Dear all, welcome to the second match of the Corporate Liga 09/10 

Referee of the day is Mr Andrè Urbing,of Federation Luxembourgeoise de Football,  who devolves his emolument to “Doctors without borders”.

Difficult matches, not many goals and a lot of tactics: that’s in few words the resumé of the evening.  Ferrero won other three points against a hard Eurizon, Sanpaolo won an important match against Mizuho, showing they are still  the top team of the tournament; and a big fight between Citi and EIF.

Dear players,  I would like just to underline something that I though it was obvious. All of you are working in the financial sector in Luxembourg. The opposite team of today could be your next employer, the person you make a fault could be your future colleague. So why to be so stupid to play hard and bad?

The aim of these matches is to learn to stay together as a team and not as single persons. Cooperation, collaboration between players, fairplay between teams are also a path to reach  this result. I agree that football is a sport for men, but it should remain a sport. That’s not the Champion’s League. Think about it.

Ferrero vs Eurizon 6-0

Tough match tonight between two Italian teams. Ferrero with the usual team; while great revolution for Eurizon, with more than half of the team is new (Ugo Sansone as goalkeeper and Emiliano Laruccia as defender), however the very good match of the last week.

First half with Red Devils attacking from anywhere, with Matteo De Bosio as a reference point for his team. He keeps the ball, let the colleagues taking position, shoot from any point: the most dangerous player on the field. Eurizon, however a very good will, is not enough organized, and the absence of Carlo Liguori, or another team leader, lets the team without  reference points.

Kinder guys are quite good to shoot where a also a fantastic Sansone cannot arrive. Three shoots from far closed the first half 3-0.

Second half is a photocopy of the first, with Ferrero controlling the match, and Eurizon trying sometimes a counter attack, without a real striker. And the result is the same as before: other three goals, closing the match with a tennistic score: 6-0.

Eurizon changed too many players this time; a high turnover is damaging, especially when you don’t have players with technical skills. Without an incredible Sansone, who was playing at the same level of Gigi Buffon, the passive for the Black could have been higher.

Team building already succeeded for Ferrero, playing always a lovely soccer, without the need of a leader. Also with De Bosio at the bench, the team was playing very well.  

Best players Sansone and  De Bosio

Fair play Sansone and Calorio 

Mizuho vs Sanpaolo  2-8

Most important and difficult match of the evening. Two teams playing for the Final Four. Sanpaolo with different absence: Belardi today with the role of trainer, Savino and Ambrosio out too.

Mizuho came with dozen of supporters, including president Mary and coach Mariotti, aware of the difficult match; on the other side Belardi was supporting his team since the first minute, suggesting the changes, screaming all time, and giving suggestions.

First half very tactic, with both teams pressing over all  the field, and an equilibrium broken only by the action of single players. One name over all: Giovanni Sequi. As always, he resolved the match for his team. Three goals for him in the first half, followed by a double of Silva.  Two penalties scored, one per side.

The second half Red-Whites took the control of the match, showing their higher harmony (they are playing together since three years), a good technical skill, and very terrific pressing (thanks to Rui Machado). Good performance also of the new goalkeeper Lotin.

More physical game than technique for the Japanese, but it’s not enough tonight. Mizuho played very well, but its players are not in use to play these difficult matches. With the experience, they will improve.

Best players:  Silva and  Sequi

Fair play: Kazantzoglou and  Bogusz

EIF vs  Citi  10 - 7

Difficult and tough match, with two nervous teams, more focused on faults than in playing the game. One red and three yellow cards explain very well the situation.

Many players for both sides (respectively nine and ten), too many to be managed correctly. As for Eurizon, a high turnover could negatively influence the harmony of the team.

First half very equilibrated, with Bertoleet and Perrier driving their teams with a double score. Citi opened the score, but after EIF succeeded to draw  and later scored four goals, with two minutes before the whistle Citi re-opened the game with two goals. First half  5-4 for EIF. Equilibrated match.

The second half is stronger than the first, both teams playing hard and with intensity. Different occasions and different goals from both sides, but Blacks are always one/two goals more than Whites. EIF can control the match and attack when they prefer, while Citi should recover different goals, leaving a great advantage in term of ball possession to the blacks. An advantage exploited till the last minute, as EIF won their first three points this tournament.

Best players: Gouffes  and  Kraouche

Fair play:  Gouffes and  Kraouche

See you all next week, with the big match BoNY vs. Fidelity