League: big wins for San Giovanni and Fiorentino

San Giovanni and Fiorentino needed only the first half to get the better of San Marino Academy and Pennarossa respectively, in this afternoon’s two late kick-offs which wrapped up the 16th matchday of the Campionato Sammarinese BKN301. At the "Federico Crescentini" in Fiorentino, Tognacci’s Rossoneri returned to winning ways after two consecutive defeats but were immediately put on notice at the start. After just fifteen seconds the match could have been unlocked in favour of Matteo Cecchetti’s Titani: a powerful strike by Bortolotto from the edge of the box crashed against the post, on the rebound Gatti pounced but De Angelis showed great reflexes and denied the lightning-fast opener. Then two pieces of bad news arrived for the Academy: first, Cecchetti was forced into an early change with Gatti having to leave the pitch injured after only four minutes (Giacopetti coming on for his debut); then, shortly before the quarter-hour mark San Giovanni took the lead. A delightful touch from Nicola Sartini released Aprea down the flank; he reached the byline and pulled the ball back for Lorenzo Contadini, who, once he reached the penalty spot, made no mistake to make it 1-0. The Academy tried to react but at the end of the half suffered a black-out that allowed San Giovanni to run away with it. On 41 minutes the Rossoneri doubled their lead through Aprea from the penalty spot, after a coming together in the box between Battistini and Nicola Sartini. Then Nicola Sartini himself, in added time, rose highest on a corner from Azael Garcia Rufer and headed in the third. Just two minutes later (45'+6) San Giovanni added a fourth: Robba took advantage of a header from Stefano Sartini, his effort then ricocheted off Giambalvo’s body for an own goal that made it 4-0 to the Rossoneri. After the break there was room for a fifth goal for San Giovanni: in the 66th minute substitute Bruma, from just inside the opposition half, lifted a delicate ball into the path of the onrushing D'Angeli, who controlled and beat Borasco as he came out. It was the exclamation mark on a match that finished 5-0 for Tognacci’s side, who move up to ninth place on 20 points. Another setback for the Academy, stuck on eight points. Level on points with San Giovanni are Fiorentino, who at Montecchio wrapped up their assignment against Pennarossa with a clear 4-0 win, all built in the first half. Camillini’s side took the lead after just ten minutes: from Molinari’s corner, Salemme was the quickest to react in the scramble and beat Lazzarini. The second goal also came from a dead-ball situation: another corner, this time taken by Hirsch, who picked out Gimenez’s head perfectly and he made no mistake on 17 minutes. Just before the half-hour mark (25') came the Rossoblu’s third: a long ball from the back by Costantini to pick out and find Gimenez, who let it run and, once in front of Lazzarini, coolly slotted home for 3-0. Fiorentino did not let up and in stoppage time found a fourth: this time Salemme turned provider, winning the ball back on the halfway line and threading it through on the verge of offside for Hirsch, who sped away and, once one-on-one with Lazzarini, beat him with a delicate finish for 4-0. At the end of the first half Fiorentino could have scored again: a foul in the box by Sehail on Hirsch resulted in a penalty, but captain Molinari was denied by Lazzarini. In the second half Fiorentino controlled proceedings and late on went close to a fifth, but Stefanelli shaved the post after a counter-attack sparked by a clever back-heel from Zoffoli. No major concern for Camillini’s team, who, thanks to an excellent first half, recorded a third consecutive victory. Another defeat for Pennarossa, still bottom of the table with just one point. Here is the full rundown of the 16th matchday of the Campionato BKN301, the first of the second half of the season:

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