League: El Ardoudi snatches a last-gasp win for Fiorentino

In the Sunday late kick-offs it was the turn of the two clubs from Fiorentino and reigning champions Virtus. Bizzotto’s side responded to La Fiorita’s win by sweeping aside Libertas to stay top of the table. On the cover is Ivan Buonocunto, who served up three assists in the Montecchio clash – all, intriguingly, from corners. Tortori turns the first corner of the game into the opener on 7 minutes, stealing in at the near post. The winger goes close to a brace on two occasions, either side of an Osayande counter-attack snuffed out by a timely outing from Passaniti. Virtus see a second goal ruled out for offside against Tortori, who had connected acrobatically, but they do make it 2-0 through Gori, again from a Buonocunto corner. Before the break Benincasa squanders the chance to make it three, underlining Libertas’ problems defending set pieces: the Bologna-born striker makes amends 23 seconds into the second half, tapping in after Buonocunto’s initial effort. Del Prete produces a miracle stop to deny Tortori on 52 minutes, but ten minutes later concedes again from a corner situation: this time it’s Rizzo on the scoresheet. It goes from bad to worse for Libertas, reduced to ten men after Ahib is sent off, yet they still find the strength to react with a penalty won by Osayande and converted by Morelli. On 87 minutes there is a penalty at the other end as well, but Lombardi skies the chance for a fifth, which arrives two minutes later anyway. This time the wide man slides in Pecci in behind, who drills across goal from a tight angle and scores a real gem. As good as the solo effort from Osayande, lightning fast in hiding the ball from two opponents before beating Passaniti to it with an intelligent toe-poke that, on 90+2 minutes, makes it 5-2 and settles the contest. There is just the one goal, instead, in Domagnano. But the specific weight of El Ardouidi’s strike, arriving with the very last kick of the game, fuels lofty ambitions in the Fiorentino camp. A poor first half, in which Murata have the better of it – they hit the target through Del Vecchio, back as an outfield player after previous emergency spells between the posts. Simone Benedettini flies across goal to save and turn it behind for a corner. The second half is livelier, despite the forwards struggling to find a way past the keeper. On 59 minutes Simone Benedettini is sensational in denying Giaretta a wonder goal, after the latter had tried his luck with an audacious free-kick from the halfway line. Fiorentino grow into the game as the minutes tick by, but continue to lack precision at the moment of the final shot. That is, until the very end of the second and last minute of stoppage time, when El Ardoudi battles Del Vecchio for a loose ball on the edge of the box before picking out the far corner with his right foot. The shot is not unstoppable and underlines Murata’s urgent need for a specialist goalkeeper, after injuries to Elia Benedettini and Cervellini. Today the gloves were worn by Milani, a striker by trade and keeper out of necessity. Fiorentino bank three points that keep Tarini’s men in touch with Cosmos, three points off the summit. Just behind them are Tre Fiori. A hard-fought, narrow victory for Girolomoni’s team, who overtake Folgore in the standings and maintain their gap to the leading quartet. The Gialloblù from Fiorentino fly out of the blocks, breaking the deadlock after just two and a half minutes through Prandelli, ruthless in turning a loose ball into the opening goal. Faetano, however, are fully in the game, as shown by a Terenzi break that forces Pini to take a yellow card on the edge of the area. On 27 minutes Benedettini threatens with a right-footed effort from medium range, while at the other end Festa Gallo is inches away from levelling, denied only by Rea’s vital touch behind for a corner. From that very corner comes the penalty for the equaliser, awarded for Guerra’s step on foot on Parisi. Credit to referee Andruccioli, well positioned and quick to judge a far from simple incident. From the spot Brisigotti is flawless and parity is restored on 31 minutes. In the opposite box Tre Fiori appeal for a penalty for a possible handball by the same Brisigotti, but the referee lets play continue. Before the break Prandelli has a great chance on the counter, but Faetano get bodies back and close him down well. They fail to repeat that defensive solidity on the first opposition raid of the second half: Djadji once again proves decisive coming off the bench, delivering a pinpoint cross onto Prandelli’s head for his brace and the 2-1. The Gialloblù captain draws level with Badalassi on eight league goals, one behind leading scorer Olcese. On the hour mark the crossbar comes to Nardi’s rescue on Brisigotti’s stunning free-kick, a deadly, almost perfect trajectory that leaves everyone open-mouthed but does not change the scoreline. In the closing stages the game becomes stretched and Tre Fiori have plenty of space to exploit, but lack the composure to kill it off. At the other end Parisi tests Nardi with a left-footed diagonal effort in what proves to be the final chance of a finely balanced match that rewards Girolomoni’s side – whose coach is in fact dismissed from the touchline in the last, highly-charged minutes. This is the picture after Matchday 11 of the 2024-25 Campionato Sammarinese, with all fixtures available live via streaming and on-demand on the Titani.TV platform.

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