Virtus turn it around against San Giovanni, Folgore hit eight

It really is the case to say it: when it rains, it pours for Pennarossa. With only eleven players available for today’s clash with Folgore, due to absences and departures, the Biancorossi went into the match in Fiorentino already a man down after Omar picked up an injury in the warm-up. It was all straightforward for the club from Falciano, ahead after 4 minutes through Pancotti and able to double their advantage midway through the half thanks to the same Sammarinese winger. Simeoni passed up two close-range chances to make it three, as did Pancotti when he dragged a right-footed effort wide across goal. Before the interval Islamaj was forced off injured, raising the white flag and leaving Pennarossa with nine players on the pitch, which became eight before the restart. Montalti, already struggling, was also forced to withdraw. In the second half Gori’s brace, set up by Simeoni and Giardi, was separated by Cateni’s scrappy goal – probably scored from an offside position following Brolli’s earlier header. Simeoni and Giardi also got on the scoresheet, the latter fed through by Bruno, who then made it 8-0 on 84 minutes with a precise strike from the edge of the area. Despite the heavy defeat, Lazzarini stood out with several excellent saves over the course of the match. Libertas are not having an easy time either, anxiously awaiting the opening of the winter transfer window to reinforce a squad that has already lost numerous players. As a result, the clash with Cosmos looked beyond Sperindio’s men – although they did come close to recovering from two goals down. The match began with two efforts against the woodwork from Ben Kacem, who clipped the post and the crossbar in the first ten minutes, before finally beating Benedettini on the quarter-hour mark. The tight, one-touch move to release Barbini was superb, and he did brilliantly to pick out the former Libertas player at the far post. Berardi’s side kept pushing and found their second just before the half-hour through Zulli, who made the most of Ottaviani’s lay-off to run at the Libertas back line and beat Benedettini with a precise diagonal strike from the edge of the area. The goalkeeper then produced some outstanding saves, including a brave intervention at the feet of Ben Kacem at the end of the half. By then, Libertas had already pulled one back through Nicolini – quickest to react to Greco’s cross. Then Barone and Morelli went close to a sensational 2-2 equaliser, a move that could have been one for the highlight reels after Barone’s long diagonal pass from midfield – only to be denied by the post. At the start of the second half, Berardi’s early goal effectively put the game to bed. The Sammarinese forward, who in the first half had struck the base of the upright with a splendid curling left-footer, ghosted into the box to turn home Loiodice’s knockdown from Pastorelli’s corner. For Cosmos, who hit the woodwork for a fourth time through Zulli on 64 minutes, it means two points made up on Tre Penne. Not on the other contenders, though, who keep winning. After Tre Fiori and La Fiorita, Virtus did likewise. Bizzotto’s side overcame a compact and well-organised San Giovanni team, who only folded in the final half-hour after going down to ten men. In fact, up until Fabbri’s dismissal – which came on 63 minutes – San Giovanni were leading, thanks to a fine strike from Stefano Sartini just after the half-hour mark. Earlier there had been one chance apiece, with D’Angeli squandering a golden opportunity in front of Passaniti. Virtus appealed for a penalty after a coming together with Angeli in the box, but the referee waved play on. The decision early in the second half on the contact between Fabbri and the same Virtus forward, by then clean through on De Angelis, looked more debatable, yet Piccoli again judged it legal. Once they had the numerical advantage, Virtus immediately drew level through Angeli – who finished off a delightful assist from Buonocunto. The quality of Bizzotto’s experienced attacking players paid off again on 88 minutes, when the former Rimini playmaker produced his second left-footed defence-splitting pass, this time for his team-mate’s brace. Moments earlier, De Angelis had pulled off a miraculous save to deny Angeli, who was already wheeling away in celebration. For Bizzotto this was a thirteenth win in fourteen matchdays: top spot reclaimed from La Fiorita and a major confidence boost ahead of the showdown with Tre Penne, which represents the last chance for the club from Città to defend their title. There were also positive signs for San Giovanni: Tognacci’s frustrations, beyond the disappointment at the result, relate to two avoidable red cards. In the closing stages, Boldrini too was sent off. Here is the full picture from the 14th matchday of the Campionato Sammarinese BKN301, broadcast live in full – with full commentary – free-to-air on TITANI.TV:

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