Futsal: Murata fall just short of a famous feat as the final will again be Fiorentino v Folgore

Murata and Folgore didn’t let up – they doubled down. After the sparkling 3-3 draw in the first leg, the return ends 6-6, an even more spectacular and explosive scoreline, with the Bianconeri mounting a comeback that falls just one step short of what would have been a sensational achievement. It is Folgore who reach the final, yes, but only thanks to their regular season ranking, while Murata are left with honour intact and the chance to fight for a podium finish next Wednesday at the Multieventi. The heavy rain in Fiorentino did nothing to dampen the attacking flair of Zonzini’s side and of Spada’s, facing his former club. After three minutes Folgore are in front when Belloni inadvertently deflects a powerful ball driven into the middle of the area. Folgore try to make the most of the moment: on 8 minutes Bernardi makes it 2-0 from a tight angle, but Moretti, with a solo effort, needs less than sixty seconds to drag Murata back into it. Chezzi’s close‑range right-foot finish and Biordi’s low strike from distance seem to give the match a clear direction. And things get even more complicated for the Bianconeri when Bernardi makes it 5-1 at the start of the second half. In the meantime, Max Spada has gone with the flying goalkeeper (Ghiotti). A move which, aside from Bernardi’s goal, pays dividends. With the extra man in the opposition half Murata, in quick succession, find Belloni’s brace and a goal from the man in the orange bib, Matias Ghiotti. But attacking with a flying goalkeeper inevitably carries risks. Bernardi makes it 6-4 and completes his hat-trick, pouncing on a poor bit of ball management by the Bianconeri. Only 9 minutes have elapsed in the second half and the crowd in Fiorentino, soaked through by the rain, has already witnessed five goals. The match lights up again in the closing stages. Mattioli’s left-footed free-kick nestles inside the post and Murata – who in the meantime have lost Moretti to a red card for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity – regain hope. And after Chezzi sends a 10-metre free-kick over the bar, they restore parity from the penalty spot, again through Mattioli, after a handball by Chezzi in the area. But now the clock is on Folgore’s side. The ball is brought back to the centre circle and the referee blows for full time, confirming qualification for the giallorossoneri, who will once again meet Fiorentino at the Multieventi. Michelotti’s side, already buoyed by the 7-1 victory in the first leg, make no mistake in the second meeting with Tre Fiori either. Cevoli and Ceccoli strike at either end of the first half, stretching a gap that narrows slightly in the first 10 minutes after the restart, when Michele Casadei and Filippo Burioni find the net. The latter is sent off a few minutes later, while Maiani, Busignani and Gasperoni all contribute to sealing a place in the final, where Fiorentino will be called upon to defend their title as well as to make amends for defeats suffered in the Futsal Cup and Supercoppa. As mentioned, the Multieventi Sport Domus will host the finals of the 2023-24 Campionato Sammarinese di futsal. Both matches will be played on Wednesday 5 June. Proceedings get under way with the third-place play-off, scheduled for 20:00. After that it will be time for the grand final between Fiorentino and Folgore which, extra time and penalties permitting, is set for 21:45.

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