Futsal, third time lucky for Faetano: Libertas beaten and first points on the board

The sides had already met twice and Libertas had always come out on top. This time, at the third attempt, it is Faetano who prevail, and thanks to the 5-4 win over the Granata in the final fixture of Matchday 5 they finally get off the mark, joining the group of teams on three points alongside San Giovanni and Fiorentino. The deadlock at the Palestra di Acquaviva is broken by Conti with a left-foot strike from distance. However, the incident is marked by protests from Libertas, who had expected the ball to be returned after the Granata had put it out of play due to an injury to a player on the court. The complaints are immediately acknowledged by Selva’s men, who, to restore the game to the path of perfect fair play, allow Fabbri, when play resumes, to roll the ball into the net without attempting to stop him. In effect, it is as if the score has gone back to 0-0. Halfway through the first half Conti tries the move from the opening goal again, and once more it comes off. This time the number 5 in yellow and blue shoots from even further out, but his diagonal is precise and Amati is beaten for a second time. On 24 minutes the third arrives, again from Conti: he controls the ball with a piece of skill on the right flank, cuts inside and drills a left-footer past Amati into exactly the same corner as his previous two efforts, that is, low to the keeper’s left. The gap widens further in stoppage time: Bacciocchi steps in to win the ball and slides it through for Calzolari, who lashes his finish in under the crossbar.

Early in the second half Rosa collides with Selva in the area. The referees point to the spot and Fabbri converts. The same number 7 in Granata scores again (his third of the evening) just a few minutes later, capitalising on a poor clearance by Rastelli: Selva pounces on it and sets up his team-mate, who opens up his foot and brings Libertas right back into it. Faetano’s slender lead lasts until the closing minutes of the contest. Then Conti – him again – beats Amati to the ball as he comes out and completes his personal four-goal haul. A minute later Libertas pull one back once more through Michelotti, after a fine one-two with Selva. In the few remaining minutes Libertas are unable to carve out a clear chance to equalise. Faetano take the win and finally get their season up and running (they had lost every match so far, including in the cup), while Levani’s Granata see their run of three positive results come to an end, missing the chance to move level in fourth place.

Here is the complete schedule for Matchday 5 of the league: