Futsal, the big match has no master: Fiorentino snatch a draw with Folgore at the death

The top-of-the-table blockbuster does not disappoint. Or at least, it does not disappoint neutral spectators. Folgore and Fiorentino go blow for blow in the second outing in Dogana and, in the end, settle matters with a draw that leaves Fiorentino slightly the happier, if only because of the way it comes about. It is still the regular season, of course, but there is no lack of desire to flex muscles. And that is why, despite the high level of competitiveness, it takes a long time for the game to open up. It needs an episode. On 50 minutes Protti stops a yellow-and-red attempt on the edge of the penalty area, using his arms. For the referee the contact is outside the box: so it is a free kick to Folgore and also a straight red for the Fiorentino and National Team goalkeeper. Bernardi steps up and rifles it into the top corner. It is 1-0 Folgore and at that point, by rule, Fiorentino immediately return to numerical parity. And they start pounding away. At least three miraculous saves from Geri preserve Folgore’s lead. And where the yellow-and-red goalkeeper cannot reach, the woodwork comes to his aid. Fiorentino, however, do not give up, also resorting to the flying goalkeeper. And it is precisely the man in the outfield shirt, Luca Zafferani, a few seconds beyond the minute of added time indicated by the refereeing duo, who finds the touch that makes it 1-1. The final whistle blows amid the celebrations of the men in red and blue and the protests of those in yellow and red. The two leaders remain level and unbeaten, while, a little further back, a sizeable group of teams are able to claw back a couple of points on the summit, which in any case still looks some way off. Few worries for Tre Fiori, who steer the contest with San Giovanni their way already in the first half. The latest yellow-and-blue signing, Samuel Toccaceli, marks his debut with a brace, making it 2-0 for Bugli’s men. Casali tries to bring San Giovanni back into it, who pull back to within two at 23’ thanks to a penalty converted by Danny Gasperoni. At the end of the half Bizzocchi, just like his counterpart Protti, sees red for handling outside the area. Tre Fiori adapt by putting Paolo Verri between the posts, and he sees out the game without conceding, while his team-mates pad the scoreline out to the final 4-1 thanks to captain Boschi. Late on, Gasperoni misses the chance to make it 5-1 (and complete his own brace) from the second penalty mark. It is a relatively straightforward evening as well for La Fiorita, now fifth while waiting for tonight’s late fixture featuring Domagnano. Ghiotti’s side see off Libertas 3-1, opening the scoring after 8 minutes through Franciosi and then doubling their lead midway through the second half with Stolfi, immediately before the Granata get back into it via Davide Rossi. Bernardi strikes the clincher for Montegiardino’s third consecutive win in the closing stages. A good night too for Virtus and Juvenes-Dogana who, however, unlike their direct rivals, win by the narrowest of margins. Juvenes-Dogana even have to dig right to the very last attack, in the second minute of added time, to get the better of Faetano. The winner is scored by Gabriele Borasco. Virtus’ 1-0, which keeps them fourth in the table, arrives instead at the end of the first half. The goal that fells Cailungo is scored by Simone De Biagi. Pennarossa also win by a single goal, moving up to 19 points on the back of three consecutive victories. Casadei’s men need little time to break the deadlock against Tre Penne: after 3 minutes the ball is already back on the centre spot following a goal by Nicolas Gasperoni. In very short order, Lorenzo Conti takes care of making it 2-0. But Tre Penne are stubborn: on 6 minutes they pull it back to 2-1 through Facundo Dinatale, while on 18 minutes the other Conti present in Acquaviva, Riccardo, finds the net. The 2-2 scoreline holds until the closing minutes: the clock shows 57 when Alessandro Ciacci delivers the blow that makes it 3-2 to the Biancorossi, condemning Tre Penne to a third consecutive defeat – not overly painful, however, for Galli’s side, given that all their direct rivals behind them lose and Cosmos have a bye. The only team that could close the gap on the Biancoazzurri is Murata, who this evening face Domagnano – the latter themselves looking to respond to the wins of La Fiorita and Juvenes-Dogana and to reclaim fourth place, level with Virtus. This is the picture from Matchday 13 of the league, pending the late fixture: Click here for the updated table.

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