Futsal: Domagnano claims the late fixture, action resumes over Easter

On the Multieventi court, it is Domagnano who takes control of the late fixture of the 26th matchday of the 2022-23 Campionato Sammarinese di futsal, igniting the sprint for fourth place that also involves La Fiorita and Virtus. The Neroverdi are the only side still to observe their rest round and, with 47 points in the table, find themselves exactly between the other two contenders – all three packed within just three points. Finishing the regular season among the top four is no small matter, given that the leading quartet will enter the play-offs directly at the quarter-final stage, skipping the Preliminary Round which will instead involve the eight sides that follow in the standings. The fixture list and current table point towards La Fiorita, but anything can still happen. In the meantime, Domagnano have responded on the pitch to the victories of their direct rivals, returning to a win that had been missing since 13 March – also due to the rest round assigned to Mussoni’s men last week. The star of the Multieventi clash is Simone Santarini, on target in both halves in the Wolves’ 3-1 success. Having broken the deadlock in the 12th minute, he is joined on the scoresheet by Filippo Dolcini, who adds the second six minutes later. It is the 23rd minute when Gatti gets Juvenes-Dogana back into the game, who head to the dressing rooms trailing by a single goal. After the restart, however, it is Santarini again who seals all three points, finding the net for the final time on 33 minutes to secure a precious win for Domagnano. Too far adrift to chase the trio battling for fourth place, Juvenes-Dogana will instead have to defend their current position in the table (7th) from the challenge of Pennarossa, eighth and four points behind Claudio Zonzini’s side. This is by no means a secondary target because, in the context of the Preliminary Round involving the teams placed between fifth and twelfth, finishing as high as possible in the standings will ensure a theoretically more favourable pairing (according to the regulations, ties are fixed as follows: 5-12, 6-11, 7-10, 8-9). Here is the full picture of the 26th matchday: In just over forty-eight hours, the 27th round will get under way, with Cailungo the side scheduled for a rest. Juvenes-Dogana, on the other hand, after last night’s late fixture at the Multieventi, are set to face Tre Fiori in Fiorentino (8:15 p.m.) on Friday evening. The Gialloblù, who are unlikely to be caught by La Fiorita, currently eight points behind them, are chasing the mathematical certainty of third place behind Fiorentino and Folgore. Bugli will, however, have to do without Cecchini and Cappelli, both suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards. Both of those sides will be in action on the artificial pitch in Acquaviva. The league leaders Fiorentino are marching towards an unchallenged top spot which – barring unlikely scenarios – will not be put in doubt even by a possible defeat in the direct clash with Folgore on 18 April at the Multieventi. Michelotti’s men will meet San Giovanni (8:15 p.m.), currently twelfth and therefore in the play-off zone. It is a tough run-in for Gualtieri’s team, who are being chased by Tre Penne, Cailungo and Faetano – sides who, as things stand, would all miss out at the end of the regular season. To make matters worse, Casali has been hit with a two-match suspension. Folgore’s opponents will be Faetano (9:45 p.m.). Spada’s men have failed to win in their last two outings, also due to a string of injuries that have severely depleted the squad at the disposal of the former Tre Fiori coach – whose long unbeaten run of over a year ended precisely at the hands of the club he led to glory in 2017. Faetano, for their part, halted a negative streak by drawing with San Giovanni – a result that keeps Corbelli’s men clinging to a faint hope, but which still sees the Gialloblù anchored to bottom place and five points adrift of the tally currently required to reach the post-season. Returning to action in the late slot in Fiorentino will be Domagnano, tasked with facing an in-form Cosmos (9:45 p.m.) – the recent slip-up against Cailungo having been swiftly redeemed by victory over Pennarossa. With a play-off berth now virtually secured, Muccioli’s men remain focused on improving their position, setting off in pursuit of Pennarossa – four points above them. It is a difficult mission given the fixture dynamics, as Cosmos will have their rest round next and then face three of the current top six before the season’s end. One definite absentee for the pre-holiday fixture is Nahuel Zanfino, suspended for yellow-card accumulation. Murata and La Fiorita will instead meet in Dogana (8:15 p.m.). After the change of direction triggered by Cellarosi’s arrival in the dugout, Murata have struggled in recent weeks to regain balance on the pitch, not least because of numerous absences. In their last five outings, the Bianconeri have conceded an average of nine goals per game – although they have still picked up four points in that spell, scoring five goals in each of the two positive results. Against La Fiorita, the club from Città will need to show their very best version, bearing in mind that Ghiotti’s men will be determined to defend their current fourth place at all costs. Completing Friday’s programme, also in Dogana, will be Libertas v Tre Penne (9:45 p.m.). It is a delicate encounter, with Libertas virtually assured of a place in the play-offs and looking for confirmation and continuity against a Tre Penne side with their backs to the wall. After defeats to Juvenes-Dogana and Tre Fiori, Penserini’s Granata returned to winning ways with a 5-0 derby success over Cailungo, a match in which Mazza picked up a suspension due to yellow-card accumulation. The situation is very different for Tre Penne, still without a win in 2023 and desperately seeking points to bridge the three-point gap separating them from San Giovanni. After Easter, in the usual Tuesday late fixture at the Multieventi, Virtus v Pennarossa (9:30 p.m.) will take place. Both sides are already mathematically assured of a post-season berth, but they remain intent on improving their league position – or at least on defending their current slot from the chasing pack. Virtus, with one more game played than La Fiorita and Domagnano, are dreaming of fourth place, although they could still slip to sixth by the end. Pennarossa, equidistant from Juvenes-Dogana (36) and Cosmos (28), appear less at risk, given that the Gialloverdi must still serve their rest round. Here is the schedule for the 27th matchday of the 2022-23 Campionato Sammarinese di futsal: Click here for the updated standings

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