League: derby goes to Cosmos, who keep up La Fiorita’s title-winning pace

Serravalle turns yellow and green: Cosmos come from behind to beat Folgore in the afternoon’s early big match played in Montecchio. It is, however, the side from Falciano who get out of the blocks quicker, finding the 1-0 through Alessandro Bitti inside 300 seconds, the forward quick to pounce on a dreadful error by Loiodice. The response from Lepri’s men – the Cosmos coach, like his opposite number Lasagni, facing his former club – is immediate: before the 20th minute Ben Kacem makes the most of the space afforded to him, burns off the defence, curls in with his left foot and levels the score. It is 1-1 at the break, also thanks to a fine save from Guddo, matched at the start of the second half by Celato – the keeper at the other end, who came on at the end of the first half for Semprini, today’s starter. On the hour Pierri wins a penalty after a foul by Touré, allowing Danilo Rinaldi to complete the turnaround from the spot. Shortly after comes Pastorelli’s moment of magic to put a vital win on ice. The third goal – scored by the third different left-footer at Lepri’s disposal – is certainly the pick of the bunch: a stunning strike into the far top corner and Cosmos join the leaders, awaiting Virtus and La Fiorita’s fixtures. Deep into stoppage time there is still room for Ben Kacem’s brace, as he latches on at pace to a Loiodice ball over the top and dinks a precise lob over Guddo. In Fiorentino, Juvenes-Dogana finally break their victory hoodoo, plunging Cailungo even deeper into a results crisis. Fabbri’s side break the deadlock in the first half through Davide Merli and double their lead on 57 minutes via Paszynski, who had seen a 2-0 goal ruled out for offside earlier in the game. The Serravalle club dominate and deservedly claim their first league win of the season, allowing the Biancorossazzurri to claw back two points on Domagnano. For the time being, though, it is Libertas and Faetano – both in action tomorrow – who occupy the last available play-off spot. Merli and his team-mates confirm the progress shown in recent weeks, now matching solid performances with the result that had previously eluded them. A destination from which Domagnano would currently be excluded, after being held to a draw at their eponymous ground against Pennarossa. Everything happens at the start: Amati puts the Giallorossi ahead inside two minutes and Jabi – capitalising on a disastrous back-pass by Parma – levels matters on 4 minutes. Both sides go in search of the win, a scenario that makes Davide Colonna the standout performer as he proves decisive on several occasions. It is Pennarossa who do a little more to try and take all three points, but the Domagnano goalkeeper is in inspired form and denies Jabi a brace with some outstanding saves. At the other end Barbieri has to fly to beat away a deflected effort from Mazzavillani. The last twenty minutes, stoppage time aside, are played ten against ten due to the simultaneous dismissal of Arlotti and Perazzini – both shown the ultimate sanction by referee Nicola Villa after a scuffle involving players from both teams. Tre Penne remain stuck in their draw rut, losing further ground on the leading pack. Berardi’s men, although still unbeaten, have won just two of their eleven outings so far. A paradoxical situation for the side from Città who, tomorrow, could find themselves in twelfth place – the final berth giving access to the post-season – should Faetano and Tre Fiori both win. Yet the Biancocelesti had managed to unlock a tricky clash with San Giovanni early on, thanks to the Righini-Guidi combination, which rewarded the corner routines honed during the week. Tognacci’s team again showed themselves to be organised and combative, clearly filing the heavy Coppa Titano defeat under “bumps in the road”. On 28 minutes Zanni restores parity from the spot, and after the break it is the defences and goalkeepers – with crucial interventions – who shut the game down at 1-1, a scoreline confirmed at the final whistle. Where Migani and Starna – the latter producing a stunning kick-save on 90 minutes – cannot reach, the woodwork steps in: the frame of the goal denies winning strikes first from Righini, then from Bastianelli. In the only 18:00 kick-off, La Fiorita impose themselves with a blistering start and once again look down on everyone from the top – pending any long-distance reply from Virtus. Ceci’s men breach San Marino Academy’s goal on 4 minutes with a lovely vertical move, embellished by Olcese’s back-heel that releases Affonso. Lightning burst of pace and a deft chip over the onrushing Alessandro Casadei. The second arrives on 11 minutes, with Zazas Sanchez powering home a header from a Vitaioli corner. Vitaioli will double his assist tally by gifting Olcese a simple tap-in into an empty net, taking the Gialloblù striker to 9 goals in 10 matches. The Academy rely on the individual initiatives of Santi and D’Addario, but Zavoli stands firm. On 51 minutes Cervellini appeals for a penalty, claiming he was caught late by Zafferani – the referee waves play on. La Fiorita take a risk playing back to their goalkeeper, whose clearance hits Nicolò Sancisi flush – centimetres away from a blooper-gollonzo. At the other end Sottile goes close to La Fiorita’s fourth of the evening, while for the Academy there is to be no consolation goal. Federico Ciacci comes nearest from a corner situation, but his effort only brushes the outside of the post. Late surges by D’Addario and Vitaioli bring the match to a close, sealing the Montegiardino club’s leadership at the end of the advance fixtures from Matchday 11. Here is the partial picture from Matchday 11 of the 2024-25 Campionato Sammarinese, with every game available live via streaming and on-demand on the Titani.TV platform.

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