BAYER LEVERKUSEN WINS 24TH ABANO FOOTBALL TROPHY

Bayer Leverkusen won 1-0 against Milan. The third place went to Ajax and the fourth to Atalanta

Bayer Leverkusen is the winner of 24th Abano Football Trophy. The final match between Bayer Leverkusen and Milan took place at Stadio delle Terme in Abano and was attended by many spectators; the final result was 1-0 with a goal of Thierno Ballo, who was given the best player award (just like in the 2014 tournament) and the Goleador prize for the top goal scorer. Abano Football Trophy is organised by Abano Terme township and Consorzio Terme Euganee and the 24th edition was a great success with the highest number of participants, that is 24 teams coming from 13 countries and 3 continents, for a total amount of 600 boys playing on the local fields in Abano, Torreglia, Giarre, Bresseo, San Giuseppe and Monterosso.
The third place went to Ajax, who won 4-2 against Atalanta after penalties (the result after the two halves was 0-0). The fair play award was given to Japanese team Kashima Antlers, who joined the tournament for the first time.

Here are the results of the matches played today:

1st – 2nd place: Bayer 04 Leverkusen – Ac Milan 1-0
3rd- 4th place: Afc Ajax – Atalanta Bc 4-2 after penalties (0-0)
5th – 6th place Fc Internazionale - Ssc Napoli 2-0
7th – 8th place Chelsea Fc - Red Bull Salzburg 5-1
9th – 10th place Kashima Antlers – Biancoscudati Padova 4-5 after penalties (1-1)
11th – 12th place Ilves Tampere – Vicenza Calcio 0-4
13th – 14th place Juventus Fc – Paris Saint Germain 2-1
15th – 16th place CSKA Moscow – Fc Brugge 1-0

Final ranking: 1 Bayer 04 Leverkusen, 2 Ac Milan, 3 Afc Ajax, 4 Atalanta Bc, 5 Fc Internazionale, 6 Ssc Napoli, 7 Chelsea Fc, 8 Red Bull Salzburg, 9 Biancoscudati Padova, 10 Kashima Antlers, 11 Vicenza Calcio, 12 Ilves Tampere, 13 Juventus Fc, 14 Paris Saint Germain, 15 CSKA Moscow, 16 Fc Brugge, 17 Fc Groningen, 18 As Roma, 19 Fc Midtjylland, 20 Toronto Fc, 21 SL Benfica, 22 Abano Calcio, 23 As Cittadella, 24 Thermal Abano.

Special awards:
Goleador prize for the top goal scorer: Thierno Ballo (Bayer Leverkusen), 11 goals
Best player: Thierno Ballo (Bayer Leverkusen)
Best goalkeeper: Stein Barkhuis (Fc Groningen)
Best defender: Donny Warmerdam (Afc Ajax)
Best middlefielder: Neraysho Meritchio Kasanwirjo (Afc Ajax)
Best forward: Mintasinot Luscetti (Ac Milan)
Fair play award: Kashima Antlers (Japan).

Abano Terme Sport Councillor Angelo Montrone ‘s satisfaction for the success of the tournament was clear in his speech during the award ceremony: “24th Abano Football Trophy was a real success both for the increased number of participants and their higher level. Over the past days the best football academies of the world showed us commitment, talent, passion and entertainment. We could watch Bayer Leverkusen’s Thierno Ballo playing and I am sure we will hear great things about him in the future. On the behalf of Abano Terme township I am proud we organized such an important sport event for our area. I would like to thank all the people who gave their best to make this tournament successful”.

Consorzio Terme Euganee President Angela Stoppato is also enthusiastic for the success of the event: “We did not imagine we could increase the level of Abano Football Trophy so much, involving 8 more international teams than the previous editions and having such talented clubs. Having a Japanese team was important both to get to know their training techniques and to draw their attention on our tourist destination. Likewise Toronto team came with a group of almost 100 people composed by players, staff members, parents and fans to enjoy our thermal spas but also the heritage of Veneto. Once again sport is a way to promote our area and find new interesting business opportunities”