Futsal: Folgore and Fiorentino step on the gas, Domagnano halt La Fiorita

It was a night packed with drama as yesterday’s fixtures decided the outcomes of the nineteenth matchday of the 2023-24 Campionato Sammarinese di futsal. It all started with the high-octane clashes in Fiorentino, which confirmed the two clubs that have shared the last ten titles as the leading contenders for this season’s crown. The Rossoblù underlined their dominance even against their neighbours Tre Fiori, making it eighteen wins from as many regular season outings. The scoreline stayed tight until the final third, with goals from Lorenzo Burioni and Busignani – the latter also on target on 44 minutes for a temporary 3-1. First Cevoli, then Zafferani, added the finishing touches to seal a 4-1 victory. The other tie played in Fiorentino was a delicate one, pitting Murata against Folgore. The Falciano club again proved to be that little bit further ahead, although there were certainly positives for the Bianconeri’s new technical project. The match was hard-fought and finely balanced throughout the full sixty minutes, producing nine goals in total in a narrow win for the Giallorossoneri. El Attar’s early opener was overturned by Biordi and Pellegrini, who alongside Pasqualini drove Folgore’s comeback to 3-1, a lead cut in first-half stoppage time by former team-mate Thomas Felici. After the break, Chezzi and Belloni kept the scoreline swinging back and forth, before the Folgore captain – with a brace – finally turned it into victory. It was anything but straightforward though, as Moretti converted a 10-metre free-kick on 59 minutes to set up a tense finale, in which Rizzo saw red. Libertas came from behind to claim all three points, overturning Tre Penne’s lead thanks to Jacopo Gamba. The Granata practically book their post-season place courtesy of goals from Alex Stefanelli and Zanotti. Cosmos and Pennarossa, by contrast, will have to watch out for the charge of Cailungo. The Rossoverdi recorded their second win on the bounce, this time overcoming Faetano. The decisive moment was Nicola Moroni’s last-gasp strike, which arrived after Scarponi had missed a 10-metre free-kick that could have put the Gialloblù ahead in the 53rd minute. Earlier, Cailungo had gone two up through Flaminni and Sabatino, only for De Cesare to level things with a brace. Venerucci’s men are now just two points behind Pennarossa, who had their scheduled rest day. Cosmos are not sleeping easy either, sitting three points above Cailungo and coming off a defeat at the hands of Virtus. The Neroverdi struck four times, with goals from Carlini, Sensoli and Aruci – the latter netting twice. For Muccioli’s side, it was Ceccaroli who briefly made it 2-1. The Acquaviva club took full advantage of the slips by Tre Fiori, Murata and La Fiorita to close the gap significantly on the teams just behind the runaway duo at the top. Only Juvenes-Dogana managed to keep pace. The Serravalle outfit swept aside San Giovanni, who did at least score twice through Marco Ugolini when the match was already beyond them. For Serravalle, there were multiple goals from Mularoni (a brace) and Gianni (a hat-trick, including one from the spot). Cavalli and Elia Cecchetti were also on the scoresheet to complete the 7-2 scoreline. Before the final whistle, San Giovanni also had a penalty, but Andrea Zonzini was unable to convert. It was an excellent display from Domagnano, who forced highly-fancied La Fiorita to chase the game throughout. Right up until the 59th minute, it was Gracik’s fourth goal of the competition – scored in the third minute – that kept the Wolves in front. The evening did not, however, end with the reward of victory for Fabio Gasperoni’s men, as they were pegged back moments from the final whistle by a goal from Giacomo Bernardi. The draw distances both sides from the teams above them in the standings, but it will certainly be viewed more positively – despite the frustration of an in extremis equaliser – by Domagnano, who have once again proved competitive against sides with far stronger credentials in the play-off race. Here is the full line-up of fixtures from the nineteenth matchday: Click here for the updated league table

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