Final flourish for Piemonte

In the final
Striker Marco Bergantin scored twice in the second half for Michele Delvecchio's side and set up another goal for team-mate Paolo Capra as the Italian side made the best of three second-half chances to join Ligue du Maine Amateur in Saturday's final at the Albstadion in Heidenheim.

Terrific save
The first half was reasonably even. Bergantin tested Württemberg goalkeeper Christoph Liebl with a long-range free-kick after 12 minutes, while at the other end, Antonio Maio made a terrific save after 23 minutes to block Ünal Demirkiran's effort from a Jens Härter through-ball.

Off the post
The post saved the Italian side from going into the break a goal down, as Alexander Raaf's header thumped against the woodwork after 28 minutes, but within seconds Württemberg were on the back foot as Danilo Montalto broke through only to pull his shot across goal with only Liebl to beat.

First goal
It took just eight minutes of the second half for Piemonte to take the lead as Capra darted into the area and passed for Bergantin to hammer the ball into the net off the crossbar from ten metres.

Peschel goes close
Württemberg coach Wolfgang Kopp brought on substitute Thomas Peschel to kickstart his side's attack, and the move nearly paid off as he forced Maio into a suberb low save after 77 minutes and curled a shot wide just six minutes later.

Capra scores
However, while the Germans pressed forward, there was room on the counterattack, and Bergantin stole free again after 86 minutes, generously cutting the ball back for Capra to finish to make it 2-0.

No comeback
The tournament hosts pulled a goal back after 89 minutes as Steffen Kaiser's long-range free-kick crossed the Piemonte goalline by way of the crossbar, but Piemonte restored their lead in the final minute of normal time as Bergantin guided Lorenzo Parisi's low cross from the by-line into the net.

'Difficult group'
"I am very happy to be in the final because it was a very difficult group," said Piemonte coach Michele Delvecchio as his team celebrated. "Normally the final should have been Italy against Germany. I haven't seen the French team but I will be gathering information in the next two days."

Piemonte tragedy
Both sides wore black armbands and observed a minute's silence before the game in memory of a close friend of the Piemonte side, Giuseppe Grippiolo, who was killed in a car accident following their 3-0 win against Ticino Amateur at the Normanniastadion in Schwäbisch Gmünd on Tuesday.

'A tribute'
"The players are delighted to be in the final," added Delvecchio. "They have reached the last two as a tribute to Giuseppe Grippiolo."