MBA FOOTBALL CUP in LONDON
Dear friends,
is with great pride that I inform you the excellent results achieved by our team in the tournament in London. We were the only Italian team against more numerous and experienced teams and we show a really good play and tactical intelligence.
Included in the group with Manchester Business School and HEC Paris we played strong and determined, led by our captain Yuji we immediately made it clear that it was not easy to defeat.
After 5 minutes from the beginning of the first game we went ahead and Mariano shoot on goal; the goalkeeper rejected the ball but Emanuele pull in goal. The Manchester team, despite repeated attacks, could not overturn the result and it was very close of being subjected to the second goal. Our goalkeeper Francesco closed any ambition to our opponents and no goal he suffered for the third consecutive game (counting the two games MBA CUP 2010).
First game won but we still need to earn the qualification in the field facing the HEC Paris team certainly less tired than us because he had not yet played. But this was not enough and thanks to a great defence and goals saved by our legendary goalkeeper, at the final whistle the match was still at 0-0. Finally it would be possible for us to be sure about the qualification and we shouted our happiness.
Eliminated will be the friendly team of Manchester defeated 3-2 by the French team.
In the other group qualified London Business School and IE Business School; eliminated Insead.
In the semi-final we expected the home team (London Business School) really strong and with a team more numerous of our. And in this match we really made clear to all that we were really a strong team. Under twice, and twice we recovered, thanks to a beautiful action that was end on goal by a kick of Luca and and a free kick that let Yuji to shoot in goal with the ball passing between the goal post and the first man of the barrier that was poorly positioned by opponents. And these are mistakes that those who played in Brazil will not ever forgive you.
After our second tie, the attacks of the London Business School has been made furious; gigantic mixtures, poles, beams, spectacular goalkeeper saves, outrageous mistakes in front of goal ... despite the extra time, greatly desired by our adversaries, the London Business School has failed to score more.
Unfortunately, the penalties was fatal for us. We are thus excluded from the final, but never defeated. Our unbeaten run has lasted from 7 matches (last defeat => MBA CUP 2009 qualifiers against Alma).
The penalties have been fatal even at the London Business School in the final against IE Madrid that had previous defeated the HEC team.
The tournament goes to the Spanish but the MIP did a really nice tournament.
And here are the heroes of London (now the lions of London):
from left to right: Rafael Dias, Oreste Ciani, Francesco De Solda, Milan Prica, Francesco Bisazza, Luca Grechi, Mauro Santucci, Massimiliano Abriola, Mariano Rigotti, Emanuele De Giorgi, George Crainz, Yuji Tanouchi.
Applause and ola for all.
Special thanks to Mariano that gave us this great opportunity.
And finally, look what I found on the website of the London Business School where he find the players for training (...for those that can stay for longer each Tuesday and/or Thursdays (from October onwards) please take £1 with you if you wish to participate in the Penalty Shoot-out Competition we'll be having. Wonder why we do this? Just ask the students that played football in MBAT last year..) Almost a prediction.
MIP results:
MIP-Manchester Business School = 1-0 (De Giorgi)
MIP-HEC = 0-0
MIP-London Business School= 2-2 (Grechi, Tanouchi) London in final with penalties
please access http://tackleafrica.org/partners/uk-partners/tackleafricacup/ for full tournament results and photos
mauro
