Folgore claim authoritative third, Virtus win it at the death

In the late kick-offs of Matchday 22 of the Campionato Sammarinese, Fiorentino suffer a surprise defeat, edged out by Pennarossa at the Stadio Federico Crescentini. The first half offers very little, but the second is far livelier – also thanks to the introduction of Pintore for the Biancorossi. It takes the forward three minutes to make his mark: Diagne loses a costly ball on the defensive three-quarter, allowing Zahir to thread it through for Pintore who, one-on-one with Benedettini, makes no mistake. The same striker calls for a red card after Boubacar Diop’s last-ditch challenge – deemed regular by the referee. Pintore is on fire and in the 54th minute he back-heels Zenoni through on goal, but his strike partner cannot beat Benedettini with a lob. Two minutes later Del Prete is called into action, outstanding in denying Boubacar Diop’s surge and well placed to deal with Dolcini’s powerful drive. Pennarossa threaten again through Zenoni, whose innate dead-ball quality forces a great save from Benedettini, who then doesn’t even need to intervene on the striker’s headed attempt in the 58th minute. Fiorentino have the chance to get back into it shortly after the hour mark, when Gakou finds Chiaruzzi in the box, but the playmaker crashes his effort against the crossbar from close range. As the move continues, Del Prete is again decisive, this time on Dolcini’s overhead kick – the last real chance for Tarini’s men to avoid defeat. They are now closed in on by San Giovanni and Cosmos and overtaken by their cousins Tre Fiori. Girolomoni’s side, by contrast, turn around Tre Penne’s early lead, which comes from the penalty spot after contact between Censoni and Guidi. The spot-kick is awarded without hesitation by Perez Gonzales – a Gibraltar official appointed as part of the Referee Exchange project – and Amati converts it perfectly into the top corner. The response is immediate down the Bernardi-Benedettini axis, with the latter beating Migani, who is not blameless. It is a lively contest, as shown by long-range efforts from Pini and Ceccaroli. Tre Fiori complete the comeback on 38 minutes, just moments after Censoni’s incredible strike against the post from 20 metres out; as the play develops, Bernardi meets it first time with his left and finds the far bottom corner. At the start of the second half, Palazzi commits a costly error – robbed by Manfroni and then bringing him down in a DOGSO situation, leading to the San Marino defender’s dismissal in the 51st minute. From the resulting free-kick on the edge of the box, Bernardi forces a fine save from Migani – monumental on Censoni’s follow-up tap-in, which is anyway ruled out for offside. As the minutes tick by, Tre Penne push their line higher despite being a man down and go close from a Dormi free-kick and, above all, with an Amati shot that forces Nardi into heroics. Shortly afterwards, Tre Fiori wrap it up through substitute Nicko Sensoli, scoring for the second game running: he ghosts in at the far post to meet Manfroni’s cross and head in the third. Another of his initiatives also leads to Prandelli finding the net, but the striker is denied by the offside flag. Before the final whistle, Magrotti hits the post and Ceccaroli clips the crossbar, with Nardi well beaten in both cases. It is one-way traffic in Domagnano, where Folgore deservedly beat San Marino Academy 3-1. The Falciano club need just five minutes to break the deadlock thanks to Ura’s burst, which lays the goal on a plate for Golinucci from close range. The young Biancazzurri respond with a right-footed effort from Renzi that sails over. Soon after, Borasco is called into action, flying low to his bottom corner to deny Pancotti a second. Folgore are in full control, though, and make it 2-0 on 26 minutes through Sartori, who latches onto Miori’s pass and curls a right-footed finish across goal. Lasagni’s wingers are a constant menace, forcing Borasco into two more excellent saves before the half-hour. The Academy appeal for a penalty in the 35th minute for a possible foul on Giacopetti, but Ucini waves play on. Before the interval there is joy also for Bernardi, who makes the most of a perfect Pancotti assist to stamp Folgore’s third. The tempo drops after the restart, with Folgore twice denied by the crossbar through Sartori and Pancotti. Shortly afterwards, Bitti fails to punish the Academy defence, who then pull one back courtesy of the Mattia Ciacci-Molinari combination: the midfielder times his central run well, protects the ball and then coolly slots past Guddo. His opposite number Borasco is again superb in the 68th minute, this time to keep out Bitti’s thunderbolt. It is the last noteworthy incident in a match that confirms the balance of power – and Folgore’s grip on third place on their own. Rounding off Sunday’s programme are league leaders Virtus, who find Murata to be particularly stubborn opponents. Bizzotto’s men start well regardless, with Tortori’s bouncing effort grazing the upright after just five minutes. The Bianconeri respond and in the 18th minute come close to taking the lead through Salemme, who hesitates when one-on-one with the brave Passaniti. From the resulting corner, Tomassoni rises highest but sends his header narrowly wide. The match is played at a ferocious pace and the quality is high: witness the defence-splitting pass from Buonocunto for Pecci’s run, the midfielder stretching to get there first – but unable to beat an alert Martinez. Equally good is the keeper’s stop on Luigi Rizzo’s low right-footed effort in the 25th minute. It would have been far tougher for Passaniti to reach Echel’s curling free-kick, which just before half-time bends wickedly with his left and almost finds the top corner. The first half ends all square, a fair reflection of a period in which Murata and Virtus have gone toe-to-toe. The second half is even better, largely thanks to Camillini’s side. The first move from the reigning champions results only in a tame shot from Pecci, before Murata really turn up the heat: after a left-footed attempt from Echel on the edge of the area, Passaniti has to deal with Ricci’s 20-metre free-kick – well directed but lacking the power to beat him. As the play continues, Salemme squares for Piscopo, who slides in to beat the Neroverdi keeper, but Tuttifrutti raises his flag for offside. It is the first of three huge chances in quick succession for Camillini’s men, who are then denied by Golinucci’s desperate last-ditch block in the 64th minute, before cursing their luck as Petillo unleashes a rocket that smashes the underside of the crossbar and bounces down on the goal line. It is a cursed evening for Murata, completed by the final sting in stoppage time: from a throw-in, Lombardi arrives to hit a left-footed volley that Martinez fumbles, unable to prevent the goal that keeps Virtus five points clear at the top. Here is the full rundown for Matchday 22 of the Campionato Sammarinese, broadcast live in its entirety – and completely free of charge – on the Titani.tv platform. Click here for the updated standings.

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