Championship: the battle for Europe will be Tre Penne vs Murata

Tre Penne and Murata book their place in the play-off final for 2nd place, which is worth a spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League. The Biancazzurri and the Bianconeri defeated Cosmos and La Fiorita respectively in today’s second legs of the BKN301 San Marino Championship play-offs. The two finalists will now meet on Saturday 18 May at the San Marino Stadium with a place in Europe the ultimate prize. Bitter disappointment instead for the Gialloverdi from Serravalle and the Gialloblu from Montegiardino, who will play the 4th–5th place play-off on Friday 17. The first match of the hot afternoon on the Titan kicks off at 15:00 in Acquaviva between Tre Penne and Cosmos. The first half is balanced and the first real chance comes shortly after the quarter-hour mark, when Vandi’s header crashes against the outside of the post. Around the half-hour mark Cosmos start to push, but Dalla Libera is crucial on two occasions: first he saves in two attempts from Ben Kacem, then stretches superbly to keep out Zulli’s fine effort from the edge of the box. At half-time Dalla Libera – who had taken a heavy knock late in the first half – cannot continue and asks to be substituted. With Migani still injured, Ceci has no other goalkeepers available. So Lorenzo Dormi pulls on the gloves, the player who is normally Tre Penne’s playmaker. On 56 minutes Tre Penne go very close to taking the lead: Lombardi finds the net in a goalmouth scramble, but referee Beltrano rules it out for a previous foul in attack by the Biancazzurri. Just after the hour mark it is once again the City club threatening: Pieri finds Badalassi in a tight space, he works the ball onto his left and shoots accurately, but Battistini produces a great save to deny the opener. A draw is enough for Tre Penne, so Cosmos push forward. On 72 minutes another goal is disallowed, this time for Di Maio, whose header beats Dormi, but again Beltrano stops play for a foul in attack. The duel is renewed shortly afterwards when a fine Filippo Berardi free-kick again picks out the San Marino centre-back’s head, but Dormi shows excellent goalkeeping skills and manages to hold on. Time ticks away and the game heads into the final stages still goalless. Berardi’s side keep pressing and in the 87th minute they create another headed chance – this time with Maggioli – but it fails to hit the target. Added time begins with the best chance falling to Tre Penne: Pieri works an excellent ball down the right and picks out his strike partner Badalassi, who does brilliantly to get a shot away with his right foot, but Battistini again says no. There is no time for more and Beltrano blows for full-time. It finishes 0-0. Tre Penne can celebrate because, despite the draws in both legs, Ceci’s side go through to the final thanks to their better position in the regular season (3rd) compared with Cosmos, who finished 4th. La Fiorita, on the other hand, needed a two-goal win to reach the final after losing the first leg 3-1 to Murata. Things start well immediately for the Montegiardino club because it takes only fifteen minutes to break the deadlock: a cross from the left by Zampano into the area finds Ambrosini, who beats Benedettini with a header. Murata protest for a possible foul by Lunadei on Vasconcellos, but Avoni sees nothing wrong. Grassi’s side start to show themselves with a long-range effort from Cicarelli which is, however, an easy take for Vivan. Towards the end of the half it is once again the Montegiardino team who look dangerous on several occasions. First Guidi, from inside the box, lays on a great ball for Lunadei, who shoots with his right but Benedettini and his defence survive. At the start of stoppage time it is Echel who makes a goal-line clearance after Brighi’s close-range effort in the area. Then, just before the half-time whistle, another big chance for the Gialloblu to double their lead: Amati’s free-kick almost turns into a shot on goal, Guidi gets a touch to change the trajectory and wrong-foot Benedettini, but the San Marino goalkeeper pulls off a miraculous save to deny the goal. After the break the script remains the same: La Fiorita chase the second goal that would take them into the final, while Murata dig in. Della Bella’s side, with the coach on the bench today in place of the suspended Manfredini, also try from a free-kick with Ambrosini, but his right-footed effort sails just over the bar. La Fiorita keep pressing, while Murata struggle to threaten Vivan’s goal. The Bianconeri, however, can rely on an inspired Elia Benedettini, who shuts down every opposition attempt. As in the 65th minute, when Zampano swings in a free-kick for Brighi, whose header is heading into the bottom corner, but the Bianconeri goalkeeper stretches superbly to save. The forcing from La Fiorita seems relentless and in the 76th minute they go close again to the crucial second goal: Fatica’s header after yet another corner is again met by a stunning reflex save from Benedettini. Della Bella throws caution to the wind, sending on Rinaldi and Olcese to add more firepower. Murata keep defending deep and in stoppage time carve out the clearest chance to kill the tie: Benedettini’s long clearance finds Cunha, who bursts through the Gialloblu defence and races away down the left; once he reaches the by-line he cuts the ball back for the unmarked Echel who, at the crucial moment, fails to make contact with the ball. La Fiorita launch a final assault in the seventh and last minute of added time, but the corner fails to find anyone in the box. Avoni blows for full-time. The celebrations can begin for Murata who, despite the defeat, qualify thanks to their 3-1 victory in the first leg. La Fiorita must now win the Coppa Titano – on Saturday 25 May against Virtus – if they are to secure yet another European campaign. Here is the full picture from the second-leg semi-finals:

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