Tellia at the Benacia Cup

[V.V. Fabbri]

As hosts of this year's Benacia Cup, Tellia's team has received an automatic place in the finals. This thread is for updates on the team's progress and results.

[V.V. Fabbri]

*Played 5th July*

Batavia 0-1 Tellia
73' - G. Salmoiraghi

Tellia's dream of winning a third successive Benacia Cup started with a convincing display over Batavia, although the narrow scoreline belies their dominance. A second-half score by Gianluca Salmoiraghi was all the reigning champions could muster as a well-organised Batavian defence thwarted the Tellians' offensive waves. After considerable possession and attempts at goal by no less than six Tellian players which were unsuccessful, a few seconds' class shown by Salmoiraghi with just over a quarter of an hour left gave the young forward space inside Nul van Enen with a clever touch. After another touch to reposition, Salmoiraghi opened his body up to direct a placed shot into the top-right corner with Tom Meessen unable to reach. Following the goal, Batavia's tries at attacking descended to long punts upfield, but even Jeroen van Veen's speed could make nothing from it, and Tellia put three points on the board.

[V.V. Fabbri]

*Played 10th July*

Tellia 3-0 Shireroth
48' - M. Zajc
72' - G. Salmoiraghi
89' - L. Donatello

Three second-half goals powered Tellia through to a third consecutive Benacia Cup final as Shireroth's defence fell apart to leave them with only the pride of finishing third yet again to fight for. An exciting first half ended goalless, but not for the want of trying, as both sides went very close to opening the scoring; Tellia's Sezer Özker had a strike chalked-off for offside midway through the half while Shireroth's Kurt Lamberti had a penalty hit the post right before the break after Alessandro De Laurentiis' accidental handball blocked Rranr Kikksta's cross in. The Tellians must have had an inspiring half-time talk as they took the lead almost straight from the restart as Gianluca Salmoiraghi charged through the middle of the pitch before laying-off to Marko Zajc, and the 2012 Micras Player of the Year had no trouble in dispatching a terrific shot across the 'keeper and into the top corner with the outside of his boot. Zajc's influence grew following his goal, and most of Tellia's attacks involved him one way or another as Shireroth struggled to hold-on. With twenty to go, Özker won a free-kick cutting-in down the left and Zajc attempted to grab his second and his shot struck the crossbar, but Salmoiraghi poached well to poke the rebound in with du Nigrad floored. Salmoiraghi, now two-for-two this Benacia Cup, was replaced soon afterwards by Luigi Donatello, who marked his tournament début with a goal at the end of the game as the youngest member of the Tellian squad was put through into acres of space by Özker and coolly placed the ball over du Nigrad. Although not assured of topping the group, Tellia need just a draw against Elwynn to do so, with Elwynn themselves being potential finalists if results go their way too.

[V.V. Fabbri]

*Played 15th July*

Elwynn 0-2 Tellia
20' - S. Özker
55' - M. Zajc

Tellia reinforced their dominance over this year's Benacia Cup group with a third consecutive clean-sheet win to go through to the final in style. Against an team which itself has designs on making their first final appearance this coming weekend, Tellia's attacking threat was just too overwhelming for the plucky Elwynnese minutes in, Sezer Özker found the back of the net for the first time this championships with a blasted shot from inside the area after he had switched with Gianluca Salmoiraghi, who delivered a classy pass through to the captain to score. With their final spot already guaranteed, Tellia were in cruise control and rarely broke a sweat in playing the ball around neatly to whet the home crowd's appetite. Salmoiraghi was the team's most creative player, in a more reserved role than spearheading the offence as usual, and had a curling shot from distance tipped over the bar by Öldrikkari before half time. Following the break, Tellia soon decided to score a second and Marko Zajc pirouetted past Johanns Raun Oðð to find space, and delightfully chipped the ball into the net over the closing 'keeper from the top of the area. After the hour mark, some of Tellia's lesser-used players were brought-on and were allowed some freedom, but were unable to find a third. Elwynn, knowing they were beaten, reserved their energy on the hope that rivals Shireroth will do them a favour to let them have a second shot at Tellia in the final; needing anything other than a Batavian win in the final group game to go through.

[V.V. Fabbri]

*Played 19th July*

Tellia 2-1 Elwynn
19' - G. Salmoiraghi
61' - G. Salmoiraghi
90' - D. Sakhimzedeh

Watch this match here!

TELLIA WIN A THIRD STRAIGHT TITLE ON HOME SOIL!