Championship: Virtus and the “P factor”, but La Fiorita refuse to give up

Virtus win with the “P factor” – Piovaccari and Pecci – and with a 2-0 victory over Libertas collect yet another success that brings them even closer to the league title. In this afternoon’s action from Matchday 26 of the Campionato Sammarinese, Bizzotto’s Neroverdi got the better of the Granata and replied to La Fiorita’s 3 p.m. win – the Montegiardino side beating the San Marino Academy Under 22s.

Starting with the league leaders, who kicked off at 18:00 in Dogana. Virtus’ evening did not begin in the best way, as in the 11th minute Manzaroli saved a penalty from Buonocunto. Libertas also threatened with a Morelli effort kept out by Passaniti. In the closing stages of the half, the Neroverdi had a double chance: first Manuel Battistini hit the post (38’) and then Pecci went close from inside the six-yard box (42’). The Acquaviva side, however, broke through after the restart. In the 56th minute Buonocunto whipped in a cross for Federico Piovaccari’s first league goal – the striker having remained at Bizzotto’s disposal after the European campaign. From Piovaccari to Pecci, who wrapped it up early on 67 minutes: Vallocchia let fly from distance, picking out his team-mate who brought it down superbly, rounded Manzaroli and slotted home for 2-0. Libertas tried to reopen it late on (78’) with a fine swivel and shot from Sow, but Passaniti was equal to it. It was not enough to hurt Virtus, who managed the game through to the final whistle. The table therefore remains unchanged, with the Neroverdi still five points clear of La Fiorita.

The Montegiardino side, as mentioned, got the better of the Academy – winning 4-1 in Fiorentino in the 3 p.m. kick-off. In the first half only a goal was missing for Stefano Ceci’s Gialloblù, already dangerous after just a few seconds through Mazzotti, but Casadei intervened to save. On 15 minutes Olcese went just wide, while La Fiorita’s biggest chance of the half came on the half-hour mark when Alberto Riccardi unleashed a thunderous left-footed drive from distance that crashed against the angle of post and crossbar. All the goals at the “Federico Crescentini” arrived after the break, and it was Affonso who opened the scoring for the Gialloblù. Massari played a vertical ball to his team-mate, who with a sharp change of direction took out Mattia Sancisi and Federico Ciacci, then went past Casadei as well and rolled the ball into the net on the hour mark. The second goal came five minutes later (65’) when Massari’s cross from the edge of the box picked out Mazzotti’s header. Academy threatened on 72 minutes when a piece of magic from Santi with a back-heel released Marco Casadei, who however at the crucial moment was denied by Zavoli. Two minutes later La Fiorita made the points safe: a wonderfully weighted touch from Affonso from three-quarters of the pitch picked out Ambrosini, who drove into the area and beat Casadei at his near post. With their last reserves of energy, the Titani managed to get forward and beat Zavoli through Giacopetti – timing his leap better than anyone after Santi’s corner. The final word, though, belonged to La Fiorita, who in stoppage time sealed the 4-1 with an unfortunate own goal by Simone Riccardi following a Gialloblù corner.

It was a game of two halves between Tre Penne and San Giovanni. The first period was decidedly Biancoazzurro, while after the interval the Rossoneri were on top; but after ninety minutes it was the club from San Marino Città who took home the three points. The match in Domagnano was unlocked on 17 minutes when Scarponi spread play wide to Nigretti, who cut inside Nicola Sartini and then, with his left foot from inside the area, found a way past Starna. The Biancoazzurri’s second arrived twenty minutes later, when a fine ball from Guidi from the halfway line split the Rossoneri defence and found Dormi, who controlled and produced a delightful lob to make it 2-0. Before the break the side from Città added a third: a great move started by Vandi down the flank, he then found Guidi on the edge of the area, who in turn laid it off to Scarponi, and first time he made it 3-0. The match seemed to be on ice for Farotti’s team, who early in the second half had the chance to further increase their lead: in the 48th minute they were awarded a penalty – for a foul by Fabbri on Guidi – but Amati’s spot-kick was saved by Starna, who guessed correctly. That woke San Giovanni up and a few minutes later (52’) they pulled one back: a cross from captain Boldrini was flicked on by Augusto Garcia Rufer into the path of Nicola Sartini, who made it 3-1. Time ticked away but the Rossoneri kept believing in a comeback. In the 79th minute Guidi’s attempted clearance ricocheted into the path of Aprea, who struck for 3-2 and gave his side fresh hope. Aprea himself was in the thick of things at the death, when a right-footed attempt of his could have produced a dramatic equaliser, but Migani’s one-handed save was outstanding and decisive in securing victory. Tre Penne thus triumphed 3-2 and, thanks to this win, the Biancoazzurri leapfrog San Giovanni into fifth place in the table.

There was a win – for the second time in a row – also for Murata, who edged out Fiorentino. The match in Montecchio was lively from the very first exchanges. On 13 minutes a superb Ricci free-kick crashed onto the crossbar, while in the 19th minute Chiaruzzi levelled the woodwork count with a cross-shot that clipped the angle. However, on 23 minutes Murata managed to break through with the most classic of goals against a former club: from the left Ricci whipped the ball in for Salemme, who attacked the near post brilliantly and finished past Berardi. Shortly after the half-hour mark the Bianconeri had two more chances to double their lead: first through Piscopo – denied by a crucial intervention from Berardi – and then, a minute later, Castorina’s header rattled the crossbar. After the break the tempo dropped and it was not until the 71st minute that the game sparked again, when Echel unleashed a superb left-footed effort from distance that once more struck the woodwork – the Bianconeri’s third of the day. Just beforehand (62’) Fiorentino had vehemently protested for a possible handball in the area by Tomassoni, but the referee waved play on. In the end, Camillini’s Murata needed only the former player Salemme’s goal to get the better of Tarini’s Fiorentino – who have not won since 25 January.

Alongside Virtus, the 18:00 slot also featured the clash between Faetano and Tre Fiori: the “yellow and blue derby” went the way of the Fiorentino side thanks to late strikes from Prandelli and Bernardi. In the first half it was Tre Fiori, coached by former Faetano boss Girolomoni, who opened the scoring: Prandelli sent Sensoli through, he controlled and drove towards goal, and once inside the box the young Sammarinese forward finished across the keeper into the far corner. Shortly afterwards Forconesi redeemed himself with a great reflex save, denying Sensoli a brace. In the second half Faetano pushed forward and struck on 64 minutes: Dulcetti shot from the edge of the area, Nardi dived to his left but could not hold it, and Brisigotti pounced like a hawk to make it 1-1. Parity lasted until the 83rd minute, when Lisi had the chance to put Faetano ahead but dragged his effort just wide. From the ensuing move Tre Fiori stepped on the gas: a cross from the right by Bernardi – who had come off the bench – was met by a perfect twisting header from Prandelli into the far corner. Bernardi then put the exclamation mark on Tre Fiori’s win, capitalising on an error by Ioli and, once through on Forconesi, calmly slotting home for the final 3-1.