Futsal: big win for Tre Fiori, who take the late fixture and draw level with Cailungo

Libertas no longer know how to win; Tre Fiori do. The yellow and blue side take the first late fixture of Matchday 19 and draw level with Cailungo on 9 points, moving ahead of Fiorentino and giving a major boost to their play-off hopes. For now they remain outside the qualifying positions, but only because of their sole head-to-head with Cailungo, lost on Matchday 9. For that matter, Libertas themselves, fifth from bottom, are just a point away. Although there were two teams between them on the eve of the match, Libertas vs Tre Fiori could rightly be described as a direct clash. More than that: a meeting between sides in the grip of a poor run of results, with stakes involving not only the three points but also the extremely urgent need to change course. Bugli’s team answer the call, making the most of the final minutes to produce a late surge that gives real oxygen to their league position – albeit without definitively resolving it yet.

At the Acquaviva Gym, it takes about half a period for the game to catch fire. Severi has two increasingly dangerous attempts before putting Tre Fiori ahead on 13 minutes, pouncing on the ball palmed out by Amati after a sharp toe-poke from Crescentini. Then Casadei preserves the 1-0 lead by blocking Paolini’s close-range effort on the goal line. At the other end, Maiani tries to surprise Amati with a powerful left-footed strike at the near post, but the Libertas keeper is equal to it. And Agostini is there too to deal with Paesini’s toe-poked effort, struck shortly before Selva wins the ball back with high pressing and tries to beat the opposing goalkeeper with a powerful but slightly off-target shot. The same maroon pivot tests Agostini again from a corner routine, and then he is the one who takes the corner that leads to the equaliser. Giorgini is completely forgotten at the far post and Selva finds the right channel to pick him out. The number 18 does the rest, tapping in from point-blank range. A particularly telling blow, as it arrived right on the stroke of half-time.

The second half also starts with a Libertas corner. This time Selva picks out the run of Michelotti, whose angled left-footed shot shaves the far post. From that same strip of parquet a little later, Paolini looks for Selva in the middle of the area. Agostini gets a touch and in effect lays the ball off for the maroon pivot, who stretches to send it against the post. Another moment of uncertainty from the Tre Fiori goalkeeper gifts a huge chance to Giorgini. Agostini comes off his line to get there before Ciarmatori but ends up giving the ball to the scorer of the 1-1, who shoots weakly and allows Casadei to make another crucial block. Pelliccioni tries his luck for 2-1 from distance (Amati does well to get down quickly to a shot destined for the bottom corner) and at the other end Paolini imitates him, meeting first time a powerful ball struck by Paesini: the effort flies well over. So the game continues on a knife edge right up to the closing minutes. That is when it suddenly explodes. A ball lost by Michelotti in a danger zone allows Podeschi to find the far corner with a perfect diagonal strike. It is the 55th minute and Libertas still have time to put things right. Indeed, within sixty seconds Paesini exchanges passes with Paolini and unleashes a fierce right-footer that leaves Agostini helpless. But Tre Fiori’s counter-reply is just as swift. Crescentini plays a one-two with Podeschi and then beats Amati from distance with a toe-poke of surgical precision. Before the final whistle there is still time for one last heart-stopping moment: Selva’s point-blank effort crashes against Agostini’s face, with the goalkeeper thus atoning for the same hesitant save that had given the maroon number 3 that opportunity. In the end, Tre Fiori can celebrate a return to victory after a run of six straight defeats. Libertas, meanwhile, remain mired in their slump.

Here is the – still partial – picture from Matchday 19:

Click here to view the league table