Coppa Titano BKN301: Tre Fiori and La Fiorita out, what a comeback from Tre Penne!

The top two seeds fall at the quarter-final stage of the Coppa Titano BKN301. Tre Fiori will not be able to defend the title won last season, undone by a remarkable Virtus comeback. Bizzotto’s side, inspired by Ivan Buonocunto – who is proving to be one of the most influential players in our league, if not the most decisive – swept aside their highly rated opponents 3-1, overturning the slender first-leg win claimed by the Gialloblù. Buonocunto struck twice, with Sorrentino netting in between – his second goal in five days. Traini’s converted penalty spiced up the finale, but was not enough to take the tie to extra time. That was exactly what was needed at the Ezio Conti in Dogana, where the clash between Folgore and Murata required a further thirty minutes to decide the semi-finalist, who will now face Virtus in the top half of the draw. After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, Lepri’s and Sarti’s sides were level at 2-2 when Beltrano blew for full time. Folgore went in front immediately through Gattei Colonna, only for Murata to draw level at the start of the second half thanks to Gjorretai’s tap-in – the forward also on target in the first match of the tie. Shortly afterwards came Serafini’s goal and Baldini’s penalty, before Folgore were left cursing a dramatic shot against the post from Bernardi following an irresistible 50-metre run with the ball. The other Sammarinese player in all yellow, Golinucci, clipped the angle of post and bar with a free-kick early in extra time. Not long after, his persistence paved the way for Santoni’s breakthrough that sealed the winning goal. Murata’s Bianconeri went agonisingly close to equalising for a third time through Baldini and Ferraro in the second period of extra time, but it is Folgore who advance to the semi-finals. A second consecutive victory for Libertas, who after their recent 2-1 league win over Juvenes-Dogana, claim the scalp of La Fiorita in the Coppa Titano BKN301. A strong display from Sperindio’s Granata, unbeaten across their two meetings with Rinaldi and his team-mates and able to score the decisive goal in the first half: Bucci on target, picking out the top corner to Vivan’s right from a corner situation. La Fiorita’s usually reliable attacking threats misfired, at times lacking accuracy and – especially in the first half – unable to beat a superb Zavoli. The Sammarinese goalkeeper was the outstanding performer of the night, producing decisive saves and keeping a clean sheet that sends his side into the semi-finals. The only blot on the evening for Libertas were the two big chances squandered by Lorenzo Gasperoni and Olcese in the closing minutes: Libertas can nonetheless celebrate, as they will face Tre Penne in the last remaining Coppa Titano two-legged tie. A heart-stopping contest unfolded in Acquaviva, where Stefano Ceci’s side needed to overturn the 3-1 first-leg defeat suffered at the hands of Juvenes-Dogana. Tre Penne required a flying start and duly earned a penalty as early as the 10th minute: Gentilini’s save was sensational, clawing away Nicola Gai’s low angled effort before being grateful for Pieri’s wayward tap-in. That, however, was exactly how the opening goal eventually arrived, scored by Dormi – perfectly timed and far too free at the back post after Gentilini had parried Ceccaroli’s attempt. A Tre Penne side set up in ultra-attacking fashion struck again soon after with a moment of brilliance from Nicola Gai, who made amends for his earlier penalty miss by scoring the goal of the night – a 25-metre thunderbolt into the top corner. By the 17th minute the tie was perfectly level on aggregate and qualification was completely in the balance. With four forwards on the pitch and an extremely high and effective press, Tre Penne neither could nor wanted to change their game plan, going close to 3-0 on several occasions, particularly through Pieri and Dormi. Ceccaroli did find a third in the first minute of stoppage time, but it was ruled out for an obvious offside against Dormi, who was in the line of the Sammarinese winger’s low drive. The script did not change after the restart, when Tre Penne earned another penalty: this time Dormi stepped up, sending Gentilini the wrong way with his left foot to complete his brace and tilt the tie firmly in Città’s favour. With nothing left to protect, Juvenes-Dogana poured forward, showcasing the qualities of Migani. The Tre Penne keeper saved the third penalty of the evening, denying Merli the goal that would have restored complete parity in the 68th minute. From the resulting corner, the Rimini-born goalkeeper then had to fly to the top corner to keep out yet another header from Pasquinelli. Using the same weapon, Badalassi struck the post on 82 minutes and was then foiled by Gentilini four minutes later. Serravalle’s Biancorossazzurri thus stayed in the game but were unable to create the chance needed to find the net. In the semi-final, against Libertas, it will be Tre Penne who take the field. Here is the full picture from the Coppa Titano BKN301 quarter-final second legs:

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