Futsal, no joy for La Fiorita: the Scudetto goes to Folgore

La Fiorita’s second attempt to open their futsal honours list with the Scudetto ends just like last year’s. Back then it was Fiorentino who got the better of the Gialloblù. Tonight it was Folgore. Spada’s side, for their part, fully confirm their summer plans: it was supposed to be a seasonal double, and a double it is. The final, played in front of a very large crowd – including the women’s national team of Ukraine, currently guests of the San Marino FA – sees both sides start with real attacking intent. The first warning comes from Folgore, with Busignani breaking away on the counter after an opposition corner: the no. 9 then sets up Massimiliano Bernardi, whose toe-punt shaves the post. La Fiorita are very well organised, above all in doubling up on the most dangerous opponents. Twice Busignani squares up to Giacomo Bernardi down the left flank, and on both occasions a second Gialloblù arrives to shut him down. On 8 minutes Massimiliano Bernardi begins to spark into life: the former La Fiorita man drives at Giuccioli and unleashes a powerful right-footed effort that Marchetti tips behind for a corner. As mentioned, however, La Fiorita also show plenty of attacking ambition. Their first real chance falls to Pellegrini: Montegiardino’s no. 21 first sits Matteo Chezzi down, then fires a left-footer which is blocked by Protti; the ball comes straight back to Pellegrini, who immediately sends it goalwards again, but Protti once more does brilliantly to block with his body. As in the semi-final against Tre Fiori, La Fiorita now and then suffer lapses in concentration. A poor ball given away by Giuccioli, for instance, springs a counter-attack for Busignani, who goes all the way but is denied the joy of the opener by a superb reflex stop from Marchetti. Even more sensational is the save produced by the Gialloblù keeper on 23 minutes, when Massimiliano Bernardi leaves Giuccioli in his wake and unleashes a full-blooded right-footed strike from close range: Marchetti pulls another rabbit out of the hat and keeps the score at 0-0. The half moves into its final minutes. Giacomo Bernardi goes close to putting La Fiorita ahead with a low drive that grazes the post to Protti’s right. At the other end, though, another glaring error opens the way for Folgore, who this time make it count. It is Stolfi who loses a costly ball right in front of the area: Massimiliano Bernardi pounces and, with the outside of his boot, manages to thread the ball between Marchetti’s legs, dealing a major blow to his former club. La Fiorita’s angry reaction sees Pellegrini get a shot away after a body-to-body tussle in the middle of three opponents: the no. 21 finds space to pull the trigger and almost catches out Protti, who reacts smartly with his foot. La Fiorita are struck at perhaps the most painful moment, but they are still very much in the game. After the restart the Gialloblù come out flying: on 2 minutes a fine move by Giuccioli down the right ends with a pass for Pellegrini, who turns brilliantly in traffic but cannot beat Protti with his left foot. Folgore, however, know how to wait for their moments. And they show it a minute later: Protti launches long for Massimiliano Bernardi, who picks out Busignani perfectly at the far post; the all-rounder in yellow-and-red and a mainstay of the national team needs only to side-foot home to make it 2-0 to Folgore. La Fiorita begin to explore the option of shooting from distance. As when Mattioli robs Busignani of the ball and unleashes a powerful left-footed drive that Protti saves. Or when Stolfi, served after a long spell of possession, pokes a shot with the tip of his boot towards the top corner, again well covered by the opposition keeper. Another thunderous strike from range by Mattioli brings La Fiorita close to a possible 2-1, while at the other end Rossi spins superbly away from Giacomo Bernardi and forces Marchetti into a difficult intervention. Giuccioli knocks on Protti’s door with a dribble and shot from ten metres, once again finding Spada’s keeper equal to it. On 48 minutes, huge chance for La Fiorita from a free-kick, more or less from the same spot where Mattioli had produced the left-footed winner in the semi-final. Naturally it is the no. 99 who steps up again, this time opting for the near-post solution, clipping the upright with a powerful effort. Even so, confidence rises in the Montegiardino ranks, and shortly afterwards they find the goal that halves the deficit: the credit is mainly Pellegrini’s, as he receives the ball with his back to goal before spinning sharply and drilling an unstoppable left-footer past Protti. There is still time for a comeback, and La Fiorita believe. Folgore, though, keep their focus high. The clock runs down towards the 30-minute mark. La Fiorita send on the flying goalkeeper, specifically Giacomo Bernardi. Wearing the bib, he has the best chance in the first minute of added time, but his side-footed effort, struck with relative freedom, sails over. Instead, Protti’s lofted effort from goal to goal is inch-perfect and seals the contest. Folgore win their second league title and, for the first time, secure a European spot. Here is the full play-off picture for the San Marino Futsal Championship:

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Futsal Championship 2021-22, final | Folgore – La Fiorita 3-1 FOLGORE Protti, Busignani, M. Bernardi, Felici, M. Chezzi Substitutes: S. Stefanelli, Guerra, A. Stefanelli, Mainardi, Pelliccioni, Zafferani, Menghini, Casadei, Rossi Coach: Massimiliano Spada   LA FIORITA Marchetti, Stolfi, G. Bernardi, Giuccioli, Pellegrini Substitutes: Zanotti, Fabbri, Paoletti, Zanfino, Gennari, S. Chezzi, Gualandi, Mattioli Coach: Leonardo Palermino   Referee 1: Daniele D'Adamo Referee 2: Andrea Piccoli Referee 3: Laurentiu Ilie Booked: Mattioli Scorers: 30+1' M. Bernardi, 33' Busignani, 52' Pellegrini, 60+1' Protti

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