World League

XMAS park
Spectators: 7487 (Terracing: 5616, Seating: 1722, VIP seats: 149) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Achille Zara took the kick off in the first half of the match. Ferdinando Buccella sent away a hard shot on goal in the 2nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Ferdinando Buccella had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 6th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. In the 6thth minute of the game Ferdinando Buccella who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but XMAS's Filippo Barbato was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. The supporters of Villa Mitre City booed when XMAS was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 10 match minutes in a wonderful position. Bruno Alessandrini didn't get a good kick on the ball. Urbano Mendiko was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 10th played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ferdinando Buccella in the 14th minute of play forced XMAS's goalkeeper Filippo Barbato to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 14th minute Ferdinando Buccella shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Filippo Barbato saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 21 minutes into the match, XMAS's goal looked a bit too open when Feliciano Fernendo came free, but Filippo Barbato reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Ferdinando Buccella had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 22nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 26th minute, Feliciano Fernendo ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Filippo Barbato was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Feliciano Fernendo in the 33rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Filippo Barbato saved XMAS from getting behind. After 35 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for XMAS! Filippo Barbato stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Ferdinando Buccella's shot from short distance in the 42nd minute. Honorato Demesio struck a weak shot in the 43rd minute. Filippo Barbato didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Villa Mitre City. In the 47th minute of the match Villa Mitre City got a corner. XMAS's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Honorato Demesio ran over to the corner to take the kick. At last the ball reached Fulgencio Iratzeder at the corner, ending with a kick to difficult to stop for the goalkeeper of XMAS. 0-3. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-3.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Ferdinando Buccella to strike the kick off in the second half. Honorato Demesio scored 0-4 in the 53rd match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Filippo Barbato, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Kenny Sparkes received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Filippo Barbato came out and tried to block the shot, but Kenny Sparkes slotted it home off the left post making it 0-5 in the 56th minute. Honorato Demesio received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 61st minute. Filippo Barbato tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. XMAS's Filippo Barbato proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 66th minute of the match, managed to save XMAS from getting a goal against them. Filippo Barbato made a fantastic save in the 67th minute, when Ferdinando Buccella sent off a good shot on target. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Enrico Leoni during the 67th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 67 played minutes XMAS got a freekick which was hit by Enrico Leoni. Honorato Demesio could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 68th minute of the match, but Filippo Barbato made a huge save. Villa Mitre City were awarded a corner in the 69th minute after XMAS's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Honorato Demesio took the corner. In the 73rd minute the ball was on its way in behind XMAS's goalkeeper Filippo Barbato, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 74 minutes into the match, Honorato Demesio had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Filippo Barbato. XMAS's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Honorato Demesio was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-8. A collision led to Villa Mitre City getting a freekick after 79 minutes play. Ferdinando Buccella hit a great ball. After a defensive mix-up in XMAS's zone, Honorato Demesio stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Filippo Barbato came out of the goal and Honorato Demesio tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Filippo Barbato showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Honorato Demesio in the 90th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ferdinando Buccella in the 94th minute of play forced XMAS's goalkeeper Filippo Barbato to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball.