Championship: Faetano and Fiorentino wins reshape the race for the post-season

First of all, a necessary correction to the press release issued yesterday: Murata are not yet mathematically in the play-offs. To secure qualification, Angelini’s men will need a positive result on the final matchday against Domagnano or – in the event of defeat to the Giallorossi – for at least one among Faetano, Pennarossa and Juvenes-Dogana to fail to win their respective game. Honours and burdens of a balanced championship, the like of which has perhaps never been seen on the Titano. Today Faetano took to the pitch in the most delicate of the postponed fixtures. Girolomoni’s side came out on top in a nervous, hard-fought and foul-strewn contest, with the first half in particular making all the difference. They flew out of the blocks, with a fine goal from Terenzi breaking the deadlock after just eight minutes. The second arrived right at the end of the half, from a penalty calmly converted by Mema. Domagnano tried to react after the restart, doing everything and its opposite around the hour mark. First came Nanni’s long-range strike, which caught Porcellini out. Two minutes after halving the deficit, Ceccaroli was sent off for a late challenge on Composto. Ranocchini’s mezzala will certainly miss the direct clash with Murata on the final day. The Gialloblù made the most of their numerical advantage by striking on the counter: 19-year-old Ruocco, just on, showed remarkable composure in transition, providing Mema with the assist for the third, taking the Faetano striker to 14 goals for the season. Above all, it seemed to seal a victory that Domagnano – helped by parity in numbers suddenly restored by Tomassoni’s red card – contested right to the end. Fedeli reaches double figures by converting the penalty for 2-3, but the scoreline does not change again. The other fixture affecting the final play-off places featured only Fiorentino as a realistic contender, while Cailungo – severely depleted by absences – collapsed under the weight of the differing motivations on show. By half-time it was already 4-0, with a brace from Castellazzi after fine goals from Hirsch and Sottile. The San Marino international struck from distance; the midfielder scored with a lob from the edge of the box. After the break, Marino made the most of a Sottile corner, who then completed his own brace thanks to an easy tap-in laid on by Castellazzi. In Acquaviva, La Fiorita’s regular season came to an end, leaving them as disinterested spectators on the final matchday. The reigning champions can no longer be caught in third place by Tre Fiori, who were narrowly beaten in the day’s big match. The game was decided by Matteo Vitaioli: the San Marino national team captain is clearly a nemesis for Andy Selva’s backline, having struck three times against them already this season – including in the Supercoppa Sammarinese. Both sides will be among the main players in the post-season, where Tre Fiori are aiming to go in as fourth seeds from the regular season. They will need at least a point against Cosmos if Virtus beat Pennarossa. Should they finish level on points with the Neroverdi, it is Selva’s men who would prevail thanks to a better record in head-to-head clashes. That is a scenario that will also have to be taken very seriously by the seven teams still in contention for a play-off berth. Behind Murata, there are three pairs of sides still in the running to reach the post-season, setting up an extraordinarily exciting and finely balanced end to the campaign that must still resolve both the title race and the battle for positions in the play-off grid that lead to the UEFA Europa Conference League Qualifying Rounds. Here is the full picture of the 29th matchday of the Campionato Sammarinese BKN301, with all games available on demand on Titani.tv:

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