BKN301 Championship: Faetano and Juvenes-Dogana celebrate in the preliminary round

Last night’s BKN301 Championship Preliminary Round officially opened the post-season phase. The teams smiling and moving on, thus booking their place in the play-off bracket, are Faetano and Juvenes-Dogana. Girolomoni’s Gialloblù faced Murata in Acquaviva, with the latter enjoying the advantage of a better regular-season finish (eighth versus eleventh), which would have seen them through in the event of a draw. Faetano therefore needed nothing less than a win to keep their run alive – and that is exactly what they got. After a goalless first half, the deadlock was broken at the start of the second: Fall, from the three-quarter line, picked out Terenzi on the flank; he reached the byline and squared for Marseljan Mema, who beat Gueye and netted his 18th goal of the season. Shortly afterwards Ferrario had the chance to double the lead and probably kill off the game, but he missed the target from just inside the box. Murata piled on the pressure but could not find the decisive spark (a draw would have taken the Bianconeri through). Late on, Mema again threatened, but Gueye did well to deny him. Time ran out and Faetano could finally celebrate and continue their journey. Girolomoni’s men will now face Cosmos, with the first leg scheduled for Sunday 30 April at 15:00 in Dogana and the return leg on Wednesday 3 May in Montecchio (20:45). It was a goal-filled encounter instead in Montecchio between Juvenes-Dogana and Domagnano. Amati’s side had finished above Ranocchini’s in the regular season thanks to the very last matchday and therefore had two results out of three in their favour to clinch a play-off spot. Juvenes-Dogana started strongly and broke the deadlock on 38 minutes thanks to a fine ball from Benedetti for Salvemini, who controlled on his chest and beat Simone Guidi for 1-0. Amati’s forward was in inspired form and early in the second half he struck again to double the lead: a long ball from deep found Stella, who first time slipped an excellent pass through to Salvemini; he controlled with his right, shot with his left and beat Guidi for the second time. It was now an uphill battle for Domagnano, who needed three goals to turn it around. As expected, the Giallorossi had to open up and Juvenes-Dogana were able to strike on the counter. Amati’s team, however, failed to land the knockout blow and Domagnano pulled one back ten minutes from time through Nicolò Bacchiocchi, who headed home in the box from a corner. The goal fired up the Giallorossi who, just four minutes later, completed a sensational comeback with an almost identical goal: Lombardi’s corner, Bonini got a touch and this time the decisive header came from Angelini, sending his team into raptures. The drama at Montecchio was not over yet. A few minutes later Domagnano were reduced to ten men after the sending off (straight red) of Angelo Faetanini for a heavy challenge on Nicholas Lisi. With a man advantage Juvenes-Dogana could not afford to slip up and indeed, on 90 minutes, Merli sent Federico Tumidei through on goal; one-on-one with Guidi, he scored to make it 3-2. Despite being a man down and needing two goals again, Domagnano fought and tried to mount another comeback, but it was not enough. Juvenes-Dogana will now face La Fiorita, with the first leg scheduled for Sunday 30 April at 15:00 at the Montecchio ground and the return on Wednesday 3 May (20:45) in Acquaviva. Here is the picture from the Preliminary Round of the BKN301 Campionato Sammarinese:

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