League: comebacks for Pennarossa and Fiorentino on Virtus’ title party day

After Saturday’s goal fest, the three Sunday fixtures postponed to complete Matchday 30 of the Campionato Sammarinese also deliver goals (13 in total) and entertainment. On the final day of the regular season Pennarossa and Fiorentino stand out as they come from behind against Virtus and Faetano respectively. La Fiorita also win, sealing second place and heading into the play-offs in the best possible way.

We start at the Ezio Conti in Dogana with the clash between Virtus – already crowned champions last weekend – and Pennarossa. Early on it is Zenoni who tries to worry De Angelis – starting today in place of Passaniti in the Neroverdi goal – with a shot that flashes just past the post. The Champions of San Marino, though, remain calm and on the quarter-hour create the first clear chance with a Rinaldi header kept out by Bannini. A few minutes later the deadlock is broken: Vallocchia swings in the corner for the – platinum-blond – head of Lombardi, who nods in for 1-0. Pennarossa react and on 25 minutes restore parity: Albini finds Zenoni on the edge of the box, he unleashes a right-footed drive, De Angelis gets in the way but on the rebound Makhtar Diop pounces to make it 1-1. Before the break, Bizzotto’s Neroverdi edge back in front. The final day of the season again proves inspiring for Alessandro Golinucci who – just as last year with Tre Penne, when he scored the title-clinching goal – gets his name on the scoresheet after being picked out by Vallocchia’s second assist of the afternoon and finishing past Bannini with a quick touch as he comes out.

The second half begins and shortly before the hour mark Virtus add a third: a third assist from Vallocchia – this time from a set-piece – finds Lombardi, who caps the Neroverdi’s training-ground move with a superb first-time right-foot finish. A brace for Lombardi and 3-1. The game seems firmly in Virtus hands but Pennarossa respond with great pride. On the hour De Angelis produces a fine reflex save to deny Diop, who then, on 80 minutes, crashes a thunderous effort off the crossbar with his left from the edge of the area. Pennarossa grow stronger and stronger and on 82 minutes Zenoni’s cross flashes right across the penalty area before reaching Pintore, who makes no mistake and pulls one back. Just before the ninety, Pennarossa complete the comeback: Pintore brings the ball down on his chest and lays it off brilliantly for Drudi, who bursts into the area and beats De Angelis for 3-3. A precious point for Dolci’s side, who halt the newly crowned champions of San Marino and consign the Academy to bottom spot. The draw does nothing to spoil Virtus’ party, which begins after the final whistle.

In Montecchio it is La Fiorita who prevail, settling the Murata contest with a goal in each half. The opening stages are evenly balanced but in the 36th minute Ceci’s side manage to break through: from the right Mazzotti plays the ball inside to Olcese, who with a first-time touch elegantly feeds Ambrosini. His effort is beaten away by Martinez, but the loose ball falls to Olcese, who makes no mistake. Goal number 17 of the season for the Gialloblù striker, now just one behind leading scorer Prandelli. La Fiorita’s second arrives after the break (66’) when Olcese turns provider, laying the ball off for team-mate Cicarelli, who strikes it first time superbly into the top corner. Shortly afterwards La Fiorita go close to a third with a powerful effort from Mazzotti, well saved by Martinez. The Murata goalkeeper then does even better to keep out Capozzi’s fierce turn and shot just before the ninety. That is enough for La Fiorita: a win and second place, which secures the best possible seeding for the play-offs. Murata finish 9th and will be back on the pitch on Wednesday in the Preliminary Round against Faetano (single-leg tie; if the scores are level after 90 minutes, the team with the higher position in the regular season will go through).

It is all happening in Domagnano between Faetano and Fiorentino. The first clear chance falls to Costantini’s side when Abouzziane squares for Chiaruzzi, whose effort is kept out by a fantastic save from Duchenne. Faetano sit deep and then strike with two goals in as many minutes. The opener comes on 19 minutes from a Palumbo corner, met by the head of Raviele, who puts Ricchiuti’s side in front. Moments later comes the second: Alessandro Renzi wins the ball back in midfield and finds Romano, who drives forward and on reaching the edge of the area unleashes a right-foot shot that beats Benedettini. Fiorentino’s response comes at the end of the half with an El Ardoudi free-kick blocked by the wall; the Rossoblù midfielder has another go, but Ioli clears close to the goal line.

After the break, Costantini’s Fiorentino come out with a very different attitude and on 59 minutes halve the deficit: on a backpass from Festa Gallo to Duchenne, Abouzziane closes him down, intercepts and scores. The goal lifts Fiorentino, who press several times in the following minutes. Eventually, with yet another attempt, the deserved equaliser arrives: Galeone lays the ball off to El Ardoudi, who cuts inside to make room for a right-foot shot that sneaks inside the far post. Faetano then threaten again when Festa Gallo regains possession and releases the onrushing Tolomeo, whose effort from the edge of the box drifts just wide. But the match is decided deep into stoppage time: Chiaruzzi sets up Borgagni – making his first appearance of the season – who does not control particularly well but then does brilliantly to shoot from the edge of the area and place the ball where Duchenne cannot reach it. Fiorentino thus turn it around from 2-0 down to win 3-2, locking in eighth place. In the Preliminary Round the Rossoblù will now face Juvenes-Dogana – with Costantini up against his former club – and Fiorentino will have two results out of three available to advance. Faetano, meanwhile, will take on Murata, with Ricchiuti’s side needing nothing less than a win to keep their post-season hopes alive. Both Preliminary Round ties are scheduled for Wednesday 30 April at 20:45.

Here is the full programme for Matchday 30 of the Campionato Sammarinese: