Futsal: Virtus pull clear as Murata halted after more than a year

Murata and Tre Penne slow down, La Fiorita have a rest week. And so the San Marino Futsal Championship now has a single league leader: Virtus. Michelotti’s Neroverdi claim a fourth win from four, draw level with Murata as the league’s best attack and confirm themselves as the best defence, with just three goals conceded in 240 minutes: numbers that fully justify their view of all the others from the top of the table. Virtus’ fourth victim is Domagnano, struck already in the 2nd minute by Zafferani and then forced to capitulate a further four times: Pasqualini doubles shortly after, Cevoli makes it three, and then, in the dying stages, Morganti and Cevoli again complete the 5-0. As mentioned, Murata fail to keep pace. The Bianconeri draw 3-3 with a resurgent Cosmos, who respond in the best possible way to defeat in the previous round. At least within San Marino’s borders, Murata had known only victory for more than a year. The last draw for Max Spada’s side dated back to 2 October 2024, on Matchday 2 of the league: curiously, that game against Pennarossa also finished 3-3. In yesterday’s match, De Angelis gives Murata an early lead, but Bacciocchi replies just as quickly. Then the same pivot, formerly of Libertas and Juvenes-Dogana, completes the turnaround on 15 minutes, and the 2-1 scoreline is still in place at half-time, not least because Busignani, on 25 minutes, fires wide from the 10-metre mark with a potential equaliser, while Mattioli’s attempt, four minutes later, is saved by Delvecchio. In any case, it is De Angelis – him again – who brings Murata back on level terms six minutes into the second half. But on the court there is a Lorenzo Bacciocchi in full hat-trick mode: the number 22 scores Cosmos’ third goal on 38 minutes, igniting Gialloverdi hopes that are cooled a few minutes later, when Busignani makes it 3-3, which will prove to be the final score. Cosmos nonetheless climb the table: they move clear of San Giovanni and catch up with Domagnano.

Cailungo are now also on 4 points, and immediately after their first draw they can celebrate their first league win. And it is a win with an intense flavour, because it comes in a derby. The return to action after their bye week is a bitter one for San Giovanni, who are beaten and overtaken by their Rossoverdi “cousins”. The first half ends with the narrowest of leads for the latter, who benefit from Volpinari’s own goal on 7 minutes. Then, in the second half, Cailungo shift up a gear: Sarti and Angelini stretch the gap on the Multieventi parquet, sealing a victory that Volpinari’s late goal (in stoppage time) in no way puts into doubt. The San Giovanni captain had also blazed a 10-metre free-kick over the bar shortly beforehand. Pennarossa return to winning ways, sweeping aside Fiorentino without conceding. Verri and Gasperoni score at opposite ends of the first half, making it 2-0, which becomes 3-0 at the end thanks to Ceccoli’s strike. The group of teams on 7 points consists, in addition to Pennarossa, of Folgore and Libertas, both victorious on the night dedicated to Matchday 4. The Granata extend their unbeaten run to three by beating Tre Fiori 5-1 in a game featuring two own goals. The first comes from Berardi, who scores at the wrong end 60 seconds after doing so at the right one, cancelling out Libertas’ opener from Fabbri. After 2-1, Levani’s men pull away: Gasperoni for the third, Casadei’s own goal for 4-1 and captain Paesini for the fifth. Folgore need far fewer goals to get the job done against Faetano. One, to be precise: the penalty converted by Ercolani on 35 minutes. Late in the game Faetano have a chance to get off the mark in the standings, but Fantini’s 10-metre free-kick is saved by Zanotti. Before meeting again on Thursday for the second legs of the Titano Futsal Cup Round of 16, Tre Penne and Juvenes-Dogana share the points. Gamba puts Tre Penne ahead on 22 minutes, only for an own goal by Gabrielli to bring Juvenes level on 55 minutes. However, it takes Gabrielli barely 60 seconds to make amends and restore the lead for Penserini’s side. The latter, though, are stunned in stoppage time, when they were already savouring a fourth win from four: Gianni’s goal gives Juvenes a second consecutive draw and forces Tre Penne to relinquish top spot.

Here is the full set of results from Matchday 4: