Championship: standings unchanged on a Saturday full of goals

A total of 21 goals were scored in the Saturday matches of the final round of the regular season in the Campionato Sammarinese. Defeats that do not affect the standings for Tre Fiori and Folgore, who close the regular season in third and fourth place respectively. Behind them, Cosmos, Tre Penne and San Giovanni also win, thus leaving the positions from fifth to seventh unchanged. Draw between Cailungo and Libertas.

 We start at the Fiorentino ground, where Tre Fiori and San Giovanni went head to head – a possible preview of a play-off clash in the coming days. Goalless first half, but Girolomoni’s side look brighter than Tognacci’s. The liveliest are Nicko Sensoli and Censoni, who, however, cannot break the deadlock. The Rossoneri hold firm and early in the second half they edge in front: a powerful run from Azael Garcia Rufer, who skips past three opponents and, once in the box, lets fly with his left. Castagnoli parries but it’s not enough because Michelucci is there to turn in from close range. San Giovanni step up to a completely different tempo after the break and on 67 minutes Corinti’s free-kick proves deadly for Castagnoli: 2-0 to the Rossoneri. Tre Fiori react and pull one back shortly after: Benedettini’s corner is met by the inevitable Prandelli, who pokes home his 18th league goal (current top scorer). The goal, however, does not change the momentum, which remains with the Rossoneri, who run riot at the end. Shortly before the 90th minute Corinti completes his brace – a right-footed finish from inside the box – and deep into added time comes the final 4-1 from Augusto Garcia Rufer – another solo move and a right-footed shot that beats Castagnoli. Tre Fiori therefore finish the regular season in third place, San Giovanni in seventh, with both sides into the play-offs (the Rossoneri will meet Folgore).

 Goals and entertainment as well in Tre Penne – Juvenes-Dogana, played in Montecchio. After an initial balanced phase, on 15 minutes it is the Biancazzurri who break the deadlock: contact in the box between Cuomo and Matteo Battistini – starting today in place of Gentilini – and referee Borriello points to the spot. Guidi steps up, Battistini guesses the corner but the ball squirms under his body. The duel between the two is renewed shortly afterwards (19’), when the San Marino goalkeeper of Juvenes-Dogana makes amends and denies the double, blocking the powerful effort of the Tre Penne midfielder. Before the interval, luck deserts Fabbri’s side, who first hit the post through Bakalyar and then see Cevoli’s effort on the loose ball clip the top of the crossbar. After the restart, Battistini again pulls off a great save early on to keep out Scarponi’s thunderbolt from distance. However, on 70 minutes Tre Penne double their lead thanks to a superb left-footed strike from distance by Gaiani that gives Battistini no chance. Two goals down, Juvenes-Dogana react: a long, precise ball from Colonna finds Cevoli, who lets it bounce twice before tucking it into the far corner with a great centre-forward’s movement (despite being a centre-back by trade). We head into a frantic finale. On 85 minutes Juvenes-Dogana even find the equaliser: a move with pure Sammarinese flavour as Valentini, with an elegant outside-of-the-boot pass, releases Tumidei, who curls in a perfect right-footed finish to make it 2-2. Tumidei’s fine goal is answered by a moment of magic from Lorenzo Dormi for 3-2 on 88 minutes: the playmaker collects the ball midway inside the opposition half and unleashes a left-footer that Battistini cannot reach. Just a minute later Tre Penne kill off the contest with their fourth: Cuomo drives forward insistently on a solo run and signs the classic goal against his former club. Tre Penne, then, qualify for the play-offs in sixth place, where they will face Cosmos; for Juvenes-Dogana the door opens to the Preliminary Round, where they will take on either Fiorentino or Murata. Fabbri’s team will have to win to reach the play-offs.

Six goals too in the clash between Cosmos and San Marino Academy, played at the Ezio Conti in Dogana. Early on it is Borasco who keeps the Titans’ goal intact on a couple of occasions, but Cecchetti’s youngsters hold on and threaten at the other end through Giacopetti. The deadlock is broken on 36 minutes, when a pinball in the Titans’ area allows Rinaldi to nod the ball onto the head of Grandoni, who cannot miss. Excellent reaction from the Academy, who find the equaliser before the interval: Giacopetti’s shot is parried by Semprini, but Marco Gasperoni is quickest to react and makes it 1-1. The 1-1 scoreline lasts until the 79th minute, when Grandoni once again restores Cosmos’ lead: a low cross from Biral picks out the Sammarinese midfielder well placed at the far post. Shortly before the 90th minute, Cosmos try to seal it with Mhilli’s 3-1 – a powerful right-footed strike from inside the box – but the Academy pull one back again in added time through Giacomo Molinari, played in on the shoulder of the offside line by Nicholas Protti. The last word, though, belongs to Imre Badalassi, who wraps it up from the spot for a final 4-2 to Andy Selva’s side. The Gialloverdi therefore qualify for the play-offs with fifth place, which sets up a tie with Tre Penne, while the season comes to an end for San Marino Academy.

 A fine but ultimately meaningless victory for Domagnano, who put four without reply past Folgore. The match in Domagnano opens up after just a few minutes: a low ball from the byline by Gozzi finds the onrushing Amati at the far post, who makes no mistake for 1-0. The goal fires up the Giallorossi, who double their lead on 26 minutes: a misplaced pass by Cavalli is intercepted by Gregori on the edge of the final third; the number ten drives towards goal and, once inside the area, guides a delicate left-footer into the far corner. Domagnano’s third comes on the hour mark: Buda, from his own half, plays vertically for Babboni, who wins his duel with Adami Martins and then rifles a superb right-footed strike past Russo for 3-0. The fourth and final goal for the Giallorossi arrives 15 minutes from time: Ankotovych misjudges a back-pass, Buda nips in ahead of Sartori and then beats Russo with his left. Despite the win – their first since 1 March – Domagnano miss out on the post-season; the campaign continues instead for Folgore, who finish the regular season in fourth place and will meet San Giovanni in the play-offs.

 Little in the way of emotion between Libertas and Cailungo, in the only match played at 18:15. In the first half a great chance falls to Moretti, who heads wide from a very promising position on 37 minutes. Libertas press and on 41 minutes come very close to taking the lead with a powerful right-footed strike from distance by Pari – set up by a delightful back-heel flick from David Tomassini – that crashes against the angle of post and bar. After the break both defences stand firm, as does the scoreline, which remains 0-0 until the final whistle. The season ends here for Libertas and Cailungo – both outside the play-off picture.

 Tomorrow the 30th and final matchday of the league features the last three fixtures – all scheduled for 16:00 – with Virtus celebrating the title in Dogana against Pennarossa. Murata and Fiorentino – facing La Fiorita and Faetano respectively – will battle at distance for eighth place (currently held by the Rossoblu, three points clear of the Bianconeri).

Here is the partial schedule for Matchday 30 of the Campionato Sammarinese:

Click here for the updated table.