League: on derby day San Giovanni smiles, Academy hit three past Pennarossa

At the “Federico Crescentini” in Fiorentino it’s time for the Borgo Maggiore cross-town derby which – at half-time – already seems to be done and dusted. San Giovanni look unstoppable as they reach the break 3-0 up after an almost flawless first half in both phases of play. The breakthrough comes immediately from Augusto Garcia Rufer, back from suspension, who beats Manzaroli with a diagonal finish after a slick one-touch exchange with Aprea. After scoring, the Rossoneri forward then lays on the second, finished off by a powerful and precise strike from distance by Celli. Completing the trio, from another ball in by the ever-present Aprea, is Nicola Sartini – arriving right on cue in the middle of the box to land what looks like the knockout blow. After the restart comes the unexpected transformation: Libertas pull one back from the spot through Fabio Ramòn Tomassini on 59 minutes and, riding the momentum, score their second goal of the afternoon shortly afterwards. It comes from an inswinging cross by Buzi that Tomassini himself attacks: he doesn’t make contact, but Di Noto – who came on at half-time in the San Giovanni goal – is wrong-footed. Just as he is in the 79th minute, when Liberato releases Guglielmi through on goal – the Granata defender finishes with a right-footed side-foot past the keeper. Fortunately for their Rossoneri cousins, Salvatori spots an offside starting position. From then to the whistle Tognacci’s side manage to regroup, avoiding a cruel finale: a vital win that sees them overtake Cosmos in fifth place and continue their push towards direct qualification for the Quarter-finals of the Championship play-offs.

The Serravalle derby between Cosmos and Juvenes-Dogana has a very different feel. Selva’s Gialloverdi take control of the game but lack cutting edge in the final phase. In the first half it’s Cosmos alone who threaten goal, with long-range efforts and set-pieces that fail to trouble Gentilini’s woodwork. After a couple of fruitless raids early in the second half, Juvenes-Dogana reply through Tani: a central run and shot from the heart of the box, crucially deflected by Fatica’s sliding challenge. Selva’s men protest the non-award of a penalty in the 84th minute, when Pierri breaks into the area and goes down under pressure from Traglia. It’s the final act of a game short on emotions, which rightly ends goalless and whose outcome mainly benefits Juvenes-Dogana, who held their breath deep into stoppage time when Biral’s right-footed effort from twenty metres came back off the post. Fabbri’s side gain a point on Libertas while awaiting Domagnano’s fixture – they play tomorrow against Fiorentino, now coached by new boss Fabrizio Costantini.

 Plenty of drama in Montecchio between Pennarossa and San Marino Academy. Cecchetti’s light blues immediately appeal for a penalty for a handball in the wall on Della Balda’s free-kick. Subsequent efforts from Della Balda and Zenoni don’t trouble the goalkeepers, unlike Drudi’s strike from range, which Borasco tips onto the upright with a sharp reaction save. The opener, however, goes San Marino Academy’s way, from a corner won after an excellent combination between Giacopetti and Della Balda. From the flag the ball drops at the near post, where Federico Ciacci connects scruffily – but decisively. Dolci and Cecchetti’s teams go at each other openly and chances flow: after efforts from Marco Gasperoni and his namesake Casadei, Pennarossa find the net. A splendid through ball from Albini for Zenoni, who is clinical when one-on-one with Borasco. Before the break only a superb Del Prete prevents a second Academy goal, denying Marco Gasperoni and Molinari as they come close to 2-1. Early in the second half there’s a scare in the light blue ranks when Borasco’s passing out from the back goes awry. The next Under-22 surge does find its mark and comes from a rampaging run by Bugli, unstoppable as he latches onto Riccardi’s diagonal, bursts through and beats Del Prete. Pennarossa throw men forward in search of an equaliser but can’t find the finishing touch, and ultimately go down in the 88th minute to Giacopetti’s fourth goal in as many games – supplied by another piece of inspiration from Bugli, making his first league start in the Campionato Sammarinese and immediately decisive, scoring his fourth goal of the season. The afternoon also sees a debut for Mularoni. Before the end, Del Prete denies Protti a goal of his own. Cecchetti’s side draw level on points with today’s opponents, over whom they can also boast the better head-to-head record.

 The third derby of the four scheduled early fixtures pits Tre Penne against Murata – fittingly at Montecchio, the reference ground for the Castello di Città. Goalless at half-time, after a first half in which Camillini’s side have the better of it. Following an early effort from a tight angle by Ricciardo, it is Murata who press. On 17 minutes Echel embarks on a solo run from halfway, slaloming past opponents, but when he pulls the trigger with his left he’s thwarted by Barretta’s sliding block. A far clearer chance comes midway through the half from the Salemme-Schneider axis: the former releases his team-mate with a back-heel, but the full-back fires wide of Migani’s goal with the outside of his right foot. On the half-hour Martinez comes and misses a corner, but Ricciardo fails to punish him. Before the interval Migani is decisive with a low save on Salemme, and the Tre Penne backline then concedes only a corner. It is therefore something of a surprise when Farotti’s team take the lead through Dormi on 48 minutes. Much of the credit goes to Vandi, who times his run in behind the defence perfectly and cuts the ball back for an easy tap-in. The second half provides real thrills as Murata turn the game around in a matter of minutes: Petillo equalises with a header from a Socciarelli corner, while Salemme completes the comeback by making the most of a perfect pass from D’Ascenzio. Tre Penne refuse to lie down and produce a big finish, in which they deservedly find the 2-2 equaliser. The credit goes to Lorenzo Dormi, man of the match, with a powerful, precise free-kick that catches Martinez out at his near post on 80 minutes. At the final whistle, Farotti’s side  

 Here is the partial schedule for matchday 28 of the Campionato Sammarinese, broadcast in full live via streaming – free of charge – on the Titani.tv platform.