Futsal: Tre Penne roar, San Giovanni-Fiorentino ends all square

Virtus draw level with Murata at the top of the table, taking advantage of the rest day observed by the reigning champions on Matchday 12 of the Campionato Sammarinese di futsal. It was anything but a straightforward win for the Neroverdi against a stubborn Libertas, who needed less than a minute to cancel out Cevoli’s opener through Paolini. In the 23rd minute Michelotti’s side went back in front thanks to Cevoli, the standout performer with a hat-trick and the late strike that put the result beyond doubt. On the same pitch in the following game, La Fiorita also found the net three times. Pietrangeli’s Gialloblù struck at both ends of the match through Matteo Chezzi and Pellegrini. The latter finished with a personal brace, having also made it 2-0 at the time. The top of the table is now tightly packed with four teams, thanks to a narrow win for Tre Penne, who passed with flying colours a real test of maturity against Pennarossa. The club from Città raced into a 3-0 half-time lead, inspired by a Gamba double, either side of a goal from Gabrielli. In the second half, Pennarossa’s blistering restart produced no more than Verri’s quickfire brace, scored inside a minute at the very start. The remaining 26 minutes confirmed the partial scoreline, to the delight of Tre Penne, who sit fourth, just one point off the summit and level with La Fiorita. It is a remarkable run, all the more so considering that La Fiorita – like Murata – have already had their rest day, unlike the Biancazzurri and Virtus. In the worst-case scenario, Penserini’s men would find themselves four points off the leaders while at least maintaining their current gap to Pennarossa, who are seven points back with a game in hand.

Over in Dogana it was the three sides from the Castello di Serravalle taking to the court. The derby between Juvenes Dogana and Cosmos opened the evening programme, with the Gialloverdi coming from behind to take the points. Gatti’s lightning strike – scored in the first minute – kept the Biancorossazzurri ahead until the 22nd, when Lorenzo Bacciocchi restored parity. After the break, Franchino’s players completed the comeback, pulling away to a 4-1 final score. Molinas’ brace and Bacciocchi’s double lifted Cosmos to 19 points, confirming them as the best team from the Castello. In fact, in the next match Folgore also celebrated a big win, overtaking Juvenes Dogana in the standings to climb into seventh place. The three points were effectively wrapped up in the first half by Claudio Zonzini’s side, with the coach having recently returned to the Falciano bench: a Pazzaglia brace, plus goals from Alan Bacciocchi and Ercolani, allowed the Giallorossoneri to score four before the interval. In the second half, Manuel Macina’s goal served only to soften the blow for Tre Fiori, who went down under further strikes from Bacciocchi – who completed his hat-trick – and Muccioli for a 7-1 scoreline confirmed at the final whistle.

Fiorentino’s Gialloblù remain third from bottom, level with Faetano, who on Thursday evening (Acquaviva gym, 22:00) take on Cailungo looking to move ahead. Conversely, a Rossoverdi victory would allow the Borgo Maggiore club to leapfrog local rivals Libertas and tuck in just behind Domagnano – currently four points ahead in ninth place. At the foot of the table, the picture changes shape but not substance: the direct clash between Fiorentino and San Giovanni ends with no winners or losers. It was an exciting contest nonetheless, with the Rossoblù racing into a 2-0 lead within a minute thanks to Bernardi and Paoloni, only to be pegged back within 200 seconds by Podeschi and Cecchetti. Late on Fiorentino once again edged in front through Zaghini, but Donati’s strike – two minutes from the end of normal time – sealed a 3-3 draw. A draw that serves neither side, as they remain bottom of the standings on four points and at least two adrift of the play-off spots: a Faetano win in the rescheduled match would double the gap to be closed.

Below is the partial schedule for Matchday 12 of the league: