League: Virtus hit three and go clear at the top, thriller draw between Faetano and Tre Fiori

Virtus do not miss a beat. Luigi Bizzotto’s side score three times against San Marino Academy, sealing a sixth consecutive victory and moving clear at the top of the Campionato Sammarinese BKN301. In the late kick-off of matchday six, the Neroverdi come flying out of the blocks as Tortori wins a free-kick on the edge of the box: Buonocunto steps up to break the deadlock but his strike brushes the side-netting, giving only the illusion of a goal. The opening stages favour Bizzotto’s team, who soon go close again from another Buonocunto free-kick, perfectly floated to Tortori, whose acrobatic effort at goal drifts just wide. A Virtus lead is only a matter of minutes away, and it arrives when Manuel Battistini crosses for Benincasa, who heads past the advancing Borasco. The Academy try to react and on 23 minutes Argenziano pounces on a Battistini mistake; the Titani midfielder drives forward and curls a fine right-footed effort towards the far post, the ball sliding just wide. Around the half-hour mark Cecchetti’s team – with the coach absent from the bench through suspension and Giovanni Bonini in charge – go close again to an equaliser after a fine move from Nicola D’Addario, who cuts in from the left and shoots with his right, but again the ball finishes just the wrong side of the upright. After the restart Virtus show again with the clear intention of killing the game off. Tortori lets fly brilliantly from the edge of the box but Borasco produces a superb save to deny the second. The Virtus forward is desperate for his goal and on 63 minutes he is inches away: a lovely one-two in tight space with Buonocunto sends him through, but from the edge of the six-yard box his left-footed effort fails to hit the target. Bizzotto’s team, however, eventually double their lead after several attempts: Sabato shoots from distance, Borasco parries but not far enough, and the ball falls kindly for substitute Sopranzi, who cannot miss for 2-0. In stoppage time there is even room for a third for the Acquaviva side, with Buonocunto swinging in a corner, finding a perfect trajectory for Angeli’s header. Three goals and three points for Bizzotto’s men, who move top with a two-point cushion over Tre Penne and La Fiorita. And next Saturday, in Montecchio, comes the blockbuster clash between the Neroverdi and Thomas Manfredini’s Gialloblu. In the other late kick-off of matchday six in Montecchio we witness one of the most entertaining games of the season so far: Faetano and Tre Fiori share six goals in a 3-3 draw, a match packed with drama. De Falco’s side open the scoring early: Rizzo swings in a cross, the ball hits Senja’s arm and the referee points to the spot. Cecconi makes no mistake from twelve yards and puts his team in front. Soon after, Islamaj does brilliantly down the flank and squares for a completely unmarked Tomassoni, but the former Faetano man, with the goal gaping, somehow heads off target. Faetano, though, restore parity on 16 minutes thanks to a clever piece of play: a quickly-taken free-kick on the edge of the box from Brisigotti catches everyone off guard, the number ten picking out Capriotti, who turns in for 1-1. The Fiorentino side immediately pour forward again and on 25 minutes regain the lead. A lively Rizzo, from the left, skips past Bertuccini with a fine piece of skill and delivers to the far post for Bernardi, who powers in a header into the corner for 2-1. Faetano keep their composure and on 38 minutes find another equaliser: a swift counter from Pellegrino’s Gialloblu sees Brisigotti launch long, Capriotti flicks on for Lisi, who brings it under control, drives at goal and, once inside the box, beats Nardi for 2-2. The game is a spectacle, full of key moments. Shortly afterwards Lisi again tries his luck from the edge of the area, but Nardi denies him with an excellent save. The goal carousel shows no sign of stopping in Montecchio, because on 43 minutes Tre Fiori go in front for the third time: a brilliant solo effort from Tommaso Leon Bernardi, who collects on the left, cuts inside and unleashes a left-footed strike that gives Manzaroli no chance. The second half is just as entertaining. On 64 minutes Lisi leads a textbook counter-attack, breaking to the edge of the box before squaring to Capriotti, who, just as he is about to pull the trigger, fails to hit the target. On 76 minutes Tre Fiori could put the game to bed when Varrella – son of the former San Marino national team head coach – attempts an overhead effort after a free-kick from deep; the ball crashes off the angle of post and bar and De Falco’s team also protest for a handball in the area, but the referee lets play continue. Two minutes later, however, Faetano find their leveller: Ndao rolls the ball to the edge of the box for Brisigotti, who then threads the perfect pass for Capriotti, completing his brace and making it a sensational 3-3. Tre Fiori are not satisfied with a point and soon go close again to retaking the lead through Bernardi, but Manzaroli produces a superb save to keep out his close-range effort. In the closing stages Bernardi once more chases his hat-trick and all three points for his side: he cuts across a powerful left-footed drive that flies inches wide, denying Tre Fiori an incredible 4-3. Fiorentino’s Gialloblu push right to the final whistle, and in stoppage time Rizzo tries his luck from distance, but again Manzaroli says no, finally extinguishing Tre Fiori’s hopes of victory. The sides of De Falco and Pellegrino will meet again in just a few days in the Coppa Titano tie next Thursday. That one will also start all square (the first leg finished 2-2). Here is the full picture from matchday six of the Campionato Sammarinese BKN301 2023-24:

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