Amateurs: Vittoria victorious in Sunday Amateur Trophy clash

Vittoria more than held their own in the opening stages and could well have taken an early lead. Jack O’Donnell hit a sweet first-time shot from the edge of the area that MLK keeper Scott Arthur did well to keep out.

The signs were encouraging for the Edinburgh outfit from that point on. They were passing the ball around well and causing real problems for the MLK defence. The Aberdeen side couldn’t deal with the pressure and it eventually led to a goal with 15 minutes on the clock. Jarek Butryn’s corner from the right picked out Antonio Baiane at the back post and he headed the ball in off the crossbar with Arthur beaten, to make it 1-0.

The momentum was firmly with Vittoria and five minutes after getting on the scoresheet, they could have made it two. A cross into the MLK box wasn’t dealt with and Karol Kacprowicz had space to shoot at the back post but he fired over the crossbar from six yards.

The chances kept coming for Vittoria and they really should have doubled their lead as the half progressed. Butryn beat his man and swung the ball in from the right wing for Kacprowicz to come a whisker away from turning the ball in at the far post.

As half-time neared Vittoria were well on top. They kept knocking on the opposition door and came close once more to making it 2-0. Manuydas Grigutis hit a stinging shot from 30 yards which keeper Arthur carefully watched just over the crossbar.

A goal seemed almost inevitable with the constant pressure Vittoria put on their opponents and eventually it came to fruition as O’Donnell got on the end of a Butryn cross from the right to lash the ball into the bottom right corner.

The second half was very much the same story as the first with Vittoria working tirelessly to keep on top of their opponents in all areas of the pitch.

Vittoria didn’t let up in attack as MLK looked ready to fold. O’Donnell posed a constant threat down the left and he almost made it three. Picking up the ball out wide he bust a gut to get past his marker and lace an effort at goal that rattled the side netting.

It looked easy for Vittoria but, with 20 minutes remaining, MLK picked up a goal from nowhere. Kamil Olagunju was the first to react to a loose ball in the box and sneaked a shot beyond keeper Sergio Mendoza.

MLK were back in the game having looked dead and buried and it was important that Vittoria kept their heads. As the clock ticked towards full time the next goal was crucial and Vittoria grabbed it to give themselves breathing space.

Mario Simeonou was chopped down by MLK midfielder Olagunju in the penalty area and the referee didn’t hesitate to point to the spot. Butryn took responsibility for it to smash the ball into the roof of the net and make it 3-1.

The game was Vittoria’s but they didn’t let up in attack as the clock ticked towards the 90th minutek. Jack Hewitt made it 4-1 as he controlled a long forward ball before hammering an effort into the bottom right corner to seal what was an impressive victory for the Edinburgh outfit.

Vittoria Group FC: Bismark Ansong, Antonio Baiane, Charles Burke, Jarek Butryn, Luca Cortellessa, Armando Crolla, Claudio Crolla, Manuydas Grigutis, Jack Hewitt, Miguel Iniesta, Karol Kacprowicz, Sergio Mendoza, Jack O’Donnell, Luigi Pia, Saif Qadir, Mario Simeonou.

MLK Aberdeen AFC: Pontus Ahlgren, Scott Arthur, Erik Avdulova, Tom Bentley, David Cameron, Bailey Craig, Lorant Csuhai, Marc Franklin, Shuaib Hanafi, Robbie Jennings, Connor McHoul, Kamil Olagunju, Ibrahim Shodeko, Zoltan Sztanko, Christopher Taylor, Lee Watson.