APIA Defeats ESPERIO VIAREGGIO 0-1 in Last Cup Match

Goal-hero for Apia was central midfielder Farres Aoun who scored in the 50th minute to give the Australian side it’s first victory in the Viareggio Cup.
Industrious and intelligent defensive midfielder Josh Colosimo, fired into Viareggio’s box a free kick slung in from the right where the home side poorly cleared. The ball fell out to the edge of the box where Aoun raced in with two touches before blasting a violent left-footed drive into the bottom left corner of the target.
Apia indeed should have destroyed Viareggio much earlier, but as the match unfolded the home side became more and more frustrated and more physical in their forward thrusts, but the young Australians were defiant and totally refused to yield.
Apia’s skipper and ‘linkman’ Andrew Vitucci hugely lifted his game in his new role from flankman, and was a trifle unlucky not to have nailed a brace of goals early in the first session.
In the 20th minute Vitucci split the Viareggio defence and blasted an on-target 25 metre drive that was just saved by the home goalie.
Five minutes later the Apia captain yet again threatened when he climbed high to meet a top cross from the right but Vitucci’s crashing header sailed just over the horizontal.
Five minutes after the break following a massive throw-in by Andrew Casali slung in from the right, midfielder Farres Aoun attempted a decent on-target scissors kick from 12 metres but his valiant effort was just blocked by the ‘keeper.
Two minutes later, it was yet again that Vitucci threatened. Drifting to the right flank he suddenly cut in to drill a low right-footed rocket that shaved the far left upright.
With the clock rapidly running down and Apia still holding the lead, Viareggio became more frustrated and physical, so much so that their captain and ‘screener’ Bonomo in a challenge, swung a punch catching Colosimo right across his right eye which soon blackened. But Colosimo after short treatment refused to retire and continued in the battle.
The real ‘Man Of The Match’ in reality was none other than make-shift left-back, Sean Symons.
Apia’s starting line-up was reshuffled three times within two hours of kick-off as injuries denied Pasquale Sciavello, Anthony Fallone plus Marco Capobianco from starting the match.
Sean Symons in fact was initially slotted at left midfield but was switched to left back when regular left defender Musti Uzunay was forced to swing inside to link up in the central defence.
The last minute positional change for Symons failed to impeded his magnificent match performance as he was first, unyielding as a defender, then as a block-busting attacker down the left flank. Absolutely marvellous.
The only difference between Symons and Blackburn Rovers’ Socceroo Brett Emerton, (on this performance only), is that Symon is a strapping 18 year old and is registered with Apia’s Under 20s.
Others that greatly impressed in this furious battle, were central defender Mark Vangeli, defensive midfielder Josh Colosimo, captain and ‘linkman’ Andrew Vitucci and the tireless sole striker, Andrew Casali.
The Apia squad flies out of Milan’s Malpensa Airport on Sunday at 12.55pm and arrive at Sydney International Airport on Monday night, February 28th at 8.20pm with Singapore Airlines.
Late Results From Other  Group Matches:
Juventus vs New York          5-1.
Brugge K.V.vs Varese           0-5.
Lazio vs Torino                      2-1.
Anderlecht vs Grasshoppers 2-2.
Inter Milan vs Rapp.Serie D   2-1.
Spartak Moscow vs Reggina  2-3.
Dukla Praga vs Vicenza          2-1. 
APIA LEICHHARDT TIGERS’ line-up: Stefano Giglio: Jordan Creighton, Mark Vangeli, Musti Uzunay, Sean Symons: Andrew Vitucci (captain), Josh Colosimo, Vnicent Leto (Blake Brooker 70th) , Farres Aoun, Angelo Sabag (Robbie Mellino 60th): Andrew Casali
-By John Economos (From Perignano,Pisa,Italy)