Coppa Titano: Tre Penne sweep aside Cailungo, Piscaglia sinks Cosmos

The clash between Cosmos and Virtus in the first leg of the 2024-25 Coppa Titano Round of 16 lived up to expectations. While the Gialloverdi from Serravalle created more without ever finding the decisive touch, the Neroverdi from Acquaviva were more clinical and, thanks to defender-turned-goalscorer Daniel Piscaglia, take the first round. As expected, the match in Dogana is finely balanced. The first chance falls midway through the half with a powerful strike from the edge by Pastorelli, which is brushed with the fingertips – gloves, in this case – by Mirco De Angelis, who manages to divert it onto the outside of the post. The former San Giovanni keeper remains a key figure thereafter in keeping the Neroverdi’s clean sheet intact. On 38 minutes he does well to smother Ben Kacem’s effort, then the duel is renewed a minute later when he comes out sharply to deny, at the crucial moment, the former Libertas and Fiorentino striker. Virtus try to respond with a fine left-footed effort at the near post by Pecci, dealt with by the alert Semprini (43'); just before the break it is again Ben Kacem – once more on his left – to have a go, but De Angelis produces another outstanding save to ensure it remains 0-0 at half-time. If De Angelis is vital for Virtus, Semprini is just as precious for Cosmos at the start of the second half when he flies to keep out Tortori’s curling effort from the edge of the box. The tempo does not drop, nor do the chances at either end. Just after the hour another great chance falls to Lepri’s side with a fine cross from the left by Grandoni, perfectly picking out Pastorelli whose header from the corner of the six-yard box flashes wide, wasting a golden opportunity. Despite the numerous chances for the Gialloverdi, it is Virtus who break the deadlock with a crucial goal on 75 minutes: after his decisive league strike last Friday against Juvenes-Dogana, Piscaglia is on target again on cup night, timing his run into the box to perfection to turn in Pecci’s cross from the right. The drama in Dogana is not over, though. Despite being in front, the sending-off (81') for a second yellow card shown to De Lucia makes for a tense finale for Virtus. Bizzotto’s men hold out and on 85 minutes could even double their lead when Angeli tries an audacious effort from distance, but Semprini is alert and tips it behind for a corner. Deep into stoppage time Cosmos carve out yet another opening with a thunderous strike from distance by Serafini that cannons off the crossbar. Virtus thus take the win thanks to Piscaglia’s decisive touch, but the second leg is still wide open. No such problems for Nicola Berardi’s Tre Penne, who all but book their place in the quarter-finals with a resounding 6-0 win over Cailungo. It takes just five minutes to break the deadlock in Montecchio: Moscardi tries an effort on the turn from the penalty spot area; the shot lacks power, but a fortuitous deflection off Gjyla wrong-foots Francioni and gives the side from Città the lead. A few minutes later Berardi’s men double their advantage from a perfect cross by Vandi, met by a winning header from Nigretti. Tre Penne smell blood and want to wrap up qualification early: on 15 minutes Moscardi earns a penalty that Amati converts, sending Francioni the wrong way. The former Fiorita man is in sparkling form, as shown by the move that brings the 4-0 on 35 minutes: Cecchetti wins a free-kick near the right-hand byline, and Amati steps up and goes straight for goal, catching Francioni out and beating him for the second time of the evening. The pattern does not change after the restart and Tre Penne score again: a low cross from Nigretti to the near post finds Moscardi, who joins the party with the 5-0. Cailungo are unable to muster any response and remain stuck in the "storm". On 73 minutes Giovagnoli crashes a superb free-kick from the edge off the angle of post and bar and then, on 78 minutes, the sixth goal bears the signature of Cardellino, slipped through with a delicate ball by Scarponi; he gets there ahead of the onrushing Francioni to score. It finishes 6-0 in Montecchio to the side from Città, who already have one foot in the quarter-finals. The tie between Juvenes-Dogana and Fiorentino, meanwhile, finishes 1-0: the ones celebrating are the club from the Castello di Serravalle, thanks to Mazzavillani’s strike on 69 minutes. Early on (4') it is he who first goes close, hitting the post after a corner swung to the back post. Chances are few and far between in the first half and the teams go in at the break goalless. The goal that settles the contest – as mentioned – arrives 20 minutes from time: as in the first half, a corner from Merli to the back post seeks and finds Mazzavillani, who powers in a header; Berardi gets a touch but cannot keep it out. Fiorentino try to react and, in the closing stages, Abouzziane’s burst of pace down the left leads to contact with Pedini right on the edge of the box: referee Borriello is well placed and points to a free-kick, amid protests from the Rossoblu who felt it should have been a penalty. Abouzziane takes it himself, but Gentilini saves and secures a precious victory. Faetano also win, against Pennarossa, thanks to the brilliance of Alessandro Brisigotti: the Gialloblu number ten nets a brace to delight coach Adrian Ricchiuti on the bench. The first chance of the Domagnano match comes on 32 minutes with a fine angled drive from Famiglietti, but Balletta is equal to it. Pennarossa are the better side in the first half and shortly afterwards Fadel Salah tries his luck, only for Balletta to deny him again. It is not enough to break the deadlock, however, and half-time comes with the score still 0-0. After the interval Faetano step it up and on 58 minutes they hit the crossbar with a stunning right-footed effort from distance by D'Amico. A few minutes later (61') another effort crashes against the woodwork for the Gialloblu, this time from Kevin Zonzini. The opening goal arrives on 66 minutes: from a tight angle – midway along the side of the box – Brisigotti unleashes a left-footed free-kick that flies into the top corner, well out of Renzetti’s reach. A magnificent strike from the Gialloblu playmaker, who doubles the lead from the penalty spot ten minutes later, after being brought down himself by a touch from Fadel Salah: Brisigotti makes no mistake and it’s 2-0. Pennarossa refuse to give in and, deep into stoppage time, find a crucial goal to keep the tie alive: Azzurro delivers an excellent cross from deep and picks out Acquarelli, who gets there first ahead of Gavelli but glances the ball past his own keeper Balletta for 2-1. Finally, here is the full slate of first-leg results from the 2024-25 Coppa Titano Round of 16:

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