League: stalemate between Juvenes-Dogana and Libertas, Salemme seals Fiorentino victory

No winners or losers in Domagnano, where Juvenes-Dogana and Libertas share the points. It is an entertaining encounter, with Achille Fabbri’s side starting the brighter but failing to capitalise: on 19 minutes Ferrulli is denied by Del Prete, who has luck on his side half an hour in when Paszynski scuffs his finish from inside the six-yard box. Libertas respond with a wayward left-footed attempt by Pari, who cannot punish Gentilini after a dreadful coming-out by the goalkeeper. The deadlock is broken on 39 minutes, when Ahib combines at length with Fabio Tomassini before laying on the assist for the San Marino forward, who heads in without even needing to jump. Before the break Ahib fires straight at Gentili, passing up the chance to double the lead. Early in the second half it is again Ahib who has the first go, but he is still lacking that killer instinct. Juvenes-Dogana push their line higher and almost equalise on 62 minutes through Paszynski, left completely unmarked at the far post from a set piece. Tani is not blameless either, firing blanks from point-blank range on a perfect cross from Traglia. A long-range effort by Pari eases the pressure on Fabbri’s side, who draw level on 83 minutes through Omgba – unstoppable as he rises to meet Merli’s corner. Deep into stoppage time it takes a sharp save from Del Prete to beat away a thunderbolt from Merli himself and prevent a bitter defeat for Libertas. Sperindio’s team do at least get off the mark in the table, while for the Serravalle club this is a second consecutive draw. A fiery finale in Fiorentino, where San Giovanni start better – despite wasting two good chances with Nicola Sartini inside the opening eight minutes. On 36 minutes Augusto Garcia Rufer has what would have been the opener ruled out for an offside of just a few centimetres, while Fiorentino only manage their first shot on target six minutes later. Released on the counter, Omar Diop cannot get enough power on his diagonal effort, easily dealt with by Starna. The duel is renewed deep into first-half stoppage time, when Fiorentino’s new striker heads over from a great position. After the break San Giovanni again come out of the blocks faster, with a missile from Robba – from over thirty metres – that crashes against the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten. At the other end Abouzziane forces a save from Starna with a right-footed effort from the edge of the area, and on 79 minutes his solo run ends with an imprecise final ball just when the hard work seemed done. Two minutes later comes the contentious incident that triggers San Giovanni’s blackout: after a chaotic move, Aprea strikes from the edge of the box and finds the net. The goal is disallowed following the assistant’s flag, after an initial review of the decision which ultimately leads to the original call being upheld. It remains 0-0, but only for as long as it takes to restart hostilities: Salemme burns past Robba for pace and, sliding in, hits the base of the post. The striker is quickest to react, though, and taking advantage of the passivity of three defenders, gets there first to turn the rebound into the back of the net for a three-point goal. San Giovanni defender Stefano Sartini is sent off at the death for stamping on the foot of a prone opponent. From the resulting free-kick, Costantini crashes his effort off the angle of post and bar with Starna completely stranded. Here is the full programme from Matchday 2 of the 2024-25 Campionato Sammarinese:

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