May 25, 2011
Today, Siracusa visits Addis Ababa for the final of the Ethio-Italian Friendship Cup. For Saint George, it is their second trip to the championship game, having lost last year to Venezia.
Siracusa has progressed in the tournament behind the goal scoring prowess of Stefano Pagani and Lorenzo Dal Rio, along with the overall play of Nunzio Pasqualicchio and Marco De Angelis. Today, however, injuries have struck the Italians and of those four, only De Angelis will start, with Dal Rio available as a substitute.
The game is a surprisingly defensive match, scoreless through the first hour with only the Ethiopian representatives able to get a shot on target. Both defenses performed quite well to that point, turning away chances and more importantly, moving back well to prevent breakaways from taking shape, or on the rare occasions De Angelis or V’s Bereket Addisu found space, forcing the attacking players out wide until reinforcements could arrive.
The best chance of the match came with five minutes remaining, when Fitsum Kebede looked to be stopped by Siracusa’s Valerio Capocchiano and captain Giovanni Iodice, but used a magnificent spin to split the two defenders and free himself in the box. His shot looked destined for the net just inside the far post, but a diving stop from Luca Siringo turned the ball out of bounds.
And with that, we moved to extra time.
Eight minutes from the end of the additional period, a back heel from Addisu seemed to free Lencho Skibba, but Siringo again made the save. The final minutes of extra time saw the Ethiopian side controlling the match, but the final whistle blew before they could find the back of the net.
And so, this year’s Ethio-Italian Friendship Cup will be decided by penalty kicks!
First up is Siracusa’s Marco De Angelis, who sends his shot hard and high, beyond Adugna Deyas’ reach. In something of a surprise, Tadesse Makonnen sends out his teenage striker, Atakilti Mengesha, to take the first penalty for Saint George. But he hits the post! Siringo had leapt the wrong way, but the shot was hit too far wide, and Mengesha has sunk to his knees in disbelief. Siracusa has the early lead!
Lorenzo Dal Rio and then Mohammed Abera both convert, as do Giovanni Iodice and Lencho Skibba. But after Deyas saves a shot from Fabio Calabrese, Bereket Addisu slides his shot under Siringo to bring the teams level again.
Up walks Siracusa’s Aldo Perricone. He takes his shot, but Deyas guesses correctly and tips it away! Saint George has a chance to win the Ethio-Italian Friendship Cup! Here comes Fitsum Kebede to take the final kick of the initial series. Kebede starts his runup … but he screws it wide! Heartbreak for the hosts!
We move to sudden death, with Valerio Capocchiano to take the first kick. He scores easily. And now the question is, with all five attacking players having already kicked, who will step up in red and gold? It’s central defender and Ethiopian captain Samson Mulugeta … who also sends his wide!
Siracusa wins the second Ethio-Italian Friendship Cup and, once again, Tadesse Makonnen’s team fall just short of one of their preseason goals: the only prize left for V is now the league championship. Surely, disappointment there would lead to many questioning Makonnen’s continued tenure at the club.
Ethio-Italian Friendship Cup Final
Saint George v Siracusa, Addis Ababa Stadium
St. George 0 – Siracusa 0 [Siracusa win 4-3 on penalties]
MoM: Valerio Capacchiano (7.7) V’s Best: Kennedy Dube (7.6)
Attendance: 15,270. Referee: Samson Gawo.
MKNN 