Philipp Ploner, captain of the U19 team.

Regional tournament: 2 South Tyrolean teams fail unluckily

This Sunday, the second round of group matches of the 61st edition of the regional tournament took place in Calascibetta. While the U19 and U15 teams still have a chance of reaching the quarterfinals, the adventure for South Tyrol's women's team and the U17 selection is already over.

13 April 2025

From: pm

The U19 team suffered a spectacular but bitter 3-5 defeat to Friuli-Venezia Giulia on Sunday, thus missing out on an early place in the quarter-finals. Coach Marco Nicoletti's team got off to a strong start, taking an early lead through Schweitzer, but immediately conceded an equalizer. In a wild first half, which also saw Friulians convert a corner kick, Bolzano fell behind 2-3. After the break, captain Philipp Ploner scored a deserved 3-3 equalizer with a free kick before the South Tyroleans dominated the game, hitting the post through Schweitzer and missing a great chance through Stecher. Two late counterattacks ultimately decided the match in Friuli's favor. Trentino and Friuli now lead the group with four points, while Bolzano and Veneto each have one point. Bolzano absolutely needs a win in the final derby against Trentino to keep its last chance of reaching the quarter-finals.

The U15 team kept all hopes of reaching the quarterfinals alive with a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Wolfgang Crepaz's team defended with great commitment, with goalkeeper Sanfelici making several impressive saves and Tschigg denying Friulians a comfortable lead with a spectacular save off the line. The opponents dominated the game, while Bolzano only managed a few offensive opportunities – Giovanelli missed the best opportunity, sending the ball wide after a dribble. With two points from two matches, Bolzano is now in third place behind Friuli and Veneto (4 points each) and needs a win in tomorrow's derby against pointless Trentino to either qualify directly for the quarterfinals or advance as one of the three best runners-up.

U23 women and U-17 eliminated

In a dramatic final phase, the women's team squandered a graspable victory and thus also the chance of reaching the quarter-finals. After Anranter took a deserved lead in the 25th minute with a precise diagonal shot, Trentino equalized shortly after the break with a powerful header from Pellegrini. South Tyrolean goalkeeper Ploner, who replaced the injured Holzer, kept her team in the game with several strong saves, including from Giovannini and Pagnoni, and also had the necessary luck when Scarazzini hit the crossbar. In stoppage time, substitute Shabbeir made it 2-1 with a much-celebrated header from a corner, but almost with the final whistle, Girardi equalized for Trentino to make it 2-2. While Bolzano is eliminated from the tournament, Trentino can still hope for progress in their final group match against league leaders Veneto.

The same thing happened to the U17 team: they suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat against Friuli-Venezia Giulia on matchday two. The decisive goal came in the 12th minute, when Bettini headed a cross from the left behind goalkeeper Bresolin. Friuli had further chances, but Bonato made spectacular saves in front of an empty net, while Bresolin reacted strongly several times, including from Camara and Chezza. At the other end, Bolzano narrowly missed an equalizer – Marku hit the crossbar in the 25th minute, and later he was unable to capitalize on a fierce pass from Spitaler. Despite a committed second half and further saves from Bresolin, the equalizer was not enough.

Match schedule of the South Tyrol selection in Group B

U15:
CPA Bozen - CR Veneto 1:1
CR Friuli-Venezia Giulia - CPA Bolzano 0:0
CPA Trentino - CPA Bolzano (14.04.25 in Favara, 9.30 a.m.)

U17:
CPA Bozen - CR Veneto 2:3
CR Friuli-Venezia Giulia - CPA Bolzano 1:0
CPA Trentino - CPA Bolzano (14.04.25 in Favara, 11.30 a.m.)

U19:
CPA Bozen - CR Veneto 1:3
CR Friuli-Venezia Giulia - CPA Bolzano 5:3
CPA Trentino - CPA Bolzano (14.04.25 in Favara, 17.00 a.m.)

Women U23:
CPA Bozen - CR Veneto 1:1
CPA Bolzano - CPA Trentino 2:2

Quarterfinals: 16.04.25
Semifinals: 17.04.25
Finish: 18.04.25