DUNFERMLINE - RIVAR PLATE 5-1

SAN DESIDERIO - Come on the Pars, come on! A Buccianti-crafted banner greeted the Pars on the way to the Liguria Cup thumping of Division C outfit Rivar Plate.
For the first time ever, Dunfermline won their opening game of the season.
For the first time ever, Dunfermline won a Liguria Cup game.
For the first time in quite some time, Dunfermline played lovely football throughout, every player sticking to the game plan, interpreting their team's strengths and exploiting the opponents' weaknesses.


Gaffer Vanin deployed Perugini in goal, with Merello and Frassinelli composing the back-two, initially. Marletta was in the middle of the park, with Rossi and Finotti on the flanks, while Cantelli started upfront.
Referee Ravedati blew the whistle and proceedings got going.
Dunfermline looked sharp on and with the ball, they used the full width of the pitch and tried to go direct when required.
There were no real clearcut chances either side, though, until Cantelli broke the deadlock.
A Rivar defensive clearance was intercepted by Merello, whose touch was both a block and a through ball at the same time, the ball did reach Cantelli who delivered a brilliant left-footed shot whose run terminated into the back of the net.
The Pars' confidence kept on growing, and Finotti had a decent chance from a delicious Cantelli through ball, but the winger fired over the bar.
Minutes later, Filippi surged up to the halfway line and passed the ball to Marletta, who played a through ball into the path of Cantelli. The No 6 quickly turned and dispatched a savable shot the goalkeeper made a mess of, only managing to oppose a flawed block, with the ball going over the line to give Dunfermline a two-goal cushion.
Much of the pre-match talk had been focused on Devescovi, Rivar's topscorer, and his friendship with a few of the lads, but there was little room for anything other than competition on the pitch, and Devescovi himself duly obliged as he pegged one back for his side.
From a corner-kick, Devescovi was able to cut inside, beating Rossi and firing from outside the box, Perugini helpless on that occasion.
Perugini himself had been absolutely brilliant a few minutes earlier, as he stopped another powerful long range shot, also struck by Devescovi.
After conceding the goal, Dunfermline didn't lose their composure at all, and resumed their enjoyable play, with a thick web of passes leaving their opponents with little time on the ball.
Just before half-time, Rossi all but secured the passage to the next round, as he fought his way out of two opponents and scored with his right from the narrowest of angles to give the Pars a 3-1 half-time lead.

HALF TIME: Dunfermline 3, Rivar Plate 1

Bovalino replaced Finotti on the right flank, and soon after the restart, Frassinelli was introduced for Merello.
Marletta tried one of his typical tricks as he got past two opponents and shot from obscene range, forcing a marvel of a save from Ruscino, the Rivar goalie.
The Pars' flow of play rendered Rivar Plate dried and energy-less, as they chased ghosts for most of the second half, and they weren't helped by some of their team-members either, as was the case when Cantelli completed his hat-trick.
A brilliant combination between the No 6 and Rossi seemed to have reached an abrupt end as Ruscino intercepted the ball, but the keeper did lose his grasp and Cantelli immediately took advantage, dispossessing him and firing for the 4-1 goal into an empty net.
More than plain sailing thereafter for the Pars, who added a fifth as Cantelli once again combined with Rossi, whose first shot was blocked on the line, before the No 7 collected the rebound for the easiest of tap-ins, 5-1.
The ref didn't wave for any stoppage time, and the game came to a close with Dunfermline worthy winners.

FULL TIME: Dunfermline 5, Rivar Plate 1

DUNFERMLINE

Perugini (13)
Filippi (8)
Merello (4) - Frassinelli (10)
Finotti (15) - Bovalino (11)
Marletta (5, c)
Rossi (7)
Cantelli (6)

MANAGER: Vanin
SUBS NOT USED: Crosetti (2)
REFEREE: Ravedati
SCORERS: Cantelli 3 (1-0, 2-0, 4-1), Rossi 2 (3-1, 5-1)
CAUTIONS: -