League: Folgore on song, Faetano beaten with a goal in each half

The rearranged fixture from Matchday 18 of the Campionato Sammarinese goes the way of Folgore, who get the better of Faetano with a goal in each half. The match in Acquaviva opens up inside the first quarter of an hour: on 13 minutes Zeka, from midfield, misplaces a pass and gifts the ball to Pancotti, who drives forward and spreads it wide for Augusto Garcia Rufer. The yellow-and-red-and-black forward then delicately plays a first-time ball through to Malaponti, who reads the move to perfection, breaks into the box and finishes for the 1-0 lead. Folgore continue to dictate the game and press in search of a second. Faetano are kept in it by Venturini – one of the former players on show – who first denies Ura (18’), then twice in quick succession (33’) keeps out Augusto Garcia Rufer’s powerful header and Malaponti’s ensuing attempt on the rebound. Faetano only threaten in the follow-up action, with Contino’s shot drifting well wide. Shortly before the break there is another chance for Lasagni’s side, again through Garcia Rufer, but Venturini pulls out another crucial save to prevent the visitors doubling their advantage.

Sperindio, however, jolts his players into life and from the moment they emerge from the dressing rooms it is a completely different Faetano. On 50 minutes the newly introduced Peri is just centimetres away from getting the decisive touch, and shortly afterwards Elia also has a go, but De Angelis gathers at the second attempt. The momentum is clearly with the Gialloblù, and five minutes later captain Zonzini goes directly for goal from a free-kick, rattling the crossbar in dramatic fashion. The game is finely balanced and Folgore look to regain control of proceedings. In the 69th minute Lasagni’s men spark back into life when Garcia Rufer, with a back-heel, sets up Pancotti in the area, but the San Marino winger, from a great position, can only hit the outside of the post. The second goal for Folgore is only a matter of minutes away, though: on 71 minutes substitute Cateni drives to the byline and pulls the ball back for Adami Martins, who finishes first time and makes no mistake. Faetano try to respond a few minutes later but, in a scramble, Contino’s effort fails to hit the target. The match then drifts towards the closing stages without any major scares. Folgore thus claim the win, moving up to 30 points in the table and drawing level with Domagnano in fifth place.

Here is the updated picture for Matchday 18 of the Campionato Sammarinese: