League: La Fiorita fall after more than a year, Virtus draw and are champions!

The title race has reached its conclusion. With La Fiorita’s sensational defeat at the hands of an excellent Juvenes-Dogana, Virtus draw with Tre Fiori and are crowned champions of San Marino – repeating last year’s triumph. An afternoon – the 29th and penultimate round of the league – which, in addition to the title, also settled all the remaining places for the post-season (Preliminary Round and direct play-off spots).

We start from the main stage, Montecchio, where the Green-and-Blacks and the Yellow-and-Blues faced off – an appetiser of what awaits on Saturday 24 May in the Coppa Titano final. The first part of the match between Virtus and Tre Fiori offers few emotions. We have to wait until the 27th minute for the deadlock to be broken in favour of Girolomoni’s side, who take the lead: Tommaso Bernardi’s free kick is deflected by the Green-and-Black wall just enough to leave Passaniti wrong-footed. That goal ends Virtus’ unbeaten run after seven league games (nine if we include the cup). The league leaders’ response soon arrives, with a fine right-footed effort from Pecci denied by an excellent Nardi. The Tre Fiori goalkeeper is decisive again on the hour mark, saving superbly with his right hand from close range to deny Rinaldi – just on the pitch – inside the six-yard box. Good things come in threes for Nardi, who in the 70th minute also says no to Benincasa’s left-footed effort from short distance. News filters through from Dogana of La Fiorita’s temporary defeat, further firing up the Green-and-Blacks, who push to kill off the game. On 81 minutes, Bizzotto’s men finally get their deserved equaliser: Buonocunto’s corner finds the head of Benincasa. It’s 1-1. Seventh goal of the season for the striker and 16th assist – a league-best – for his playmaker. After the equaliser, there is little more to say about the contest. Everyone waits for the final whistles in both Montecchio and Dogana. La Fiorita lose 3-1, the draw is enough for Virtus. The celebrations begin for Virtus, who claim their second consecutive league title – adding it to two Coppa Titano and two Supercoppa triumphs – confirming the Green-and-Blacks’ winning cycle.

Equally big news is La Fiorita’s first defeat in over a year, a 3-1 loss to Juvenes-Dogana. It is a rocky start to the afternoon for Ceci’s men, who concede the opener in the 17th minute: Mazzavillani collects the ball on the edge of the area and unleashes a right-footed strike into the top corner. La Fiorita – who absolutely must win to keep their title hopes alive – roar back in the 22nd minute, but it takes two crucial last-ditch interventions from Cevoli and Gentilini on Olcese to preserve the lead. Early in the second half, however, the Yellow-and-Blues find the equaliser: it’s Matteo Vitaioli who lashes home a superb right-footed volley from the edge, finding the far corner. The leveller does not rattle Juvenes-Dogana, who pour forward again and in the 67th minute a coming-together between Zazas Sanchez and Tumidei results in a penalty for Fabbri’s side. Stepping up from the spot, to general surprise, is goalkeeper Fabio Gentilini who – just like José Luis Chilavert, the legendary Paraguayan goalscoring keeper – sends Vivan the wrong way and restores his team’s lead. That goal crushes La Fiorita’s remaining hopes, and they are punished for a third time, this time by Tumidei: a move all made in San Marino style, with Pasolini releasing his team-mate, who drives half the length of the pitch with the ball at his feet and, once in front of Vivan, beats him with a diagonal finish. A thoroughly deserved win for Juvenes-Dogana – their fourth in the last five – which seals a place in the Intermediate Round with a game to spare. La Fiorita thus suffer their first league defeat – more than a year on from the last one (20 February 2024, 1-0 to Virtus…).

The other club from the Serravalle municipality, Folgore, also return to winning ways, beating Libertas 3-0 and knocking the Granata out of the race for a post-season berth while tightening their grip on fourth place. The match at the “Crescentini” is lively and both goalkeepers are called into action early on – Bracconi for Folgore and Manzaroli for Libertas – to keep the scores level. The deadlock is broken in the 29th minute when Ura – picked out by Cateni – beats Manzaroli with a venomous left-footer at the near post. Lasagni’s team double their lead at the end of the half with the seventh league goal of Samuel Pancotti, who shows composure in a crowded box to finish with his left. The third arrives early in the second half: after scoring, Ura adds an assist with a delightful cross for Bernardi, who is left unmarked in the six-yard box and can do nothing but head home for 3-0. Folgore therefore qualify directly for the play-offs thanks to fourth place. Nothing doing for Libertas, now out of contention on all fronts.

No post-season either for Domagnano who, because of Juvenes-Dogana’s victory and today’s draw with San Giovanni, can no longer reach 11th place. On the artificial turf in Domagnano, however, the game is entertaining from the very first minutes. In the 17th minute the Giallorossi have Colonna to thank when he saves everything from Augusto Garcia Rufer’s attempt. But in the 28th minute San Giovanni strike: Colonna denies Robba’s header, but on the rebound Aprea reacts quickest and makes it 1-0. Before the break there are chances at both ends: first Di Noto – starting today in place of Starna – saves from Mazzavillani, then Colonna, at the other end, gets down well to turn away Augusto Garcia Rufer’s shot. After the restart, San Giovanni double their advantage: Zanni’s corner is met at the near post by Robba, who glances it in for 2-0. Despite being two goals down, Domagnano roll up their sleeves and in the 69th minute Amati’s long-range effort clips the outside of the post. The Giallorossi keep pushing and in the 83rd minute pull one back: Buda’s shot is controlled by Babboni, who then lays the ball off to the nearby Ferraro, who shoots on target; the ball hits the post and goes in. The goal energises Paolo Rossi’s team, who manage to equalise just before the 90th minute: Buda’s shot from distance forces Di Noto into a full-stretch save, but on the rebound Babboni pounces and makes no mistake, sealing a 2-2 final scoreline. The draw is of no use to Domagnano, while San Giovanni move up to 46 points, firmly in the play-off zone (the Rossoneri are currently seventh, just one point behind fifth-placed Cosmos).