The
second match in Group B saw two debutants go
head-to-head as Italy's Totoriino took on England's
RJW United. While both sides entered the tournament
fresh to the Amsterdam Fives scene, it was Totoriino
who quickly looked the more settled of the two.
Their crisp passing and organisation paid off
in the first half when Mattias Dethmers opened
the scoring with a smart finish. Matteo Picco
soon doubled the advantage with a composed strike,
giving the Italians a 2-0 cushion at the break.
RJW
United, on tour for a stag weekend, may not
have had the ideal preparation for competitive
five-a-side football after sampling the (in)famous
Amsterdam nightlife– and a tough opening game
continued in the second period. Totoriino took
full control, keeping possession well and capitalising
on defensive lapses. Andrea Antinolfi made it
3-0 with a well-placed effort before Nikola
Marelli rounded off the scoring to make it 4-0.
While
the scoreline was emphatic, RJW United had their
moments – but lacked the clinical edge in front
of goal. Totoriino's defence, well-marshalled
and composed, shut out the threats when called
upon. The Italians impressed not just in the
scoreline, but in their style and intensity,
suggesting they could be serious contenders
for a top-two finish in Group B.
For
RJW United, it was a tough start but the tournament
still had a long way to go. With their first
taste of action now behind them, they'll hope
to dust off the cobwebs, find their rhythm,
and bounce back in the next round of games.
For Totoriino, it was a dream debut – clean
sheet, four different scorers, and early momentum
on their side.
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