Coppa Titano: Narrow win for Tre Penne; Virtus, Fiorita and Tre Fiori close in on the semis

Thanks to emphatic wins, Virtus, La Fiorita and Tre Fiori take a major step towards the semi-finals, while Tre Penne have Ceccaroli to thank in their clash with Folgore. That is the snapshot from this evening’s matches in the first legs of the 2024-25 Coppa Titano quarter-finals. We start with La Fiorita, holders of the trophy, who in Domagnano got the better of Juvenes-Dogana with two goals scored after the break. The first half was cagey and ended goalless. Midway through the half a Ceci goal for the Gialloblu was disallowed, and just before the interval Gentilini did his part by keeping out a fine long-range effort from Cicarelli. Their duel resumed at the start of the second period (52’) when the Gialloblu midfielder pulled the trigger, the keeper again got down well but this time Ambrosini was the quickest to react to the rebound, turning the ball in to put his side ahead. The goal made life much easier for La Fiorita, who soon went close to doubling the lead when Vitaioli’s low right-footed strike crashed against the post. Juvenes-Dogana were unable to really trouble the Gialloblu, who in the closing stages found what looks like the goal that seals qualification: it was an all-Sammarinese combination as Alex Toccaceli, from the edge of the box, played a vertical ball for Vitaioli, who controlled and slotted into the far corner for 2-0. The Serravalle club tried not to throw in the towel and shortly afterwards substitute Omgba produced a wonderful back-heel that thumped against the woodwork. It was not enough, though, for Fabbri’s side to avoid yet another defeat. On the same side of the draw there was an even more convincing win for Virtus, who put four past Faetano in Montecchio. The tie was effectively wrapped up by half-time: Bizzotto’s team broke the deadlock as early as the 3rd minute with a long, precise ball from Ciacci that picked out Lombardi, who made it 1-0. Ten minutes later Virtus doubled their lead: Pecci crossed from the right and found Tortori, who made no mistake from the edge of the six-yard box. The Neroverdi marksman was on target again just before the break, when Benincasa floated in a cross for his team-mate’s header that made it 3-0 before half-time. On the hour Faetano tried to rattle the Neroverdi when Terenzi – picked out by Capriotti – broke cleverly through the backline and with a stinging right-footed shot beat De Angelis at his near post for 3-1. Ricchiuti’s team, however, were unable to get back into it and in the closing stages Virtus killed it off for good through Benincasa – picked out by a neat move on the edge of the area from Pecci – who controlled on his chest and then found the far corner with his left for the final scoreline of 4-1. On the other side of the bracket, Tre Fiori under Girolomoni already have one foot in the semi-finals after sweeping aside San Giovanni 4-0. The Fiorentino tie was unlocked midway through the first half by the inevitable Prandelli: Benedettini worked it down the right for Manfroni, who once at the byline whipped the ball quickly across to the far post, where the Gialloblu striker arrived on cue to find the net. Tre Fiori’s second came at the end of the half from a laser-guided left-footed free-kick by Bernardi, leaving Starna with no chance. San Giovanni tried to respond and came close to scoring when Augusto Garcia Rufer headed against the crossbar from an Aprea delivery. Tre Fiori stayed composed and, after Bernardi went close again (62’), they made it three on 85 minutes through Federico Dolcini, who finished from close range. Deep into stoppage time there was still room for a fourth and final goal for Girolomoni’s side: Bernardi’s shot-cross from the right found Erichiello at the far post, and he made no mistake from two yards. The tie that looks most finely poised after the first ninety minutes this evening is undoubtedly Tre Penne v Folgore. The first round goes to Nicola Berardi’s side – the former Folgore coach – who claimed victory thanks to a poacher’s finish from Luca Ceccaroli. The first half belonged to the Biancazzurri, who after several attempts finally found a way past Samuele Guddo. The goal that broke the deadlock in Dogana came on 31 minutes, when Dormi won the ball back in the final third and, with his left, spotted the channel for Ceccaroli, who controlled and from the edge of the area found the corner with precision. After Scarponi had a goal ruled out (33’), the Città club almost doubled their lead right at the end of the half. Guddo produced a fine save to keep out Guidi’s right-footed effort, and from the rebound Scarponi somehow failed to turn the ball in from an excellent position. After the break Lasagni tried to jolt his side into life, and on 52 minutes it took a superb last-ditch block from Migani on Anzaghi to deny the Giallorossoneri an equaliser. The contest remained in the balance and Righini’s sending-off on 73 minutes complicated things for Berardi and his men. As stoppage time approached, there was a huge chance for Folgore: Pancotti worked it down the right and crossed for Bitti, who laid it off to Raschi – on as a substitute – arriving on the penalty spot, but although he struck it cleanly, Migani pulled off a miracle save. In added time came Folgore’s last assault, with Facchetti shooting with his right but failing to hit the target from a good position. It finished 1-0 to Tre Penne in Dogana, but the return leg – in two weeks’ time – promises to be wide open. Here is how the quarter-final picture looks after this evening’s first-leg ties:

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