Futsal: Murata complete the double, beat Pennarossa again and fly to Europe

After lifting the Titano Futsal Cup, Murata have also won the final of the Campionato Sammarinese di futsal and are crowned champions of San Marino. Once again – as in the cup – it is Pennarossa who pay the price. Despite the 6-2 final scoreline at the Multieventi, they tried to stay in the wake of the Bianconeri, only to succumb after the break to the black-and-white juggernaut, who finish the season unbeaten.

The game explodes into life immediately because Murata break the deadlock after just 18 seconds: with their very first opportunity, a thunderbolt toe-poke from Danilo Busignani proves lethal for Bizzocchi and puts the Bianconeri in front. After this early shock, the match begins to settle and Pennarossa also show themselves with a Gasperoni effort that Protti does well to repel. Shortly afterwards (9’), Murata threaten again with a long-range strike from Moretti aiming for the far corner, but Bizzocchi shows great reflexes. Pennarossa look for more offensive solutions, while Murata mainly rely on shots from distance which, however, are not as effective as Busignani’s opener. The match remains in the balance until the 23rd minute, when Murata double their lead: Busignani gets away from Verri down the right and, just before reaching the by-line, unleashes a powerful right-footed drive that once again beats Bizzocchi. Pennarossa, though, refuse to give in and hit straight back on the ensuing move: a long ball from Gasperoni finds Maiani who, in the area, picks out the unmarked Verri, who makes no mistake. Murata look to restore their two-goal cushion but Bizzocchi is crucial as he comes off his line to smother De Angelis, and on the rebound Ercolani is let down by his finishing. The Bianconeri keep pushing until the half-time whistle but the sides go in at 2-1.

At the start of the second half the script does not change and it takes a double save from Bizzocchi – in two separate situations – to deny Maiani and keep the scoreline unchanged. But it is only a matter of seconds (33’) before Murata’s third: a scramble in the Biancorossi penalty area sees the ball break kindly to the right foot of Moretti, who from close range catches Bizzocchi out. That goal fires up Mattioli as well, and shortly afterwards he unleashes a ferocious effort from outside the area, but his left-footed strike crashes off the crossbar. On the counter, Pennarossa also threaten through Toccaceli, who tries to spark a reaction, but Protti is equal to it. After another sumptuous piece of play from Mattioli – ending with his left-footed effort once again repelled by the ever-present Bizzocchi – Murata look to put the game to bed. In the 39th minute Busignani, from the centre circle, spreads play to Moretti who in turn feeds Belloni in the box, and he joins the party by making it 4-1. Coming out of a timeout (43’), Pennarossa rouse themselves and cling on to the contest: Verri on the right gets past Busignani and drives towards goal, Protti comes out well but the Biancorosso’s delicate dink is exquisite and makes it 4-2 – and completes his personal brace.

So we head into the final ten minutes with the Bianconeri looking to finish the job. They go agonisingly close through Busignani, whose trademark strike – a right-footed effort from the edge of the area – thunders against Murata’s second crossbar of the evening. Pennarossa do not give up and try again with Gasperoni, but Protti once more makes the save. The 55th minute arrives and Murata manage to strike again: Maiani releases Ghiotti on the right and, with his first touch, he drills it across goal into the far corner for 5-2. Pennarossa, throwing caution to the wind, respond with a delicate lob from Oddone that sails over Protti but drops just over the bar. Shortly before stoppages, Spada’s side score again, finally drawing the curtain on the contest: a robust coming together between Oddone and Moretti in the Murata area is judged fair, and on the counter Busignani fires the ball across goal, where Gasperoni, sliding in, can only turn it into his own net for an unfortunate own goal. It is the exclamation mark for Murata, who run out 6-2 winners and are crowned champions of San Marino for the third time, after their triumphs in 2014 and 2018. It is therefore a double for the Bianconeri – who already celebrated a month ago in the Titano Futsal Cup – and they will now represent San Marino in the next UEFA Futsal Champions League.