BKN301 Championship: Unstoppable Virtus, red alert for Cosmos

They were two midweek curtain-raisers packed with tension and in the balance right to the end as the 2023-24 fourth matchday of the BKN301 Campionato Sammarinese kicked off. In Acquaviva, Virtus and Libertas go at it hammer and tongs, both in terms of commitment and technical quality. After two chances squandered by the Neroverdi inside the opening hundred seconds, it is Sperindio’s side who show a ruthless streak by scoring with their second opportunity. Santoni spreads play to Sapori, who cuts inside onto his right and catches Passaniti wrong-footed at the near post. On 27 minutes Virtus hit the woodwork through Benincasa, then a couple of desperate clearances seem to preserve Libertas’ lead going into half-time. Not so, because Pecci, in the first minute of added time, makes the most of his blistering pace on a Ciacci through ball and lashes an unstoppable drive into the top corner that Elia Benedettini can do nothing about. And to think that just a minute later Pecci had a golden chance on his right foot to complete the turnaround even before the teams headed for the dressing rooms. The second half is just as lively, with Libertas the first to threaten through Rosti and Sapori – both off target. The moment that swings the momentum towards the Neroverdi arrives on 56 minutes: Torsani overdoes it with a piece of skill and, after his team-mate loses the ball in the attacking third, Greco tries to recover it with a crunching challenge. Benincasa nicks the ball away an instant earlier and Ucini – rightly – produces a second yellow card for the defender, who is dismissed with over half an hour still to play. Virtus take control and nearly make their numerical advantage count again through Pecci, who on the hour is denied by an excellent save from Elia Benedettini rushing off his line. Libertas try to respond on the break and from set pieces, but Virtus are rarely in real danger. The winning goal arrives from Benincasa, on the scoresheet once more in another of Bizzotto’s side’s comeback victories, and once again there is Pecci’s decisive touch – his assist a showcase of speed and precision. The Neroverdi forwards pass up at least two chances to land the knockout blow, so that in the second minute of added time Di Meo has a headed opportunity to level, but he cannot direct it on target. That makes it five wins from five this season for Virtus, four of them in the league, where – pending the games of Murata and La Fiorita – they sit top with a perfect record. They also move six points clear of a Cosmos side in serious trouble results-wise. Just one league win so far, on opening day against Domagnano, followed by three straight draws. And if the goalless stalemates with San Giovanni and Folgore could be put down to poor finishing, Berardi’s men started the game with Fiorentino by racing into a 2-0 lead in no time. First Prandelli, set up by Pastorelli, then Errico from the penalty spot, seemed to have already written the ending to the shortest of stories. But it is Cucchi who, unintentionally, spices things up: on 28 minutes he reacts to a heavy challenge, shoving Diop and earning himself a straight red card. Niang then pounces three minutes later, dragging Fiorentino back into it with a surging, running-back style run finished off from close range. It is a goal worthy of applause from the Senegalese winger, who almost doubles his tally on 45 minutes. That incident completely changes the complexion of the contest, which becomes extremely tense with Fiorentino on the front foot. Even so, it is Cosmos who make the brighter restart and restore a two-goal cushion thanks to the Ben Kacem–Prandelli combination for 3-1 just 150 seconds into the second half. Fiorentino do not panic and hit back immediately, closing the gap again on 50 minutes when Stefanelli plays Gueye through, and he finishes clinically with his left from a tight angle. From that point on, Cosmos drop deep to protect their 3-2 lead and ride their luck when Stefanelli’s header on 53 minutes flies just wide. At the other end Costantini is crucial in denying Rizzitelli, and so the match is decided in the closing stages. Another sending-off, this time for Loiodice, reduces Cosmos to nine men; once again Fiorentino take full advantage straight away. Baizan’s cross is flicked on by Hirsch for Stefanelli, who heads into the far corner past Tacchi. It is a hammer blow for the Gialloverdi, but a magical night for the San Marino forward – a goal and an assist – who finally breaks his duck after some forgettable performances. Below is the schedule for the fourth matchday of the 2023-24 BKN301 Campionato Sammarinese following the early fixtures. All matches, except Tre Penne-Faetano, will be available live and free to stream on TITANI.TV: the match in Dogana will not be broadcast live on TITANI.TV due to renovation works at the venue.

---