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Italy
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2
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Till, Alex Hurley
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Holland
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1
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Otto
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Italy secured their first win of the league in a tight first match of the day. Holland's only chances of a first half dominated by the Blues fell to Szabolcs and Max but neither could trouble Thorben. At the other end Till was a handfull, firing in crosses and linking up well with Hurley in the middle. Sam's shot forced a stunning one-handed save from Maik, but soon after Till opened the scoring by pouncing on the rebound from Hurley's volley and toe-poking the ball home. It was two before the break as the Oranje neglected the chance to shoot and lost the ball to Hurley who found Till. They then exchanged three more passes before Hurley calmly slotted the ball into the corner for a wonderfully worked goal!
Till, Sebastian and Max all came close with shots before Otto pulled one back for Holland. Jelle broke from the back and found Max, who spun and slipped in Otto and the finish was perfectly placed past Thorben. Holland couldn't find an equaliser and Till almost made it 3 at the end but his shot crashed off the bar and out. A vital victory for Italy and their day was just going to get better...
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Italy
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4
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Till, Kostya, Alex Hingl (2)
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Portugal
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0
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Otto
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The scoreline didn't exactly flatter Italy too much but at half-time there was no indication of what was to come. The only highlight of the first half came at the end as a goalmouth scramble almost gave Portugal the lead as Thorben pulled off a double save from George and Bernardo before the upright performed a similar feat as Fulop managed to hit it twice from close range!!!
A mistake from Christian gifted Hurley the chance to cross from the left and Till stroked it home beautifully with his left foot to give Italy the lead. Till's corner then found Sam at the back post and after one touch he fired the ball across the goal and Kostya was there to deflect it brilliantly in off the crossbar. Portugal had there chances as George and Soma shot wide but it was the finishing that was the difference as 2 became 3 when Hingl nicked the ball past Maik from Sam's cross. He added his second, slotting through Maik's legs, again from a Sam pass after Till had broken away from a corner to leave the Reds with much to think about before facing Holland.
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Holland
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2
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Max, Otto
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Portugal
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2
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Fulop, Soma
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Italy's day got even better as Holland and Portugal drew in an entertaining match in which both keepers ended up playing outfield!!! Jelle's problematic ankle meant he started the game in goal and Thorben took his place in defence. He was forced into action in the second minute, pushing Fulop's fierce drive over the bar. He could do nothing moments later, however, as Portugal took the lead. George was the achitect, dribbling through the middle evading 3 challenges before unselfishly teeing the ball up for Fulop to stroke home. It was almost two before half-time as Soma danced round Kevin and Jelle and shot goalwards only for Szabolcs to arrive just in time and clear off the line!
Portugal were forced to change things round as Alex went in goal and Maik came into defence. Unfortunately the two then gifted Holland an equaliser from the kick off as Maik miscontrolled and Max pounced to put a low shot into the near corner from a very tight angle. Christian had an effort fly over before Otto fired a shot past Alex into the net after being fed by Kevin to put the Oranje ahead. With Thomas off the field due to ill discipline the Reds were down a man but battled back to earn a point. Soma latched onto a loose ball after Jelle had saved from Fulop and dribbled in from the left before firing the ball inside the near post. Soma almost stole the win at the death but this time Jelle denied him from point-blank range to leave the scores tied at 2-2.
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