And so it is over. Another Ciociaro Champions League season has drawn to a close. It was not a vintage one for the CCL, but that can also be said of the 2013/14 Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and Serie A seasons. From Week 8 onward, if not earlier, the title race felt like a foregone conclusion and was wrapped up with four games to play.

In the absence of a consistent challenger for the title, it could be said that the biggest threat to Borussia Dortmund were themselves. The Double was theirs to lose. But considering their mental resilience and reliable player turnout, quite simply, that was never going to happen. No one could keep pace.

As Dortmund posed with the Comune di Settefrati trophy on August 17, when they were crowned Madonna di Canneto Cup Champions, one could not help but marvel. The same team that struggled so mightily in 2013 - that finished in fourth place and was eliminated in the first round of the MDCC - had yet to lose a match. They were ruthlessly efficient from the start, scoring 52 goals, and had the best defense in the league. Their only loss came via a forfeit in Week 12. Quite simply, they were the most balanced side over the course of the campaign and the deserved to lift the crown.

What started as a neck-and-neck title fight probably deserved a better finish. But a 3-2 loss to Dortmund in Week 9 started the collapse of closest contenders U.S. Palermo, despite a ground-breaking season of their own. It meant the direct showdown between the two teams in Week 12 had no further bearing on the season’s outcome. What a clash of arms that might have been to play for otherwise. Pound for pound Palermo defied expectations, but the head-to-head matches with Dortmund made the difference in the end. Hopefully the foundation has been laid for many successes to come.

Having changed much of their squad and their style of play, this was always going to be a transitional season for S.V. Werder Bremen (formerly F.C. Treviso). The team struggled out of the gate, but did not lose a league match after August 1. The squad must strengthen, particularly in the attacking third, and be competitive in all matches next season. With a full season of game experience as a unit, and their players battle-hardened from their late-season run, this project looks to be in good shape for next season.

Following a strong finish to the 2013 season, hope was high amongst the players of C.A. Boca Juniors that the team would challenge to go one step further and reclaim the glory of their 2007 campaign, when they were Madonna di Canneto Cup Champions. As difficult as that certainly would be, players have to be happy with the ambitious and attractive playing style that they have implemented. Though they quickly fell off the blistering pace set by front-runners Dortmund and Palermo, it was a highly-promising campaign, the highlight of which was undoubtedly a MDCC run which included two heart-breaking one-goal losses to Dortmund. If they can maintain their playing identity and keep their roster intact, especially down the middle, they can certainly challenge for the 2015 title.

This season started slowly for A.S. Roma, hit rock bottom and then, after a brief revival, went back down the tubes. The problems were evident from Week 1, when they struggled to defeat Lazio. A 9-1 loss to Boca, 1-1 stalemate with Bremen, and 5-3 loss to Palermo followed. Dropping eight points in the first four weeks marked the team’s worst start in recent memory, and kept Roma from challenging the top half of the table. A number of injuries and sabbaticals only made the bad situation worse. The Madonna di Canneto tournament inspired some fight in the players, where Roma won their qualifying group and were beaten only in a shootout by Boca.  The tournament allowed a glimpse into what this edition of Roma could have been. It did not last, though, as they failed to field a squad for any of their remaining regular-season games. The hope is that Roma uses the 2014 season as a lesson learned, and works the transfer market aggressively this winter to rebuild from the ground up.

S.S. Lazio started the season with the league’s largest carryover of players from their 2013 squad, as well as with having added two key components of A.S. Avellino’s CCL dynasty. Hopes were understandably high that they could reach heights similar to the 2005, 2006 and 2007 editions of the team. Following a difficult start to the campaign, which saw them lose their first eight matches, they did manage positive results against league-leaders Dortmund (3-3 draw) and second-place Palermo (5-3 win). The losing streak certainly stunted the team’s progress. Defensive play, particularly in midfield, was their undoing - many of the 44 goals allowed during those eight weeks came from the opposition’s counter-attack. With strong goalkeeping and forward play in spurts this season, improvement in the middle third and keeping the team’s core intact over the winter will be vital to Lazio’s success in 2015.     

The CCL has always produced direct, fast-paced football. This season saw more depth to the play of teams: more thought, and more intellect. The league’s core product of athletic prowess and breathtaking counter-attacks still remains, but an enhanced soccer IQ is also emerging. It will continue to spread, and is certainly something for players and fans to look forward to in 2015.

Windsor (AP) - Borussia Dortmund earned a dramatic a 3-2 victory over C.A. Boca Juniors on Sunday to win the Ciociaro Champions League's Madonna di Canneto Cup at the Ciociaro Club of Windsor. Joe DeMarco scored twice, including a late strike to seal the victory, as Dortmund finished with a perfect record in the six-team tournament.

Boca started strong, taking a 2-0 first-half lead through an Anthony Meo wonder goal and a Gabriele Prestia header. Meo latched onto a ball that eluded the Dortmund defense and blasted a drive past Daniel Pullo for his first goal of the tournament.

Prestia was left unmarked in the box, and guided a Sebastian Coppola cross past Pullo soon after.

The Boca lead, however, would not hold through the halftime whistle. Dortmund would answer through DeMarco, the tournament's leading scorer, and Michael Naccarato. Dean Howarth's well-placed service produced a prime opportunity for DeMarco in the 34th minute, and he did not disappoint. Moments later, Naccarato directed a header past Boca goalkeeper Emmanuel Rufo, and the teams were square entering the half.

Boca's chances in the second half were limited to a number of long balls over the top, which the Dortmund back line and goalkeeper Pullo were able to manage, albeit with some nervous moments. But Dortmund, while maintaining a majority of possession, was unable to find the coveted go-ahead goal, with Rufo thwarting a number of chances from close range.

The league-leaders finally broke through in the 74th minute with DeMarco's fifth goal of the tournament. After gathering a loose ball in midfield, he raced forward and beat Rufo with a hard, low shot to his left side of the goal. Six minutes later, Dortmund raised the Trofeo Commune di Settefrati and achieved the CCL double - having won both the 2014 regular season and Madonna di Canneto Cup titles.

Dortmund improves to 13-0-1 this season in both regular season and Cup competitions, with matches against Lazio, Palermo and Roma remaining. Boca are two points behind second-place Palermo with three games left, and are looking to maintain their strong play of late though the end of the 2014 CCL season.

In the early matches, Dortmund dispatched U.S. Palermo by a 4-0 score. After a scoreless first half, a DeMarco treble and tidy Naccarato finish jettisoned Palermo. Pullo was only mildly tested in the Dortmund goal, as the backline of Roberto Amato, Naccarato, and Fabio Petrilli kept Palermo's dangerous counter-attack at bay. Boca needed penalties to defeat A.S. Roma after full and extra time resulted in a 1-1 draw. Angelo Aversa, heroic in goal during Saturday's match versus Dortmund, put Boca on the board early; Gurveer Mann responded late for Roma. Extra time would solve nothing. During penalties, Rufo made two saves to eliminate last year's tournament champions.

Soon after the match, the two (2) tournament game officials helped name the all-tournament team:

Daniel Pullo played in all four matches for Dortmund. He allowed three goals and had two shutouts. The goalkeeper had little to do due to his team’s organized approach to each match, but he minimized mistakes and vocally managed the Dortmund defensive scheme.

Paolo Carlini, formerly of CCL powerhouse A.S. Avellino, was a force in defense for Roma. He was as much of a two-way player as a defender could be. Rugged in the defensive third, he also showed creativity and quality in distributing the ball into midfield.

Michael Naccarato was a mainstay on the Dortmund back line. He was physical when required but also managed to involve himself in the attack when the opportunity presented itself. His daring excursions forward resulted in two goals.

Anthony Meo had a superb tournament. He did the grunt work that afforded Boca the luxury to push forward without worry. He was creative offensively, and displayed an adept ability to disrupt opposing teams. Meo He put forth a heroic effort against Dortmund in the final, which included scoring a breath-taking opener.

Joe Zagar bagged two important goals - the nail in the coffin versus S.V. Werder Bremen, and the go-ahead goal versus Boca - in the group phase. He caused opposing defenders all kinds of problems with his quickness and trickery on the ball. The pacey winger undoubtedly was of Dortmund’s greatest attacking threats throughout the tournament.

Gabrielle Prestia finished second in tournament scoring with three goals, and was a major reason Boca reached the final. Consistently dangerous in the attacking third, his two-goal performance sank Bremen in the group phase. He was one of the tournament’s most exiting players.

Joe Demarco led the tournament in scoring with five goals. Playing with power and precision, he was simply outstanding for Dortmund. His penchant for consistently producing at this tournament (previously with A.C.D. Treviso) makes him one of Dortmund’s most valuable assets.

Windsor, ON (AP) - A.S. Roma were the surprise of Saturday's Madonna di Canneto Cup tournament action, defeating second-seed U.S. Palermo and S.S. Lazio to win Group B and progress to Sunday's semi-final.

Gino Tomaselli and Gurveer Mann scored for Roma in a 2-0 defeat of Palermo. Palermo, with no substitutes on their bench, was unable to penetrate an organized Roma back line. But Roma, while maintaining a lion's share of possession, were unable to score either.  The game was scoreless until the 35th minute, when two goals in quick succession deflated Palermo and saw Roma through.  Gregory Mastrogiacamo earned the shutout.

In Roma's second match versus Lazio, goals from David Mariani and Joe Nuic, on a nifty flick from a cross, turned out to be all the offense they would need in a 2-1 win.  Lazio came in waves offensively in the second half, but a Vincenzo Figliomeni wonder goal was not enough to overcome the two-goal deficit.  Mastrogiacamo made a number of key saves to seal the win.

The third game in Group B saw Lazio face Palermo, with a place in Sunday's semi-final on the line.  In a back-and-forth affair, Palermo emerged with a 3-2 victory, behind goals from Jack Bommarito, Robert Cioci and Ignazio Stagno.  Nuccio Guarnaccia and Marco Savoni scored for Lazio. 

Borussia Dortmund topped Group A with wins against S.V. Werder Bremen and C.A. Boca Juniors.  Boca also advanced to Sunday's semi-final.

Against Bremen, Dortmund employed a solid defensive scheme, limiting Bremen's shots on target.  Goals from Dean Howarth, in the first half, and Daniel Frezell and Joe Zagar in the second produced a 3-0 Dortmund victory against a Bremen squad against which they drew 1-1 only one week ago.  Daniel Pullo was in goal for the shutout.

Bremen was also defeated 2-0 against Boca in the second Group A match of the day.  A Gabriele Prestia brace was more than enough offense for Boca; Joe Politi was in goal for the clean sheet.

In the final Group A match, to determine the group winner, a last-gasp Joe Zagar strike at the death left Dortmund a 2-1 winner. Boca, behind inspired goalkeeping by Angelo Aversa, who saved a penalty and a breakaway in the second half, went up 1-0 early on a tidy Sebastian Coppola finish. Dortmund would soon tie the match through a Matthew Melo strike.  The teams traded chances in a tense and physical second-half, but it was Dortmund who came away with the win.

In tomorrow's first semi-final, Dortmund will face Palermo.  Dortmund has defeated Palermo twice already this season - 6-3 and 3-2 - but both games have been passionately contested by both sides.  In the other semi-final, Roma, last year's tournament champions, will face Boca.  Both Roma and Boca have shown tremendous quality when fielding a full roster, and tomorrow's match should be an entertaining one.

The 60-minute semi-final matches are scheduled for 1:30PM.  The winners of each semi-final match will play for the championship, in a full 90-minute match, at 4PM.

Windsor (AP) - Borussia Dortmund secured the 2014 Ciociaro Champions League title with three games to spare after closest challengers U.S. Palermo lost 10-5 to A.S. Roma on Friday night.

It is Dortmund's first league title in the CCL, in only their second season of existence.

A short-handed Dortmund gathered to watch Roma's upset after dispatching C.A. Boca Juniors 3-0, and immediately after the final whistle the celebrations began.

Palermo had emerged as Dortmund’s only real challengers this season after an impressive 6-1 start. But a 3-2 loss to Dortmund in Week 9, followed by a forfeit loss versus Boca in Week 10 and tonight's loss against Roma allowed Dortmund to build a comfortable lead at the top.

Matthew Melo opened the scoring for Dortmund, who were able to comfortably control possession and limit Boca's chances.  Daniel Frezell and Dean Howarth also scored, and Daniel Pullo earned his ninth win - and first clean sheet - of the season.

Howarth leads the CCL in scoring with 12 goals.

Roma took advantage of suspensions to Palermo's two leading scorers in a rout. Joe Nuic, returning from injury, and Giovanni Roma both scored three times. Remy Cusinato scored twice, while Paolo Carlini and Gregory Mastrogiacomo also scored. For Palermo, Jack Bommarito and Wael Tabara scored two goals each. Morgan Klaas also scored.

Pasquale Roma earned the win in goal for Roma.

Palermo maintains a two-point lead over Boca for second place. Each team has two games remaining. Roma moved past S.V. Werder Bremen, who were idle, into fourth place.

The focus of all teams will now shift to the 10th Annual Madonna di Canneto Cup, taking place this weekend at the Ciociaro Club of Windsor. While Dortmund are favored, there are five sides desperate for a trophy standing between them and the CCL double, last achieved by A.S. Avellino in 2012.

Roma won last year's tournament, defeating Avellino 2-1 in an entertaining final.

Updated 8/8/2014 14:20

31 Giovanni Alfano
Player
Club: Ciociaro SC
Team: U.S. Palermo

League: Ciociaro Champions League
Division: Over 30
Suspension: 2 Games (8/8/14, 8/15/14)
Last Date of Suspension: 8/15/14

1.19 Serious Foul Play

* * *

6 Robert Cioci
Player
Club: Ciociaro SC
Team: U.S. Palermo

League: Ciociaro Champions League
Division: Over 30
Suspension: 1 Game (8/8/14)
Last Date of Suspension: 8/8/14

1.13 Second Caution in same game (not at game official)

UPDATED The draw for the 2014 Madonna di Canneto Cup was completed at the Ciociaro Club of Windsor on August 1:

Of the two seeded teams, U.S. Palermo seemingly had the more favorable draw. Palermo are in Group B with S.S. Lazio, who are winless so far this season, and A.S. Roma, who did win this tournament last year, but are currently sitting fifth in the standings. Outside of two losses to Borussia Dortmund, Palermo has not dropped any points this season. Their opponents do boast plenty of CCL and Madonna di Canneto Cup experience, however, and can certainly pose a challenge in the group phase, where games are shortened to 20-minute halves.

In Group A, league-leaders Borussia Dortmund will clash with S.V. Werder Bremen and C.A. Boca Juniors.  Dortmund have been solid in all thirds so far this season, and look to mirror their regular-season success in this tournament. They should find themselves through to Sunday. Both Boca and Bremen have shown improvement of late, moving into third and fourth-place over the past few weeks. Boca may have the upper hand, however, in the A3 position - playing Bremen after Bremen's opener with Dortmund.