Championship: La Fiorita sweep aside Libertas, heavy traffic around seventh place

Asked to put pressure on leaders Virtus, La Fiorita lived up to expectations in the early kick-off against Libertas. In under 100" Ceci’s men – the coach has recently signed on for another year with the Gialloblù – hit the crossbar with a deflected right-foot effort from Affonso. The former Murata man is in sparkling form and, on 13 minutes, bursts down the flank to deliver a splendid cross to the back post, where Vitaioli times his run to perfection and powers home a fine header. Libertas respond with an initiative from Buturca, which ends in a wayward shot-cross. La Fiorita look far more dangerous and go close to doubling their lead through the Massari-Affonso combination. Shortly afterwards Nigro is decisive, his reflexes denying ex-teammate Olcese the goal. Chances rain down for the Montegiardino club, who nevertheless leave space for Granata counter-attacks: Moretti thus forces Vivan into a save from the edge of the box on 28 minutes. Nothing, though, compared with the reflex of his opposite number, who instinctively keeps out a potential own goal from Rosti. After an attempt apiece from Nicolini and Olcese, La Fiorita put the three points on ice after the restart. Vitaioli needs just three minutes of the second half to make it 2-0, again from an Affonso assist. On the hour mark it’s Olcese’s turn, the striker glancing in the usual service from Vitaioli that had started out as a shot-cross. The Gialloblù marksman then completes his brace from the third winning pass by Affonso, who will also get on the scoresheet on 85 minutes with a wonderful chip. Before that, Leka had also found the net, after a lovely turn to shake off Guglielmi. Still unbeaten in the league, La Fiorita demolish Libertas 6-0 – confirming they are more than ready for the final sprint, while still needing a slip or two from Virtus. In Domagnano, Cosmos and Faetano faced off, and – after a harmless free-kick from Brisigotti – the Gialloverdi take control of proceedings, going close through Fermi, Grandoni and Ben Kacem around the quarter-hour mark. From the ensuing action following the Moroccan’s effort, Cosmos appeal for a penalty after a coming together between Bertuccini and Biral, judged legal by Gibraltarian referee Delgado. On 20 minutes Ben Kacem wastes a golden chance for 1-0, opting for a complicated left-foot overhead attempt instead of going for a straightforward right-foot finish from Mularoni’s brilliant through ball. Faetano reply on 44 minutes with the stunning double post from Lisi, who hits both uprights in the same move. Before the break, Grandoni squanders a tap‑in type chance and Forconesi is decisive in denying Fermi; in the continuation of the move, Biral goes to ground. The referee deems it simulation and, for a second yellow card, the striker is sent off. Despite playing half an hour with ten men, Cosmos stay in control and hit the bar through Carbonara. It is also from one of his moves that Ben Kacem’s goal is disallowed for offside. The forward makes amends by converting the penalty for 1-0 on 72 minutes, and the second goal is just five minutes away: a spectacular curling right-foot strike from Fermi, which kisses the far top corner. Lisi is Faetano’s liveliest player, but also the unluckiest: on 80 minutes, after nutmegging Grandoni, he unleashes an absolutely thunderous effort that crashes off the crossbar and – most likely – onto the goal line. It is the last thrill in a match deservedly won by Cosmos, even if the individual episodes could easily have steered the game in a very different direction. An intriguing derby between Cailungo and San Giovanni: the Rossoverdi start better with a foray from Labas, but run a big risk from a dead ball. An indirect free-kick in the box leads to a right-footed effort from Senja, struck with power but off target. Michelucci is then unlucky, just centimetres away from the opener from a set piece. The goal does arrive on 19 minutes through Zanni, but is chalked off for a supposed offside by Augusto Garcia Rufer. San Giovanni’s pressure is constant and eventually results in the 1-0, scored by the striker himself from a pass by his brother Azael. On this occasion, Gallinetta is clearly at fault, failing to deal with what seemed a comfortable ball. On the half-hour the second goal is inches away with Azael Garcia Rufer’s right-foot shot drifting just wide. Cailungo respond shortly afterwards through the Labas-Hirsch combination, but the match winner of the clash with Murata only manages to hit a defender. Early in the second half, Cailungo are sliced open through the middle and, with Quaranta failing to close down, the 2-0 takes shape: Augusto bags his brace, tapping in from an unselfish pass by Aprea. Sarti’s side try to get themselves back into it through Labas and Aluigi, but their finishing is wayward. Aprea, on the other hand, is ice‑cold in front of goal: the San Giovanni striker arrives perfectly on cue to turn in Fabbri’s low cross. The result is in the bag for Tognacci’s men, who ease off in the closing stages without paying for it against Cailungo’s final, spirited attempts. Even so, it is still San Giovanni who look more dangerous: this time through Corinti, who rattles the crossbar from outside the area during extra-time. The expected wins in the early afternoon clear the stage for the evening fixture between Juvenes-Dogana and Domagnano, right on the edge of the play-off places. It is the last chance for the Serravalle club, eight points adrift of the Wolves – who currently occupy 11th place. The Biancorossazzurri try to make the early running, winning the ball back in the opposition half to release Arradi – off target with his left foot from medium range. Rossi’s side cede the initiative to Juvenes-Dogana, who are inches away on 21 minutes: Ferrulli finds Cecchetti, who rounds Colonna as he comes out and, from a tight angle, unsuccessfully tries to score with a back-heel. Domagnano’s first half-hour can be summed up in a single corner, glanced on by Gregori, who probably prevents Moscardi from making a much cleaner connection. Their opponents threaten again through Valentini, teed up from 20 metres by Cordioli – but the Sammarinese midfielder’s right-foot effort is one to forget. After the interval, the pattern appears much the same, with Juvenes-Dogana the more enterprising: Ferrulli sets himself up for an overhead kick that is too central to trouble Colonna. Domagnano show up in the opposition box on 57 minutes with a corner swung into the mixer, where Moscardi gets in front of everyone but sends his header wide. Perazzini is far more dangerous on 65 minutes when he anticipates Arradi and unleashes a right-footed strike that shaves the crossbar with the keeper beaten. Before that, Juvenes-Dogana had the clearest chance of the game: Cordioli crosses into the middle where Cevoli gets there first and, in acrobatic fashion, hits the post. Despite those chances around the midway point of the half, the match never really catches fire and drifts back onto a slower tempo, with Juvenes-Dogana and Domagnano once again underlining their continued difficulties in finding the net. Before the final whistle, the only notable incident is the retaliatory foul by Rodriguez Maza on Mazzavillani, which results in the sending-off of the recently introduced Serravalle defender. Here is the partial schedule for Matchday 22 of the Campionato Sammarinese, broadcast in full via live streaming – entirely free of charge – on the Titani.tv platform. Click here for the updated standings.

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