League: Tre Fiori still perfect, first wins for Virtus and Folgore

With a comprehensive 4-0 win over San Marino Academy Under-22, Tre Fiori claim a second successive victory and remain on maximum points. In this afternoon’s clash – valid for the second matchday of the Campionato Sammarinese – Girolomoni’s Gialloblu record a win that keeps them top of the table alongside Murata, who won last night. The match in Acquaviva is unlocked after just two minutes by a rocket from distance by Brando Sami that gives no chance to Alessandro Casadei (a new face between the posts for the Academy). Cecchetti’s youngsters do not lose heart and reply with a fine curling effort from Simone Santi that misses by a whisker. Tre Fiori, however, are ruthless and just before the quarter-hour they strike again: a delicate dink from Benedettini expertly picks out Bernardi in the box, who controls superbly and then beats Casadei. It is all going Tre Fiori’s way and in the 23rd minute they already make it three: Casadei misjudges the ball as he comes off his line and leaves the goal gaping, and Benedettini takes full advantage and cannot miss for 3-0. After the break the pattern does not change, with Girolomoni’s side looking to stretch their lead: on the hour mark Prandelli’s header crashes against the post. It is only a matter of time before the former Cosmos striker gets on the scoresheet: in the 67th minute superb service from Sami finds Prandelli, who controls and shoots quickly to make it 4-0 to Tre Fiori. The Academy threaten in the 72nd minute and come close to a consolation goal: Simone Gasperoni’s cross is diverted by Tomassoni, who risks an own goal, but Nardi produces a stunning reflex save to keep it out. Tre Fiori are still not satisfied and soon after hit another post with Benedettini’s trivela. That is more than enough, though, for the Fiorentino club to get the better of Matteo Cecchetti’s young Titani, who suffer a second defeat in a row. First win of the season for reigning champions Virtus, who again lean on their talisman Ivan Buonocunto: it takes a brace from the number ten in neroverde to overcome a Domagnano side who stayed in the game right to the end. The first chance falls to Bizzotto’s team: on 15 minutes, Buonocunto delivers a perfectly weighted ball to Benincasa, who tries an acrobatic effort but cannot generate enough power. The deadlock between the two sides is broken just before the half-hour mark: a coming together in the Giallorossi area between Celli and Tortori prompts referee Luci to point to the spot. Buonocunto is clinical and makes it 1-0. Five minutes later the Neroverdi go close to doubling their lead from a Tortori free-kick that flashes just wide. In the 38th minute an even better chance comes the way of the Acquaviva club: a wonderful move down the left between Buonocunto and Tortori, but the latter’s shot drifts just wide. Domagnano are under pressure but finish the half strongly and create danger: a cross from Merendino from deep finds Gozzi, who strikes and beats Passaniti for what looks like the equaliser, but the referee rules it out for offside at the moment of Merendino’s initial pass. The champions therefore go into the break with the narrowest of leads. Little happens at the start of the second half and it takes until the 78th minute to see yet another decisive piece of play from Buonocunto: the number ten picks the ball up on the right, drives forward, looks up and then delivers a shot-cross (a reminder for nostalgics of Shevchenko in Milan v Juve 2001) that drops in behind Colonna for 2-0. The goal appears to have put the game to bed, but a minute later the contest is alive again: Nanni gets past Rizzo and plays it across goal, the ball ricochets off Gori’s arm and the referee points to the spot. Gregori makes no mistake and pulls it back to 2-1 for the Giallorossi. It is not enough, though, for Paolo Rossi’s team to avoid their first defeat of the season. Virtus win and move on to four points in the table. Three goals and three points – their first of the season – for Folgore, who convincingly overcome Pennarossa 3-0. In Domagnano the match remains balanced until beyond the half-hour. In the 31st minute, however, the Falciano side break the deadlock with a spectacular goal from Alessandro Bitti, who unleashes a powerful right-footed strike from distance that Renzetti cannot stop. The second for the Giallorossoneri arrives on the hour: Cateni does well to win the ball high up the pitch and tees up Turrisi, who shifts it onto his right foot and from inside the area makes it 2-0. Just two minutes later Folgore put the seal on the contest: Ura bursts away quickly down the left and, once he reaches the by-line, cuts the ball back for Miori, who places it into the far corner. The ball hits the post and then goes in despite Renzetti’s attempt to prevent the third. A minute later the Pennarossa goalkeeper avoids a fourth with a brilliant reflex stop on Pancotti’s close-range effort. Folgore are a whisker away from 4-0 soon after when Cateni hits the post from yet another Ura assist. Pennarossa fail to muster a reaction and must therefore record a second consecutive defeat (again conceding three goals). The second matchday of the Campionato Sammarinese concludes tomorrow with the final two fixtures, both kicking off at 15:00 and live streamed. Here is the updated schedule including today’s matches:

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