League: Fatica’s 90th-minute winner sends La Fiorita wild, Virtus finish the year in style

A huge comeback win for La Fiorita, who claim the Sunday big match of the 13th BKN301 League round against Tre Penne, staying right on the heels of leaders Virtus. It is the side from Città who start better, though: after five minutes Dormi has a good chance from the edge of the box, but Zavoli pulls off a fine save to deny him. Tre Penne keep pushing and break the deadlock after just eight minutes: a powerful, pinpoint cross from Vandi on the left finds Pieri, who plants a textbook downward header past Zavoli. La Fiorita regroup and midway through the half restore parity: Olcese’s shot from the edge of the box strikes Rosini’s arm and, for the newly appointed international referee Beltrano, it’s a penalty, which Olcese himself converts without mistake. Late in the half Tre Penne have another chance: Zavoli misjudges his exit and leaves the goal unguarded, Pieri tries an audacious long-range effort but fails to hit the target. After the break, on the hour mark, another big chance for the reigning champions: Righini’s superb free-kick is tipped onto the crossbar by Zavoli with his fingertips. Just as it seems the stalemate will hold until the end, the decisive play of the match arrives on 90 minutes: Amati swings in a corner, Fatica rises above everyone and directs his header into a spot where Migani has no chance. Euphoria for La Fiorita, who complete their comeback and hand Tre Penne their first league defeat of the season. The table now shows Manfredini’s Gialloblu in second place on 34 points, while Ceci’s Biancoazzurri remain on 30. ©FSGC | The duel between Pieri (Tre Penne) and Fatica (La Fiorita) Out in front, Virtus continue to set the pace – on 36 points – and, after the setback against Cosmos, they are back to producing goals and entertainment thanks to a 3-0 win over Cailungo. The Neroverdi waste no time and are in front after just four minutes: Pecci accelerates down the right, burns past Quaranta and squares it; Buonocunto collects, shifts the ball onto his right and drills past Masini. The Acquaviva club keep their foot down and double the lead on 11 minutes: a corner and yet another Buonocunto assist, this time for Benincasa’s header, which finds the net. Cailungo are on the ropes and Virtus strike again: after hitting the post on the quarter hour, Alessandro Golinucci makes it three on the half-hour mark, pouncing on Masini’s short parry after Pecci’s powerful long-range effort. From there it is all about game management for Bizzotto’s side, as Cailungo fail to mount a reaction and slip to a third straight defeat. Virtus thus wrap up the year in the best possible way, with their 12th win in 13 matches played. A second win in three for Folgore, who edge Fiorentino and climb to eighth place in the group. The side from Falciano start brightly and on ten minutes go close when Canini rattles the crossbar. The breakthrough for Lasagni’s men arrives on the half-hour: Pancotti tries his luck from the edge of the box, the ball is deflected by Simoncini and falls to Cateni, who brings it under control and beats Simone Benedettini. After conceding, things get even harder for Fiorentino on 38 minutes, when Diop – already booked – halts Bernardi unlawfully. Referee Borriello shows the Rossoblu player a second yellow and Fiorentino are down to ten. Despite being a man down, Fiorentino find an equaliser through sheer pride: Colagiovanni swings in a free-kick and Stefanelli heads it into the bottom corner, where Venturini stretches but cannot reach it. The parity is short-lived for the Rossoblu, who fall behind again at the end of the half: Salemme and Cateni collide in the box and the referee points to the spot. Sartori steps up from twelve yards and makes no mistake. The goal – and the numerical advantage – are enough for the Serravalle club to control their lead after the restart, in a second half with few clear-cut chances. Late on there is a second sending-off for Fiorentino, with Colagiovanni dismissed for a heavy challenge on Cateni. Here is the updated schedule for the thirteenth round of the Campionato Sammarinese BKN301:

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