League: Cosmos defend top spot with their sharpshooters

The late kick-off on Matchday 7 of the Campionato Sammarinese had top spot on the line, after Folgore – victorious in the afternoon – had temporarily overtaken Cosmos at the summit. The Gialloverdi make the most of a strong start, breaking the deadlock on 10 minutes with a splendid volley from Ben Kacem that kisses the top corner of the net. Forconesi keeps Faetano in it by denying Badalassi’s run, while Pastorelli shaves the top corner with a left-foot curler. Lepri’s side create chance after chance, only really threatened by a Terenzi effort in the first half. After the break the cushion goal does not come, so Celato’s flash of brilliance – keeping out Capriotti’s potential equaliser on 87 minutes – can safely be said to be worth at least two points. The difference between a draw and a win, which is sealed a minute later by Imre Badalassi – sent through on goal by a fine piece of play from Grandoni. It ends in a big win for the Gialloverdi, who stay on top ahead of the round that will pit the top four against each other. First in pursuit are Folgore, top of the table for a good couple of hours earlier in the day. Lasagni’s Giallorossoneri – with their coach suspended and Quadroni deputising in the technical area – claim a 2-0 victory over San Marino Academy. The main men are Pancotti and Ura: on their first meaningful combination, the San Marino forward crashes a diving header against the crossbar. At the other end Giacopetti has the chance to make it 1-0, but he pushes the ball too far when one-on-one with Guddo, who rescues himself in extremis. It is a game packed with chances, and Folgore tip it their way thanks to Pancotti’s run – picked out between the lines by Ura. The class of 2000 does the rest, beating Borasco with a perfect low diagonal finish. The winger then wins the penalty for the second goal, converted with aplomb by Ura. The Academy create plenty but fail to capitalise – even during the final half-hour played with a man advantage after Miori is sent off for dissent. Guddo makes amends for a major error of his own, somehow scrambling Giacopetti’s effort away on the line. With two goals in each half, Fiorentino record a resounding win over Pennarossa. The scoreline could even have been heavier than the emphatic 4-0 final result, which sees Gueye open the scoring. Latching on to a knockdown from Boubacar Diop, he is both sharp and fortunate as he hits a first-time effort from the heart of the area, nutmegging Renzetti. Just before the half-hour mark comes the second: Belward isolates himself on the right and threads a pass through for the ever-dangerous Boubacar Diop. The midfielder squares for Salemme, who only has to make sure he hits the target. After the restart there is still time for a wonderful goal by Belward, who takes on and beats a set Pennarossa defence before finishing with a left-footer into the corner at the end of a superb solo run. Dolci’s men struggle to react and finish with ten men after Montalti is dismissed for a second bookable offence. Following a series of fine saves by Renzetti, Fiorentino’s fourth eventually arrives. The credit goes to Omar Diop, who makes the most of a through ball from Bottoni, springing past the onrushing keeper and rolling the ball into the net for the final 4-0 in the 90+3rd minute. A huge win also for San Giovanni, who need just two minutes to unlock the derby with Cailungo. In a move that starts with Aprea hitting the post, the playmaker recycles the loose ball for the run of Augusto Garcia Rufer, who bends a left-footer into the top corner to give the Rossoneri the lead. It is the only goal of a first half in which Tognacci’s men squander a gilt-edged chance to double their advantage on the Zanni–Augusto axis, the latter heading wide with an open goal at his mercy. After the interval a quickfire double from Bastianelli and Aprea floors Cailungo: Bastianelli collects a pass from Montebelli and makes no mistake in front of Gallinetta, while Aprea – the standout performer – nudges the ball forward with his heel before poking it past the Rossoverdi keeper with the tip of his left boot. On 79 minutes Manuel De Biagi is sent off after a coming together with the San Giovanni bench, while Iuzzolino – already booked – then reduces Cailungo to nine men in the incident that leads to the penalty converted by Zanni on 90 minutes. Before the final whistle there is glory too for Robba, who makes the most of a free-kick from the edge of the box to crown San Giovanni’s four-goal haul in style with his second goal in less than a week. Here is the updated picture from Matchday 7 of the 2024-25 Campionato Sammarinese:

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