Futsal Champions League: Historic Fiorentino, another draw against Yerevan

After the draw in their second match against hosts AEL Limassol, Fiorentino Futsal completed the UEFA Futsal Champions League preliminary round with another historic result for the entire San Marino futsal movement. Last night at the Spyros Kyprianou Arena in Limassol (Cyprus), Matteo Michelotti’s side earned a 0-0 draw against Armenian outfit Yerevan. No San Marino futsal team had ever done so well in European competition. In addition, the Rossoblù finished third in the group – won by AEL Limassol – behind Switzerland’s Futsal Minerva and ahead of the Armenians on goal difference. The arena is once again a cauldron, though this time not because of the many Cypriot supporters who had fired up the atmosphere in the previous match, but due to a lack of air conditioning (scorching temperatures even on the Mediterranean island). That does not discourage the ten players on court, who immediately give life to a balanced and entertaining contest. Both Michelotti’s team and the Armenians come into this game on the back of excellent draws (Yerevan held highly-rated Futsal Minerva to 4-4), proof of the quality of the two sides and their ability to compete. The first five minutes pass quickly without any major chances. The clearest opportunity soon comes for the Armenians, who begin to grow into the game: captain Melikyan is the main threat, but Protti turns his effort behind for a corner. From the ensuing set piece it is again the Armenian player who shoots, and Protti makes an even better save with his foot. Fiorentino’s reply is not long in coming: Busignani wins the ball well and bursts forward at pace, goes one-on-one with goalkeeper Zakaryan and shoots, but too centrally, allowing the keeper to hold. The biggest chance so far, however, falls moments later: a free-kick for the Rossoblù, taken by Moretti, who delivers a perfect ball into the area for the unmarked Rossini, but from point-blank range he fails to hit the target. A fine team move from Yerevan on 13 minutes also goes begging when Dermenjyan, from just a few metres out, fires wide. With just under five minutes to go before the break, another big chance for Fiorentino: a free-kick from the left, taken by Cevoli, who goes straight for goal; Zakaryan is poorly positioned but recovers with a last-ditch save, stretching out a leg. The match remains open and finely poised. Another excellent move from Michelotti’s Rossoblù sees Moretti pick out Ercolani with a perfect ball into the area; Fiorentino’s number ten strikes a superb first-time volley that flashes just wide. In the final moments of the first half, the Armenians push hard but cannot find the spark to break the deadlock. The teams go into the break with the score still 0-0. Barely thirty seconds into the second half comes yet another big chance for Fiorentino on a swift counter-attack by Michelotti’s men, well orchestrated by Moretti, who then feeds Ercolani. Instead of shooting, Ercolani looks for a possible one-two with his team-mate, but the move breaks down and the ball runs out of play. Moretti, one of Fiorentino’s standout performers, wins yet another ball and drives quickly towards goal, unleashing a powerful effort on target, but Zakaryan saves well. Fiorentino are on top and believe they can do it: in the 24th minute Busignani unleashes a rocket after a kick-in from the flank, but again Zakaryan parries; then Ercolani turns smartly and fires another shot on target, this time clipping the top corner of the goal. Yerevan try to respond, but the latest effort from Melikyan is struck too hard and flies well off target past Protti’s goal. A far more dangerous chance for the Armenians arrives in the 28th minute of the game, when Mihran Dermenjyan smashes a shot towards goal and hits the post to Protti’s left. Yerevan begin to grow, but Fiorentino defend superbly. With five minutes to go, Yerevan carve out a scoring opportunity after the first defensive slip by Michelotti’s men, but from point-blank range Khatuev fails to hit the target. Fiorentino hit back immediately and, with just under four minutes remaining, create yet another opening through Maiani and Ercolani, but neither can find the decisive touch. A little over three minutes from the end, Busignani stops Dermenjyan in the open court: the referee shows him a second yellow card (he had already been booked in the first half), which becomes a red card for Fiorentino’s leading scorer. Michelotti’s men are forced to play two minutes a man down, but they are flawless at the back. Compact and united, they defend the draw, with the only scare coming a minute and a half from time when, once again, Melikyan strikes the inside of the post. After that, there is no more time. Fiorentino can celebrate their second draw in a matter of days and write another historic chapter in San Marino futsal.  

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UEFA Futsal Champions League, Preliminary Round | Fiorentino Futsal – Yerevan Futsal Club 0-0 FIORENTINO FUTSAL Protti, Maiani, Moretti, Zafferani, Busignani Substitutes: Bollini, Gasperoni, Ceccoli, Rossini, Ercolani, Giacobbi, Serra, Cevoli Head coach: Matteo Michelotti   YEREVAN FUTSAL CLUB Zakaryan, Melikyan, Patatyan, Yeghiazaryan, Mi. Dermenjyan Substitutes: Mkrtchyan, Ma. Dermenjyan, Khatuev, Sargsyan, Mkrtchyan, Chopuryan, Hakobyan Head coach: Khachatur Mikayelyan   Referee 1: Kastriot Gerxhaliu (SWE) Referee 2: Nikola Tadic (BIH) Third official: Panagiotis Ntalas (GRE) Timekeeper: Nicolas Nicolaou (CYP)   Booked: Busignani Sent off: Busignani (second yellow card)

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