BKN301 Championship: only Tre Penne win, spectacular 2-2 in Libertas-Virtus

With two splendid goals from Dormi and Gai, Tre Penne take control of the Sunday big match, making the most of the opportunity offered by the draw at the top between Cosmos and La Fiorita. While the reigning champions thus managed to retain first place at the end of Matchday 19, Ceci’s men are now just three points off the summit and with a game in hand on the group of five sides battling for the title. In a first half that was fairly balanced and short on real excitement, it was a flash of brilliance from Lorenzo Dormi that lit the fuse in the blockbuster clash in Acquaviva. A left-footed strike of incredible power and precision that flew into the top corner to the right of a helpless Semprini. Tre Fiori were far more in the game after the break, making their well-known threat from set pieces count as they found dead-ball specialist De Lucia perfectly placed in the middle of the area. The centre-back got to Martin’s free-kick first and, even though he didn’t catch it cleanly, managed to beat Migani. Tre Penne’s reply was immediate and just a minute later Ceci’s side were back in front. Nicolò Gai made it 2-1, taking advantage of Badalassi’s good work to hit a first-time left-footed volley from the edge of the box into the far corner. A win of enormous significance for Tre Penne, who overtake their rivals and climb to third – just three points behind leaders La Fiorita and with a game in hand on all the other title contenders. Among those contenders, Virtus’ position is beginning to look shaky, after they saw a precious victory over Libertas slip away at the death – a win that would have allowed them to close the gap on all the sides above them, Tre Penne aside. In a match of high technical quality it was Libertas who struck first, with Ben Kacem sent clear into open space by Perretta. Sabato failed to cut it out and for the Moroccan it was all too easy to round Passiniti before rolling the ball into the net. The joy for Sperindio’s team was short-lived, as they were pegged back three minutes later by Angeli’s equaliser. Credit also goes to Manuel Battistini, who broke forward to put a ball across the middle that only needed tapping in. There was a goal apiece in the second half as well, with Libertas going close to 2-1 through Perretta and Bucci, while Virtus did make it 2-1 through Buonocunto. In the playmaker’s eighth goal of the season there was plenty of Sorrentino’s persistence, as he robbed Guglielmi of the ball right on the byline and laid it back for his team-mate for what was effectively a penalty in open play. Just when it seemed the hard work had been done, Libertas found an unexpected equaliser through the man of the match and in the least anticipated way: Perretta, a solid and physically imposing centre-back, popped up in a left-wing position after being picked out by Barone. After an excellent first touch, he powered past Battistini and Nodari before slamming a low right-footed shot inside the far post to leave Passiniti with no chance. A deserved draw at the end of a very lively encounter between Libertas and Virtus. No goals – and not too many thrills either – in Domagnano, by contrast. Faetano and Folgore cancelled each other out in a goalless draw in a match that offered both sides the chance to take important points in the race to pull away from the relegation zone. In particular, after yesterday’s draws (San Giovanni-Cailungo 1-1, Murata-Juvenes-Dogana 2-2), a win would have meant creating real breathing space from the drop. In the end, the two sides who were better placed in the table came away with a point apiece, consolidating their relatively privileged position – albeit with little margin for error. In a similar situation are Fiorentino and Juvenes-Dogana, who met in Sunday’s late fixture at the Ezio Conti in Dogana. Despite a much more entertaining game, rich in goal-scoring chances, the outcome was the same as the Domagnano clash between Folgore and Faetano. No goals scored, with Fiorentino maintaining their two-point cushion over the Giallorossi, who share bottom spot with Murata. This is the full picture from Matchday 19 of the Campionato Sammarinese:

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