League: Incredible Faetano comeback, Libertas stay clinical

There were five early fixtures scheduled today in Matchday 20 of the 2025-26 Campionato Sammarinese. In Acquaviva, Tre Penne almost took the lead through Peluso – who struck the post after just 100 seconds – but then went behind from the Pintore-Parisi combination: Parisi’s first goal in a Pennarossa shirt, after a neat move in tight spaces. In the first half all of Bonini’s side’s best chances fell to Peluso, either at his feet or onto his head, but the winger was unable to make them count. At the start of the second half Bezzini wastes a golden chance for 2-0, sending an ambitious lob on the run just wide. At the other end, Tordella is alert to keep out Peluso’s low free-kick. The deserved equaliser arrives midway through the second half, when Pieri attacks the far post to head in Pastorelli’s free-kick. Bonini’s men then thought they had turned it around in the space of two minutes, when Nigretti found the net – only to see the raised flag of Gibraltar official Cabrera Noguera. Shortly afterwards another effort from the full-back is dealt with at the second attempt by Tordella, who makes life difficult for himself before producing a superb save on the goal-line. The sting in the tail, for Ricchiuti’s side, comes at the death: a rare misjudged outing from Tordella, up to then one of the best on the pitch, allows Peluso to redeem himself and apply the decisive touch, finding the empty net with a delicate right-foot finish.

At the “Federico Crescentini” the incipit is the same as in Pennarossa-Tre Penne, but the ending is even more unimaginable. Here it is Faetano who clips the woodwork on 4 minutes with Zonzini, only to then find themselves chasing the game: a wonderful piece of play from Michelucci, who jinks past his man and unleashes a left-foot strike from the edge of the area. The scene is repeated on 20 minutes, when the midfielder latches onto De Luca’s flicked header to double the lead in fine style. Before the break, Contino intercepts a square pass from Montalti – only to blaze over from a great position. In the second half Faetano threaten in the air on a couple of occasions, and get themselves back into it in the 71st minute thanks to a penalty won by Golinucci. From the spot, captain Zonzini beats Gallinetta, but only just. Barely two minutes later the goalkeeper is decisive in a one-on-one with Golinucci at the end of a move that will be remembered for the sending-off of Montalti – almost certainly the key moment. Despite being down to ten men, it is Cailungo who have the chance to make it 3-1, but this time Michelucci fails to hit the target. From then to full time, it becomes a sporting nightmare for the Rossoverdi: Golinucci levels with a precise low diagonal finish from an Elia assist, then caps an outstanding performance by providing the cross for Pallante – who heads in the winner for all three points on 90 minutes. Cailungo are left with a bitter taste, above all for the clash between the two number sixes in midfield that sparked the move for the 3-2.

Libertas are the ones to break the deadlock in Montecchio. After having flirted with the opener on a couple of earlier occasions, the Granata can finally celebrate around Cozzino – who heads home in the 17th minute. If Buda’s side are not comfortably ahead at the break, it is thanks to an outstanding Sias: the goalkeeper is immense to deny Tomassini and, especially, Nicolini around the half-hour mark – and he repeats the feat in stoppage time, keeping out a powerful header from Davide Nigro. In between, there is also a crossbar rattled by Quarta from 25 metres. After wasting so many chances, Libertas are incredibly pegged back on 59 minutes: credit to Tahiri, ice-cool after an awkward attempted clearance from Uva – unwittingly perfect in putting him clean through on goal. This time it is Uva’s assist that is deliberate, for the ever-dangerous Tahiri, who clips the outside of the post with Manzaroli beaten. The match is decided in the 76th minute in Libertas’ favour; a transition led by Morelli and Michelotti ends with the ball at the feet of Rigoni: his right-foot shot takes a deflection and flies into the top corner to seal a precious win for the Granata. Putting the three points on ice is then Michelotti, who pounces in a crowded box after a previous goal-line clearance from the Murata defence. Before the final whistle, Tarik hits the base of the post, unable to set up a grandstand finish for his side.

There are no goals in the first half-hour in Domagnano, where Cosmos face San Giovanni. In that spell, though, there are two efforts against the woodwork: first Islamaj, with a superb left-foot strike from twenty metres; then Giambalvo at the other end, meeting a cross with a perfect header that crashes against the inside of Semprini’s left-hand post. It is an open, entertaining encounter, but the half-time score remains goalless. A second half firmly shaded yellow-and-green paves the way to Cosmos’ eventual victory. Casadei is decisive on more than one occasion to deny Ceccaroli and Gjurchinoski, but he is beaten fifteen minutes from time. San Giovanni are caught napping from Gjurchinoski’s wide free-kick, and Maioli ghosts in behind everyone to head home the winner.

Saturday’s programme concludes with perhaps the most intriguing fixture: La Fiorita-Juvenes Dogana, played in Acquaviva under a heavy downpour. Olcese sends the first real chance just over, while Nicola Sartini responds with a diagonal effort that forces Vivan into action. Ten minutes later Aprea gets involved, arriving at the far post to meet a Davide Colonna cross: his header drifts just wide. At the other end, La Fiorita are ruthless: a lightning counter-attack developing down the left, where Affonso looks for Dormi, who is fortunate to find the ball back at his feet after attempting a first-time finish. His second effort gives Davide Colonna no chance. In the second half Juvenes Dogana squander the clearest opportunity to equalise: Amadori, unmarked in front of Vivan, fires too close to the La Fiorita keeper, who saves and then repeats the trick to deny Aprea. The substitutions do little to spark the game back into life, which seems to be heading safely to Montegiardino after the 2-0 stamped by Affonso on 65 minutes. The Juvenes Dogana back line are pierced by a ball straight through the middle and the rapid forward, having rounded Colonna and the last defender on the line, is able to tap in the second. Shortly afterwards Ceci’s striker is denied at the last moment by Colonna and, just when the game appears firmly on course for a routine win for the Gialloblù, comes the spark that reignites Juvenes Dogana. Benedetti needs less than two minutes after coming on to dance past two defenders and coolly beat Vivan with his left foot on 75 minutes. The finale is frenetic: La Fiorita’s first-choice goalkeeper is sent off on 81 minutes for a foul committed well outside his area, and Boldrini’s side have a strong penalty appeal in the third minute of stoppage time. The Gialloblù shut down every opening, and – despite playing the last quarter of an hour effectively with ten men – come through the Juvenes Dogana test unscathed.

Below is the schedule of the early fixtures on Matchday 20 of the 2025-26 Campionato Sammarinese: