Futsal: Tre Fiori-Domagnano the only quarter-final still in the balance

Very one-sided results across the board bar one in the first-leg quarter-final evening. Fiorentino, Folgore and La Fiorita – barring sensational turnarounds – have already ringed in red on their calendars the two semi-final nights. The only tie still in the balance – in fact, wide open – is Tre Fiori vs Domagnano. There is no winner here: the 1-1 after the first 60 minutes leaves every scenario on the table, although Bugli’s side can count on their higher league finish and therefore, next Monday, could afford to settle even for another draw. It was precisely the clash between the Gialloblù and the Giallorossi that opened the evening in Fiorentino and, more generally, the championship quarter-final programme. The fiercely contested encounter was “uncorked” by Michael Simoncini, who coolly finished off a counter-attack just past the midway point of the first half. Going behind did not knock the Wolves out of their stride; they managed to haul themselves back on level terms early in the second half, when Menghi met Villa’s fine assist and, first time, slotted past Bizzocchi inside the post. Tre Fiori tried to edge back in front, but no further goals arrived. The verdict is therefore postponed entirely to the second leg, with Domagnano forced to win and Tre Fiori able to qualify with two results out of three. The outcomes of the other three ties on the night, by contrast, resemble as many verdicts already handed down. Also in Fiorentino, La Fiorita brushed aside Virtus 6-0, with the Neroverdi paying heavily for the injury to their goalkeeper Angelo Casadei, suffered after the 2-0 goal. Despite a broken hand (he will undergo surgery), the keeper stayed on but could do little to stop the shots of the side coached by former player Ghiotti. His team had taken the lead on 10 minutes with a deflection from Pazzaglia, then Giuccioli doubled the advantage on the stroke of half-time. Midway through the second half, Andrea Selva stretched Montegiardino’s lead to three, before they ran riot to 6-0 thanks to goals from Stolfi and further strikes from Selva and Giuccioli. The margin was even wider in Domagnano between league leaders – and newly crowned cup winners – Fiorentino and Libertas. There was an immediate exchange of blows between Ercolani and Burioni around the 20-minute mark. Then Fiorentino pulled clear with goals from Moretti, Busignani and Zafferani, before Libertas hit back again through the same Burioni. That was, however, merely a flash in the pan for the Granata. Fiorentino resumed their pattern of play and ended up scoring nine: two more goals from Ercolani, one more from Moretti (later sent off for a second yellow), one from Zafferani and one from goalkeeper Protti. From one end of the pitch to the other. Gian Luca Geri also got on the scoresheet on the opening night of the play-offs. By then Folgore had already put the derby with Juvenes-Dogana firmly in their pocket, having gone in front after 8 minutes with a Bernardi brace. Chezzi made it 3-0 shortly after the midway point of the half, before Juvenes-Dogana tried to close the gap through Santi Ugolini. It would not spark a comeback. On the contrary, Folgore increased their haul through Bernardi (who completed his hat-trick) and Ercolani, before the goalkeeper applied the final seal. It finished 6-1. This is the picture of the championship quarter-finals:

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