Futsal: Murata sweep past San Giovanni and move into the Fab Four

The emphatic win secured in the late kick-off of Matchday 23 allows Murata to leapfrog La Fiorita and move, for the moment, into the top four – the sides that will qualify directly for the play-offs without going through the Preliminary Round. In the first half Cellarosi’s team are unable to pull away from San Giovanni. A back-heel finish from Paoletti, on the end of a powerful pass by Moretti, gives the Bianconeri the lead after 4 minutes. Then it is Ghiotti who signs the second when the clock shows 24 minutes. Less than a minute later Macina conjures, from an impossible angle, the goal that makes it 2-1, breathing new life into San Giovanni ahead of the second half. After the restart, however, Murata make their superior quality and league position count. Just seconds into the half, Albani fires the ball into the top corner after dribbling past Rossi. A few minutes later Moretti plays a perfect pass for the run of De Angelis, who with a left-foot side-foot finish sends the ball under the bar for 4-1 to the Bianconeri. The woodwork struck by Moretti and Albani sets the stage for the fifth goal, which in fact is an own goal, the result of Cecchini’s attempt to get in front of Casadei in the six-yard box. The Bianconeri captain would still find a way onto the scoresheet, capitalising on a rash attacking foray by the Rossoneri goalkeeper Agostini. Murata win back possession and Casadei, from in front of his own penalty area, shoots towards the unguarded net, managing to evade even Rossi’s last-ditch covering attempt. Immediately afterwards comes a brace for the Bianconeri number 5, with a precise toe-poke into the far corner after a fine exchange with Albani. The goal that finally wraps things up also stems from a one-two: Moretti threads the ball through for Ghiotti, who with the sole of his foot lays it back to his team-mate, ice-cool in the one-on-one with Agostini and thus able to shake off that slight frustration from having hit the woodwork so many times in the evening. Here is the full picture from Matchday 23 of the league: Click here for the updated table

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