BKN301 Championship: late drama between Cosmos and La Fiorita, first win for Domagnano

Blow for blow in Saturday’s big match between Cosmos and La Fiorita in the early kick-offs of the 6th round of the BKN301 Championship. The top-billing clash lived up to expectations, with Nicola Berardi’s Gialloverdi and Thomas Manfredini’s Gialloblu serving up a thrilling encounter, especially at the death. In the first 15 minutes the Serravalle side were on top, with La Fiorita sitting deep and forced into a couple of yellow-card fouls by Mazzotti and Fatica. The Montegiardino outfit, however, then shifted gears and began to look dangerous around Aldo Simoncini’s goal, with the Cosmos keeper called into action more than once to prevent the opener: twice on Alex Ambrosini and once on former teammate Tommaso Guidi. Early in the second half Manfredini’s team were reduced to ten men when Marco Gasperoni saw a second yellow for bringing down Ben Kacem (50’). On 67 minutes came one of the game’s key moments: Filippo Berardi – on since the hour mark in place of Mularoni – drove into the box and went down after contact with Lunadei. The referee stopped play, but not to award a penalty; instead he pulled play back to punish an earlier foul by Prandelli on Tommaso Zafferani, showing a second yellow also to the Cosmos marksman. Time ticked away and on 85 minutes the deadlock was finally broken: Amati’s corner, a touch from Fatica and the decisive close-range deflection was from Olcese, making it 1-0 to La Fiorita. Cosmos, though, refused to accept it: defeat could have seriously damaged their title hopes. Berardi’s side showed their quality and, in stoppage time, found a precious equaliser through Rizzitelli, quick to pounce on a rebound on the edge of the box and beat Zavoli with a precise left-footed strike. Cosmos believed they could even snatch a sensational win: a long ball, Rizzitelli glancing it on perfectly for Berardi racing through on goal, but Zavoli was decisive, racing off his line to brilliantly smother the Gialloverdi attack. It finished 1-1, with La Fiorita staying top, one point clear of Murata (winners last night) and Virtus (in action tomorrow). Level on points with Cosmos in the table, Juvenes-Dogana move up to 10 thanks to a second straight win, edging past Fiorentino. The decisive goal arrived at the start of the second half: great work from Colonna, who beat Costantini on the by-line and drilled the ball to the near post for Benedetti, who finished neatly past Simone Benedettini for 1-0. Fiorentino reacted and, on the hour, Diop hit the post after getting away from Gentilini. The Juvenes-Dogana goalkeeper was the undisputed protagonist with the save of the day: Mattia Stefanelli created room just outside the box and unleashed a powerful effort, Stella deflected it but Gentilini produced a miraculous stop to turn it behind for a corner and save his side. Fiorentino kept pushing and remained dangerous: first with a second effort off the woodwork, this time from Salemme, then on 90 minutes with a huge chance for Davide Simoncini, who failed to hit the target one-on-one with Gentilini. To make matters worse in stoppage time, Fiorentino had Salemme sent off for a second yellow to cap a miserable evening for the Rossoblu – now beaten four times in their last five outings. First league win of the season for Domagnano, who edge past Libertas. The match-winner for Paolo Rossi’s side was Daniele Babboni, who made the most of a ball in behind from Gozzi and beat Elia Benedettini coming off his line. Things got even tougher for Sperindio’s Granata when they went down to ten men on 77 minutes following Grieco’s dismissal. Domagnano could have wrapped it up ten minutes from time when Giovanardi picked out Gozzi, who failed to capitalise on Benedettini’s misjudged exit and sent the ball wide with the goal at his mercy. In stoppage time Domagnano also saw red, with a second yellow for Emanuele Gregori, but it had no impact on the final scoreline. There were also two wins in the Friday night fixtures that opened the sixth round of the BKN301 Championship. One half was enough for Murata to settle matters against Cailungo. Angelini’s side produced an excellent first 45 minutes, scoring three times. The opener arrived after just eight minutes through Matteoni, sharpest to react to a Peters knock-down from Cicarelli’s free-kick and fire past Masini. The second came just before the half-hour mark: a superb burst from Affonso, who carried the ball from halfway to the by-line before squaring for Rodrigues, who only had to steer it home. The Bianconeri kept pushing and on 38 minutes even had a third disallowed, with Ferraro in an offside position when Rodrigues delivered his driven cross-shot. It was only a matter of time before the 3-0 arrived, from the penalty spot – won by Ferraro and converted by Affonso. After the break Murata managed proceedings and went close again on a couple of occasions (first Ferraro, then Matteoni). Cailungo struggled to respond, although around the hour they did carve out a good chance through Amati, who missed the target by a whisker from a promising position. On 73 minutes another good opportunity for Iencinella’s side, with a powerful right-footed effort from Klyvchuk, but Gueye produced an excellent save. The Bianconeri kept a clean sheet and secured a win that keeps them in the upper reaches of the table. There was also victory for Oscar Lasagni’s Folgore. The Falciano side have Luca Simeoni to thank, man of the match with a brace – one in each half – to get the Giallorossoneri back to winning ways. Folgore’s opener came right at the end of the first half: Cateni worked the ball well down the left and crossed, Enrico Golinucci helped it on and Simeoni drilled a powerful, precise shot beyond De Angelis’ reach. San Giovanni appealed for a penalty in the second half after contact between Di Gennaro and Montebelli, but the referee waved play on. A few minutes later – on 83 minutes – came the goal that killed the game: Cateni again found Simeoni, who controlled and struck superbly, beating De Angelis for the second time on the night. San Giovanni’s reaction came too late, as their goal to reduce the deficit arrived in stoppage time: it came from Robba, quickest to react to a fumble from Venturini on a free-kick by Azael Rufer Garcia and finish from close range. It was not enough, as in added time the Rossoneri were also reduced to ten when Montebelli was sent off for a second yellow, extinguishing Tognacci’s side’s hopes of a comeback.   A crazy match unfolded between Tre Penne and Pennarossa, who kicked off in Acquaviva at 18:15. The deadlock was broken on the half-hour mark by Imre Badalassi, who headed home a perfect corner delivery from Righini to make it 1-0 for Ceci’s men. Pennarossa, still chasing their first win of the season, responded with pride and turned the game around in a matter of minutes. On 38 minutes they levelled through Turrà, who found space in the box and beat Migani with a crisp diagonal effort. Just a few minutes later came a sensational turnaround from the Chiesanuova side: Traglia worked the ball and picked out Coppola, who cut in from the left and shot, the ball crashed against the crossbar and dropped near the goal line. Initially the referee let play continue, then after conferring with his assistant he awarded the goal, amid furious protests from the Biancazzurri. Tre Penne roared back and equalised just before the break: once again it was Badalassi, this time heading goalwards from a Dormi corner, the ball striking a Biancorosso defender who appeared to be behind the line. After the restart, Tre Penne got their noses in front early in the second half, once more through the irrepressible Badalassi, who doggedly won a rebound against Michelotti and, through on Lazzarini, slotted home for 3-2. Ceci’s marksman now has eight goals in six games, consolidating his status as leading scorer. Tre Penne failed to kill the game off despite several chances, leaving the door open for another Pennarossa reaction; on 90 minutes they did manage to score, but the referee ruled it out for offside. At the other end there was another opportunity for Tre Penne, with Lorenzo Gasperoni shooting on target only for Montalti to deny the San Marino midfielder. Ceci’s side could finally celebrate a victory that takes them to the top of the table alongside La Fiorita, awaiting Virtus, who will play tomorrow at 15:00 against San Marino Academy. The sixth round will conclude with Faetano v Tre Fiori, also scheduled for 15:00. Here is the full schedule for the sixth matchday of the 2023-24 BKN301 Campionato Sammarinese, which will be broadcast in full live and free on Titani.tv (Italian commentary):

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