The last time Calabria Under 19 champions of Italy in 5-a-side football was in Puglia in 2017. Mendicino’s team beat Sardinia and won the title after 7 years
THE SCORESHEET
CALABRIA: 3
SARDINIA: 2
CALABRIA: Gullì, Careri, Campana, Spanò E., Chiappetta, Caracciolo, Gentile, Tigani, Alì, Gallo, La Corte. Coach: Mendicino
SARDINIA: Carta, Carboni, Casti, Melis, Murtino, Udassi, Addari, Chinghini, Orrù. Coach: Perdighe
REFEREES: Mr. Francesco Saverio Lupinacci (Cosenza section) and Mr. Domenico Massaria (Vibo Valentia section)
CHRONO: Mr. Riccardo Nadile (Locri section)
MARKERS: pt 15’47” Chinghini (S), 10’25” Aut. Casti (C), 6’26” Alì (C), 4’39” Murtino (S), st 10’23” Tigani (C)
WARNED: Chiappetta (C), Murtino (S), Chinghini (S), Melis (S), Alì (C)
REGGIO CALABRIA – President Mirarchi’s smile, as he hands over the trophy to Calabria captain Andrea Alì, is the final gloss on a monumental 60th Regions Tournament Five-a-side football organized in a meticulous manner by the Calabria Regional Committee, without leaving anything to chance, and won by the Under 19 team led by Mister Francesco Mendicino against Sardinia. The 2017 feat was repeated in Puglia, coincidentally again on the same date of May 1st.
5-A-SIDE FOOTBALL, CALABRIA CHAMPIONS OF ITALY, MATCH REPORT
Sardinia scores practically with the first shot on goal with Chinghini, while Mr. Mendicino’s boys besiege the Sardinian goal, hitting the post with Gallo and the crossbar with Alì. Then, at half-time, Tigani’s shot was deflected unstoppably by Casti and goalkeeper Carta saw his fort collapse. The Calabrian selection plays constantly in the offensive half of the field and with 6’26” left before the break, they overturn the partial with Captain Alì’s coast tu coast. Sardinia, however, was not willing and after two minutes they found the equalizer with Murtino, who reiterated the goal after a good save by Gullì at the end of a quick restart. The first half of the game ended in perfect parity at 2-2, with Calabria probably deserving more on points.
Calabrian supremacy which is concretized at the start of the recovery. In fact, thirty-seven seconds were enough for Tigani to seal Calabria’s new lead, which was followed by Gentile’s tip from the right top of the penalty area which hit the post squarely and the free throw missed by Alì unless five minutes from the siren. Calabria earns a second free throw shortly after, but Tigani sends it directly wide. In the final, then, Sardinia tries with the goalkeeper, but the boys stoically resist the assault and at the siren the celebration for the category title that returns to Calabria after seven years can explode.
