[Primavera] Genoa win first Scudettino

Genoa have won their first ever Campionato Primavera title after beating Empoli 2-1 in the final in Macerata.

The Grifoncini, who beat Bari, Chievo and city rivals Sampdoria in the knock-out and Final Eight stages on route to the grand final, came into the match against their Tuscan opponents as hot favourites.

With the game heading for a goalless first half at the Stadio Comunale Helvia Recina, Diego Polenta scored from the penalty spot on the stroke of half time after Gabriele Angella brought down Antonino Ragusa.

Stephan El Shaarawy doubled Genoa's lead on the hour mark and although Manuel Pucciarelli pulled a goal back with 20 minutes remaining, it was too little too late.

The final whistle kicked off the celebrations for Luca Chiappino's side, who are now the 19th different team to win the "Trofeo Giacinto Facchetti" and take the title of 2010 Primavera Campione d'Italia.

The Scudetto is the latest piece of silverware to head to the Ligurian club after winning the prestigious Viareggio tournament in 2007, the Primavera Coppa Italia last year and the Primavera Supercoppa Italiana at the beginning of this season.

Despite losing the final, Ettore Donati can be proud of his Empoli youngsters as the unfancied Tuscans surprised tournament favourites Inter, holders Palermo and Brescia just to reach the final.

With the season now over, the Under-20 youth teams from next year's Serie A and Serie B clubs will be looking forward to the new campaign.

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

Campionato Berretti
Atalanta have beaten holders AC Milan 2-1 on aggregate to be crowned the champions of the Campionatio Nazionale Dante Berretti. The Nerazzurri were held to a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Bergamo on May 15 with Claudio Aquilante cancelling out Elia Cortesi's goal for the hosts. Nadir Minotti scored the decisive goal for Atalanta in the return leg in Milan on May 22. Novara beat Rimini 1-0 in the Lega Pro version of the competition on May 16.

The Under-20 Berretti championship is played mainly between clubs from the Lega Pro, but some Serie A and B clubs enter their Under-19 and Under-18 sides. However, for the final 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.

Meanwhile, Virtus Entella edged Latina 1-0 in the final of Serie D's Campionato Juniores Nazionali Under-20 tournament on May 21.

Campionato Allievi & Giovanissimi
Both of this year's final stages of the Under-17 Campionato Allievi Nazionali and the Under-15 Campionato Giovanissimi Nazionali took place in the Tuscan municipality of Chianciano Terme, with the final held on June 17.

Roma's representatives reached both finals, with their Allievi side beating Juventus 1-0 thanks to Amato Ciciretti's first half strike. However, later in the evening Milan secured the Giovanissimi title after a comprehensive 3-0 win with Davide Galbusera scoring a goal in each half and Andrea Petagna adding a late third.

PRIMAVERA 2009-10:
[Supercoppa] - [Torneo di Viareggio] - [Coppa Italia] - [Scudetto]

Source: Lega Calcio