[Primavera] Palermo win first Scudetto

Abel Hernandez scored a last-minute winning goal as Palermo beat Siena in the grand final of the 2008-09 Campionato Primavera in Trento.

Palermo, who have beaten last year's winners Sampdoria, Viareggio Tournament holders Juventus and Chievo on their route to the final, came into the match as hot favourites but Siena didn't make it easy.

With the game heading for extra time after a goalless 88 minutes at the Stadio Comunale Briamasco, Hernandez popped up with a easy tap-in to secure the Sicilian side's first ever "Trofeo Giacinto Facchetti".

The 18-year-old Uruguayan striker, who has already made a handful of substitute appearances in Serie A, was signed in the January transfer window from Penarol.

The final whistle kicked off the celebrations for Rosario Pergolizzi's side, who are now the 18th different team to take the title of Primavera Campione d'Italia. Last night's success is also the perfect gift for club President Maurizio Zamparini, who turned 68 today.

Despite losing the final, Marco Baroni can be proud of his Siena youngsters as the unfancied Tuscans surprised tournament favourites Inter, Lazio and Udinese just to reach the final.

With the season now over, the youth teams from next years's Serie A and Serie B clubs will be looking forward to the new campaign.

Palermo will kick-off the new Primavera season when they go head-to-head with Coppa Italia winners Genoa in the Primavera Supercoppa final - the traditional curtain raiser to the new season - in September.

Campionato Berretti
AC Milan were crowned the champions of Campionato Nazionale Dante Berretti after a 4-1 aggregate win over Juventus in the final thanks to three goals from Manuel Angelilli over the two legs on May 24 and 30, while Benevento beat Monza Brianza 4-3 in the Lega Pro version of the competition on June 13 and 20.

The Under-20 Berretti championship is played mainly between clubs from the Lega Pro and lower, but some Serie A and B clubs enter their Under-19 and Under-18 sides to compete. However, for the final knock-out phase the Serie A and B teams who progressed from the regular league season are separated from the Lega Pro clubs for two separate trophies that run side-by-side.

Campionato Allievi
In the final of the Under-17 Campionato Allievi Nazionali in Pagani on June 19, Fiorentina stunned holders and favourites Inter to win 3-1 thanks to goals from Pietro Iemmello, Federico Carraro and Ryder Matos.

PRIMAVERA 2008-09:
[Supercoppa] - [Torneo di Viareggio] - [Coppa Italia] - [Scudetto]