League: Domagnano win at the death, Casadei earns the Academy a 1-1 draw

The race for postseason places is the key theme in the late fixtures of Matchday 23 of the Campionato Sammarinese, which puts San Marino Academy and Cailungo at a crossroads: win to keep alive hopes of a complicated comeback, or risk virtually waving goodbye to the play-offs.

Murata-Cosmos is lively from the opening exchanges. Gjonaj is judged onside as he darts through the middle and, after rounding Bracconi, is denied at the crucial moment by De Biagi. At the other end Tahiri does no better when played through on goal, lacking bite in the finish. Resoluteness is something Ambrosini has in spades, heading home from an Islamaj cross on 13 minutes. Around ten minutes later his brace is chalked off for offside on Gjonaj’s through ball. Murata have the chance to get back into it on 39 minutes, when they win a penalty for contact between Rossi and Labas. Tahiri steps up, but has to bow to a superb save from Semprini. It’s the second spot-kick the Bianconeri have missed in as many games. After the restart Cosmos move into calmer waters thanks to a trademark header from Ambrosini, this time from a Mularoni cross. The Bianconeri lack fortune too, as they are denied by the post a minute later. Soon after, Hamati goes within centimetres of a third with a left-footed diagonal effort. It will finish 3-0 regardless, thanks to Mhilli’s stoppage-time strike, with an assist of sorts from Bello. At the start of that same move, Gjurchinoski had first struck Bracconi as he rushed out, then hit the post with the net gaping.

Kick-off in Domagnano between Libertas and Folgore is delayed by a few minutes due to repairs to the net of the goal initially defended by De Angelis. His opposite number Manzaroli is immediately called into action by Augusto Garcia Rufer, who tests him twice inside the opening 100 seconds. The duel is renewed on 23 minutes, when the striker wastes a great opportunity. Libertas, by contrast, make the most of their first foray forward a minute later: Guidotti wins his physical battle with Toure, paving the way for Fabbri, who bursts past Castorina and coolly beats De Angelis. After the break Lasagni’s side turn the game on its head inside two minutes, courtesy of a brace from Augusto Garcia Rufer: first finishing off a clever ball from Toure, then heading in on the rebound after a Manzaroli save. The goal that seals it comes on 58 minutes, when Miori ghosts in at the far post to head towards goal, his effort taking an unfortunate deflection off Baiardi for the 1-3 own goal. Raschi, one of the in-form men of the moment, further stretches the lead with a crisp, powerful turn and finish from a Gaido assist. Before the final whistle, Libertas reduce the deficit through Guidotti, who scores on 89 minutes from a Morelli free-kick.

Cailungo and Domagnano meet in Montecchio. Bonetti kicks things off with a right-footed effort over the bar, while a back-pass from Fusco plays in Bua. Papi’s brave charge off his line proves providential, as does Gozzi’s positioning on the goal line, which denies the Rossoverde striker the opener. The Giallorossi are anything but sparkling in the first part of the match, where they only really threaten with a Sopranzi header wide. Amati’s men improve after the interval, especially after the jolt of falling behind: on 68 minutes Bua surprises Papi at his near post with a free-kick struck with rare power and precision. From there Domagnano seize control of the contest: Sopranzi is denied by the woodwork, then Gallinetta comes up big in a one-on-one with Ferraro. The keeper, however, can do nothing on 79 minutes when Perazzini’s cross finds Bonetti – ruthless with a right-footed volley. A goal of real quality, matched by Gozzi’s strike roughly ten minutes later: perfect technique from the defender, who meets Ferraro’s corner to leave Gallinetta rooted and deliver an incredible victory for the Wolves.

In Acquaviva, a determined and productive but wasteful San Marino Academy side take a point against Pennarossa. Di Maio’s men are the better team overall but lack a cutting edge. So it goes on 18 minutes, when Canarezza plays Tamagnini through in the area. At the other end, Conti deals with an Angelini free-kick. The Biancazzurrini curse their luck on the half-hour, when sustained pressure high up the pitch leads to a turnover and a shot from Righi: his left-footer comes back off the base of the post with the keeper beaten. Before the break, Markaj and Tamagnini flirt with the opener, but Tordella keeps his goal intact – as he does at the start of the second half to deny Bugli. Around the hour mark Pennarossa raise their game, becoming progressively more dangerous in and around Conti’s area. Ricchiuti’s men actually take the lead on 68 minutes at the end of a counter-attack led by Pintore and finished off – at the second attempt – by Gregori. The Academy refuse to accept a scoreline that feels harsh on them, and the final 1-1, with Casadei’s contribution, is ultimately easier to swallow. From a corner, the midfielder arrives with a diving header to beat Tordella and secure a deserved point.

At the end of the matchday, Domagnano take a major step towards the quarter-finals, extending their cushion over eighth place to six points. That target is all but wrapped up for Folgore, who consolidate fourth. Cailungo are overtaken by San Marino Academy, and now trail the play-off spots by eleven points – a gap that may prove unbridgeable. Pennarossa draw level with San Giovanni in the table: as things stand, only one of the two will contest the postseason. Higher up, Cosmos move into seventh at Fiorentino’s expense.

Below is the full schedule for Matchday 23 of the league: