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Portugal
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3
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Soma, Simon D, Barna
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Italy
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2
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Fabrizio (og), Alex Hurley
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A great opening match with Portugal victorious by the odd goal in five. In a hectic first half Soma opened the scoring with a fine left-foot finish after Simon had found room down the right and squared the ball perfectly. Soon after it was even again as Hurley dribbled past two challenges and drove the ball across the goal which the backtracking Fabrizio could only turn into his own net. Barna crashed a great volley off the crossbar before Kostya somehow kneed Till's corner over the bar from a yard or two out!!! Simon grabbed his first goal of the day with a good run before smashing a shot into the roof of the net from the left side of the box to put his side one up at the break.
Italy started the second half strongly, winning a succession of corners and piling on the pressure. Kostya's header drifted just wide of the far post but from the next delivery by Till the ball was eventually forced home. Hurley's first effort rebounded off the post and with the Orange failing to clear Sam hit the ball goalwards and Hurley was there to turn the ball past Glenn from close range. Portugal responded through a rasping Soma effort that crashed off the underside of the bar and out although there were strong appeals that the ball had crossed the line! Soon after it was forgotten as Thorben came out to stop Christian in his tracks, the ball broke to Barna who floated a wonderfull lob over the stranded Thorben and backtracking defenders to find the empty net. George nearly wrapped up the points but his shot struck Thomas and went wide and as Italy ran out of steam Portugal held on for the victory by three goals to two. |
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Portugal
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1
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Simon D
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Holland
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1
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Otto
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Portugal showed no signs of tiredness against a disorganised Holland side and were nearly in front as George stung Glenn's palms with a long-range effort and then Fulop just failed to turn in Soma's cross shot. Simon's curling free-kick was again pushed clear by Glenn before the Oranje had their first chance. Thorben picked up a long ball outside his area and Lars' driven effort was cleared off the line by an alert George. Just as Holland seemed to be getting on top, Simon hit them with a sucker punch. Breaking past two tackles from midfield he drifted inside Kevin onto his favoured left foot before slotting the ball cooly inside the near post from 15 metres.
With a different formation Holland came out on the attack for the second half. Otto's shot was saved, as was Sebastian's follow-up and as Otto tried to back heel the loose ball goalwards it somehow trickled past the post via Thorben's legs!!! Kevin's long corner then found Lars at the back post and his touch and shot were good but again Thorben pushed the ball away. Eventually their battling was rewarded. Lars skipped away from Benoit down the left and crossed towards Max B. He brushed aside the attentions of three defenders and as the ball rolled free Otto made no mistake, firing the ball past Thorben and in. Strong defences ensured a point each from then on but Sebastian did cause a moment of panic as he deflected Christian's cross goalwards but Glenn saved well to leave the scoreline 1-1 at the whistle.
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Holland
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2
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Otto, Paul
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Italy
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0
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Lars
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A bright first half brought plenty of action but no goals in this match. Connor was first to threaten, just failing to turn in Till's wonderful cross. At the other end Sebastian was looking dangerous as he volleyed a great effort just over from Max B's pass and then fired wide of the near post following a good run. Kostya's follow-up to Simon's effort didn't cause Glenn too much trouble and Thorben dealt just as comfortably with Lars' effort in a 1 v 1 situation.
The second half was again very even with Hurley hitting a long-range effort wide and both Lars and Max B. forcing Thorben into action. A mazy dribble by Till was stopped nearly on the line and the back-heeled follow-up was somehow cleared away before Simon's effort was saved by Glenn's legs. The goal did eventually come and it went to the team in Orange. Sebastian did brilliantly to get free down the right and took the ball right to Thorben, forcing the goalkeeper to close him down before squaring the ball to Otto who rolled it into the empty net. Italy were shattered and it was game over seconds later... The ball seemed to be out of play but Kevin didn't stop and with no whistle and the Italian defence static Paul scrambled the ball across the line to leave the final score 2-0 and put Holland top of the table after day 1.
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