BKN301 Championship: second legs of the quarter-finals tomorrow, everything still open in Dogana and Fiorentino

After the first 90 minutes of the league quarter-finals, the gateway to the semi-finals looks very different for the eight sides involved. It is extremely narrow for Faetano, who would need to score four goals without conceding – or in any case win by at least four clear goals – in the second leg against Cosmos, runners-up in the regular season. The 4-1 from the first leg looks very much like a down payment on qualification for Berardi’s men, who dominated the Gialloblù all over the pitch (also hitting the woodwork twice) and who also have the advantage of their higher league position; which, in concrete terms, means they can even afford to lose by three goals and still make the semi-finals. Faetano will have to throw caution to the wind, go beyond their limits and give absolutely everything without worrying about the risks. Otherwise an already daunting task would become practically impossible. The game will be played in Montecchio; Luci will referee. The Juvenes-Dogana see only a narrow opening too, but still slightly wider than Faetano’s, after their 2-0 defeat to La Fiorita, which means they now need to score at least three more goals than Montegiardino in the return leg. Gasperoni’s wonderful goal and Rinaldi’s quick touch give Manfredini’s team a strong platform, although they would be unwise to let their guard down. The match will take place in Acquaviva with Ilie in charge. The margins are far, far smaller in the ties between Libertas and Tre Fiori and between Folgore and Virtus. In both cases the first leg was dramatically shaken up in stoppage time. In Domagnano it was the Granata player Guglielmi who turned the tables, while in Montecchio it was the Neroverde Sabato. Libertas and Virtus therefore go into the return fixtures with plenty of adrenaline, while Tre Fiori (who were 1-0 up before being “turned around” by Libertas) and Folgore (ahead thanks to Sartori’s penalty until the 94th minute) will be driven above all by a desire for revenge. Libertas do not have the advantage of their league position (so they must win on aggregate) and will also be without goalkeeper Battistini, suspended for two matches; Virtus – who can, in theory, sit on a draw – will have to cope without defender Gori, who has been hit with a three-match ban. The Granata and the Gialloblù meet in Fiorentino, while the Giallorossoneri and the Neroverdi face off in Dogana. The referees will be Avoni and Albani respectively. All matches will be broadcast live on Titani.TV. Here is the quarter-final line-up for the BKN301 Campionato Sammarinese:

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