The U20 ‘s had their hardest possible start on Monday in the Coppa Carnevale Tournament, when they played against the holders, Inter Primavera, who are Inter Milan’s Youth team. The squad consists of 21 players but Danny Maguire was unfortunately injured in training the day before the match and was therefore unavailable. I’ve just received the following short report……
‘I’ve just returned from Viareggio and must tell you how close to a win the boys came. Recovering from the worst possible start, they pulled themselves back into the game and deservedly scored an equaliser through Antonio German. The game was pretty even after that with perhaps Inter shading possession. Midway through the 2nd half, German dispossessed the Inter right back, got to the bye-line and crossed the ball for Romone Rose but he unfortunately put it wide. Immediately from the dead ball kick, Inter swept forward and scored a scrappy goal. My man of the match was Lee Brown who had a very good game at centre back.’Good luck to them in their next match against A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers on Wednesday and hopefully Danny Maguire will be fit again by then.
Interesting to read how Inter reported on the game….. ‘Antonio Esposito scored an early goal and Luca Caldirola cancelled out German’s equaliser as Viareggio Cup holders, Inter Primavera beat Queens Park Rangers in the opening match of the tournament at the Stadio dei Pini.
Esposito gave the Nerazzurri’s Under – 19 side the perfect start, slotting home a magnificent cross by Destro who was played in by Gerbo. QPR equalised in the 19th minute through German, who started and finished off a flowing move with an unstoppable angled volley. Inter dominated the second half and re-took the lead fifteen minutes in when Caldirola stole in at the near post to head home Esposito’s right-wing free kick.
Inter: Belec, Donati, Mei, Daminuta (Rigione), Caldirola, Obi, Krhin, Gerbo (Tremolada), A.Esposito (Stevanovic), Destro, Napoli.
Subs Not Used: Bavena, Mbida, Beretta, Fortunato, Bocalon, Giacomelli.
QPR: Bulmer, Cox, Oastler, Harris, Waters, Allberti (Parker), Brown, Smith, Balanta, German, Rose.
Subs Not Used: Putnins, Perring, Olley, Ehmer, Nanetti, Wright, Davenport, Vanterpool.
Booked: Donati, Waters, A Esposito and Bulmer.
Steve Brown said after the game: “Paulo Sousa came to the match, and he said to me afterwards that many people will have come here today expecting to see Inter win 4-0 or 5-0. But they have left talking about QPR, which is great. We really challenged the holders and took the game to them. That makes me immensely proud. In my opinion, a draw would have been a fair result. We definitely deserved something from it, but football can be a cruel game.”
Steve Russell