Futsal Cup: Murata win the second leg of the semi-final as well

They did not strictly need to win, but Murata stayed true to the good habit formed over the entire season, claiming victory in the second clash with Juvenes-Dogana as well and – as widely predicted after the 7-1 first-leg scoreline – booking their place alongside Pennarossa in the final of the Titano Futsal Cup. There was plenty of playing time for those in black and white who had seen fewer minutes this season, also considering the significant number of players one booking away from suspension in Max Spada’s squad. Juvenes-Dogana, needing a Herculean feat, started brightly, scaring Protti with a toe-poked effort from Zanotti that missed by millimetres. At the other end, a corner routine freed De Angelis, whose powerful shot brushed the post to Cecchetti’s right. From another corner, taken by Borasco, came the Juvenes-Dogana opener: Zanotti stole in at the far post and tapped in with ease. Murata’s response was not long in coming. Ercolani’s free-kick made it 1-1 on 11 minutes. The number 70 then went in search of a brace when Murata had, for some minutes, switched to the flying goalkeeper: he rolled his man like an experienced pivot, but fired over. Then De Angelis and Albani tried to link up on a couple of occasions, but without success. In the first instance, number 24’s toe-poke went wide, while in the second the black-and-white captain was slightly too close to the post and could not make the most of his team-mate’s intelligent pass. Juvenes-Dogana threatened again with a Muccioli turn and shot that finished wide. Murata were far more dangerous when Ercolani and Alessandro Casadei decided to exchange passes: the former set up the latter with the goal gaping, but the finish was scuffed and ended up being an inaccurate pass towards Albani, who had followed the move. Late in the half, Albani did well down the left flank before instinctively looking for Littera on the opposite side: the young Murata man, however, was a fraction late to the ball. In the second half Protti immediately advanced into the Juvenes-Dogana half, risking paying the price when Spada’s players lost possession and Bagnasco rushed a shot towards the unguarded goal: the number 10 in red, white and blue was wayward with his aim. Borasco was much more dangerous when, on the counter, he skipped past Alessandro Casadei with ease and then tried to surprise Protti with a toe-poke that the Murata keeper turned onto the bar and away. From a possible 2-1 for Juvenes to 2-1 for Murata: Albani took on Mazza down the wing and then surprised Cecchetti with a sudden effort at the near post. Just three minutes later, the black-and-white captain laid the ball on a plate for Capicchioni, who, completely unmarked, had no trouble firing past Cecchetti. After Bagnasco had clipped the crossbar with a powerful strike from a standing start and long range, Murata were put under threat again by another poorly managed flying-goalkeeper situation: Bologna will regret a left-footed effort that promised a far better outcome. Mazza produced two goal-line clearances – first to deny Alessandro Casadei, then Littera on the follow-up – while Mularoni, wearing the flying goalkeeper’s bib, was a fraction of a second late arriving on to Bologna’s perfect pass. Bologna’s perseverance was rewarded near the end of the match. As usual, Protti pushed forward in attack, but De Angelis dallied too long on the ball. With Muccioli’s help, Bologna won it back and in a flash stroked it into the unguarded net, reopening the contest – the single match, not the tie overall – which in the very few remaining minutes would see another couple of twists, but no change in the winner.