Futsal, league: Fiorentino and Folgore closing in on the final

Whether it will once again be Folgore against Fiorentino in the Scudetto final, just as it was in the cup final, will only be known at the end of the second-leg semi-finals, scheduled for next Tuesday. What is certain is that last night both sides took important steps in that direction. The first-leg semi-finals produced fairly clear, if not yet definitive, verdicts. Fiorentino have established a two-goal lead – effectively three, considering their better position in the regular season – over La Fiorita, while Folgore have a three-goal advantage (which virtually becomes four) over Tre Fiori. The latter had managed to get back into the game after trailing 2-0 at half-time, the goals coming from Pasqualini and Bernardi from the penalty spot after a handball by Cappelli. Verri’s goal, a little over halfway through the second half, did not, however, spark a full comeback. On the contrary, Folgore added to their tally in the closing minutes, first through Pellegrini and then again through Bernardi from the spot (another foul by Cappelli), all but securing a place in the final which, barring a sensational turnaround, should see Spada’s side once more on one side of the court, eager to defend their title and to make amends for the cup final. In the return leg, however, the giallorossoneri coach will definitely be without Yuri Rossi, who was sent off at the end of the match. There was also a sending-off in the Fiorentino ranks, in the game that opened the Multieventi evening dedicated to the semi-finals, with Fiorentino facing La Fiorita. The match took almost an entire half before it finally opened up. In the 27th minute Busignani struck to give the rossoblù the lead. La Fiorita did not give up; indeed, they levelled two minutes into the second half through Giuccioli, shortly before Ercolani saw yellow for the second time and left his team temporarily a man down. However, the holders of the Futsal Cup did not pay for that setback and, once back at numerical parity, they found the decisive bursts for a new lead and then to all but seal the win. All this came right at the death: Maiani made it 2-1 on 60 minutes, and Zafferani put the seal on the result in added time. In six days’ time will come the final verdicts. For now, this is the partial picture of the league semi-finals:

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