BKN301 Championship: La Fiorita and Cosmos close in on the semi-finals

The top two seeds in the main post-season bracket make no mistake in their play-off debuts and, with two convincing wins, put one foot in the semi-finals. Making Cosmos and La Fiorita’s victories even more significant is the regulation whereby – in the event of an aggregate draw over the two legs – it is the teams with the better regular season finish who will claim a place in the next round. In short, the 4-1 with which Cosmos swept aside Faetano looks very close to a done deal. A blistering start from the Gialloverdi, who go two up inside nine minutes. The first two goals at Dogana both arrive from corners: it takes Errico just 150 seconds to settle a pinball situation in the box and beat Porcellini with an unstoppable diagonal effort. Faetano’s keeper is one of the main protagonists of the match, but he can do nothing about the close-range volley from Loiodice, who makes the most of Maggioli’s knock-down before the clock has even reached ten minutes. Cosmos are inches away from a third with Capicchioni on two occasions, but the San Marino midfielder is denied by the post twice with the goalkeeper beaten: first with a twisting header, then with a first-time right-footed strike. A minute later, Faetano score with their first real attack: a defence-splitting pass from Mema sends Terenzi through, and he makes no mistake from close range against Simoncini. It proves to be an isolated moment, though, as Cosmos go on to fully assert their superiority in the second half: first with a goal disallowed, again for the desperately unlucky Capicchioni, who midway through the half wins a penalty coolly converted by Errico. He is, however, denied his hat-trick when, seven minutes later, he returns to the spot: this time Porcellini wins the duel, putting the exclamation mark on an afternoon of outstanding saves. It is still not enough to prevent a rampant Cosmos from adding a fourth, as Prandelli also gets on the scoresheet 10 minutes from time. The league’s top scorer nets his 22nd goal of the campaign in league play, between regular season and play-offs, finishing from an indirect free-kick in the box. Berardi’s men would therefore go through to the semi-finals even with a defeat by three goals in the second leg, scheduled for Wednesday evening. La Fiorita also score early, breaking the deadlock thanks to a moment of brilliance from Gasperoni. The wide man intercepts the ball on the edge of the final third and whips a powerful looping effort into the top corner, leaving Gentilini with no chance. The clash in Montecchio is anything but spectacular: on the half-hour Grieco also tries his luck from distance, but his thunderous left-footed drive is turned behind for a corner by Gentilini, who shortly afterwards repeats the feat with his foot to keep out a trademark low effort from Gasperoni. Juvenes-Dogana offer little to nothing going forward and are punished for a lapse in concentration at the start of the second half, as it takes only seven minutes for the runners-up to double their advantage. Gasperoni’s clearance skips over both Russo and Cevoli, and Rinaldi ghosts in behind everyone, gets there before Gentilini and finds the net. There are anxious moments for La Fiorita’s captain, who takes a heavy – albeit accidental – blow to his left knee from the opposing goalkeeper. Stretchered off, he is unlikely to feature in the return leg against Juvenes-Dogana, while only more detailed assessments will determine whether he can be available for the potential semi-finals (7-14 April). No more fortunate is Abouzziane, who comes on to replace Rinaldi only to be forced to withdraw after just fifteen minutes. In between, Russo has a good chance but lacks composure in front of goal, while Pasolini fails to surprise Vivan from distance when the clock ticks onto 82 minutes. Here is the picture from the first legs of the BKN301 Championship play-offs: N.B.: if the aggregate score over the two matches is level, progression to the next round will be decided by the better placing in the regular season.

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