My favourite turn of the 1980s and 1990s in the Italian league/cups I decided to use to test my soon-to-be-released football game Football: Play It Again

My objectives: to test the impact of basic tactics, the weather (first semi-final matches in January, rematches and finals in February and April) and the specifics of the Italian league that season (low goal average)

First semi-final of the Italian Cup 1989/90

I immediately drew the impact of the weather in the first match: Drizzle at the Stadio Comunale (Dribbling and Speed minus 1, careful with long-range shots – possibility of the ball slipping).

Juventus – AS Roma 1:1 (0:1)

Absences: JUV: Tacconi (Bonaiuti), ROM: Nela (Pellegrini), Desideri (Piacentini), Manfredonia

Juventus: Bonaiuti 6, De Agostini 6, Tricella 7, Bonetti 6, Galia 7, Marocchi 7, Rui Barros 6, Fortunato 7, Aleinikov 6, Schillaci 6, Zavarov 5 (74 Casiraghi)

Roma: Cervone 8, Pellegrini 6, Comi 6, Berthold 5, Tempestilli 4, Giannini 5, Di Mauro 6, Piacentini 5, Gerolin 4, Rizzitelli 7 (88 Conti), Voeller 7

Goals: 0:1 Voeller 35, 1:1 Berthold 67 own goal

Yellow cards: Rui Barros (55), Galia (57), Fortunato (59) / Gerolin (17), Berthold (55), Pellegrini (70)

Red card: Gerolin (88, second yellow)

Roma set their sights on protecting their backsides from the start and played from the counter-attack, missing a few chances, but maintaining a tight defence. Zavarov’s missed shots and Fortunato’s t head shot were all Juventus had to offer. In the 35th minute, Voeller struck from outside the penalty area (chart „Drizzle” and a d6 roll – 6) and the ball slipping on the wet turf fell into the Juventus net. 0:1!After the break, Juventus moved sluggishly to attack but all they gained were yellow cards for Galia, Fortunato and Rui Barros. In the 67th minute, after a mix-up in the penalty area, Roma goalkeeper Cervone kicked the ball out in front of him and Berthold, who had been playing brilliantly up to that point, knocked it into the goal. Unfortunately, an own goal. What a tragedy for Roma! 1:1.Another tragedy for the Romans came 20 minutes later when the referee sent off Gerolin for a second yellow card. Juventus didn’t manage to take any more advantage and the match ended well for Roma with a score of 1:1.

Player of the match: Cervone (Roma)

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Second semi-final of the 1989/90 Italian Cup The clash between champion and runner-up this season promises to be an exciting one.

Milan – Napoli 0:1 (0:0)

Absences: MIL: Ancelotti (Colombo), NAP: Giuliani (Di Fusco), Baroni (Renica). Van Basten starts with good form.

Milan: Pazzagli 5, Maldini 4, F.Baresi 3, Costacurta 4, Tassotti 3, Evani 6, Colombo 4, Rijkaard 3 (90 Simone), Donadoni 4, van Basten 4, Massaro 4

Napoli: Di Fusco 8, Francini 6, Renica 5, Corradini 5, Ferrara 6, De Napoli 6, Alemao 5, Fusi 7, Crippa 6, Maradona 5 (84 Mauro), Carnevale 5

Goal: Fusi 49 (assist: De Napoli)

Yellow cards: Rijkaard (27), Baresi (74) / Maradona (3)

Maradona made his presence known early on… fouling in front of the penalty area. Van Basten’s dangerous shot was defended by Di Fusco. Then as much as 20 minutes of „Boring Part” event and a yellow card for Rijkaard (there was a risk of the Dutchman being ruled out). In the 36th minute a magnificent shot by Carnevale from a bicycle kick! The rebound and De Napoli’s shot is defended by the Milan goalkeeper.

0:0 after the 1st half.

The start of the 2nd half shocked the Milan fans: Fusi’s shot from distance found its way into the net! 0:1. Then again a big „Boring part” (18 minutes!) and Evani’s accurate shot defended by Di Fusco. Milan had no idea how to deceive the Napoli defence. It wasn’t van Basten’s or Maradona’s day, who played aggressively testing the patience of the referee. The end of the match and Napoli’s players went on the rampage, such a lead is difficult to lose in the rematch.

Player of the match: Di Fusco (Napoli)

2nd matches: coming soon