League: La Fiorita deliver, draw in Tre Fiori-Virtus top clash

La Fiorita make no mistake and return to winning ways in the first of three postponed fixtures from matchday seventeen of the Campionato Sammarinese BKN301. Manfredini’s side get back to victory and provide the perfect response to yesterday’s win by league leaders Cosmos. The yellow and blues from Montegiardino beat Folgore 2-0 and, with a game still to be made up (the match against Cailungo, postponed last round due to snow and rescheduled for 8 February), remain just two points behind Berardi’s team. After a cagey first half with few chances, the match comes to life after the interval, mainly thanks to the Gialloblù, who manage to break the deadlock on 54 minutes. A long clearance from Vivan reaches the opposition’s final third; Samuel Pancotti lets the ball bounce a couple of times and then, with a delightful chip, lifts it over Pollini to give La Fiorita the lead. Manfredini’s men immediately push for a second to kill the game off, and it arrives twenty minutes from time, once again through Pancotti: a move with a strong Sammarinese flavour, as Rinaldi shifts the ball wide on the edge of the area to the winger, who controls and then finds the far corner with a precise diagonal finish to make it 2-0. That is enough for La Fiorita to return to winning ways and also to give coach Thomas Manfredini his first victory in charge. The headline clash between Tre Fiori and Virtus, on the other hand, finishes all square. Between two of the form teams in the league, the match in Dogana, played at 19:00, served up goals and entertainment. The first half was tight but played at a good tempo by both sides. The goal that lights up the contest bears the signature of Bojan Gjurchinoski: a long ball in behind from captain De Falco, Goh dummies and lets it run for the Croatian winger, who controls, cuts inside and unleashes a right-footed strike that gives Passaniti no chance. Bizzotto’s Virtus seem to be reeling from the blow, but their coach turns to the bench and finds the decisive cards to level the match. On 83 minutes a cross comes in from the left, Elia Ciacci flicks on with his head for the run of Matteo Pedrini, who finds the far corner to beat Semprini and secure a precious 1-1. Both the Sammarinese midfielder and the new neroverde signing had started on the bench. In the closing stages, Andy Selva’s Gialloblù protest over a coming-together in the box between Gjurchinoski and Passaniti, but referee Vandi sees no grounds to award a penalty. The sides head to the dressing rooms with a draw that nonetheless keeps both teams firmly in the upper reaches of the table. Victory – albeit with a few late scares – also for Libertas, who make amends for the defeat suffered in midweek in the first leg of the Coppa Titano BKN301 semi-final against Tre Penne. Paying the price are Faetano – in the 18:30 kick-off played in Acquaviva – who wake up too late and are forced to bow to the team from Borgo Maggiore. After a first half short on emotion, the second belongs to Ben Kacem, who arrived at Libertas in the January transfer window. Early in the half he unleashes a powerful effort from distance that crashes off the post, but on the rebound the quickest to react is Sapori, who makes no mistake and breaks the deadlock. The goal fires up Sperindio’s Granata, who shortly afterwards (70') find a second: once again it is Ben Kacem who sparks the move, with the former Pennarossa player driving towards goal and shooting; Porcellini parries, but not far enough, and on the rebound Federico Barlafante arrives to smash the ball into the net and register his first goal in Sammarinese football. Libertas appear to be in control without too many problems and, late on, they go close to a third when a shot-cum-cross from Stacchini rattles the crossbar. Faetano, however, react on ninety minutes, when Mema finds Ferrario in the area and he volleys home to pull one back for 2-1. The Gialloblù attempt a final siege but time runs out and they must give way to the Granata, who move up to 27 points.   Here is the final picture from matchday 17 of the Campionato Sammarinese BKN301:

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