Campionato: Bartoli fires Tre Penne, smooth sailing for Domagnano and Tre Fiori

Ferraro and Lisanti’s moments of magic allow Domagnano and Virtus to break the deadlock in their respective fixtures with San Giovanni and Fiorentino already in the first half. Less spectacular, but just as effective, is the goal born from the Prandelli-Bernardi combination that makes it 1-0, with Tre Fiori – up against Faetano – tightening their grip midway through. Just before the half-time whistle, Bartoli’s run through the middle proves decisive, forcing Cosmos to chase Tre Penne on the scoreboard.

At Dogana, Bonini’s and Rossi’s teams start with the right attitude, each creating a chance – Pieri and Braschi both off target – before the game slips into a long central phase with little technical quality. A late burst changes the scoreline, shortly after an elastic intervention from Semprini, who does well to keep out Scarcella’s thunderbolt. Tre Penne break through on 44 minutes thanks to Bartoli’s right-footed volley, the midfielder alert to follow the move and latch onto Pieri’s perfect aerial lay-off. The early part of the second half is anything but gripping, with Cosmos the only side to try their luck, and only from set pieces: Cremonini and Brighi both finish well wide of Andreani’s posts. The least engaging match of the evening definitively swings towards Città thanks to Bartoli’s brace, the midfielder again on target from close range on 89 minutes, turning home Carrer’s headed effort.

Domagnano’s evening takes off without much fuss. After early scares from Zanni and D’orsi, they seize control of proceedings. Menini doesn’t hit the target from distance, something Ferraro has no trouble doing on his solo effort: he dribbles past Filippi near the byline, then delicately rolls the ball with the sole of his right foot to evade Vandi. The midfielder completes his work by then beating Casadei. The goalkeeper denies Ambrosini from close range, but the forward makes amends just before the half-hour mark. Ambrosini’s second goal in as many matches comes from the penalty spot, after Lisi’s contact on Menini is punished. The Giallorossi flirt with a third through long-range strikes from Michelucci and Santi; the latter will then provide the assist for Rigoni’s 3-0 on 44 minutes and lay the ball off for Menini’s explosive right-footer, which crashes against the angle of post and bar in the second minute of added time. In the second half, San Giovanni show more courage as they chase a goal, but are punished at the first counter-attack. Santi sets up Ambrosini, who completes his brace with a wonderful curling finish. Before the end, Santi and Michelucci both try again, lacking both luck and accuracy. There is little to regret, as Amati’s men celebrate a second win from two outings this season.

Tre Fiori turn in an authoritative display, often dangerous around the Faetano box in a first half where – nonetheless – the first real chance falls to Rivas. Sperindio’s Colombian striker tests Nardi’s reflexes on 15 minutes, the goalkeeper alert. The champions’ reply changes the score: Prandelli swings in a cross from wide towards the near post, where Bernardi arrives with perfect timing and perhaps gets the faintest of touches. In any case, Venturini is beaten and Girolomoni’s men can celebrate the opener, credited to their captain. Later, Prandelli is anything but clinical when one-on-one with Venturini, twice failing to put away the chance to double the lead. Faetano respond through Golinucci and Elia, who both miss the target with right-footed efforts from outside the area. Tre Fiori banish any doubts at the start of the second half, when Sirri’s long ball over the top picks out Bernardi in the area: immaculate control and an unstoppable left-footed finish past Venturini. Earlier, Prandelli had squandered a sitter, hitting the post with the goal almost at his mercy; Notarpietro’s raised flag helps to soften the blow. In the final quarter of an hour, Girolomoni’s side put the three points on ice: after Cuzzilla has a goal ruled out, substitute Ben Kacem puts his stamp on the third. Credit also goes to Bernardi, who robs Ulizio and plays in his strike partner. The pair are again at the heart of the move for the fourth, with the forward of Moroccan origin providing the assist for the man of the match, who completes his brace and definitively wraps things up.

Virtus control the first half, frequently threatening down the left through the runs of Piscitella and Buonocunto. Fiorentino create danger with Azzurro’s right-footed effort from the edge of the area, off target, and breathe a sigh of relief when Badalassi’s header – effectively a third-time effort – finishes just wide. The opener arrives on 21 minutes and is of the highest quality. Lisanti receives just beyond the D, cushions the ball on his chest and hits a first-time left-footed volley. Berardi, who was called upon to replace Benedettini between the posts during the warm-up, can do nothing. The goalkeeper excels in a one-on-one with Piscitella on 25 minutes, saving his side from going 2-0 down. In the closing stages of the half, Monaco’s men see more of the Virtus box, but no clear-cut danger for Guddo’s goal is recorded. The second half follows a similar pattern, with Virtus close to doubling their lead on more than one occasion: discounting the penalty claims from Badalassi and Piscitella, Lisanti is denied a brace by a defender’s block. Piscitella is involved again on 67 minutes, bursting down the left to square for Ciacci, who is thwarted at the decisive moment. In the final quarter of an hour, Muratori’s players push on in search of the goal that would seal the contest, which seems stubbornly out of reach: Berardi is quick off his line to smother at Piscitella’s feet on 74 minutes, while Amati’s deflected left-footer finishes just a fraction wide of the upright. The curtain finally comes down on the contest when Del Frari receives a second yellow card and is sent off five minutes from time.

Below is the partial programme for Matchday 2 of the league: