Coppa Titano BKN301: Ciacci, Buonocunto and Pedrini kick-start the Virtus celebrations

The final match of the San Marino football season awards the 65th Coppa Titano, the first edition supported by title sponsor BKN301. The first headache for Stefano Ceci, coach of reigning champions Tre Penne, arrives around 20:15 when a neck problem suffered by Riccardo Pieri in the warm-up forces the coach from Romagna to reshuffle his line-up. Michael Battistini comes in from the start to patrol the midfield alongside Righini and Gai. On the opposite side, Bizzotto needs just six minutes to celebrate the opener: the first corner also brings the 1-0 goal, courtesy of 22-year-old San Marino midfielder Elia Ciacci, sharpest to meet Buonocunto’s corner. The former Rimini striker is also involved in the episode that leads to the second goal. Leading a counter-attack, he moves to meet a low cross from Manuel Battistini and – under pressure from Righini – goes down. For Ucini it is a penalty and from the spot it is Buonocunto himself who steps up, taking his tally in the competition to five goals, sending Migani the wrong way from twelve yards. It really doesn’t look like Tre Penne’s night, as they are denied by the crossbar through Badalassi on 33 minutes and then concede Virtus’ third on the ensuing counter-attack. Sabato plays in Pedrini, deemed onside amid protests from the champions’ back line, and he shows all his composure by dinking the ball over the onrushing Migani to make it 3-0 on 35 minutes. Virtus’ near-perfect first half, fully deserved on the balance of play in terms of attitude and reading of the various phases of the game, is only blemished by Badalassi’s strike on 38 minutes. Tre Penne’s marksman meets Ceccaroli’s cross and guides a header into the far corner to haul Ceci’s side back into the contest and give them hope of a sensational comeback. There is certainly no shortage of entertainment or drama in Montecchio – where hundreds of fans have packed the stand despite the attendance restrictions imposed after last week’s heavy rainfall. At Ucini’s half-time whistle, the teams head for the dressing rooms with Virtus leading 3-1. After the restart Virtus confirm they are utterly focused on the objective and Buonocunto goes close to a spectacular goal, connecting acrobatically with a half-overhead kick that drifts just wide. The clearest chance, however, falls to Tre Penne from a set piece on the edge of the box which Righini strikes in trademark fashion. Right-footed curler over the wall, onto the underside of the bar, and once again Tre Penne are denied the chance to cut the deficit to a single goal. Shortly afterwards, a marginal offside by Pedrini renders redundant Migani’s last-ditch intervention, and the Tre Penne goalkeeper is left tearing his hair out – like the rest of his team-mates – after two big chances go begging for Ceccaroli and Gai around the hour mark. Andrea Battistini is decisive in turning away the San Marino winger’s right-footed effort, while Gai is not sharp enough to pounce on the loose ball in the box. As time ticks by, the game becomes more fragmented, thanks also to a clever Virtus side that keeps the ball well away from its own penalty area and has no qualms about breaking up Tre Penne’s moves early. Tension rises on the pitch and Ceci seems unable to jolt his side into life, not even with the introductions of Cesarini, Montanari and Giovagnoli. In truth, it is again Gai who tries his luck in the 73rd minute, but his right-footed effort from twenty metres out poses no real threat to Andrea Battistini. Bizzotto’s team defends with discipline, minimising risk as they look to see out a historic result for Virtus. Even if that means withdrawing Tortori for Giacomoni and switching to a 5-3-2 for the final quarter of an hour, stoppage time included. The Acquaviva club had never before lifted either the Coppa Titano or the Campionato Sammarinese. Yet the revamped technical project launched in recent seasons has quickly propelled the Neroverdi into contention with the top sides on the Titano and – tonight – allowed them to end an eight-year stretch in which only Folgore, Tre Fiori, La Fiorita and Tre Penne had managed to lift trophies into the San Marino sky. It is the crowning achievement of a journey that has seen Virtus go toe to toe with the giants of domestic football over the past two years, confirming the quality of the squad placed at Bizzotto’s disposal, both over the course of the regular league campaign and in their run in the Coppa Titano BKN301. Indeed, it should not be forgotten that in the oldest competition in San Marino football, the Neroverdi have knocked out Cosmos, Tre Fiori, Folgore and – tonight – Tre Penne. An escalation of emotions for a team that has successfully blended the unquestionable quality of experienced players such as Tortori and Buonocunto with the dynamism of San Marino internationals like Ciacci, Golinucci and Manuel Battistini. And it matters little that the final incident of the showpiece is a second yellow card for Gori, sent off for dangerous play in midfield. Virtus can celebrate and lift their first ever Coppa Titano BKN301. Thanks also to Andrea Battistini, third-choice goalkeeper at the start of the season and an extra man in the cup. In addition to his decisive saves in the semi-final, he produced two spectacular interventions in stoppage time this evening. First, a spring-heeled stop to deny Dormi, then a stunning save to claw away the playmaker’s left-footed strike destined for the top corner, sparing the Neroverdi a nervy finale and sealing a triumph deservedly acclaimed by their fans, who flocked to Montecchio to support them from first to last whistle. For Virtus, this victory also secures qualification for the next UEFA Europa Conference League.

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