Futsal: Murata cruise again in the second leg. Tonight we’ll know the name of the second finalist

Murata hit six again in the second leg and stroll into the final, as widely expected after the first-leg result. This time Protti’s goal does not stay unbeaten – Virtus at least have the satisfaction of beating the Bianconeri goalkeeper twice, both times through Di Maio – but it is a very minor blemish for Spada’s team, hungry for a doblete. And the hunger of the men in black and white is clear from the very first exchanges, with Busignani immediately warming Bollini’s hands and Ercolani going centimetres wide of the post from the ensuing corner. Pasqualini runs into Protti after a fine solo move, while Bollini is back in action to deal with Moretti’s effort; then he is decisive in putting off Ercolani in front of goal, otherwise free to make the most of Moretti’s perfect assist. Pasqualini skips past Ercolani but shoots from a tight angle (a simple save for Protti); at the other end, Murata’s ultra-offensive pressing allows Moretti to set up a near-certain right-foot finish for Busignani, who however fires wide. Thunderbolts from Mattioli and Busignani (one saved, the other over) are the prelude to a huge chance for Belloni, teed up by Busignani in ideal shooting position but denied by a brilliant save from Bollini. Protti does not hesitate to step into the opposition half, even at the risk of a mistake. And the risk the Bianconeri keeper runs is enormous when, after a poor touch, he rushes to challenge Cevoli’s shot towards an empty net. For Virtus – furious – he blocks it with his arm, which would have meant a red card for Protti, maybe with little impact on this semi-final but potentially very damaging looking ahead to the final. In any case, the referees deem the “save” legal, allowing Max Spada and his men to breathe a huge sigh of relief. Once that episode is behind them, Murata get back to their script. Moretti, pressing high, robs Di Maio; then De Angelis opts for generosity, serving up a chocolate pass for Ercolani, and the number 70 gratefully tucks it away. Another ball won back and another Bianconeri chance: this time Moretti cannot find a gap to squeeze the ball past Bollini. Belloni’s corner flashes across to the far post, where De Angelis is lurking, but he is caught out by the trajectory. Moments later the number 24 does well to strip Pasqualini of the ball and race down the flank, from where he shoots across goal and forces yet another first-half save from Bollini. The longed-for goal to make it 2-0 does not arrive and Virtus manage to reorganise to level things up. The target is hit in added time, when Pasqualini picks out Di Maio free at the far post and the number 30, first time, fires past Protti. The setback does not knock Murata back; it fires them up. And indeed, before the break they restore their lead: De Angelis rescues a ball that was heading out of play and recycles it for Ercolani, only too happy to turn into gold the second delicious assist from his team-mate.

In the second half De Angelis gets a foot to Virtus’ first dangerous effort, this time from Cevoli. Cevoli himself takes the resulting corner, which Di Maio steers into the far corner for a fresh equaliser and his personal brace. Bollini has to produce two superb saves from Mattioli and Ghiotti, and even has time to blow on Mattioli’s second effort as it drifts just wide. Murata, however, keep their foot to the floor and their pressure is rewarded on 38 minutes, when De Angelis, after providing two assists, gains another tangible reward for his sparkling display by tapping in a ball spilled by Bollini. Biordi’s free-kick from wide briefly interrupts the Bianconeri’s sustained attacking waves. Bernardi clears Belloni’s effort practically on the line, then turns the move on its head himself and forces Protti into a stunning save with his foot. Protti is also called into action by Zafferani and Di Maio, but Murata’s attacking pressure is far more sustained. Virtus mismanage possession with the flying goalkeeper (Zafferani) and Ercolani fires just wide of the empty net. Then Belloni snaps into a challenge on Biordi and Busignani has an easy task slotting in for 4-2. Busignani also pounces on a misunderstanding between Bollini and Pasqualini to slide home the goal that makes it 5-2. The evening’s scoreline is completed three minutes from time, on the Mattioli-Belloni axis: the former threads the pass through for the latter, who returns him a ball that only needs pushing over the line. Virtus will end the 2024-25 season with the third-place play-off. Murata, meanwhile, will discover this evening who will challenge them for the title in the grand final on 4 June.

Here is the semi-final line-up in the championship play-offs: