero mainly focussed on cleaning the rubble in his maiden year, then last year focussed on looking up again. The result of this process remained processing, challenging the unbeatable Catrallo Calcio for quite a bit of the road. But in the business end, the gaps in the line-up glared through and made clear that there still was a gap between being a force and being dominant in this league. It is no secret that Virtus aims to close that gap, but they clearly have no intent to sacrifice the long-term target - becoming that hegemon - over a quick title. The off-season seemed centered on getting a younger, more consistent squad and emotions were not to get in the way. Even some loyal club players such as Stramaccioni and Fazio, with respectively five and ten years in the red-and-green shirt to their name, were kindly escorted to the exit. Hard choices, but any foreign analyst would ask the simple question “what would they add from the bench otherwise”. More surprising was the goodbye from Prudhomme who, despite the limits of his profile, always played his game from the right-back, but the coach looks forth to more attacks and pressure from the wings. The sympathetic Gouvanarchan parts for Sanford, as does young globetrotter Fantacci. But the highest profile switch - and a welcome capitalization from the treasury - came from Alberto Di Cosmo. Despite a few worldclass games, Di Cosmo never really clicked with the style from Romero. After all, he’s at times a highlight reel player, missing efficiency - let’s hope he can turn that image around in Chromatika, away from the pressure and expectations from the domestic press.

Despite this royal check from Lanar and a supportive sponsor, the club managed a perfectly balanced transfer record. That they can do so is in part the result of a strong youth system which has dominated the Serie Primavera for three years running, not only ensuring two more youth players of a pro contract but also giving the Strawberries an attractive image for young players both domestically and abroad. In this philosophy, the acquisition of Philipsdottir from Esca raised an eyebrow or two. Whilst it was obvious that the energetic right wing could handle a higher level than Unione, she just hit thirty. Still, Albino Romero considers her rare profile - attacking and efficient without being too rash - and knowledge of the league a good tool to make his back four more forward-oriented. It has been a sore point for a while, with Curiale and Prudhomme being reliable but conservative on each side - the former, an Ortelian international after all, could stay. The central duo mixes the slow but shrewd Pace with Mallerbury, the Ko-orenite who in little time become one of the best and talented defenders in the league. Behind these four, a string of eager youngsters such as Tomei, Riggiano and the incredibly mature Alessandri are ready to pick up any chances for minutes. As such, the experienced Serafino Evacuo knows things will look good in front of him - and in case of trouble, he’s more than a decent goalie himself. Goofball reserve 10N F10 is a fan favourite. The fortress in the back gets topped off with Fabrizio Confalonieri, the brand-new captain and a prime example of a no-prisoner-taken number six. A ‘mean machine’ type, but he will get his troops fall in line and execute their tasks, so he’s excused for his limited technique.

With a brutal slasher such as ‘Confa’ on the pitch and a loyal, crafty box-to-box as Bagheria by his side, your other midfielders immediately get relieved of their duties and can bring out their creativity. For long, additional names were expected in this compartment of the pitch but Romero trusts in his young guns to get on the case. Putting over a million on the table for a 21-year old raised a fair few eyebrows but already in preseason, Bollonischian Bryant Marshall showed that Virtus will not be the final station of his route to the top. Combining vision and execution, he will be a major weapon in the build-up. By his side, there is 18-year old Falco Borghesi who transfers from the youth to the first team in a blink. Madness or even tokenism, some claim, but Falco is something special for sure. He’s difficult to label, being mobile and roaming the pitch, but he always does something good and vertical when given the leather. Can this pair of nuggets already carry the team? It’s an open question but the trust from the staff is telling. If they manage to direct the play, they will provide for possibly the best-matched striking partnership of the league. Zsinko, the powerful, iconic and laconic Pasargan goal machine not only makes nets and opponents tremble, he also forms a point of confidence for the team and someone to toss a ball to in difficult times. His buddy, on and off the pitch, Péricard might miss his strength but runs rings around opposition with his sprints and whimsy. It’s a classic formula, but such a thing becomes a classic because it works. In the shadow of this duo, two newcomers to professional football will try to earn their stripes: Bonomi got stunning figures in the second tier but let’s see how that translates and no one heard Uralets speak a word yet, but he did rip a net with his shot during his first training session. This club is loaded with talent and has a strong setup, but it will take another big step forward from Borghesi and Marshall to put this club level with Catrallo Calcio.

Selection

Pos Nr  Name                   Nat  Age  Since Role    ClGa ClGo  Previous Club     CaGa CaGo
GK   1  Serafino Evacuo        SOR   31   S12  Start    209    0  US San Savola      397    0
GK  10  Ion Fio                AUD   26   S16  Bench      1    0  Equipo Caiman/TEQ    1    0
LD   2  Luca Curiale           SOR   26   S09  Start    213    8  Youth              213    8
LD  29  Marino Tomei           SOR   23   S14  Bench     35    1  Youth               35    1
CD   3  Rocco Mirarchi         SOR   30   S12  Bench    178    1  Sportiva Montel.   287    2
CD  22  Ricardo Pace           ETN   35   S16  Start     61    1  Silexhera FC/AUD    61    1
CD  15  Livio Alessandri       SOR   18   S17  Bench      3    0  Youth                3    0
CD   4  Jubenar Mallerbury     KOR   23   S17  Start     34    1  Zilverstr. SC/KOR   70    1
RD   2  Paulina Philipsdottir  GRF   30   S18  Start      0    0  Esca Unione         70    7
RD  13  Elia Riggiano          SOR   20   S16  Res       12    0  Youth               12    0
DM   6  Fabrizio Confalonieri© SOR   32   S08  Start    317   18  Juve Redoccio      317   18
DM  14  Giovanni Lazarri       SOR   27   S15  Bench     34    2  Madonna Nottori    132    5
DM  92  Marcello Tomei         SOR   20   S18  Res        0    0  Youth                0    0
CM   8  Francesco Bagheria     SOR   27   S14  Start    113   25  Pro Stampano       178   34
CM  17  Falco Borghesi         SOR   18   S18  Start      0    0  Youth                0    0
AM  10  Bryant Marshall        BOL   21   S18  Start      0    0  Vreton City FC/BOL   0    0
AM  18  Lorenzo De Feo         SOR   20   S17  Res        1    0  Youth                1    0
ST   5  Boldizsar Zsinko       PAS   30   S16  Start     64   38  Miare CosmoSt./HIN  64   38
ST  19  Padrig Péricard        GVN   25   S17  Start     35   14  SC Gavados/GVN      35   14
ST  20  Francesco Allieva      SOR   25   S15  Bench     40   12  Esca Unione         87   26
ST  33  Luca Bonomi            SOR   19   S18  Bench      0    0  Politecnica          0    0
ST  27  Yegor Uralets          PYA   16   S18  Res        0    0  Pyazhnny FA/PYA      0    0

DM   8  Alessio Di Masi        SOR   26   S13  Start    188   26  Robur Astello      217   34
DM  16  Domenico Cappa ©       SOR   24   S12  Start    132   11  Youth              132   11
CD  22  Gennaro Di Livio       SOR   36   S08  Res      202   19  Fagli Cinq.        343   24
ST  10  Alessandro Tozzuolo    SOR   31   S06  Bench    271   71  Youth              271   71
CM   6  Gabriele Tozzuolo      SOR   29   S07  Start    275   49  Youth              275   49
CD   4  Mirco Rossi            SOR   38   S03  Bench    330   12  Politecnica Foot   330   12
DM   6  Antonio Lamberti       SOR   38   S12  Bench    131    7  Esca Unione        266   11
RA  60  Filippo Pannati        SOR   27   S08  Res      133   19  Youth              133   19
ST  19  Dennis Spaviero        SOR   22   S14  Bench     88   36  Youth               88   36
GK  22  Aniello Furlan         SOR   35   S11  Bench     27    0  VC Pesari           27    0
LD   2  Giuseppe Nicoletti     SOR   35   S15  Bench     70    3  Sportiva Montelc.  245    7
AM  15  Flavio D’Oriano        SOR   25   S14  Res       31    2  Politecnica Foot    31    2
ST  37  Antonio Loreto         SOR   21   S15  Res       22    4  Youth               22    4
LD  18  Gian Maria Cerretti    SOR   33   S10  Bench     81    1  Pro Patria Foot    142    3
ST  11  Roberto Pella          SOR   31   S17  Start     24    3  FC Pesari          336  103
RD  13  Mattias Soomre         HRK   31   S16  Bench     19    0  Kuinopi Club/HRK    19    0
CM  15  Christian Sassi        SOR   37   S06  Bench    370   22  Catrallo Calcio    398   24
ST   9  Romeo Gozzi            SOR   28   S12  Start    170  113  FC Pesari          217  132
ST  17  Alessio Bondioli       SOR   36   S10  Bench    111   30  Pro Stampano       213   51
GK  13  Claudio Zagaria        SOR   24   S14  Bench      9   0   SSD Borgonovo        9    0
DM  15  Aventurine Kolar       NPH   24   S16  Start     60  11   AFC Treason/NPH     60   11
CM  14  Fabio Priola           SOR   27   S13  Res       26   1   Fratelli d’Anezzo   26    1
CD   4  Gianluca Boffeli       SOR   30   S07  Start    212    4  Youth              212    4
CM   8  Giorgio Fietta         SOR   31   S13  Bench     50    1  Sportiva Mont.      70    3
ST  19  Mattia Santoro         SOR   29   S16  Bench     45   14  Pro Stampano       201   52
CM  10  Saverio D’Agostino     SOR   24   S15  Bench     21    0  RES Quartella       21    0
CD  14  Rafael Hythewater      NPH   39   S16  Start     63    6  Strathcon/KSK       63    6
ST  30  Alessandro Cappelluzzo SOR   25   S16  Start     53   19  Catrallo Athletic   53   19
RD   9  Domard Prudhomme       GVN   34   S16  Start     61    4  Olym. Sarantec/GVN  61    4
CM  26  Alessandro Cernigio    SOR   29   S13  Bench     71    9  Porto Querio        87   10
AM  17  Alberto Di Cosmo       SOR   26   S16  Start     59   13  Sportiva Montel.   172   43
ST  28  Iacopo Fantacci        SOR   22   S14  Res       16    1  Youth               16    1

by **San Ortelio** » Sat Sep 18, 2021 2:46 pm

Serie Nazionale

Serie Nazionale           Pld   W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Catrallo Calcio         22  11   9   2    31   16  +15    42
 2 Virtus Redoccio         22  12   4   6    46   33  +13    40
 3 Fagli Cinquanta         22   9   9   4    26   19   +7    36
 4 Inter Catrallo          22  10   5   7    40   38   +2    35
 5 Sportiva Montelcampo    22   8   8   6    34   29   +5    32
 6 FC Pesari               22   8   6   8    22   19   +3    30
 7 Pro Stampano            22   7   8   7    18   21   −3    29
 8 FC Orsi                 22   6   6  10    18   24   −6    24
 9 SSD Borgonovo           22   6   6  10    23   31   −8    24
10 Robur Astello           22   5   8   9    18   27   −9    23
11 Esca Unione             22   4   9   9    19   25   −6    21
12 US San Savola           22   5   4  13    16   29  −13    19

Serie Interregionale

Serie Nord                 Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Vittorio Club Pesari     18   12   3   3    34   18  +16    39
 2 RES Quartella            18   10   3   5    36   26  +10    33
 3 Lovani FC                18   10   2   6    31   26   +5    32
 4 Pro Patria Foot          18    8   2   8    29   29    0    26
 5 Porto Querio             18    6   6   6    21   22   −1    24
 6 Sparta Varisa            18    6   4   8    26   28   −2    22
 7 PRIND Razzi              18    7   1  10    34   42   −8    22
 8 Stampano Socio           18    6   4   8    29   38   −9    22
 9 Ars et Labor Rattaglie   18    5   4   9    29   35   −6    19
10 Circulo Prata            18    3   5  10    16   21   −5    14

Serie Sud                  Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Juve Redoccio            18   11   3   4    41   27  +14    36
 2 Catrallo Athletic        18    9   5   4    27   18   +9    32
 3 Acciaierie Bondone       18    8   2   8    24   25   −1    26
 4 Nottori Duo              18    6   6   6    31   27   +4    24
 5 Politecnica Foot         18    7   3   8    26   28   −2    24
 6 Astello Mare             18    7   3   8    32   35   −3    24
 7 Madonna Nottori          18    6   5   7    36   41   −5    23
 8 Fratelli d'Anezzo        18    5   7   6    29   31   −2    22
 9 Barezzi Calcio           18    6   2  10    26   32   −6    20
10 Motori Vitale            18    5   4   9    23   31   −8    19

Serie A

Serie A                  Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Catrallo Calcio        10    6   2   2    19    8  +11    31
 2 Virtus Redoccio        10    5   3   2    20   11   +9    30
 3 Fagli Cinquanta        10    4   1   5    11   16   −5    22
 4 FC Pesari              10    4   1   5     7   12   −5    21
 5 Inter Catrallo         10    2   3   5    12   15   −3    19
 6 Sportiva Montelcampo   10    2   4   4     6   13   −7    18

Serie B

Serie B                 Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Pro Stampano           14    8   4   2    18    9   +9    28
2 SSD Borgonovo          14    8   3   3    22   15   +7    27
3 Esca Unione            14    5   6   3    15   10   +5    21
4 FC Orsi                14    6   3   5    21   18   +3    21
5 US San Savola          14    5   2   7    14   17   −3    17
6 Robur Astello          14    4   4   6    10   17   −7    16
7 Vittorio Club Pesari   14    3   4   7    17   23   −6    13
8 Juve Redoccio          14    3   2   9    14   22   −8    11

Serie Primavera

Serie Primavera          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Sportiva Montelcampo   22   14   4   4    61   41  +20    46
 2 FC Pesari              22   14   1   7    43   33  +10    43
 3 Inter Catrallo         22   11   3   8    23   21   +2    36
 4 Virtus Redoccio        22    8   9   5    30   28   +2    33
 5 Catrallo Calcio        22    9   4   9    40   29  +11    31
 6 Pro Stampano           22    9   3  10    19   19    0    30
 7 FC Orsi                22    8   5   9    31   30   +1    29
 8 Fagli Cinquanta        22    9   2  11    26   30   −4    29
 9 Robur Astello          22    9   2  11    18   27   −9    29
10 SSD Borgonovo          22    8   3  11    23   32   −9    27
11 Esca Unione            22    7   3  12    21   34  −13    24
12 US San Savola          22    6   1  15    16   27  −11    19

Serie Interregionale

Serie Interregionale       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Catrallo Athletic        35   18   9   8    62   44  +18    63
 2 RES Quartella            35   19   6  10    63   55   +8    63
 3 Lovani FC                35   16   8  11    61   50  +11    56
 4 Astello Mare             35   16   6  13    67   60   +7    54
 5 Politecnica Foot         35   17   3  15    56   50   +6    54
 6 Stampano Socio           35   15   9  11    61   60   +1    54
 7 Pro Patria Foot          35   15   6  14    63   63    0    51
 8 Porto Querio             35   12  10  13    58   63   −5    46
 9 Fratelli d'Anezzo        35   11  12  12    53   50   +3    45
10 Sparta Varisa            35   12   8  15    55   62   −7    44
11 Motori Vitale            35   12   8  15    54   64  −10    44
12 PRIND Razzi              35   13   5  17    52   66  −14    44
13 Madonna Nottori          35   12   7  16    69   77   −8    43
14 Acciaierie Bondone       35   13   4  18    47   56   −9    43
15 Ars et Labor Rattaglie   35   10   9  16    44   55  −11    39
16 Barezzi Calcio           35   11   5  19    51   61  −10    38
17 Nottori Duo              35   10   8  17    60   62   −2    38
18 Circulo Prata            35   10   7  18    48   56   −8    37

Coppa delle Stella

Opening Round

Vittorio Club Pesari 3–5 Politecnica Foot
PRIND Razzi 1–1 Club del Rei
Robur Astello 1–0 Il Leone
Nottori Duo 0–0 FC Orsi
Juve Redoccio 1–2 Virtus Redoccio
Inter Catrallo 1–1 Forza Catrallo
FC Pesari 2–0 Sporting Camporeale
Lovani FC 1–3 US San Savola
Pro Patria Foot 3–3 Acciaierie Bondone
Pro Stampano 0–0 SSD Borgonovo
Sparta Varisa 1–3 Madonna Nottori
RES Quartella 1–3 Catrallo Athletic
Astello Mare 3–5 Sportiva Montelcampo
Fagli Cinquanta 1–0 Porto Querio

Opening Round - Rematches

Club del Rei 0–1 PRIND Razzi
FC Orsi 2–1 Nottori Duo
Forza Catrallo 0–3 Inter Catrallo
Acciaierie Bondone 2–0 Pro Patria Foot
SSD Borgonovo 2–2 Pro Stampano (4–3 AET)

Second Round

Robur Astello 1–3 Virtus Redoccio
Catrallo Athletic 0–2 Sportiva Montelcampo
Fagli Cinquanta 3–0 Politecnica Foot
FC Pesari 3–2 Madonna Nottori
Catrallo Calcio 6–2 Acciaierie Bondone
Inter Catrallo 1–0 FC Orsi
US San Savola 0–0 SSD Borgonovo
Esca Unione 3–1 PRIND Razzi

Second Round - Rematches

SSD Borgonovo 0–2 US San Savola

Quarterfinals

Virtus Redoccio 2–0 Sportiva Montelcampo
Fagli Cinquanta 0–3 FC Pesari
Catrallo Calcio 0–3 Inter Catrallo
US San Savola 1–0 Esca Unione

Semi Finals

Virtus Redoccio 4–0 FC Pesari
Inter Catrallo 2–0 US San Savola

Final

Virtus Redoccio 1–2 Inter Catrallo

Awards

Goalkeeper of the Season

Bryony Lindt (Calcio - NPH)        234
Serafino Evacuo (Virtus)           139
Cesar Giandonato (Cinquanta)        62
Walter Moro (Pesari)                37
Jacopo Burrai (Unione)              26
Ettore Trasciani (Stampano)         22
Cesare Pasticcio (Orsi)              9
Yuri Scampini (Robur)                6
Davide Roscioli (Inter)              3
Pasquale Pino (Sportiva)             2

Defender of the Season

Jubenar Mallerbury (Virtus - KOR)  137
Giuseppe Rocca (Calcio)            124
Pietro Mazziero (Cinquanta)        101
Pau. Philipsdottir (Virtus - GRF)   45
Gaetano Lucarelli (Calcio)          34
Matteo Corriere (Pesari - AUD)      26
Vito Puma Viveiros (Calcio - TEQ)   21
Edoardo Ferrera (Sportiva)          16
Alessio Rota (Pesari)               12
Jordan Smith (Unione - SNL)         10
Franco Gualdi (Orsi)                 4
Simone Pasciolo (SSD)                4
Mirko Chiurato (Inter)               3
Manuele Pilati (Stampano)            2
Trisha Nzonzi (US - CYI)             1

Midfielder of the Season

Lorenzo Moreschini (Calcio)        139
Bryant Marshall (Virtus - BOL)     126
Attilio Quintarelli (Pesari)        56
Nidal Thamer (Calcio - PAS)         47
Yang Tao (Cinquanta - YZH)          38
Emilio Salvatori (Calcio)           36
Francesco Bagheria (Virtus)         27
Giaco Sanmicheli (Stampano - SVG)   19
Lorenzo Tosi (Pesari)               17
Yannis Kinsella (Cinquanta - TKT)   11
Giorgio Gucci (Sportiva - MRC)       9
Alberto Sgarbi (Calcio)              4
Aldon Busk (Inter - TKT)             4
Gennaro Raltano (Cinquanta)          3
Anderson Pill (Stampano - CMT)       2
Petor Szektkovsky (Robur - TJU)      1
Ercole Mazzone (Sportiva)            1

Attacker of the Season

Boldiszar Zsinko (Virtus - PAS)    159
Jules Haney (Inter - TKT)          115
Carmine Garofalo (Calcio)           89
Chikelu Okonye (Cinquanta - OSR)    55
Padrig Péricard (Virtus - GVN)      40
Jessica Murphy (Pesari - CDG)       24
Yannick Rodgers (Cinquanta - NPH)   11
Luca Cadili (Sportiva)               9
Kathleen Lagrange (Pesari - ZWZ)     8
Lenore Ransom (Stampano - CMT)       6
Angelo Cotillard (Sportiva)          6
Giovanni Saligari (Inter)            5
Faith Krupp (SSD - ESH)              4
Davide Spadoni (Calcio)              3
Zadornin Elizabe (US - ASG)          3
Manuel Volpe (Orsi)                  2
Federico Granocche (Stampano)        1

Golden Boot

26 goals - Zsinko (Virtus)
23 goals - Garofalo (Calcio)
21 goals - Haney (Inter)
15 goals - Okonye (Cinquanta)
14 goals - Volpe (Orsi)
13 goals - Murphy (Pesari)
12 goals - Péricard (Virtus), Cotillard (Sportiva), Saligari (Inter), Elizabe (US San Savola)
11 goals - Celli (Borgonovo), Ransom (Stampano), Spadoni (Calcio), Granocche (Stampano)

Save of the Year

Winner * Davide Roscioli - Stopping a penalty thrice in the semi-final of the Coppa
Nominated * Bryony Lindt - Amazing dive on a Zsinko header in the clash between Calcio and Virtus
Nominated * Jacopo Burrai - Avoided getting a long-distance chip with a perfect bicicletta
Nominated * Ion Fio - Fairly regular save which reminds us to stop televoting this thing

Goal of the Year

Winner * Valentin Spinesi - Fifty-yard dribble past six opponents of FC Orsi to backheel it in the net
Nominated * Jessica Murphy - Acrobatic volley on an outside foot cross from Lagrange
Nominated * Vera Shervatski - Unstoppable cannonball from forty metres gives Esca a victory over Calcio
Nominated * Chikelu Okonye - Chips it from a tight corner over Walter Moro through a backheel overhead kick

Trainer of the Year

Winner * Albino Romero (Virtus)
Nominated * Oliviero Tumellero (Calcio)
Nominated * Roselyn Bentum (Pesari)
Nominated * Diego Chiesa (SSD Borgonovo)

Lifetime Achievement Awards

Player - Pasquale Pino, ends a career with Sportiva Montelcampo which spanned all eighteen editions of the Serie Nazionale and over 550 games.

Trainer - Luigi Delphi, after decades in the lead at Esca Unione, the phlegmatic 'magician' is forced to retire due to health issues.

Official - Assistant referee Paolo Duttini, gets lauded for twenty-five years of service.

by **San Ortelio** » Thu Sep 30, 2021 1:28 pm

18th of July
Football
Preseason Wrap-Up

Transfer Overview

Catrallo Calcio
OUT   Mattia Brescia (Pro Stampano, 0.7m)
IN    Gianluca Trepin (youth academy)

Esca Unione
OUT   Antonio Sobrero (retired), Stefano Baiocco (Sparta Varisa, 0.1m)
IN    Dominica Aguero (JUE, FC Tiscan (JUE), free), Bruno Bordonali (youth academy)

Fagli Cinquanta
OUT   Giorgio Maio (Inter Catrallo, 0.5m), Iuri Stucci (Juve Redoccio, 0.2m), Giancarlo Laghi (Porto Querio, free)
IN    Samantha Alexander (TLI, Stonehouse Athletic (TLI), 0.354m), Adalberto Siboni (Vittorio Club Pesari, 0.3m), Giorgio Finco (youth academy)

FC Orsi
OUT   Rino Uliano (Ars et Labor Rattaglie, 0.1m), Guido Gorini (retired)
IN    Mladen Sikimic (ZRH, Aleiusia Capitals (ZRH), 0.5m), Mauro Furlan (youth academy)

FC Pesari
OUT   Michele Cambasso (US San Savola, 0.2m), Giuseppe Proietto (retired), Gioacchino Russo (retired) 
IN    Usher Collins (EFL, Robur Astello, 0.8m), Lorenzo Nannetti (Pro Stampano, 0.6m), Pier Luigi Vitali (Haitiens (TEQ), free)

Inter Catrallo
OUT   Marco Dotti (retired)
IN    Giorgio Maio (Fagli Cinquanta, 0.5m)

Pro Stampano
OUT   Lorenzo Nannetti (FC Pesari, 0.6m), Ivan Siano (Stampano Socio, 0.1m), Simone Rossi (retired)
IN    Mattia Brescia (Catrallo Calcio, 0.7m), Gregory Nana (QAD, National Academy (QAD), free), Vincenzo Milan (youth academy)

Robur Astello
OUT   Usher Collins (EFL, FC Pesari, 0.8m), Federico Pozzi (retired)
IN    Ernest Garrison (TKT, Guillarim Blades (TIK), 0.5m), Daniele Spureo (Sportiva Montelcampo, 0.4m)

Sportiva Montelcampo
OUT   Daniele Spureo (Robur Astello, 0.4m), Francisco Priola (SSD Borgonovo, 0.4m), Pasquale Pino (retired)
IN    Elpidio Campoy (1m, HSP, Royal Mandrid), Filippo Bartoli (FC Lovisa, 0.2m), Carlo Panini (youth academy)

SSD Borgonovo
OUT   Tommi Puuk (HRK, Stampano Socio, free), Mario De Lucia (Club del Rei, free), Lorenzo Gambino (retired)
IN    Rocco Mirarchi (Virtus Redoccio, 0.5m), Francisco Priola (Sportiva Montelcampo, 0.4m), Valerio Zamboni (youth academy)

US San Savola
OUT   Samuele Marigu (Motori Vitale, 0.1m), Sandro Zanoni (retired), Domenico Agnoni (Nottori Duo, free)
IN    Michele Cambasso (FC Pesari, 0.2m), Davide Trillo (Barezzi Calcio, 0.2m), Sigmund Perth (NPH, Leichhardt (NPH), free)

Virtus Redoccio
OUT   Rocco Mirarchi (SSD Borgonovo, 0.5m)
IN    Carthy Yila (CMT, Avidia City (KRY), 0.7m)

The Ten Best Stories of the Transfer Window
A selection of excerpts by our editors from Tuttosport

Quiet for no Storm - When the Silly Season goes Sensible

With the deadline now fast approaching, it can be anticipated that the lack of activity on the transfer market will just carry on till the finish line. For a few years on end, each summer someone lit the fire, leading to a flurry of moves and board rooms suddenly finding bags of cash left and right. But this time, it will rather fizzle out until some bean-counter over at the SOCCER [ed. San Ortelio Confederazione Calcio Extra Regionale or FA] calls it a day and puts us all out of our misery. And at that point, it will have been plenty enough. As foolish as it sounds, it’s the sensibility we have to blame. The voice of reason which suddenly sweeps through the management staffs from the Big Three. In a usual cycle, these tended to (over)spend on players from lower-ranked teams who in turn could pass around the buck once the big guns had opened up their bank accounts. But right now, all are looking in the direction of a Big Three who seem entirely satisfied with the early completed line-up.

Champion Catrallo Calcio has been standing by their ‘never change a winning team’ for a while now, but this season there was not even a move out of bare necessity. With Thamer last year, the puzzle fitted and Tumellero hopes to simply bring more of that with the same old names on the drawing board - bar reserve Mattia Brescia. Similar vibes over at Virtus Redoccio. Since the Juvencan staff from Odiol took over the key positions in the club, there suddenly seems to be a plan behind their transfer policy. Last season, when they came inches short of the title, it was clear that that plan had as good as come together. For the last bits, the Strawberries are looking abroad rather than domestically. Only FC Pesari gave as much as a gentle push to the market, picking up two players who moved a step up the ranks last season in Collins and Nannetti - but both recipients remained calm and Pesari manager Bentum declared the homework done early on. Add to that a Sportiva which makes its key move on the international rather than the domestic market and we can snooze through till deadline day - and beyond.

”Hey captain, where’s your ribbon?” Why Sandro Zanoni deserved a Different Last Chapter

Esca Unione - US San Savola was a dead rubber, both in terms of the classification and in spirit. The ample fans on the stands were already discussing their holiday plans, as were the tourists on the pitch. Near the end of the bloodless draw, visiting coach Rafael Hythewater waved Emilio Jørnsson from the bench. No minute too late, as Sandro Zanoni - fifteen years older than his replacement - already limped to the touchline after what had been his last moments as professional footballer. Seventeen seasons at the highest level ended with a meagre applause. A key part in three titles and a Coppa but it seemed as if a ghost left Stadio Scarpa: no interviews, no flowers, no souvenirs. No one knew that Sandro Zanoni called it a day there and then, a man who should deserve at least a standing ovation from a packed stadium the next time Sportiva and Pesari - the two teams in whose shirt he got immortalized - meet.

Although we fear it will have to be in Montelcampo, as the departure from Pesari came as a blow. Overnight, the energetic midfielder, the reliable captain became a hesitant veteran and, during the last few months, in San Savola, a liability. Brought in to lead the young midfield from US, Hythewater found a man heartbroken from the harsh goodbye from I Pappagalli. Scrapped out of the plan by Bentum, Zanoni still had the desire to make a difference but the holy fire appeared to have been quenched by the decision from the Licentian. Rather than taking the lead, he looked out of place in the difficult relegation battle for which San Savola rather had to believe in players such as Averroes, Letti and Elizabe. Away fans easily picked out Zanoni as a heckling subject but rather than giving him a bit more fuel, each snide seemed to hit him straight in the tendons. So rather than the shadow of a man that hobbled off the pitch at Stadio Scarpa, we will remember Sandro Zanoni lifting the Champions’ Trophy for Pesari or leading the midfield battle for the Robins as it is that player that has earned his cantù for not one but two supporter gangs. Let us hope they once sing them together, in honour of this valiant player, an example for every young Ortelian footballer.

Fallen Angels - The Other Side of the Coin

When the Ortelian football burst onto the international scene and flabbergasted the multiverse with their triumph in the Di Bradini Cup, some youngsters couldn’t be fast enough to part ways with the mainland. Gold, glory and griumphs were predicted on their paths. And indeed, for some this dastardly move did work out fine - a Daniele Gagliano transferred to Atlantian Oceania and earned his spot in the line-up of the internationally reputed Soldarian FC. But as we kick of the nineteenth season of the Serie Nazionale, two of those fortune seekers are back at the threshold of the domestic clubs, having to make their way back from the bench. For Pier Luigi Vitali, who saw his Tequiloan employer implode, ambitions could be held even if at 21, he has seen far too few first-team minutes - let alone games - for his deployment. The unpredictable, technically apt striker should still be there and with his arrival, Roselyn Bentum gets an extra weapon. But she will have to point it in the right direction, as his tendency to proverbially disappear on the pitch is a known issue. As Bentum seems to keep focus on one-woman attack Murphy after her consistent season, Vitali will have to take his moments to make himself important enough to bend the tactics.

Two years ago, we would have predicted that a club like US San Savola would throw out all its gameplans just for the arrival of a Davide Trillo. But the attacking midfielder only gained a minimum contract for the financially weakest side of the league based on his name and - according to the rumors - a personal sponsor. Despite a good start at Ethanian Cadadale, things quickly unraveled for him. Rumors of public drunkenness were followed up by speeding tickets, a hazy story on shoplifting and an eviction for violence. Being rock bottom, only the amateurs of Barezzi Calcio considered allowing the overweight and out-of-form player on their training ground. In six games with the club, who fell to the third tier, Trillo couldn’t get on the scoreboard and didn’t stand out. Although he looked sharper again when Hythewater collected his troops for the start of the year, those in the know claim he’s a shadow of the exciting prospect he once was with Nottori.

Losing their Mind or One Step Ahead? Pesari and the Collins Case

In what has been a mellow transfer window, the name of Usher Collins is a rather surprising one to lead the financial tables for a domestic-to-domestic transfer and it was Pesari who whipped out the wallet to grab that position. Something which is slowly but surely becoming a pattern with I Pappagalli after last year’s shopping spree which saw Tosi and Pearson arrive for ludicrous sums. Once again, having the Eastfield Lodgian top the table seems to be an overspending at first sight. Not that the youngster has not shown merit at Robur - during his second season he worked his way to a starting spot and keeping himself adrift in a notably tough-as-nails line-up as Astello’s at nineteen shows potential. But whilst they previously placed cash on the table for a player who had excelled at their club, FC Pesari now didn’t hesitate to throw a bunch of green ones to Astello just for the promise of what could be. A foolish tactic for some, especially as veteran captain Corriere needs immediate support by his side to not only face the return to the IFCF but also to challenge the top two for domestic glory. But maybe in due time, when a Champions’ Cup club transfers a multiple of that record sum to the Pesari bank account for Usher Collins, we will have been proven wrong.

Mattia Brescia or when the Loyal Soldier goes Rogue

"It is, I think, something I needed to do for myself." From the mouth of Brescia, glancing down and fiddling his keys, it comes across as an apology, an excuse for an unasked question. From the twenty-three who ensured Catrallo Calcio of the three-peat, only one will not be putting on the navy next season. Mattia Brescia exchanges it for the brighter blue from Stampano. During his four seasons with the record champions, Brescia never made it into the starting eleven. Then again, that was not what he was getting paid for and Brescia knew that. Being as fit as can be, always ready to step in when Di Masi and later Thamer weren't up for it, never uttering an off word inside or outside the dressing room. In his time, he might have collected as many in-vain warm-ups as actual appearances but no one ever heard a complaint. Quite a few had locked him in already as uno di mobili - a veteran of the dressing room who gets respect from the youngsters on his seniority and guards the club identity. But Brescia, much to everyone's surprise, had other plans. Other ambitions of his own. "I think I can make a difference here in Stampano. Give the midfield something." With the Postmen, he can link up again with his old friend Giacinto Polidori. As talkative as Polidori is, as much is Brescia looking forward to the end of this interview. He is mumbling some hackneyed phrases on the potential of the club but his power never was in his words. It will be in his collected tackles, his positioning. It will be in the assurance for coach Pambianco that the tasks will be executed, the promises held and - if he would ask - the training pitch cut. For Brescia, it's all part of his job and in that respect, Pro Stampano bought one of the best.

When the Maio is not Runny enough

Two of my friends discussed the transfer from Giorgio Maio to Inter, seated along the bar at the taverna and initially agreed that half a million was a ridiculous sum for him. Well, they believed to agree until they considered his actual worth. One saw such a sum for a player with a grand total of six playing minutes since the second half of February as an abomination. How could the always cautious Inter waste this amount on a third-choice player? The other claimed that for the craftiest, ballsiest attacking midfielder of his generation, this was an unseen steal. And in a way, they can both be right. It stood out that at Fagli, Maio’s story was written, being barred by the raw talent of Spinesi and the industrious energy from Raltano. For La Fa, getting this return on a youth player was not just a record, but also an unexpected bonus.

A harder question to pose is whether this also covers the full potential from Maio - making it a chicken or egg situation. Do we focus on his metres due to the complaints or is Maio simply not mobile enough to shine at this level? The statistics, which place him as the player with the lowest volume of the team, point into the second direction. Manager Anza needs more energy coming from him to fit in the plan that has lifted Fagli to the IFCF. And that is, at the same time, the key opportunity offered by Inter. Il Viola also employ what is in theory a 4-4-2 but Fezzardi is inclined to let his attacking midfielder wander, sometimes to the point where Haney, Saligari or de Harlus put in the negative press. What might be not runny enough for Cinquanta, could be the perfect sauce that sticks it together for Inter Catrallo.

FC Orsi goes International - Ambitions from a Small Club

With the amiable Tumbrian Creighton and the quicksilver Cabo Azuran Cardoso, FC Orsi already had two players with an international passport in their ranks. Whilst both racked up some minutes across the year, the latter with a string of substitutions, the former when covering for the injured Barozzi, neither youngster is yet an essential cornerstone in the tight but effective tactical plan from Passentini. This summer, that is intended to change for the Bears as the manager was seemingly rewarded for the excellent opening season - at least, that’s what we assume the board makes from a year without major relegation woes for the newcomer. Those close to the club claim that Passentini is given up to half a million to spend on a player to reinforce the midfield. Even if Guido Gorini no longer was a starting player in the final months, his departure adds to the limited technical ability of that section of the pitch. Rumour has it that the initial target from Passentini was Alice Jégou, a Savigliani playmaker in the vein of Stampano’s Sanmicheli. As the latter’s control of the ball has given the Postmen a growing advantage in the last few years, it was no surprise that FC Orsi, aiming for a similar brand of well-organized football ‘with a little extra touch’ turned their heads towards Rizieres for this. But competition from the Q-League forced the aim to be swung to Zeta Rekan Sikimič, who charmed Passentini as well with his range. But it is telling for their international pedigree that for a club like Orsi, this is a sellers market and time is running out.

”I would rather have a year too many than one too few, I used to say”

Sportiva's opening friendly against Anezzo was a one-sided stroll and as such the half-time whistle neared already when the fans witnessed the skills from their brand-new goalkeeper for the first time. It wasn't such an impressive cross but the ease with which the towering Elpidio Campoy picked it out of the air, got all hands on eachother. The former Mandrid keeper looked a bit flabbergasted - did this suffice to get an applause here? Whilst the skills from the Hispanian goalie already charmed Montelcampo supporters and neutrals alike, it is also telling of the craving from the Robins for someone with such dominance in the box. With a transfer like his, Von not only gains a goalkeeper but could see a blossoming from youngster Gioia and newcomer Bartoli.

And as such the defensive compartment could well be in a sharp contrast with the section that took in the fourth-most goals of the Serie Nazionale last year. Few in or around Corsa Quersia would dare to point fingers for that but how the quality from Campoy is received is telling. Immediately, he wiped out the on-pitch memory of Pasquale Pino. It is a painful reminder that the year too much exists, even - or especially - for someone with eighteen seasons at the highest tier. Doubts were already voiced last summer and the late arrival from Pellizarri looked like a rare sign of panic from the otherwise collected Sportiva staff. Week by week, it became clear that Pino could no longer compensate his waning punch and reactions with exceptional positioning. Gaffes remained rare - a testimony to his quality - but in a year where Sportiva struggled for the top four, they needed someone who won them points and Pasquale Pino no longer was that man. The hesitant cameos from his back-up allowed him to stumble on and stop the counter at an impressive 552 top tier appearances. It is a record that will stand a bit longer, we assume. From the bottom of our heart we hope for the always sympathetic and open goalkeeper that by the time it gets broken, the memories to his career will not have been marred by the unneeded appendix.

An Ode to the Magical Jester

"You want a cigar with that?" The supporter, frustrated over the two-goal deficit and the lacklustre attitude from the number ten of his own Viola, shouted it across the pitch, spitting it almost. Marco Dotti, hands in his side and getting his haircut back in shape with one hand, batted an eye as if an annoying fly had landed in his vicinity. "Per favore, I'ld say, but you and your teeth only seem to smoke cheap shit." Even the ref chuckled. The opposition did as well but that died down when Dotti dribbled two opponents for the 1-2 a few minutes later. His first touch in fifteen minutes but with that swift movement of his short and sturdy legs, Dotti electrified his side again, allowing Inter to drag a draw out of the derby. The clash of the Catrallo sides remained the most important day of the year for Dotti, himself cast aside by the big brother of his beloved Inter Catrallo at 26.

He left the navy blue as a sparingly used sub but would carve his name in their memories. Countless derbies were set alight by his erratic yet brilliant intuitions - that he would mentally sit out a match against a relegation candidate, was only a small price to pay for the Viola fans when 'Il Giullare Magistrale' had given them a chance to stick it to the hated rival. That Calcio targeted him on and off the pitch only added to the legend of the attacking midfielder who often barely seemed interested in the game, until he unleashed those feet of his: short whips which showed the leather unknown corners. People say that with age, Dotti slowed down. It is the reverse: the internationalisation of the game saw those around him speed up and chase the ball. Marco Dotti didn't need to as the ball was his friend - it would always come to him as he stood there, hands in his side and with a disinterested grin on his face. One would see him as an artefact of an older, different brand of game but the departure of the magical one is a loss for all supporters, even the Calcio ones. As the cantù goes: 'Grazie Dotti, for colouring our evening, grazie for painting the city in purple'.

Tipping the Scales - the Final Puzzle Piece for Virtus?

So close yet so far, was the underlying tone of any analysis from the title battle. With just a single point splitting the Strawberries from the record champion, Virtus can look at various games as the one that tipped the scales in favor of their mighty foe. However, most will point their finger to the four confrontations with the rival of which three were lost. When directly confronted with Catrallo Calcio, a club living on the heights of a Challengers’ Cup appearance, Redoccio got confronted with the flaw in their refreshed game plan. One which offered opportunities for the wingbacks, of which Philipsdottir made most use, but which left the defensive fortress vulnerable for rapid counters in numbers, something of which Catrallo Calcio doesn’t shy away when tactically required. Rather than showing the tactical shrewdness of Tumellero - although he has become more of a realist than in his Sportiva days - it is a testimony to the multitool which is the Catrallo dressing room.

Too often, Mallerbury was left to fend for his own in those games: Ethanian Pace is a key player in the dressing room but lacks the… Well, pace for this type of game, Livio Alessandri needs more miles on the counter for this and it is telling that coach Albino Romero didn’t mind parting ways with Rocco Mirarchi. And so the Juvencan sponsored club opted to turn its head abroad for an addition that should allow the green and red to take on their nemesis Catrallo Calcio. Initial target Zhu Mingxia was sniped up quickly by Parrhesia, freshly promoted to the Zenith but according to the insiders, talks with Carthy Yila are moving in a better direction. The 25-year old Chromatikan still has to put the pen to paper but in terms of profile, he ticks plenty of boxes for Romero. After a long, tiring and unsuccessful battle against relegation with Krytenian Avidia City, a venture to the Ortelian shores might be favorable for the player. Question remains whether his club will accept the offer from Virtus or if Odiol will have to whip out the billfold to complete the perfect puzzle for their gaffer to aim for a fifth Serie A title in their history - the first in seven long years.

by **San Ortelio** » Thu Sep 30, 2021 4:40 pm

20-21st of July
Football
IFCF - Preliminary Round

Liga B Champions Trophy

Catrallo Athletic (SOR) 1-2 Amberwood (LFD)

Challengers Cup

FK Khadur (SAJ) 2-0 FC Pesari (SOR)

Nothing was like he expected. And then Pier Luigi wasn’t talking about the gargantuan Niurka Stadium. The monumental homage to a liberation fighter with the retractable roof housed the opponent of tonight - FK Khadur. It was a name that rang louder in Sajnur then abroad but the sixty thousand ecstatic supporters made sure it resounded well, even with the kick-off still an hour away. Pier Luigi Vitali opened and closed his shinpads for the umpteenth time, getting a sideways look from Matteo Corriere, the veteran Audioslavian captain. When he first took a step at the training grounds Corriere had tackled him with two feet, twice, in the first five minutes.

“We’re gonna make you tough, Pencil,” he had muttered.

Pencil. It sounded derogatory at first, but in those two weeks, Pièl had discovered that the cap had this sort of nickname for all - springy defender Gioia was Big Zipper over his braces and only from the back of his jersey Vitali could tell that the talented Astograthian midfielder was called Urdampiyeta, rather than Pineapple. He ogled Corriere a bit longer, investigating how he was going over each and everyone of the starters with his eyes. Despite only missing a single season, only a handful of players had previous experience in the IFCF - and only Corriere a ton. But it seemed as if confidence was peaking: Pearson was trying to call home, Lagrange had her headphones on with an intriguing mix between folk rhythms and drum’n’bass whilst a few midfielders were playing cards. The tactical board, with the Khadur line-up and the name of Viskorov circled in red twice, seemed of no one’s interest.

Was this it? He had heard horror stories about the iron fist with which Roselyn Bentum reigned the dressing room but so far he hadn’t seen anything strange from the gaffer. To the contrary, she had been welcoming to Pièl, trying to introduce him to the 4-2-3-1 and how he could play multiple roles in that. And to say that the coach had been the sole reason Vitali had hesitated to sign for Pesari - but then again, it was the only team with as good as a Serie A subscription that had invited him now the adventure in Tequilo had come to an abrupt end. He yearned for an actual, full game but understandably, for the first real game, Bentum held on to the trio from last season that had assured international football. The interaction between Murphy and Lagrange was something to behold and worthy of a test at this level. All in all, the group looked calm and assured, even with half of Ciarkhan eager to get them.

…

Six. Six minutes Vitali had been given and yet he felt completely exhausted. With a thud and a sigh, he sank on his bench. Already two down - two roses from Polna Viskorov, of course - Vitali hadn’t been able to change the course of the game. Once he had gotten in the box but veteran goalie Piotr Laghiev looked unphased by his strike. FK Khadur had overpowered them and suddenly a horror scenario popped up: an elimination already before the season proper had started. It would not just be a shame but also a huge missed opportunity. Something in the void of silence of a disappointing dressing room forced him - yeah, him Vitali, by most of those around him described as a social recluse - to share that sentiment and he turned to Corriere.

“We really need t-”

The captain lifted his hand as a warning but Pièl would never see the fourth word of that sentence go to completion.

“I DON’T WANT TO HEAR A THING! I WANT A SHAME SO PURE AND SACRED THAT IT SPONTANEOUSLY MAKES A STRING OF DEITIES BURST OUT OF THEIR LOINCLOTHS!”

With each accented vowel, Bentum had smacked the door behind her, till the point where the hinges suspiciously gave way to the woodwork.

“I don’t know who has given them the permission to just walk through our defense line! I don’t care! Give them some red f’ing carpet to go on or get your shit together!”

One could hear nothing apart from reserve Mammarella, anxiously trying to swallow away a small cough in a feeble attempt to escape the wrath.

“Hey! Hey! Mammarella, you’re not interested or what?! I sure hope you’ve packed some running shoes, my friend, because we’re going on a little forest run, immediately,” Bentum went on, her Licentian accent shimmering through as she turned more and more angry. Amidst the mask of quivering hatred, only those close to her could recognize the sardonic smile. She turned around and continued, “But we won’t let our friend Emanuele run alone, shall we? After all, it seems as if no one had much more than a stroll already tonight. So get your boots on, we’ll get going right away.”

Vitali hesitated a little. What was this, some hyperbole or something? But the leaders of the dressing room quietly scrounged their bag for the right shoes.

“She’s… She’s for real?” Pièl asked Corriere with a muffled voice. The Audioslavian nodded with his eyes fixed on Bentum who waited without any patience, replying “and you better get them cleaned sufficiently, Pencil, because there’s a big chance we’ll be having forest runs all the way up till the return game.”

Fifteen minutes later, a string of football players in yellow-and-blue tracksuits walked out on the streets of the Khadur burrough, looking for a patch of green in the huge metropolis. And Vitali wondered why on earth he hadn’t picked one of the smaller, less prestigious teams. Teams that didn’t have their players go up and down a green playground in the middle of the night.

by **San Ortelio** » Sat Oct 02, 2021 4:55 am

20-24th of July
Tennis
Banco Fenice Series - Montelcampo Open

Singles men

Quarterfinals
Luca Masciarelli            6   6   6
Gianluca Baronti            4   7   4

Andrea Vergnani             6   7
Valentino Zinetti           4   6

Graziano Giunti             2   5
Luciano Crepaldi            6   7

Leandro Baliani             4   4
Mirco Tonti                 6   6

Semis
Luca Masciarelli            1   6   2
Andrea Vergnani             6   4   6

Mirco Tonti                 2   7   6
Luciano Crepaldi            6   5   1

Final
Andrea Vergnani             6   4   7
Mirco Tonti                 1   6   5


Singles women

Quarterfinals
Claudia Borchi              6   6
Monia Baronti               1   4

Milena Cucotta              2   3
Giorgia Pirola              6   6

Alessandra Lazzerini        2   7   3
Elena Fiori                 6   6   6

Daniela Tognali             3   6   2
Giulia Balestri             6   1   6

Semis
Claudia Borchi              1   6   3
Giorgia Pirola              6   2   6

Elena Fiori                 6   6
Giulia Balestri             1   4

Final
Giorgia Pirola              3   4
Elena Fiori                 6   6


Doubles
Semis
L. Baliani/M. Tonti         7   6
M. Recinella/O. Recinella   6   2

E. Fiori/G. Giunti          6   4   6
D. Tognali/M. Tognali       3   6   1

Final
L. Baliani/M. Tonti         6   6
E. Fiori/G. Giunti          2   1

Few things are so satisfactory as wrapping up the game on a break and Elena knew, as soon as she hit the return, that she would do just that against Giorgia Pirola. The eighteen-year old challenger would be the talk of the town over this confrontation but to take home her first Ortelian Major, she would have to learn a bit more. The crowd had filled up quite nicely already ahead of the clash between Andrea Vergnani - seething over being snubbed for both the Olympics and the Britonish Open - and the eager youngster Mirko Tonti. Both hadn’t been present in Electrum, creating the narrative that the added rest allowed them to shine in Montelcampo. That Tartoni decided to sit this one out only threw oil on that fire, but they easily overlooked Fiori’s pathway.

She was, Olympics included, now at seventeen games in just nineteen days. The doubles confrontation against the up-and-coming duo Tonti and Baliani had been shambolic and the thought alone of the long flight to Doportedas tonight made her sigh. But for now, for a second of triumph amid the gentle applause of the fans, she would not think of that. Ok, now she did. Fitting the Montelcampo in between a heavy Olympics and the all-important Britonish Open, her debut at the NSTT, was madness in theory. But the painful truth was that it was necessary to bridge the periods without a tournament financially. Fiori had invested heavily in this NSTT entry and the special bonus given by Banco Fenice to those who won all three legs of the Series would be a welcome supplement. And so she played on, with the quarters from Electrum still lingering in her body, battling her way through what became an increasingly strong women’s field. A new generation, spearheaded by Borchi, Lazzerini, Pirola, Dall’Ante and Cucotta - all in their early twenties - was taking over with even younger ones were knocking on the door, all turning the opening rounds into a minefield.

And still, here she stood with another trophy to put on the mantle, trying to enjoy the moment a little. When she snapped back to the here and then, Elena noted that Pirola still stood at the net for the traditional handshake, looking increasingly annoyed. It had not been intended, yet it felt quite good: sometimes it's just too bad to waste a good coincidence, so Elena took a second longer. She knew Pirola hated her guts already but that was no difference from most of the court. By now, Elena had stopped caring about that.

Someone with a microphone waved her closer, requesting some oneliners for television. Without blinking, Fiori asked: "Did you broadcast the game itself?"
Reporter and cameraman glanced at one another - the former muttered "We'll bring a highlight reel before the Tonti - Vergnani match so…"
"So I'll give short answers," Elena snided, "fine."
The duo lifted their shoulders, did a quick countdown and started.

"Elena Fiori, for the third time in your career, you have won the Montelcampo Open. How does this one feel, also in comparison with the previous ones?"
"Good," she replied with a toothpaste smile.
"Can you guide us a little through the decisive set, because it looked close till the end."
"Sure I can," and another silence. The reporter, increasingly nervous and with someone crying out in his earpiece, simply ignored the brick wall in front of him and laboured on through his questions.
"Next week you will celebrate your debut in the NSTT, are you looking forward to it?"
"Of course,"
"The draw has been announced for the opening round, pairing you up with Goran Bogdanovich from Beepee. Not the easiest of starts or what is your sentiment?"
"No, that's right."
"Ehm…" Some panic was building up now, "are you looking forward to the doubles tournament where you will play with Olympic medallist Fiorenzo Tartoni?"

Here, Elena halted for a second. 'No' was such a blunt answer, she knew.

"Not particularly," she spoke and turned away. Maybe, she thought as she packed her bag, I should try and have more friends internationally than on the domestic scene.

by **San Ortelio** » Mon Oct 04, 2021 12:46 am

23-24th of July
Waterpolo
Lega Pallanuoto Nationale - MD10

Results

Astello Mare         4–8       Barceglie Club
Focarsane            8–6    Tridente Toccagno
PN Catrallo          5–10   Pesari Pescadores
Stampano ANC         9–7        Stella Anezzo
Neptunus Pollagno   10–7                FARPE

Table

Lega Pallanuoto Nazionale  Pld   W  D  L   GF   GA   GD  Pts
 1 Barceglie Club           10   7  3  0   87   69  +18   24
 2 Stampano ANC             10   7  2  1   92   67  +25   23
 3 Pesari Pescadores        10   6  1  3   90   68  +22   19
 4 Focarsane                10   5  2  3   83   80   +3   17
 5 Neptunus Pollagno        10   5  2  3   80   81   −1   17
 6 Astello Mare             10   4  1  5   75   84   −9   13
 7 Tridente Toccagno        10   3  1  6   80   87   −7   10
 8 Stella Anezzo            10   3  1  6   70   82  −12   10
 9 PN Catrallo              10   2  1  7   69   78   −9    7
10 FARPE                    10   1  0  9   68   98  −30    3

Revenge or confirmation?
Opinion piece of journalist Ugo Daliani in La Stampa Quotidiana

Fabio Quinzi did not support his point with words. After all, the first mesmerizing interview with the Stampano forward is yet to be printed and he once more bathed in platitudes about 'team performance' and 'one game at a time' after scoring a 'quintuplo' against a stubborn Stella Anezzo. But there was a bit more clench in his fist after each goal, a tad extra splash in his celebration. As powerful in the duel with an opponent breathing down his neck, as fragile between the ears remains Quinzi when confronted with the limits of his own ability. The endeavour in Electrum reminded us all of the youngster who made his first appearances off the bench for Stampano. Whilst teammates claimed they had witnessed a new world wonder in training, it took two seasons and a very dedicated coach in Stefano Bartelli to also show that promise to the outside world. It would take even longer for Quinzi to get the discouraging lows out of his season, silent testimonials to his difficulty to stand the heat.

After all that time, that junior version of the reigning topscorer resurfaced in the pool of the Somer Olympic Natatorium. After two difficult encounters with later quarterfinalist Amuaplye and the feared Raspotochje, where the Swordfishes were blown to smithereens, the dead rubber against Tikariot should have been the rehabilitation. But under pressure for a decisive performance, Quinzi left the water without a single goal to his name, allowing scouts across the multiverse to scratch his name from their longlists. The water polo had travelled to the Olympics with limited ambitions, understandably in their first endeavour, yet this failure to make any dent from Quinzi turned the sentiments rather sour. It became clear that at 25, Quinzi reached his peak.

That peak, it must be said, still allows him to make the difference in domestic games. The glance from Anezzo goalie Locatelli after the crucial 8-7 was telling, there was no stopping this man for them. And still there remains a taste of unfulfilled promise hanging around Quinzi. Whilst his individual records are pumping out topscorer figures, his actual trophy cabinet is far less impressive. Only nineteen at the time of the only Lega title for Stampano, he was far less decisive for the Carabinieri back then. In the current title race, the leader of the goals scored rankings sit one point behind Barceglie, who showed no mercy towards Astello and look as much a title candidate as hot favorites ANC and Pesari. Revenge upon himself, for Quinzi, lies not in scoring five against Anezzo. Nor in breaking his own goal league record across the season. If Fabio Quinzi truly wants to show he still makes strides forward, he will have to lead Stampano ANC to the second title in their history. It is a dire task and one that will ask more of him than ever before, as it relies not on his physical or tactical capacities, but also on his mental strength.

by **San Ortelio** » Mon Oct 04, 2021 4:48 am

27-28th of July
Football
IFCF - Preliminary Round

Liga B Champions Trophy

Amberwood (LFD) 0-2 Catrallo Athletic (SOR)

Challengers Cup

FC Pesari (SOR) 4-1 FK Khadur (SAJ)

Nostre Punti
Player Ratings for FC Pesari as have been distributed by the Gazzetta dell’Ortelio

Walter MORO - 7 - Got clear instructions from coach Bentum to get involved and did so, according to his possibilities. Not the standout player of the night and looking slightly hesitant on the 2-1. Deserves some leniency as his performance in the opening leg was the only reason why Stadio del Fiume got the magical IFCF night they were craving for.

Giancarlo PASSUELLO - 7 - In a game where the focus was on attacking, making up a two-goal deficit for most of the game, the wing defenders are left in a bit of a conundrum: press on or avoid the goal against that might turn things sour. Kept his focus on the latter and did it in his usual style, barely noticed but fairly tidy. Took a needed yellow in the final minutes.

Usher COLLINS - 8 - The Eastfield Lodgian raised a few eyebrows upon his arrival with the Pappagalli, but after a moderate debut, he now showed why the board was inclined on splurging for the young defender. Guarded Polna Viskorov up close and had learned from the defeat in Khadur, winning his aerial duels. Looked worn out after the match, but so did Viskorov.

Matteo CORRIERE - 8 - Played his role in the defensive line-up, cutting passing lines left and right. But the veteran Audioslavian excelled mostly in his role. Kept his squad focused after a few time wasting efforts from the opposition whilst leading the fight with some timely tackles. Will suffer with his waning speed in later rounds but the stabilising defensive force tonight.

Alessio ROTA - 7 - Did his best to add offensive impulses to the squad, making a few expeditions along the wing. Was not always lucky with his crosses, but his overlapping with Pearson did add dynamic and forced the Sajnuri into a more defensive position. A bit too eager, which made it possible for Khadur FK to score the 2-1 from the right side of the pitch.

Attilio QUINTARELLI - 9 - Once more looked ready to assume the starting position in the national team. Authoritative, present, focussed, precise, … Despite a different set of tasks in his position, having both other midfielders in front of him, he determined the outcome of the midfield battle. Managed to extinguish two very dangerous counters, stellar performance.

Carlo ALBERTONI (<73) - 7 - The surprise of the gaffer did the task he was signed up for: making miles and disturbing the organisation from FK Khadur where possible, disabling them to gain dominance on the ball. Could not always make his mark when in possession and missed an early chance on the opener that could have made this less tight, but deserves praise for his efforts.

Froila URDAMPIYETA (>73) - 8 - Replaced Albertoni after the 3-1 for an extra boost in creativity. The Ituraitz FC youth product took risks in his execution which did not always land, but did force Khadur for the fault which led up to the decisive goal. Gives Bentum an extra weapon when in dire need for goals, making the calls for a starting spot louder and louder.

Lorenzo TOSI - 10 - Gave the word ‘impeccable’ an extra meaning. In what was quite possibly his best game for Pesari, Tosi looked nothing like the shambling midfielder from last week. Broke the spell with a majestic free kick for 1-0, delivered two assisting passes and was simply impossible to dispossess for the Khadur defenders. Always available for a pass for his teammates.

Kathleen LAGRANGE - 9 - As the game ran on and the pressure raised, Lagrange grew above herself. The Zwangzugian started to ravage the left wing, both with rushes into the sixteen and deep crosses on her partner-in-crime Murphy. It is telling that three separate FK players grabbed a yellow card trying to stop her. Produced so much danger, it is bizarre the stats sum up to just one assist.

Jessica MURPHY (<87) - 9 - In her third season with I Pappagalli, Murphy has blossomed into the targetwoman that could see them proliferate on all three fronts. Dominant at the edge of the sixteen, showcasing the range of her potential: from a lashing strike that whizzed past Laghiev till a clever appearance at the second post to tap in a Lagrange pass for the winning one.

Pier Luigi VITALI (>87) - N - Did not make enough minutes for a grade, but did come in energetically to defend the narrow lead.

Archer PEARSON (<61) - 7 - Could not always make the infiltrations he desired to from the right, with some brutal manmarking from the visitors going unnoticed by the referee. Created a beautiful chance for the 3-0 but saw it explode on the crossbar. Replaced, to his disappointment, after an hour by Bentum despite having a lot of energy and grinta.

Lorenzo NANNETTI (>61) - 8 - Debuted in perfect conditions - with his third touch of the game, he surprised Laghiev with a cheeky chip on a brilliant Tosi through pass for the 3-1. Was not always that stellar on his first touches afterwards, but played closer to Murphy and as such disallowed FK to play out from the back. Gives Bentum more options to play with.

Catrallo Athletic Man of the Match - Nello TORCHIO - Had last year’s run only faltered at the edge of the group stage after two close legs against Guilder, then few were giving Athletic a shot to overcome a one-goal deficit in the Dream Theatre. The number three of last year’s Lathamford’s Nationwide League started off furiously but were cut short in their efforts by Torchio. The 28-year old defender kept last week’s boogeyman Shamus Blackburn away from the goal with some unreal duelling power. With the attacking wings from Amberwood clipped, Catrallo could find the net twice. A late equalizing effort from Claymoore was wiped off the line by… Torchio.

by **San Ortelio** » Tue Oct 05, 2021 1:40 am

30-31st of July
Waterpolo
Lega Pallanuoto Nationale - MD11

Results

Neptunus Pollagno    8–11        Astello Mare
FARPE                5–12        Stampano ANC
Stella Anezzo       11–9          PN Catrallo
Pesari Pescadores    8–4            Focarsane
Tridente Toccagno   10–10      Barceglie Club

Table

Lega Pallanuoto Nazionale  Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1 Stampano ANC             11    8   2   1   104   72  +32    26
 2 Barceglie Club           11    7   4   0    97   79  +18    25
 3 Pesari Pescadores        11    7   1   3    98   72  +26    22
 4 Focarsane                11    5   2   4    87   88   −1    17
 5 Neptunus Pollagno        11    5   2   4    88   92   −4    17
 6 Astello Mare             11    5   1   5    86   92   −6    16
 7 Stella Anezzo            11    4   1   6    81   91  −10    13
 8 Tridente Toccagno        11    3   2   6    90   97   −7    11
 9 PN Catrallo              11    2   1   8    78   89  −11     7
10 FARPE                    11    1   0  10    73  110  −37     3

Oddi’s Odd Odds
Blog on toplr.sor by Massimiliano Oddi discussing best betting tips in San Ortelian sports

Hi all - great news from the betting world! From this week on, Scomme724.sor also offers on odds on domestic water polo making it easier to spread the risks around. With three companies now dipping their toe into the [wait for it] pool, let’s take a look at what they offer for the title and why there’s one best strategy to go with here. For ease, I’m just looking at how short the three remaining candidates are offered. If you want to [waaaait for it] splash some bucks on a miraculous comeback from Neptunus Pollagno or Astello Mare, I’m not going to stop you but let me give you a slice of better advice: bet on their title next season. With young guns Taccone and Battistini by then integrated in the Pollagno line-up and Velucci recovered, they could only be on the way up. And if Beppe Moser and Matteo Coste get an extra year of experience, Mare will only be better. But ok, without further ado, let’s take a glance at who of our three bookies is [waaaaaaaaaait for it - ok last one, promise] on the ball.

BetMondo         BalleriniOdds    Scomme724.sor
Stampano ANC           2.15             2.30             2.25
Barceglie Club         3.15             3.00             3.30
Pesari Pescadores      3.30             3.15             2.95

Here’s a thing, you love to see - bookmakers who aren’t in complete agreement with one another, offering some opportunities. It’s not yet a fair book among the three of them but it gets closer than before. What they do agree on is the favorite for the title and whilst it is an uninspired choice to pick the leader for this one, I can only agree on putting Stampano ANC in the hot seat. Not because they thrashed FARPE because well, everybody has been thrashing FARPE so far this year. (Except Mare. Seriously. It’s been a month and a half and I still cannot understand how the fuck you lose that game after a three-win streak. Insert a shame gif.] But they have a bit of a cushion now and barely drop points outside of the top three. Their key players, Quinzi, Fallerini, Romagnoli and Berrazon are all in stellar form, they can rely on a good home crowd. Are they currently good betting value? They do look tempting, with over double odds still hanging on so I’m quite sure that these attract more flies than honey. I won’t say it’s a stupid bet at 2.30 - I’m just saying I won’t.

The Carabinieri already had the better bets compared to Barceglie Club before the weekend, but the ones from BC floated like a balloon over just one game, prompting the newcomers on the market to offer a 3.30 - which sounds plainly ridiculous for a team just one point off the lead. Small addendum to that, Barceglie hasn't lost a single game yet this year. So why are the bookies inclined to price them down? Only five minutes in, star forward Angelo Piscaglia had to leave the pool, pointing to his aching shoulder. We're a day later and there still hasn't surfaced a goofy social media post from 'The Flying Fish' or any other good news for that matter. That makes me believe that he might be out for a long time. And what Barceglie can do without the tall goalgetter became awfully clear with his back-up Bronzini in the water. This still is a tough formation, but people started to overdo their tasks, opening up opportunities elsewhere. If Toccagno can get ten against the net, so can others…

...starting with Pesari Pescadores. Indeed, next week Pesari will make the trip to Barceglie. The Pescadores normally are a bit less in the Baia than in the pool, so the visit is traditionally chalked up as one of the toughest of the year for them, but this time around, Pesari might overcome their Angstgegner with a great result. And if that happens - which is more likely than usual - you will see the numbers on Pesari plummet like a rock. My advice: be early and put something on it. BetMondo is making it almost feel like stealing cash and credits to Scomme724.sor that they recognized the great out for Pesari. The ease with which they disposed themselves of revelation Focarsane testifies their great streak with danger coming from all corners. If Paolo Beretti beats his brother Stanzo next weekend, the Pescadores not only navigate into second position, they will also get in the position to chase for Stampano. It's a spot the reigning champions enjoy being in. Last year, they waited till match 17 to get in the hotseat, this time, it could go all the way till the final game. A home game to bookend the season against… ANC. If the Carabinieri don't keep Pesari at a four point distance, something only guaranteed by a flawless record with some difficult away games on the agenda, they could see their opponent [last one, I promise] resurface just in time for the back-to-back triumph. So get your cash on them before BetMondo realises what the new kids on the block have already figured out.

by **San Ortelio** » Wed Oct 06, 2021 11:00 pm

31st of July
Boxing
BBSO Fight Night

Welterweight
Felice Soldano vs Cione Di Lisio
Soldano wins by knock-out in the fifth round

Heavyweight
Stefano Bonomi vs Piero Vitucci
Vitucci wins by split decision

Middleweight
Roberto Bracco vs Sinibaldo Colantoni
Colantoni wins by knock-out in the sixth round

Lightweight
Iacopo Peretti vs Lando Oldani
Peretti wins by technical knock-out in the twelfth round

Featherweight - Belt Fight
Simone Biaggi vs Lorenzo Tiano
Biaggi wins by split decision
Biaggi successfully defends his title for the fifth time

Few people outside the boxing scene would know who Paride Cinquetti would be, especially not those thousands who had spent a number of lira for a pay-per-view of this Fight Night. But in the Montelcampo Hall, an event location which yearly was the backdrop of a Fight Night, everyone who was someone in this world made a point of paying a short visit to his ringside chair. Those at the bottom of the pyramid limited themselves to a humble greeting, a few of the bigger names made a short conversation.

“We’ve seen better cards, Mr. Cinquetti,” a manager who didn’t have a single fighter in the ring noticed.
Paride calmly stroked his chin before replying, “we’ll see about that.”

It was sufficient an answer to send him home. And I? I stood there in total awe, eavesdropping on every conversation. Mr. Cinquetti did not bother to introduce me to anyone. At first, I wondered whether this was a minor insult but it took me little time to realise that - as had seemingly every word or action of his - there was a well-defined purpose behind it. I had always been mad about the sport but lacking the physical abilities to make as much as a dent, I had bluffed my way into the BBSO. On one beautiful morning, I had gathered all my guts and requested a short meeting with Mauro Pardini - fifteen minutes later, I was the social media officer of the organisation. For the onlooker, Pardini represented the BBSO but knowing the inside of the organisation, it became clear he was nothing but a figurehead. An entertaining one, it must be said, whose bold statements and daft quips garnered the desired press attention. No, the BBSO, that was Paride Cinquetti.

We were already there for over an hour. Everyone arounds us who had a badge of the organisation seemed to be running around, focussing on their detail. But Mr. Cinquetti simply sat there, seemingly available for audiences from the public as if he was a king which, in a way, he truly was in this world. Because he was the gatekeeper, the man who decided which fighter became part of the small inner circle of professionals, the fifty fighters with a license. But Mr. Cinquetti also determined who would challenge whom and at what rate. He could make or break you. What made him not just the most important but also the most respectable man in the organisation was that - or at least, according to my seven years with the BBSO - he could not be bought. For every sly manager, every desperate fighter who tried to settle something under the table, he had a simple message: ‘deliver me spectacle’.

“What do you think of the fight card, Renzo?” he suddenly inquired. It came out of nothing as he hadn’t spoken a word to me after he instructed me to sit down next to him.

I hesitated a second for my reply as I knew that every word would be processed, weighted and judged. After four months on the job, I spoke to him for the first time. About thirty seconds into that conversation, he had bluntly stated that he knew I knew nothing about my job - the first and only one to ever read through my cover: every night, I browsed and searched on how I had to execute my work the following day.

"I get why at first sight, it is not such an eyecatcher as some other nights."

He pondered for a second, then nodded. I passed the opening test.

"Because of?"
"Only a single title fight and that in a category where Biaggi seems so dominant that any challenger will need an exceptional day."

Apparently, this answer pleased him less. He didn't say a word until after the first bout, a shorter one than expected with Cione Di Lisio dominating the clash between two anonymous welterweights.

"Why is this the opening fight?" Mr. Cinquetti asked.
"Ehm… They're the least known fighters?"
"No," he nodded, "that's a negative thought. If that was all, they should not be in this arena."
"Well…" I scrambled for words, "Di Lisio was a pleasant surprise for someone his age so…"

A first smile.

"Always open your night with a little treat to the specialists. The big fans, the ones that will watch from start to finish. Cioni barely fought at amateur level but from every punch you could see he was something. Maybe in three years, his name will be in the big print on the leaflets - and a handful will be able to claim they saw it on his Fight Night debut. He delivered."

Without much asking, he continued.

"Next up, the heavyweights. They sell. Even if they are lesser known ones, they get a spectacle out there. Neither will ever grab a belt but they are offensive fighters, who don't mind risks. You need them in your stable to get the crowd in - especially because those have a memory. Last year, Vitucci fought a valiant fight, a loss but with blood streaming from an eyebrow, in this arena. The crowd admired him, so it's good to bring him back."

Things started to click in place.

"And then, first peak of the evening," I spoke, suddenly more confident, "a boxer with roots in Montelcampo. Good old Roberto Bracco in front of a home crowd against an old foe."

The second of silence crumbled my self assured smile, but Mr. Cinquetti saved my day.

"That's a bingo."

From that point on, he gave more pointers. Why the seats on the north side were closer to one another (sold via local channels, to get a better atmosphere). Why you have two entrance points (keep every supporter on their toes). Why the lady with the round plates needs to be more than just pretty (a good one is not an ornament but plays and warms the crowd). During the fourth fight, Mr. Cinquetti fell silent. It was a cagey, close fight which could have gone both ways, until Peretti made full use of a short loss of focus with his opponent to give him a nasty jab.

"He'll never learn," Mr. Cinquetti muttered to no one in particular - but possibly me, "you give him a chance to win some hearts but the people are siding with Oldani after such a fight. He earned his belt fight but he'll face Di Pinto and the crowd."

I slowly processed his words, starting to realise why all other moving parts of this world were playing checkers in his 4D chess world.

"And now, the title fight. Crowd is ready, the viewers are still hungry." I remarked.
"What do you think about it?"

An open question, a million potential pitfalls.

"So far, Biaggi looks unbeatable. He might actually be for a few more years - Fredo Saracco is the clear number two in this category but was already the opponent in three of his five victorious fights, so you needed a fresh name."
"True… You could have Biaggi up six or eight times a year. That was what they would have done before the BBSO. Just milk it, cash it and after three years, you've got a mumbling piles of boxers left. The pool - if you want spectacular, attractive boxers - is small. Few have enough quality for a high level. Use them sparingly, twice a year and they will give the fans the world."

We conversed almost as equals and blood raced through every of my veins.

"And Lorenzo Tiano is a good alternative rival," I spoke, "a bit of a bulldog next to the stylish Biaggi. Bit more a brawler, bit more loudmouth, can ensure a long fight whilst looking competitive." Mr. Cinquetti nodded encouragingly. "Even if Tiano loses, he can make Biaggi look well… not really invincible. And that's good for when you inevitably have to pit him against Saracco again, because Fredo also won against Tiano."

In the ring, the two fighters punched their gloves against one another, ready to devour the other on the way to glory. The largest part of the crowd sided with the favorite but a vocal minority cheered for 'Wardog' Tiano, a former military man. Despite 'a weak line-up', people were shouting, cheering and standing before the first hit was made.

"You start to get it, Renzo. That's good."

And then he said something which made the twelve round fight a haze.

"Cause in a few years, you will be making the fight cards.

by **San Ortelio** » Sun Oct 24, 2021 12:54 pm

25th of July - 4th of August
Football
Copa Pavola

Results Sportiva Montelcampo
Sportiva Montelcampo 1–0 Þingsnitz (GRÆ)
Parakleion Firebird (TKT) 2-0 Sportiva Montelcampo
Sportiva Montelcampo 2-0 ESK Storevik (SVJ)
Sportiva Montelcampo 0-0 (1-2 AET) RLSK Pawlograd

Results Pro Stampano
Pro Stampano 1-1 (2-3 AET) Gugola United (NYK)
SC Lagos (BOL) 2-2 (3–3 AET) (4–2 pen.) Pro Stampano
Pro Stampano 2-1 Martin Luther (SFD)
Marda CF (BOL) 3-1 Pro Stampano (SOR)

The Quest For Stability

Will the Kids Be Alright?

Any good goalie has a natural resentment against taking in a goal but the temper from Ettore Trasciani after the decisive 3-1 from Marda CF was telling, shouting profanity and waving with large gestures. Moments earlier, two Bollonischians had broken through the offside trap, kept a cool head and left the Pro Stampano goalie scrambling. In front of the outgunned keeper stood already the fourth different defense in as many games and so far, none has really managed to execute the plans from Pambianco and salvage the worries of the fans. Four games into the new season, it would be harsh to say that there hasn't been good work during the off-season. Newcomer Brescia was off to a decent start and strikers Granocche and Ransom learn to connect better and better, in that they rarely pass to one another but do put in the effort to create space. It was that partnership which pushed Martin Luther's Meyer into the mistake which allowed the Postmen to grab their sole victory. And yes, both against SC Lagos and Gugola United, the tables could have turned in Stampano's favor. But the bottomline of ten goals against looms in the background as a potential season long worry: an iron defense has been a key selling point of Pro for years on end.

Poafmersian Watson seems to have picked up the best start of the back four but the forward-thinking left back remains a risk-taker. A good organisation should be able to handle the resulting space in his back but none of this materialized so far. Veteran Roberto Trasciani grows less and less accustomed to the pace. He might point to being a diesel who needs the miles to get the engine running, but we wonder whether his model ain't too outdated to join the race. Against SC Lagos, Manuele Pilati was given the keys to the back four but whilst a promising talent, he is far from that position at 21. Backup Grillo had two abysmal appearances and amidst the disorganisation, Qasdeni newcomer Gregory Nana was thrown into the deep. It did not help that right-back Carlo Qualla failed to find his usual balance between executing his tasks and pushing the opposition to their own half. The result was loose sand and a return to the drawing board for Pambianco and his team. Without the much-needed stability and a chance on a botched start, Pro Stampano runs the risk of chasing the top six again all season long.

The Road To Recovery

ET Von 2 - The Extra-Tactical

After some consideration, it was decided by the Montelcampo board to continue the reign of the beloved Qusmi Von - despite the lowest end result of his tenure with the Robins. His energy and inspiration had blown a new wind through the club and whilst resulting in only limited silverware, although that sole Coppa tasted sweet, it did get the neutral fan on the hand of Sportiva. The red-and-white eleven played in the style of their coach's press conferences: chaotic, lively, admirable and straightforward. But all love stories eventually must go into a relationship, so the board made it quite clear that they wouldn't stand for another season with the IFCF tickets out of reach. It could well mean the end of the popular Qusmiball, although one dares to wonder how much of that was left after the poor Serie A appearances which saw Sportiva score only six goals in ten fixtures. Etern-Tylyr Von knew that he would need to reinvent his style, quite a task for a coach more known as an apt man manager rather than a shrewd tactician.

The line-up against Þingsnitz put an example out. The confrontation with the title holder of the Graintjaller second tier - and with old foe Romeo Gozzi - could have had the line-out of a goalfest but whilst Von still fielded a theoretical 3-4-3, the days of dashing forward seem indefinitely over. With Gucci, Sparandeo and Tornaghi at the kick-off, the balance in midfield tilted from creativity to security. Even if that means that the talismanic Nonhagatte gets sacrificed, leaving Mazzone as playmaker behind a trio of strikers. It must be said that none of the forwards really excelled in the Copa Pavola, but that cannot be said of newcomer Campoy. It seems as if the Hispanian giant needed no acclimatisation period: he clicked well with defense leader Ferrera and played a crucial role in the victory over last year's finalist ESK Storevik. The end result, a sixth place out of sixteen makes the balance tilt in the advantage of this new approach from Von but it remains to be seen whether it will survive the litmus test domestically.

by **San Ortelio** » Mon Oct 25, 2021 4:13 am

2-4th of August
Football
IFCF - First Qualifying Round

Liga B Champions Trophy

Western Avondale (SYL) 0-2 Catrallo Athletic (SOR)

Challengers Cup

Virtus Redoccio (SOR) 1-1 Elspachia (MRC)
FC Pesari (SOR) 2-1 Kimbishtki Royals FC (SPI)
Catherina FC (DEL) 2-1 Fagli Cinquanta (SOR)

Champions League

Ottawa Geese (ESL) 0-3 Catrallo Calcio (SOR)

Catrallo Athletic Man of the Match

Mattia Santoro dropped out of the Serie Nazionale before the age of thirty, but found a second spring with the capital’s “biggest smallest club”. Never much of a goalgetter, Santoro thrives in a strong tandem with youngster Valerio Pizzi around whom he can make the miles. It usually places his teammate in the spotlight but against the Sylestonians, it was Santoro who shined with a marvellous goal past keeper Angry. “I’m feeling more comfortable on the pitch than ever,” he explained his new-found success and we must say that this ease of mind shows.

Virtus Redoccio Man of the Match

In their opening match of the season, Albino Romero’s Virtus struggled to dictate their will against the number four of last season’s MPL - but the same could be said for Elspachia, eager to break into their first IFCF group stage. In these circumstances, stability and calmth in possession is crucial and Francesco Bagheria delivered just that. Sharp like a knife in the duels with Tripi and Johnson, Bagheria managed to keep the difficult balance between a hacker and a builder - giving the assisting pass for the sole goal from Zsinko. After a year in the shadows, Bagheria could play himself back into the spotlight like this and - why not - the national selection.

FC Pesari Woman of the Match

Landing just below the ‘one goal per two games’ barrier in her two first seasons with I Pappagalli, Cassadaiguan Jessica Murphy took a headstart in the Stadio del Fiume. The numbers were against the visitors from the Southern Palm Islands as they were yet to win a Challengers’ Cup doubleheader, but an early miscommunication in the back gave the underdogs the chance to lean back. It is a testimony to the development of Murphy that despite the lack of space, she managed to escape her direct opponents twice, showcasing the whole scala of her skills: the first one was a piece of clever positioning to rattle in a Lagrange cross, for the second one she needed to use her strength to get in possession - but she finished it off with a velvet touch.

Fagli Cinquanta Man of the Match

In a game in which the Delaclavan home team dominated the debate, it seems to make sense to nominate one of their star duo Soto or McBride. But the Ortelian MotM trophy nonetheless goes to Adalberto Siboni who, despite only playing for twenty-five minutes, came as close to a dream debut as possible. Coming on for an aching Okonye, he accidentally stopped the 3-0 on a corner kick before marking with a marvellous volley - 2-1 and a new hope for Fagli’s ambitions. For a man who two years ago was on the edge of the roster at Serie Regionale’s VC Pesari, the dream continues and the question is where it stops for the 24-year old. Can he do the unthinkable and break up the invincible pairing of Okonye and Rodgers who lifted this club to a new level?

Catrallo Calcio Man of the Match

There are a lot of obvious candidates for the glowing performance in Eshialand: from Carmine Garofalo who opened the year with a brace, over the uncatchable Lorenzo Moreschini and the dominant Gaetano Lucarelli. But it’s Pasargan midfield director Nidal Thamer who must have made his way into the most notebooks of international scouts. Made one or two rough tackles when needed, but knows perfectly when to apply brute force and when not. Not only formed an unbreakable buffer ahead of the defense but was almost impossible to dispossess. It shows that his teammates in any situation dare to pass him the leather as even under pressure, he always finds a simple but effective solution. Not a spectacular star for the stands, but extremely crucial for the plan of this team.

by **San Ortelio** » Tue Oct 26, 2021 12:18 am

6th of August
Triathlon
LaLoda Piccolo powered by SpyriSol

Men’s

1 Rinaldo Loda            1:51:56.49
2 Enzio Cerutti           1:53:28.96
3 Filippo Ronchetti       1:53:56.87
4 Antonio Valeri          1:54:12.42
5 Arnulfo Tursi           1:55:00.70

Women’s

1 Lauretta Cipriano       2:04:19.02
2 Silvia Lucarelli        2:04:41.73
3 Daria Del Mastro        2:05:05.42
4 Lina Piola              2:05:20.54
5 Eva Brigante            2:05:28.66

“Once again, congratulations Rinaldo - a good final rehearsal for the real thing!”
“Yes, I’m looking forward to it. Let’s hope for some good energy there!”

Rinaldo Loda, the man who had become synonymous with triathlon in San Ortelio, walked out of the meeting room. It had been a fruitful one, in theory. Together, they had debriefed the first LaLoda Piccolo to be held in Pesari. There were some just remarks on the course setting, but a good crowd had showed up to welcome home the finishers and the enthusiasm had been contagious. Up next, Rinaldo and the team from Spyrisol had looked forward to the actual LaLoda, the most brutal sports event in the country which was scheduled in five weeks. Entries were once again not flowing in, but it gave the whole thing a certain grandeur - only the fittest dared to tip their toe into this challenge. And yet, as the footsteps from Loda on the modern concrete floor died down, the remaining trio looked to one another. It was Letizia, the ambitious marketing manager, who dared to voice the general concern.

“Rinaldo is a good egg, but there’s only that much that people want to see of that.”
“He was, is and remains a key brand ambassador - he wears our corporate t-shirt more than our installers,” Theodoro noted. After all, it had been him who had recognised his likable nature, brought in the young daredevil and turned him into the figurehead of the renewable energy company: a success Theodoro enjoyed claiming.
“Of course, of course,” Letizia smoothened things with the VP, “but there will be a point where the audience is sick and tired of Rinaldo Loda dominating the field. He still had the Olympics in his legs and still beat Cerutti by over a minute and a half.”
“Maybe he needs a female counterpart,” Theodoro mused, “Daria Del Mastro is only twenty-one, if she can keep up that development, who knows where she could land?”
“I was thinking in the direction of a rival, someone to combat against in the closing minutes of the race rather than clapping hands with the roadside spectators,” Letizia replied.

The third man around the table hadn’t spoken a word anymore since Rinaldo’s exit. Claudio Vignali was only 41, but had built San Ortelio’s main solar energy company from the ground up. He believed in the ‘giving back to the people’ message which Loda distributed, but he believed a bit more in commerce.

“If we don’t find someone who is his match,” he stated with the aplomb of an oracle, “we won’t make a single headline anymore with LaLoda Piccolo. Find me a rival - being it in Esca, in San Mamerto or just at some god forgotten dirt track in Anaia, I don’t care. Someone you love to hate and who doesn’t mind being the antihero for the right price.”

by **San Ortelio** » Tue Oct 26, 2021 3:42 am

6th-7th of August
Waterpolo
Lega Pallanuoto Nationale - MD12

Results

Astello Mare       8–6    Tridente Toccagno
Barceglie Club     5–10   Pesari Pescadores
Focarsane          8–7        Stella Anezzo
PN Catrallo        8–7                FARPE
Stampano ANC       8–8    Neptunus Pollagno

Table

Lega Pallanuoto Nazionale  Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1 Stampano ANC             12    8   3   1   112   80  +32    27
 2 Pesari Pescadores        12    8   1   3   108   77  +31    25
 3 Barceglie Club           12    7   4   1   102   89  +13    25
 4 Focarsane                12    6   2   4    95   95    0    20
 5 Astello Mare             12    6   1   5    94   98   −4    19
 6 Neptunus Pollagno        12    5   3   4    96  100   −4    18
 7 Stella Anezzo            12    4   1   7    88   99  −11    13
 8 Tridente Toccagno        12    3   2   7    96  105   −9    11
 9 PN Catrallo              12    3   1   8    86   96  −10    10
10 FARPE                    12    1   0  11    80  118  −38     3

"And we are going live to Barceglie for the closing moments of the clash of the matchday, where Pesari Pescadores are having a field day, it seems?"

"Indeed, Ettore, this is slowly but surely turning into a humiliation. Barceglie had not been beaten yet this season but now they get caught by a team with more speed in possession, more movement of the ball and simply more talent. The Pescadores struggled in the opening part of the year in absence of key players Piero Moresi and Rodolfo Valeron but right now, the engine has not just turned on but is speeding at full force towards the leader position. The news of the Stampano draw at the hands of Neptunus has not only reached the crowd but also the reserves and they are cheering on their mates in the water as if the title is already a fact.
It will remain an uphill, or should we say upstream, battle for them but now Pesari has their faith in their own hands: one streak and they might lift another title trophy. They're now monopolizing possession, Beretti to Signorelli, to Tosatto, back to Beretti, and Barceglie even stopped sticking to their direct opponent. It's an uppercut for Club, on their way to a dream but tonight, it turns into a nightmare. Can they, oh, I was going to ask, can they recover from this but it is another attack from Pesari and yes, there is number ten. Valerio Tosatto with his third of the confrontation and it must be over now - ample seconds left before Club is relieved and the Pescadores can celebrate a crucial and deserved win over their longstanding rivals."
"Thank you, Stefano, we will get back to you after this lovely tune from I Alveari."

---

"It is time to head back to the seaside in Barceglie as Stefano has Paolo Beretti with him, author of two points for a triumphant Pesari."

“Indeed, I have the triumphant Pesari key player here with me. Paolo, tell me, how does this feel?”
“Well, good of course. It’s for those big games that you train and work so when we can turn that into a victory, that feels good.”
“We just saw your brother Stanzo walk past, no congratulations or nothing - bit of a tension or am I interpreting that the wrong way?”
“Nah, I mean. It’s not the moment to poke him with this result now, but in a day or two, that will be fine. It is normal that he is now focussed on his own team and their performance. Let us face it, this wasn’t the best Barceglie we have seen so far this season, so I understand he is not in the mood for joking around.”
“What made the difference today because there was a huge gap both on the scoreboard and in the water?”
“We really managed to keep the flow of possession going, fast passing game and they couldn’t cope with that.”
“It is a remarkable result especially as this is the first time in history that the Pescadores could win over here - and then with such a result?”
“In the opening years of the league, a ‘pool’ club like us always struggled over here in a ‘bay’ arena but that gap closed down. I mean, we must have picked up something in all these years, right?”

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