Spal Under 16 national champion of Serie C: Padova beaten on penalties

Spal Under 16 beats Padova 3-1 after penalties and becomes national champion of Serie C, writing a small page in the history of the white and blues. In Viterbo – also supported by several Spal fans – Schiavon's team goes behind, then ties the score. After regulation time and extra time it ends 1-1, then the white and blues fail to score even once from 11 meters and Spal can celebrate. Padova starts strong, finding the goal of the advantage immediately: a daring action between Basso and Zanetti favors Pegoraro, who heads the ball into an empty net. The white and blues continue to push and almost double the score with a volley by De Stefani, which ends just wide. Spal reacts: Zompetta serves Minotti, who kicks high, then it is Minotti again who becomes dangerous but the header is central and does not worry Bensi. The equalizer comes after half an hour: Cassetti crosses from the right, Padova's defense intercepts but does not clear and Minotti collects the ball and hits the net with force from a few steps. At the end of the half, Minotti himself is the protagonist with an elevated header on an assist from Auxilia, but Bensi manages to block the ball, albeit with some difficulty. The half ends 1-1 after an intense and hard-fought first half.

The second half opens with a key episode: Rizzo is brought down in the area by Neri and the referee awards a penalty to Padova: Rizzo steps up from 11 meters, but Zanetti excels in parrying the shot. Spal responds with a great shot from Siviero, who forces Bensi to make a great save. Spal's forcing continues, but the chances that fall to Vecchiattini, Paiola and Benazzi are not capitalized on. In the last quarter of an hour the teams attack in search of the winning goal, but they fail to break through and it goes to extra time. In overtime Padova tries with Agboola and Archetti, but the best chance goes to Spal's Pedriali, who fails to reach Benazzi's cross by a hair's breadth. The match went to penalties, where – after the mistake made during the match – Padova missed four out of four, and Spal only needed goals from Cassetti and Neri to get their hands on a trophy that in this particular moment takes on an inestimable value.

Stefano Manfredini