Futsal: La Fiorita seal third place thanks to a perfect first half

Last night at the Acquaviva sports hall, Virtus and La Fiorita faced off for the third step of the podium in the 2024-25 San Marino Futsal Championship. The sides coached by Michelotti and Traviglia brought their respective seasons to a close with a match of two halves, effectively sharing the periods of play, but in the end it was the Montegiardino club who prevailed 4-3.

La Fiorita made a flying start, moving into a two-goal lead with a quickfire double inside a minute from Giuccioli and Morini. While the latter’s 2-0 came from a long-range effort, the move that opened the scoring was a joy to watch. Every outfield player touched the ball in the build-up, embellished by Giuccioli’s back-heel to Matteo Chezzi, who laid it off once more for the captain to finish with a first-time right-foot strike. Bollini then avoided a mishap, allowing Pasqualini to pull one back immediately after fine work from Cevoli. The Neroverdi went close to levelling through Tassitano, who from close range could not turn Pasqualini’s driven cross-shot into the net. Long-range efforts from Biordi and Pasqualini then brought the best out of Fabbri, who was later let off by Zafferani. La Fiorita finished the half back on the front foot, landing the blows that would ultimately secure victory: Meloni kept his cool to beat Bollini on 26’, after losing an earlier one-on-one with the keeper, while Morini – deep into added time – made it four for the Gialloblù, capitalising on a turnover and the ensuing square ball into an empty net from Fumia. In between, the woodwork twice denied Virtus the chance to make it 2-3: the post repelled Cevoli’s deflected shot, before Di Maio rattled the crossbar with a thunderous left-footer.

The Virtus winger tried to get his side back on track on 36’ with a powerful right-foot strike that left Andreani with no chance. Around 100 seconds later, Zafferani reopened the contest, making a central run to meet Cevoli’s lay-off and finishing at mid-height. The Neroverdi had twenty-two minutes to find an equaliser, but the score would not change. In the final third of the match, goalkeepers and defences took centre stage. Bollini produced three outstanding saves in quick succession to deny Matteo Chezzi, keeping Virtus’ comeback hopes alive. Michelotti’s team had further chances, but had to contend with a decisive Andreani, who clawed away Pazzaglia’s left-foot effort that seemed destined for the net. The Acquaviva club then failed to capitalise on a breakaway towards an unguarded goal, thwarted by a superb recovery run from Simone Chezzi. The latter then saw his effort for a potential two-goal cushion blocked by Bollini, prompting Virtus to send on the flying goalkeeper for a final all-out assault. Wearing the outfield keeper’s shirt was Stacchini, who had the chance to equalise but struck a moving penalty-style effort straight at Andreani – who also did well to parry Stolfi’s follow-up shot. Hands on heads for the Virtus players, who tried again through Zafferani and Di Maio – both once more denied by the reflexes of La Fiorita’s keeper. For the Montegiardino club, the victory seals a result that is worth the symbolic third place in the league.