Futsal Champions League: Fiorentino claim historic comeback victory

Fiorentino pulled off something special. In the final match of the Champions League preliminary round, a 3-1 win secures third place in the group and, above all, writes a new page in San Marino futsal history: never before had a club from the Titano managed to win a game in Europe. The starting five chosen by Gianni Galli is Geri, Verri, Rossini, Zafferani and Morri. The match is effectively a play-off for third place, as after two games neither Fiorentino nor Welsh side Pro Futsal Cymru have managed to pick up any points. It gets serious straight away with Pritchard’s effort that crashes against the post; on the rebound, the Welsh player tries again but finds Geri alert to the danger. After 2'35 the Welsh side take the lead through Rogers, who pounces on a fortunate bounce and unleashes an unstoppable right-footed strike. Galli’s team do not give up and immediately find the equaliser through Morri, who shields the ball and, from a tight angle, beats Jones. Fiorentino are buoyed and Rossini has the chance to put them in front, but Jones produces a stunning save to keep out the powerful strike from the Rossoblù player. The Welsh keeper then repeats the feat on Zafferani, who shoots after a corner routine, while at the other end Geri is simply immense to deny Pritchard. The last flash of the first half is a fierce drive from Morri that does not catch Jones out. After the break Fiorentino come back on with real purpose and immediately create a chance to make it 2-1 with Verri, who breaks away on his own but cannot win his duel with Jones. On 28 minutes Morri completes his masterpiece with his third goal of the tournament, without doubt the most beautiful and the most important of them all: a long pass from Zafferani, ball protected with his strength and a side-footed finish inside the post that leaves the Welsh keeper with no chance. Cymru push forward and carve out a clear chance through Rogers, but Geri stands tall to block him. On 34 minutes Fiorentino pull two goals clear thanks to a fine one-two between Rossini and Verri, finished by the latter with a precise low drive. In the closing minutes the Welsh side throw everything forward in desperate search of a goal to get back into the game, and it takes an almost goal-line clearance from Morri to prevent them from rekindling hope. Fiorentino also have the opportunity to kill the match off early: Rossini, however, is denied by Jones. A fourth goal is not needed: Cymru are kept firmly under control and, at the final whistle, the celebrations are all for a Fiorentino side once again rewriting the history books after the two draws celebrated last summer.

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UEFA Futsal Champions League, Preliminary Round | Pro Futsal Cymru – Fiorentino 1-3 PRO FUTSAL CYMRU Jones; Hesp, Saunders, Pritchard, Rogers Substitutes: Wells, Gziut, Beck, Doherty, Bryla, Massey, Dobson Coach: Richard Jones   FIORENTINO Geri; Rossini, Morri, Verri, Zafferani Substitutes: Gasperoni, Solito, Paoloni, Righi, Baizan, Serra Coach: Gianni Galli   Referee 1: Srdjan Mihajlovic (SRB) Referee 2: Vasilios Christodoulis (GRE) Referee 3: Ali Jabrayilov (AZE) Timekeeper: Ivan Ivanov (BUL) Booked: Pritchard, Saunders, Doherty Scorers: 2'35'' Rogers, 2'59'' and 27'31'' Morri, 33'48'' Verri

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