League: Virtus held to a draw, a point apiece for Tre Penne and La Fiorita

Two draws – both 1-1 – bring the curtain down on the opening matchday of the 2024-25 Campionato Sammarinese. In Sunday’s late kick-offs the reigning champions Virtus are held by a relentless San Giovanni, while in the big clash between Tre Penne and La Fiorita Righini’s penalty is cancelled out by a towering header from Zazas Sanchez. Let’s rewind to the match in Montecchio between the Biancoazzurri and the Gialloblu, which pitted two former coaches of the opposing benches against each other: Nicola Berardi in charge of Tre Penne and Stefano Ceci at the helm of La Fiorita. The game starts at a high tempo: after just two minutes Marco Gasperoni whips a cross into the box for Alex Ambrosini, whose downward header flashes just wide. Tre Penne’s response is immediate, Dormi trying his luck from distance, but Vivan stretches well to avert the danger. The deadlock is broken on the quarter-hour: a fine team move from the side from Città, with Amati exchanging passes with Pieri, who from the edge of the area plays a first-time ball through to the onrushing Tommaso Guidi, clean through on Vivan. The Gialloblu goalkeeper comes out and makes contact with the former Cosmos man, who goes to ground. Referee Avoni points straight to the spot. Righini steps up, sends Vivan the wrong way and makes it 1-0. Despite the intense heat, it’s an open, entertaining contest. Tre Penne push for a second, but La Fiorita refuse to sit back and seek to restore parity. On 26 minutes Ambrosini – among the liveliest of the Gialloblu – goes close with a fine left-footed effort at the near post, but Migani is equal to it with a strong open-handed save. Ceci’s Gialloblu keep coming and stay camped in the Tre Penne half. Olcese also threatens, glancing a good header just wide. The momentum is with the club from Montegiardino who, after sustained pressure, find a deserved leveller: from Cicarelli’s perfect free-kick Zazas Sanchez rises superbly, the Spanish defender recruited in the summer, and powers in the header for 1-1. La Fiorita are firmly on top and soon go close to taking the lead: excellent work from Vitaioli, who slips a lovely through ball for Olcese; his powerful effort is not far over the bar. Before the break Ambrosini has another headed chance, but Migani holds on. The second half produces fewer opportunities, with fatigue and the heat taking their toll. One of the best comes right at the end, just before the 90th minute: Vandi exchanges passes with Giovagnoli, who returns a good ball down the left. The Biancoazzurri wide man opts for a shot-cross that crashes against the inside of the post but stays out. Amati also tries to score the archetypal goal against his former club, but his free-kick from a tight angle fails to trouble Vivan’s goal. The match therefore finishes 1-1, a point each for two sides expected to be in the shake-up for the title. As mentioned, the season also begins with a draw for reigning champions Virtus in their meeting with San Giovanni. Fresh from lifting the Supercoppa, Bizzotto’s Neroverdi take the lead in Domagnano after just a few minutes. Gori delivers into the middle for Benincasa, the new Rossoneri goalkeeper Julian Starna comes out with his fists but also clatters into the Neroverdi forward, and referee Xhafa, right on the spot, awards the penalty. Set-piece specialist Ivan Buonocunto takes responsibility, makes no mistake and puts his side in front. The first half offers little in the way of excitement, with both teams trying to make the most of set-pieces but without success. At the start of the second half Virtus look to restore their advantage: Pecci, with his back to goal, turns and tries to put a dangerous ball across from a good position, but the Rossoneri defence clears. San Giovanni, however, refuse to give in and begin to grow into the game. On 54 minutes they appeal for a penalty after a Robba effort from the edge of the box strikes the body of Manuel Battistini, but the referee waves play on. The spell favours the Rossoneri who, after a few more attempts, find the equaliser on 64 minutes: a ball from the left is collected by Nicola Sartini, who lays it off perfectly for Tommaso Bastianelli to strike first time and beat Mirco De Angelis, facing his former club. On 67 minutes San Giovanni threaten again: Azael Garcia Rufer drives forward with the ball at his feet and, on reaching the edge of the box, shoots on goal, but De Angelis is there to save. Virtus look to react and in the closing stages push for a decisive surge. Bizzotto throws on Piovaccari, Ciacci and Angeli, and it is the latter who, moments after coming on, goes very close with a diving header. The Neroverdi launch a final assault and in added time create another chance: Angeli’s free-kick from the edge of the area is worked into a set-piece routine that frees Piovaccari for the shot, but Starna produces a stunning reflex save to deny the Italian striker and the match finishes 1-1. Matchday 1 of the league is therefore already in the books, with the next round scheduled for the weekend of 13-14-15 September. Now it’s time for the National Team, with Thursday’s UEFA Nations League clash against Liechtenstein on 5 September. Finally, here is the full programme of Matchday 1 of the 2024-25 Campionato Sammarinese:  

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