Fiorentino claim the Titano Futsal Cup: Folgore beaten 4-3 in the final

For the first time in the history of Sammarinese futsal, a trophy is awarded indoors. At the Multieventi Sport Domus we witness one of the most eagerly awaited finals of recent years, arguably the one with the highest technical level. Folgore and Fiorentino represent the very best that San Marino five-a-side football has to offer, and their approach lives up to expectations. The Falciano club start the better, going close with left-footed diagonal efforts from Pasqualini and Pellegrini – off target by mere centimetres. Fiorentino, instead, are clinical with their first real foray: Busignani wins a duel and unleashes a powerful left-footer that Geri can only parry, and Maiani pounces to smash home the red and blue opener just into the 6th minute. Fiorentino ride the momentum, which crashes against the crossbar struck by Busignani shortly after the 1-0. Folgore’s response relies on Bernardi’s speed, his driven cross-shot failing to find Pellegrini just a couple of steps from the gaping goal. These are effectively the dress rehearsal for the Folgore captain’s goal, unstoppable on 9 minutes as he races clear down the flank and gives Protti no chance from a tight angle. Fiorentino suffer a blackout three minutes later when their passing move ends up back with the goalkeeper, who had already been involved in the build-up: Protti lets the ball run out to avoid conceding an indirect free-kick. From the ensuing corner, Pasqualini has a go but is blocked by the red and blue keeper. At the other end, Geri does well to keep out an initial attempt from Moretti, then has the woodwork to thank – for the second time – on 13 minutes. Before the next minute elapses, Bernardi skips past Zafferani and almost manages to put Folgore ahead. The match is played on a knife-edge that threatens to snap on 22 minutes when Michele Ercolani shields the ball well and then almost gets on the end of it again in the middle of the area, his touch drifting just wide. Geri then denies Moretti at the opposite end, only to be beaten on Maiani’s counter-attack five minutes from the break. An irresistible coast-to-coast run finished off with his second of the night and Fiorentino’s renewed lead from the centre-back. Shortly afterwards, Maiani almost completes his hat-trick on the counter, well picked out by Andrea Ercolani. The pivot will be the main man at the end of the half when, after a long, insistent attacking move in which Folgore somehow survive a couple of times in extremis, he throws himself at Geri’s short clearance and lifts it over him with a delicate chip. Before half-time, Fiorentino run a huge risk as they are caught on the break, but somehow escape by the skin of their teeth. At the start of the second half there is further bad news for Folgore, who lose De Angelis to injury after a collision on the touchline with Andrea Ercolani. Spada’s all-rounder does, however, return to the pitch a few minutes later. On 34 minutes, it is a superb Protti who shuts the door on the opponents: fine save with his left hand from close range to deny Bernardi, then the right reflex on Chezzi’s back-heel attempt as the pivot is asked to produce a very difficult tap-in to find the net. The chance is much more straightforward for Rossini at the other end of the court as he holds off his man, only to fire straight at Geri in a one-on-one. Chasing the game and two goals down, Folgore inevitably take more and more risks as the minutes tick by, and the gamble taken by the Giallorossoneri pays off just before the halfway point of the second half. Pasqualini bursts to the by-line and manages to square for Pellegrini, unmarked in front of the empty net to make it 3-2. The scoreline, though, lasts barely a couple of minutes, just enough time for Danilo Busignani to get on the scoresheet with a thunderous right-foot drive that rips past Geri at his near post. Folgore are anything but out of it, as underlined by Chezzi’s extraordinary goal on 49 minutes. The pivot receives the ball behind Zafferani, who cannot intercept with the outside of his boot, and beats Protti with an audacious, ice-cool lob that puts the Falciano side firmly back in contention. Moments later it is almost 4-4 on the next attack, but Protti produces a superb reflex save to turn away Pellegrini’s swivel shot from the middle of the D. Just over two minutes from time, Geri keeps Folgore alive, racing out to the edge of his area to punch away Cevoli’s effort – the Fiorentino man having been played clean through. That the Titano Futsal Cup was destined to return to Fiorentino had already been hinted at when on 59 minutes Bernardi – having won a central free-kick – sees his effort hit Cevoli and then the post with the goalkeeper beaten. The finale is tense, with another set-piece wasted by Folgore, who also have to deal with Pellegrini’s injury halfway through the only minute of added time. In the dying embers, Folgore cannot find a way through, thanks also to Mattia Protti who outdoes himself to thwart Pasqualini’s solo effort in stoppage time. That is the last thrill before the final whistle from Latvian international Purins – assisted by Šacmans and Ercolani. The Titano Futsal Cup is red and blue, at the end of one of the finest and most hard-fought finals of recent years – hopefully just the prelude to an even more enthralling Campionato Sammarinese post-season.

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FIORENTINO Protti, Moretti, Maiani, Busignani, A. Ercolani Substitutes: Bollini, Gasperoni, Ceccoli, Rossini, Zafferani, Carlini, Giacobbi, Serra, Cevoli Coach: Matteo Michelotti   FOLGORE Geri, Pasqualini, Chezzi, Bernardi, Pellegrini Substitutes: S. Stefanelli, Pelliccioni, De Angelis, Iuliani, Rossi, M. Ercolani, Allasia Coach: Massimiliano Spada   Referee 1: Ingus Purins (LVA) Referee 2: Serges Šacmans (LVA) Referee 3: Gianmarco Ercolani (SMR) Scorers: 5', 25' Maiani, 9' Bernardi, 29' A. Ercolani, 43' Pellegrini, 45' Busignani, 49' Chezzi Booked: Moretti, Chezzi, Pellegrini, A. Ercolani, Bollini

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