BKN301 Championship: Libertas knock out Tre Fiori, Virtus on a knife edge again

No problems for Cosmos and La Fiorita, who comfortably manage the big leads earned in the first legs of their play-off quarter-finals, wrapping up the Faetano and Juvenes-Dogana ties with two more convincing performances in the return fixtures. The Gialloverdi, 4-1 winners in the first leg, need only a couple of minutes to break the deadlock in Montecchio. Savelli heads home from the penalty spot area from Pastorelli’s free-kick, leaving Porcellini with no chance. Faetano go close through Mema, Gatti and Terenzi, but Aldo Simoncini puts up a wall – on a couple of occasions with miraculous reflexes. In the second half Berardi finds two more goals from the bench: Prandelli’s 23rd of the league campaign comes from an Errico free-kick, while Zulli – moments before the final whistle – is clinical in turning in after Magnani’s save on Guerra. The season also ends at the play-off quarter-final stage for Juvenes-Dogana, who needed a three-goal win to knock out La Fiorita. In Acquaviva it does indeed finish 3-0, but once again it is the reigning champions who celebrate. It is a night to remember for Russo, who signs the hat-trick that seals Montegiardino’s place in the semi-finals. The former Faetano forward opens the scoring on 36 minutes, settling a scramble following an Armando Amati set-piece. The situation is hotly contested by Juvenes-Dogana and costs Muccioli a red card from the bench. Serravalle’s side are unlucky, as shown by Giacomo Borghini’s effort that clips the crossbar at the start of the second half – inches away from a wonder goal. Russo is far more ruthless four minutes later: the striker receives from a throw-in and, allowed far too much space, is able to turn and beat Gentilini. The third comes soon after and again starts from a corner: a splendid volley in the heart of the box from the ever-dangerous Russo and the match is effectively over, taking into account also the 2-0 first-leg win for La Fiorita. The other ties are much more finely balanced, as indeed they had been in the first legs. Folgore and Virtus resumed from a draw, while Libertas carried a narrow advantage. Both were finely poised, as Tre Fiori only needed a one-goal victory over the Granata to qualify, thanks to their better position in the regular season table. It is a tactical affair in Fiorentino, with chances few and far between in the opening half hour. Tre Fiori step up the pace towards the end of the first half and threaten through Tall and Censoni. On both occasions, Zavoli shows sharp reflexes to keep the door firmly shut. After the restart Gregorio – facing his former club – is decisive in clearing off the line from Bernardi, then Tall heads wide from close range. Libertas spark into life around the hour mark and threaten with a break from Ben Kacem, whose effort is turned behind by Castagnoli. The balance then tilts towards Borgo Maggiore due to their attacking depth and a moment of rashness from Falzetta. After a fine save by Castagnoli on Bucci, Falzetta’s late challenge on Costa earns him a second yellow card and dismissal. Libertas, with the fresh legs of substitutes Olcese and Barlafante, immediately capitalise on the numerical advantage and move 1-0 up thanks to a moment of brilliance from the forward signed in January. Olcese shields the ball well in the box, then the player from Teramo takes over, lifting it over Martin with a sombrero before volleying home with his right foot, giving Castagnoli no chance. Tre Fiori now need a 2-1 win, despite being down to ten men and with roughly fifteen minutes on the clock. An impossible task that comes close to becoming utopian when the ever-dangerous Barlafante misfires with a lob in front of the keeper on the counter. The finale is spiced up by Tall’s superb scissor-kick goal in the opening moments of stoppage time added by Avoni. However, there are no further chances for the Gialloblù, the only seeded side to miss out on qualification. Even more tense and frantic is the match at the Ezio Conti in Dogana, where Virtus and Folgore meet again three days after the Neroverdi’s last-gasp equaliser in the first leg. Once again, it is the closing minutes that betray Omar Lepri’s side, who start well by testing Battistini through Sartori. It is nothing compared to Pollini’s reflex save on 13 minutes, when he is decisive in denying Sorrentino the opener. The striker tries again, cutting in from the right shortly afterwards, but shoots just wide. This is Virtus’ best spell, yet Folgore stand firm and respond through Serafini. The midfielder receives on the edge of the area and, after a double dribble past Manuel Battistini and Nodari, curls in with his left, with a slight deflection off Sabato that does not alter the outcome: Folgore take the lead on 44 minutes and, with that scoreline, would go through to the play-off semi-finals. Lepri’s box-to-box midfielder almost doubles the lead at the start of the second half, his right-footed effort shaving the outside of Andrea Battistini’s right-hand post. The Giallorossoneri’s main regret stems from the many missed chances, such as Piscaglia’s completely unmarked header – the kind of opportunity he usually buries. Shortly before the hour mark, Sabato clears ahead of Urbinati with the goal gaping, then Folgore protest for a challenge on Sottile right on the edge of the box. Albani correctly lets play continue and is once again the target of Falciano’s protests for an alleged handball by Manuel Battistini on a Montanari cross. From the resulting move, Bernardi works a good ball for Serafini, who goes clean through on Andrea Battistini, only for the keeper to produce a vital save with his foot. Lepri’s team keep creating chances, but systematically fail to find the second goal. Virtus are flat and distracted, saved again by their goalkeeper on 73 minutes: Bernardi can only put his hands on his head, inches away from what could well have been the tie-clinching goal. From the ensuing corner, Sartori crosses to the near post where Serafini flicks on and hits the base of the upright, with Battistini beaten on this occasion. A Virtus side rocking and practically absent in the second half suddenly finds the decisive spark at the death: Benincasa battles between Folgore’s two centre-backs and turns a hopeful ball from Manuel Battistini into gold, shaking off Deluigi before driving at Rosini. His change of direction in the area wrong-foots the former Forlì defender, who clips the young Bologna-born striker’s ankle: Albani, perfectly placed, points to the spot. From twelve yards Tortori sends Pollini the wrong way and puts Virtus ahead again on aggregate on 86 minutes, albeit only thanks to their higher regular season finish. The match is far from over in terms of drama and tension: from the first long ball after the restart, Folgore appeal for a penalty for a possible handball by Muggeo, while on 89 minutes Andrea Battistini underlines his man-of-the-match status with a superb save from Di Marzio’s close-range effort. In the dying seconds, Virtus squander a counter-attack in open field but have no need to regret it: Bizzotto’s side secure their place in the play-off semi-finals, where they will face La Fiorita over two legs. On that occasion – unlike against Folgore – a level aggregate score will not be enough. The first semi-final, between Cosmos and Libertas, promises to be just as fascinating. Here is the line-up of quarter-final results in the BKN301 Sammarinese Championship:

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