League: Bernardi rescues Tre Fiori at the death, Virtus win and close the gap to one point

It was a Sunday full of drama in the late kick-offs of Matchday 21: league leaders Tre Fiori were saved at the death against Folgore, while Virtus swept aside Fiorentino to cut the gap to just a single point. The title race is wide open and compelling.

The main stage was Domagnano, where Girolomoni’s Gialloblù faced Lasagni’s Giallorossoneri. The opening spell belonged to the Falciano club, with efforts first from Raschi (11’) and then Cateni (28’), the latter denied by a superb intervention from Nardi. Tre Fiori threatened through Scarcella, but on 37 minutes it was Folgore who struck first: an inch-perfect cross from Augusto Garcia Rufer found the head of Raschi – right on the offside line – and he made no mistake. That goal brought to an end Nardi’s unbeaten run after a remarkable 847 minutes. It got worse for the Gialloblù at the end of the half, as Girolomoni was sent off for dissent.

During the interval came the first tactical moves, with Nicko Sensoli sent on to add spark up front. It was the San Marino forward who, less than two minutes after the restart – assisted by Prandelli – beat De Angelis with his left foot to make it 1-1. Tre Fiori pushed again with a Prandelli header (52’), but De Angelis was equal to it. The contest stayed finely balanced until the 66th minute, when Folgore restored their lead: Adami Martins picked it up outside the box, drove into the area and unleashed a powerful right-footed strike that gave Nardi no chance. Tre Fiori refused to give in and poured forward. De Angelis kept Lasagni’s side in front with two crucial saves: first he parried a long-range thunderbolt from Benedettini (71’), then he flew to deny Braschi’s point-blank effort (87’). It looked done and dusted for Folgore, but deep into stoppage time, with the clock almost up, Tre Fiori found an equaliser: Pini crossed for Bernardi’s header, De Angelis saved yet again but on the rebound Bernardi persisted and smashed home for the final 2-2. A second consecutive draw for Tre Fiori, who remain unbeaten and top of the table – but Virtus are now right on their heels.

The reigning champions did their job away to Fiorentino (3-0), even though all the goals came after the break. The clash at the “Crescentini” against Costantini’s Fiorentino was evenly balanced in the first half. Lombardi and Scappini both had sights of goal, but Berardi – starting in goal today in place of Benedettini – was always up to the task. Guddo was also crucial for Virtus, especially as the former Folgore keeper came on at half-time for Passaniti. On 56 minutes, a double save of his – first on Abouzziane, then on Gjonaj – kept Bizzotto’s Neroverdi in it. Virtus knew they had to score to close in on Tre Fiori, and on 58 minutes they broke through: Rinaldi’s cross was perfect for the superb turn and finish from De Lucia (formerly of Tre Fiori), earning a precious lead. Fiorentino began to fade and it was Scappini who made sure of the points: he first struck the crossbar (73’), then four minutes later, after good work from Buonocunto, he created space for his left foot in the area and beat Berardi. The icing on the cake came from Zenoni, who on 88 minutes applied the final touch with a delicate right-footed effort that kissed the post and went in. A third straight win for Virtus in a week in which they have managed to claw back four points on Tre Fiori, reopening the title race even further.

Also wanting to join the title fight are Tre Penne, who, however, were held to a draw by Cosmos in Montecchio. An early goal from Bonini’s side, scored by Bartoli – finishing clinically in the area with his right – seemed to be the prelude to yet another win for the Biancoazzurri. That success looked even closer when, on 58 minutes, Mosquera struck the woodwork from point-blank range. That gave Cosmos belief, and in the 77th minute they drew level: Islamaj, in the inside-left channel, spread the play to Ceccaroli, the former Tre Penne winger crossed and Ambrosini stretched to turn it in for 1-1. That goal settled the scoreline in Montecchio. The side from Città stay third, six points off the summit. Next Sunday, though, brings an unmissable showdown: Tre Penne versus Tre Fiori.

Libertas also claimed victory, edging Faetano in Acquaviva with a 90th-minute winner. The first half ended goalless, largely thanks to a magnificent Manzaroli, who preserved the stalemate with two outstanding saves in separate incidents.

The chances kept coming after the restart, with Libertas increasingly on the front foot, although Faetano threatened through Venturini. The deadlock was finally broken on 73 minutes: Guidotti reached the byline and cut it back for Quarta, who guided a right-footed shot into the far corner to make it 1-0. Faetano reacted and, six minutes later, levelled when Abbadessa’s cross from the right found Alabay, who swivelled to restore parity. The match remained alive right to the end. On 85 minutes Venturini produced a vital stop to deny Rigoni from close range, but in the 90th minute Libertas came up with the match-winning move: Tomassini won the ball back in his own half and drove forward, and once he reached the final third he slipped in Guidotti, who beat the onrushing Venturini to settle the contest once and for all. A third win in the last five for Buda’s Granata.

Here is the final schedule for Matchday 21 of the 2025-26 Campionato Sammarinese: