League: Cosmos fall, Murata and Tre Fiori close in on 4th place

While waiting for tomorrow’s “main course” – the Scudetto showdown between Virtus and La Fiorita – the appetizer of the 29th matchday of the BKN301 Championship served up plenty of goals and wins. The standout result belongs to Libertas, who finally have something to smile about again at the tail end of the season. Sperindio’s Granata beat Cosmos 1-0, putting the Gialloverdi’s fourth place – crucial in view of the play-offs – in serious jeopardy. Early on it is Nicola Berardi’s side who take the initiative, but Libertas hold firm thanks to an excellent backline marshalled by Gennaro Del Prete. The goal – ultimately decisive – that breaks the deadlock arrives just before the half-hour mark: a great vertical pass for Pari, who controls and lays it off to the edge of the box for Bianco, whose precise right-footed shot surprises Simoncini to make it 1-0. Cosmos react immediately and pile forward, but on two occasions it is once again the ever-reliable Del Prete who says no with three superb saves on Prandelli (twice) and Zulli. The Libertas goalkeeper is again a key figure after the restart, producing a brilliant reflex stop on 66 minutes to turn away Zulli’s well-struck effort from the edge of the box. The Serravalle side press right to the end, but Sperindio’s men stand firm and can finally celebrate a win that had been missing since 24 February. Behind Cosmos, both Murata and Tre Fiori win and close the gap, opening up a three-way battle for fourth place. The table now shows the Gialloverdi on 57 points, chased by the Bianconeri and the Gialloblu, both on 56 points. Despite being level on points, Murata sit ahead thanks to the head-to-head record, and on a hot afternoon in Montecchio Angelini’s side (today suspended) cruised to a resounding 7-0 victory over the San Marino Academy youngsters. It takes Murata just 10 minutes to break the deadlock: excellent work by Echel down the right, his cross finds Cecconi – the former Tre Fiori forward – who cannot miss from close range. The second comes soon after: a fine cross from Ura picks out Cecconi, whose header is perfectly placed beyond Andrea Grana – making his first appearance of the season in an Academy shirt –. Murata are flying, and on 20 minutes they add a third: once again it is Echel – the best of his side today – who bursts forward from the halfway line and, on reaching the edge of the attacking third, goes for goal himself, catching Grana out. The Titani are on the ropes and unable to muster a reaction. Just after the half-hour mark Cecchetti’s team are also unlucky when a ricochet in the box falls kindly for Gaiani, who has a tap-in for the fourth. Right at the end of the half the Bianconeri strike again: great play down the flank by Ura, who pulls it back for Echel; he takes the lay-off and fires into the far corner. Before the break the Academy finally threaten with a fine free-kick from Bortolotto that flashes just wide of the top corner. After the interval Murata keep pushing and further extend their lead. The sixth goal bears the signature of Giaretta on 67 minutes: he does well to latch onto a long ball and time his run on the shoulder of the last defender, then once through on Grana he coolly dinks a right-footed finish past him. Affonso also joins the rout, capitalising on a mistake by Sarti in the build-up, skipping past Zavoli with ease and then beating Grana. The duel between the two resumes shortly after when – following a fine set play from Angelini’s side – the Brazil-born forward finds room to shoot, but this time the San Marino keeper is alert and denies him an eighth goal. That matters little to Murata, who claim a third win in a row – their sixth in the last seven – and head into the play-offs in excellent form. Tre Fiori, on the other hand, edge past Tre Penne by the narrowest of margins in a fiercely contested match. Early on it is De Falco’s side who look more dangerous, with Eric Fedeli rattling the crossbar after a brilliant piece of skill in the box. But it is the team from Città who open the scoring: a superb move started by Righini, who finds Badalassi. The Biancoazzurri marksman links up perfectly with Scarponi and then, with a clinical right-footed strike, picks out the far corner for his 28th goal of the league campaign. Tre Fiori remain composed and go back on the attack. It takes only a few minutes for the Gialloblu to find the equaliser: Islamaj plays a good ball for Bernardi who, from the edge of the area, manages to pick out Fedeli. The Gialloblu forward goes first-time with his right foot and beats Migani for 1-1. The goal that ultimately decides the contest arrives right at the start of the second half. Luigi Rizzo sends the ball into the middle for Fedeli, who attempts an acrobatic effort; Migani denies him with a stunning save, but in the continuation of the move Rosini brings down Bernardi. Referee Ilie points to the spot: Islamaj converts the penalty. Tre Penne refuse to give up and soon go agonisingly close to levelling again: a perfect cross from Michael Battistini finds Badalassi, who gets there before Nardi rushing out, but the left-footed effort from the league’s top scorer crashes against the bar. The game remains finely balanced, although Tre Fiori have two chances to kill it off – first through Varrella (75’) then Cirrottola (90+5). In the end it is Islamaj’s spot-kick that proves decisive, boosting Tre Fiori’s push for a better play-off seeding. There are also goals and entertainment in the clash between Pennarossa and Folgore. It is Lasagni’s side who break the deadlock late in the first half through Bruno, quickest to react to Barbieri’s short parry on Pancotti’s effort and slot past the Biancorosso keeper. The Chiesanuova outfit, however, respond well and find the equaliser in stoppage time: Michelotti reaches the edge of the area and feeds Fadel, who controls and curls a superb finish into the corner. The goal fires up Pennarossa, who then go in front at the start of the second half: from Barbieri’s long kick, former Folgore man Juan Kasa misjudges his intervention and heads the ball straight to Pintore, who drives to the edge of the box and finds the far corner with a diagonal finish past Venturini. The lead, however, is short-lived for Dolci’s men because on 56 minutes Sartori converts a penalty – won by Bruno – to make it 2-2. Just three minutes later Folgore turn it around: a fine cross from Simeoni is met by Bernardi, whose header makes it 3-2. The Falciano club keep pressing in search of a decisive fourth. On 78 minutes Pancotti tries his luck with a thunderous strike from distance, but Barbieri produces a great save. Eventually, just before stoppage time, the goal that settles the contest does arrive, and it is a moment of magic from Samuel Pancotti: from Sartori’s corner, the San Marino forward attacks the near post and, with an incredible left-footed back-heel, flicks the ball into the net. It is the icing on the cake for Folgore, who can celebrate a win that lifts them up to ninth place – pending Fiorentino’s game tomorrow. Here is the updated schedule for the 29th round of the BKN301 Campionato Sammarinese, which will be broadcast live in full with Italian commentary on TITANI.TV:

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