Lazio Marines led the game until half time against the Legnano Frogs, taking a double lead in the second quarter of the game, after a scoreless first half in which everything happened, including three interceptions, two against Austin Albericci and one from Eystin Salum, with the defenses towering over the attacks.
The 12-0 for the Capitoline biancazzurri comes on the Albericci-Adalberto Rinaldi axis, but without the transformations rounding the advantage.
The Frogs responded with Salum’s pass to Carlo Tassan and Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi’s daring two-point conversion from Alessandro Zerbo’s throw.
After the break, the Frogs scored on their first offensive drive, with Salum throwing into the safe hands of Sheehy-Guiseppi, who beat the defenders and crossed the goal line for the pass.
On the conversion attempt, the Marines intercept the ball with Paolini who, however, is unable to bring it back to the endzone: 12-14.
A few minutes and the Frogs double their lead with a photocopy action and another spectacular throw from Salum to Sheehy-Guiseppi, who limps off the field. The conversion gives Legnano a 21 to 12 lead.
In the third quarter the Frogs’ masterpiece ends thanks to the personal action of Salum who, despite taking some very heavy hits, doesn’t lose his edge and knocks out the Lazio defence.
On the conversion attempt, the Marines blocked the ball again, recovered it and with a collective action brought it back to the endzone but a penalty denied them the two points and the score was set at 27 to 12.
The game becomes nervous, the referee’s flags fly and the game enters the final quarter with the Marines closing the gap with a reception by Jaren Banks, who completes the effort in the endzone.
The two-point conversion brings the Lazio team back to a distance of one point: 20-27.
This beautiful match didn’t end here, because the two teams continued to put on a show until the final whistle.
First the Frogs, scoring again with a great reception by Salum, also deployed as a receiver, on a throw from the young Zerbo.
Then the response of the Marines, with Albericci’s pass still in the hands of Rinaldi and a kick between the posts by Jacopo Impallomeni: 27 to 33.
On the kick off return, an error returns the ball to the Lazio attack, with just over 3 minutes left until the final whistle. Suddenly the initiative is entirely on the side of the hosts, who grind the field, taking advantage of the running game and the legs of Matteo Arca.
The touchdown of Lazio’s counter-overtaking occurs shortly after thanks to a splendid personal action by Albericci with 1’46” to go. Impallomeni transforms: 34-33! The last minute of the game is all in apnea: the black-silver attack restarts from its own 25 yards, goes up the field but the Marines defense holds, foils the last, desperate attack of the Frogs and closes the games, scoring the second Seasonal W in the IFL which, in fact, reopens the games in the playoffs for the white and blues.
(Source: Fidaf)
