League: La Fiorita draw level at the top, Badalassi keeps Tre Penne in the title race

La Fiorita hold their nerve. In the Sunday late kick-off of matchday 23 in the BKN301 Championship, Manfredini’s side claim victory over San Giovanni – who woke up far too late – to move level at the top with Virtus. The Gialloblu, wounded in midweek by defeat precisely against the Neroverdi, roar straight out of the blocks and break the deadlock through Niang. Zampano picks out Jacopo Semprini in the box, De Angelis comes out to close him down, a rebound favours the former Fiorentino man who can only slot into an empty net for 1-0. The goal makes game management easier for La Fiorita, who control their lead well. Towards the end of the half things get even better for the Gialloblu as they double their advantage: Greco wins the ball back and shoots from distance, De Angelis tries to claim it but the ball slips through his hands and incredibly ends up in the net. After the break the Montegiardino club look to kill it off early: on 70 minutes a fine counter-attack by the ever-dangerous Niang sends Ambrosini through, the former Victor San Marino forward lets fly but De Angelis redeems himself for the 2-0 error and saves, then Niang again fails to hit the target. Seconds later Grandoni also has a go from the edge of the area but De Angelis once more produces the stop. La Fiorita push hard for a third goal but San Giovanni withstand the Gialloblu onslaught. In stoppage time Tognacci’s side score through Augusto Garcia Rufer, but the goal is ruled out for offside. The Rossoneri refuse to give in and in the 99th minute Garcia Rufer finds the net again: a delightful cross from Boldrini finds the head of the Rossoneri midfielder, who beats Vivan with a perfect looping header to halve the deficit. But it’s too late, because as soon as the ball crosses the line referee Delvecchio blows for full-time. ©FSGC/Onofri | Tre Penne celebrate after Badalassi’s decisive goal At the top Virtus and La Fiorita are now level on 58 points – with Bizzotto’s Neroverdi ahead courtesy of the head-to-head record – while behind them Tre Penne pick up three massive points to stay in the title hunt. Imre Badalassi – tightening his grip on the league’s top scorer crown – strikes in the second half to sink a Cosmos side now virtually out of the running. At Montecchio the heavyweight clash between last season’s two protagonists starts cautiously, with both sides feeling each other out in the early stages. Midway through the half comes the incident that could change everything: Berardi goes down in the box as Migani rushes out, and Gibraltarian referee Denis Perez points to the spot. Errico steps up but blasts his penalty over the bar, leaving the scoreline at 0-0. At the start of the second half the two goalkeepers take centre stage: first Migani parries a thunderbolt from Sapori, then Aldo Simoncini flies low to the corner to claw away Pieri’s header. The stalemate remains until the 75th minute, when Dormi threads an excellent pass through traffic to Badalassi; the number 95 brings it under control and shoots from the edge, sending the ball into the top corner where Simoncini cannot reach. Goal number 24 of the season for the leading marksman, twelve of them coming in the last seven games. Defeat for Cosmos would effectively mean dropping out of the title race, so Berardi plays the Ben Kacem card. And on 90 minutes the Gialloblu forward cuts in from the right, takes on Nigretti, shifts the ball onto his left foot and curls towards goal; Migani stands rooted and watches the ball drift just centimetres wide of the post. The Serravalle club have a final chance from a free-kick in the seventh minute of added time: Zulli tries to hit the jackpot and his effort does pierce the wall, but ends up safely in the gloves of Migani, who can then celebrate a priceless win. The reigning champions are now four points off the top. What’s more, looking at the fixture list, they still have to play both Virtus (on the 30th and final matchday…) and La Fiorita (matchday 28). Juvenes-Dogana, meanwhile, come from behind to win. In the Domagnano clash with Tre Fiori, the goalkeepers steal the show in the early stages. On 7 minutes Fedeli hits a fine strike from range but Gentilini reacts well and turns it away brilliantly. His opposite number Nardi also answers the call at the other end: great work from Gianmaria Borghini, who beats two opponents and, once in the area, unleashes a powerful effort on target, but the Tre Fiori keeper denies him with a fantastic reflex stop. On 22 minutes, though, Stradaioli’s side – on the bench in place of the suspended De Falco – nose in front: Mazzotti swings in a free-kick and, after a scramble, Varrella emerges to lash home and beat Gentilini for 1-0. Juvenes-Dogana do not give up and pour forward again towards Nardi, who on the half-hour produces another great save to repel Merli’s long-range drive. Gentilini is no less impressive and on 40 minutes he comes out bravely to thwart Micchi. The break arrives with Tre Fiori one goal up and the two goalkeepers as the undisputed protagonists. At the start of the second half, however, Juvenes-Dogana appear to have more in the tank and begin on the front foot: Cevoli wins a challenge with Nardi and then beats him, but the referee stops play for offside. On the hour Amati’s team score again – this time through Benedetti – but once more the Juvenes-Dogana player is ruled offside and the Gialloblu hold on to their narrow lead. It seems destined to be a frustrating day for Juvenes-Dogana when, on 74 minutes, Nardi again comes to his side’s rescue with a superb save to deny Colonna clean through on goal. But a minute later the Serravalle side finally get their deserved equaliser: a brilliant through ball from Traglia picks out Colonna, who controls and shoots; Nardi gets a touch again but this time cannot keep it out. The goal energises Juvenes-Dogana, who a few minutes later even complete the turnaround: Merli spots the run of Gianmaria Borghini, who bursts between the Gialloblu centre-backs and beats Nardi with a delightful outside-of-the-foot finish for 2-1. Amati and his men could then have wrapped it up five minutes from time when Merli charges through on goal to face Nardi, but the Tre Fiori keeper – one of the best performers on the day – saves again with yet another fine stop. The drama in Domagnano lasts right to the end, because in stoppage time Varrella comes within a whisker of levelling – and completing his brace – when his header clips the top of the crossbar. In the end, though, it is Juvenes-Dogana who celebrate, sealing a second consecutive victory: Amati’s side are now up to seventh place – which guarantees direct access to the play-offs – five points clear of Folgore and Fiorentino. Here is the full picture from matchday 23 of the Campionato Sammarinese BKN301:

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