BKN301 Championship: Virtus fight back to go top, Tre Fiori win the derby

Three narrow victories and one draw. That is the outcome of the early fixtures on matchday three of the BKN301 Championship, in which Virtus come from behind against Juvenes-Dogana to claim three points that give them top spot and preserve their unbeaten record. In Domagnano the Neroverdi start strongly and even have two goals disallowed – first on 10 minutes through Tortori and then on 20 minutes through Angeli, both for offside. Juvenes-Dogana, however, wake up and shortly after the half-hour they take the lead through Francesco Stella, who meets a cross from the left, brings it down and volleys past Passaniti for 1-0. The lead lasts until the hour mark, when the inevitable Buonocunto – on target in every game this season, including the Supercup – curls in a deadly diagonal effort that sneaks into the far corner beyond Gentilini’s reach. The keeper for Amati’s side is outstanding on 75 minutes, though, denying Benincasa’s header with a superb reflex stop that keeps Virtus from going in front. But it is Benincasa himself who makes the difference later on, latching onto Sopranzi’s pass, bursting between two opponents and, once one-on-one with Gentilini, coolly finishing to give Virtus a lead they will hold until the final whistle. Tre Fiori also win by a single goal, taking the derby against Fiorentino and securing a second straight victory. De Falco’s Gialloblù find the winning goal in the first half through Giacomo Cecconi, who climbs highest in the box to head home from a corner. Tre Fiori once again make the most of set pieces, as they did in midweek in the Titano Cup tie (scoring through Censoni and Varrella, both headers from corners). Fiorentino look to respond and in the second half they threaten first through Niang – his shot beaten away by Nardi – and then through Stefanelli, who strikes the outside of the post with a fine left-footed effort from the edge of the box. The San Marino forward has a golden chance to level when Hirsch is brought down in the area and referee Ilie points to the spot: from the penalty, however, Stefanelli hits it too tamely and Nardi gathers comfortably. That is all Tre Fiori need to take the points and hand their "castle rivals" a second consecutive defeat. Libertas halt their poor run and claim their first win of the season with a 2-1 success over Faetano. At Montecchio it is the Gialloblù who start better, although it is Sperindio’s Granata who break the deadlock late in the first half through Alessandro Torsani: the former Fiorentino man latches onto a fine pass from Santoni and beats Mattia Manzaroli with a delightful chip to put Libertas in front. Faetano react and restore parity at the end of the first half: Dulcetti delivers into the middle for Luca Terenzi, the young San Marino player miscontrols at first but persists and manages to get a shot away that beats Elia Benedettini for 1-1. Early in the second half Faetano could edge in front with a close-range effort from Kone, but Elia Benedettini shows great reflexes to deny the Gialloblù. Libertas’ winner arrives shortly afterwards: there is contact in the box between Casadei and Greco, and referee Vandi awards a penalty. Mario Barone steps up and makes no mistake, putting his side ahead. Faetano push back and in the closing stages have a big chance through Brisigotti, who unleashes a powerful effort from inside the area, but Elia Benedettini is in top form and produces another fine save. Seconds later, the duel is renewed with the same outcome in favour of the Granata: a fierce strike from the Gialloblù in added time is tipped by Benedettini just enough to send the ball onto the top of the crossbar. Faetano fight until the very last second when once again Brisigotti turns superbly on the edge of the box but his shot – with Benedettini beaten – crashes against the crossbar again, denying the Gialloblù an equaliser. The only match of the day to finish level and goalless is the one between Cosmos and San Giovanni. Things do not start well for the Gialloverdi as Nicola Berardi is forced to do without two key players, Filippo Berardi (off on 16 minutes) and Riccardo Zulli (24 minutes), both withdrawn through injury. There is little goalmouth action in Fiorentino; on the hour Errico tries his luck from distance, the ball flashing not far wide. The best chances arrive in the closing stages, one for each side: first Augusto Garcia threatens on the counter for San Giovanni, but the Gialloblù defence manages to stop the Rossonero forward just before he can shoot; at the other end, a fine lay-off from Prandelli finds Ben Kacem in the box, but he fails to hit the target. The game therefore ends in a stalemate, with a second consecutive draw for the runners-up of San Marino and a first point on the board for San Giovanni after last week’s defeat. Tomorrow the remaining four fixtures will wrap up matchday three of the BKN301 Championship. Below is the schedule for the third matchday of the 2023-24 BKN301 Campionato Sammarinese. All matches will be broadcast live and free of charge, with Italian commentary, on the TITANI.TV platform:

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