League: Pancotti penalty enough for Folgore, Barretta downs Fiorentino

Narrow wins for Folgore and La Fiorita, who got the better of Domagnano and Fiorentino respectively in the first legs of the 2025-26 Campionato Sammarinese play-off Quarter-finals. The first match – scheduled at 15:00 in Dogana – pitted Lasagni’s Giallorossoneri against Amati’s Giallorossi, just a week on from the spectacular 7-3 in the final round of the regular season. The opening spell favoured the Falciano side, who immediately threatened through Fall, his effort drifting just wide. On 25 minutes Pancotti also went close when his left-footed strike from the edge – helped by a slight deflection – whistled just past Papi’s right-hand post. A minute later Miori fired over, as did Augusto Garcia Rufer – chasing goals for the top scorers’ chart – who in the 36th minute missed the target by a matter of centimetres. Early in the second half Domagnano tried to make their presence felt as well, with efforts from Buda and Bonetti – joint top scorer alongside Augusto – but De Angelis was never seriously troubled. On 73 minutes came the episode that changed the match at the “Ezio Conti”: Pancotti’s shot was parried but the ball stayed in the box, where Raschi tried to keep it alive; Marconi appeared to be favourite to get there and put his body in the way but did so illegally. The referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped Pancotti; Papi guessed the right way but could not keep it out. Domagnano reacted and soon after Babboni – just on the pitch – had a go, but his left-footed attempt lacked power and De Angelis gathered comfortably. Amati’s side kept pushing (80’) again through Babboni, but this time it was the well-positioned Yero Toure inside the area who blocked his effort. The forcing by the Giallorossi continued right up to the 90th minute, but De Angelis and his team held firm until the final whistle. For Folgore, then, Pancotti’s penalty was enough to overcome Domagnano in this first round of the Quarter-finals. The second leg is scheduled for Tuesday evening at 20:45 in Acquaviva.

La Fiorita also edge Fiorentino by a single goal (kick-off at 18:00 in Acquaviva), as was the case last Sunday. Before kick-off, the Gialloblù’s Joao Affonso was presented with the MVP award – in partnership with MX Ledwall – as Player of the Month for April. The first half in Acquaviva produced very few moments of excitement. The first real chance came on 17 minutes with a dangerous free-kick from Nappello, but Benedettini was alert between the posts. Ten minutes later La Fiorita went even closer: from the halfway line Mazzotti played a ball in behind for Jacopo Semprini (La Fiorita’s joint top scorer with nine goals alongside Affonso), who brought it down superbly before unleashing a shot on goal, but Benedettini denied him with a brilliant reflex save. Fiorentino then showed signs of life: Ben Kacem’s left-footed strike on the half-hour mark was powerful but off target, and on 43 minutes Marco Evaristi also tried his luck from distance without finding the frame of the goal. After the break the match remained on a knife-edge. Following Ben Kacem’s disallowed goal for offside (55’), La Fiorita replied through Djuric – picked out by an excellent cross from Gasperoni – who somehow failed to hit the target from two yards out. The tempo seemed very different from the first half and chances started to come. On 65 minutes it took a superb save from Benedettini – one of the best players on the pitch – to keep out Mazzotti’s header and preserve the deadlock. Two minutes later the goalkeeper again stretched well to turn away Guidi’s fine left-footed effort from the edge of the box. Parity lasted until the 84th minute, when Barretta rose highest and powered a header past Benedettini – meeting a corner from Cicarelli – leaving the keeper with no chance. La Fiorita thus claim the win, meaning Fiorentino will need to win the return leg (scheduled for Tuesday at 20:45 in Dogana) by at least two clear goals.

Awaiting tomorrow’s fixtures, here is the partial picture from the first legs of the play-off Quarter-finals of the Campionato Sammarinese: