Coppa Titano: night of goal-fests, all square with wonder goals between Tre Penne and Juvenes-Dogana

It was a night of goal-fests and spectacular finishes in the first legs of the Coppa Titano quarter-finals. In this evening’s ties, Virtus, Tre Fiori and La Fiorita claimed clear, emphatic wins, while the only draw came between Juvenes-Dogana and Tre Penne – lit up by two stunning goals from Gianmaria Borghini and Simone Errico.

Starting at Montecchio, where holders Virtus beat Libertas 3-0 to take a firm grip on qualification. The match was initially affected by thick fog, and in the 11th minute it was Niang who broke the deadlock with a left-footed strike from distance. As the fog began to lift, Bizzotto’s side stayed firmly in control. Niang went close to doubling the lead and then, on 26 minutes, Zenoni got to the byline and pulled back for Benincasa, who made no mistake. Libertas tried to react with a swivel shot from Pezzella inside the area that went not far wide. After the break the fog rolled back in – and so did Virtus, who effectively killed the tie just before the hour mark thanks to a cross from Amati headed home by Elia Ciacci for 3-0. That was all Bizzotto’s men needed to win the first leg and already plant one foot in the semi-finals.

Virtus’ treble was matched by Tre Fiori – their direct rivals for the league title – who produced a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Cosmos. At the “Ezio Conti” in Dogana, the deadlock was broken midway through the first half when Mema, on the turn from a Benedettini pass, made it 1-0. The former Faetano striker was clinical again on 41 minutes, pouncing on a poor error by Robba in the build-up and then coolly beating Semprini. Not only goals but assists as well from Mema, who returned the favour to Benedettini on 74 minutes with a lovely first-time through ball, allowing his team-mate to round Semprini and make it three. Just before stoppage time, the fourth bore the signature of Vandi, who from close range finished off a right-wing cross from Brisigotti. It was a nightmare night for Andy Selva’s Cosmos – the former icon of this fixture – while Tre Fiori celebrated as they moved within sight of the semi-finals.

It was a perfect evening too for La Fiorita, who put three past Murata. The first half at Acquaviva ended goalless, but the second began with a moment of magic from Nappello from a free-kick: a curling effort from the number 10 that gave Bracconi no chance. La Fiorita doubled their lead on 67 minutes through Vitaioli – scoring for the second game running – who, set up by Affonso, picked his spot from outside the box and found the far corner. Not only Nappello, but Affonso also produced a moment of brilliance: on 79 minutes, the former Murata man won the ball back on halfway, accelerated into space, skipped past a couple of opponents and, once in the area, unleashed a right-footed strike unstoppable for Bracconi. It was a comfortable night in Acquaviva for La Fiorita, who ran out 3-0 winners.

The most evenly balanced match was undoubtedly the one in Domagnano between Juvenes-Dogana and Tre Penne: two goals, each more spectacular than the other, set the score at 1-1 and leave everything to be decided in the return leg on 10 December. On a Champions League Wednesday, Gianmaria Borghini’s right-footed strike from the edge of the box after 6 minutes was a gem worthy of Europe’s biggest stages and put Juvenes-Dogana ahead. Bonini’s side replied with a long-range drive from Fabbri on 37 minutes that flew just past the post. On the hour mark Juvenes-Dogana went agonisingly close to doubling their lead when Pedini, from two yards out, was denied by a superb Migani save. At the other end, his opposite number – Colonna – was just as decisive on 76 minutes, shutting down Pieri with an excellent intervention. Tre Penne piled on the pressure and, on 82 minutes, it took a brilliant last-ditch block from Ghiggini on Pieri to save Juvenes-Dogana. From the same passage of play, Colonna’s clearance was short and left the goal unguarded; Errico recovered the ball almost on the centre circle and went straight for goal, finding an incredible trajectory for 1-1. In the final stages Tre Penne even went within centimetres of a potential winner through Turchetta’s angled strike. The match, however, finished level: everything postponed by two weeks.

Here is the full schedule for the first legs of the 2025-26 Coppa Titano quarter-finals: