League: La Fiorita pegged back at the death by Mantovani

The clash in Domagnano between Fiorentino and Juvenes Dogana is probably the most intriguing of the early kick-offs on Matchday 22 of the 2025-26 Campionato Sammarinese. Both sides are directly involved – together with Domagnano and Cosmos – in the race to get back into the top seven, a position that guarantees direct access to the play-off quarter-finals. The first half of Fiorentino-Juvenes Dogana drifts by without excitement: a shot well wide by Merli and a run by Cucchi, denied by Davide Colonna rushing off his line, are the only moments of note. The second half starts with more verve through Abouzziane and Merli’s initiatives, though the goalkeepers continue to enjoy a completely uneventful afternoon. The first real chance of note comes on 70 minutes, when Amadori flicks on for Aprea: the striker quickly pulls the trigger with his right but, from a very inviting position, fails to hit the target. The deadlock is finally broken, after an ineffective counter by Amadori, at the other end by Marco Evaristi. The midfielder capitalises on an indecision by Davide Colonna to put Fiorentino in front. Shortly afterwards, Costantini’s men move into seemingly safe waters thanks to the Gjonaj-Belward combination: a delightful back-heel by the former sets up a piledriver into the corner from his team-mate – a goal worthy of applause. It does in fact prove decisive, because in the third minute of added time Juvenes Dogana hit back through Cecchetti – quickest to pounce on a loose ball in the box and beat Berardi for the final 2-1 scoreline.

Pennarossa and Libertas were chasing important points to get back into the group of sides in the mix for the post-season, despite both facing tough opposition in Folgore and La Fiorita. In Montecchio, Folgore broke the deadlock on 30 minutes through Augusto Garcia Rufer, who benefited from a pinball effect in the penalty area and from Filippo Tordella losing his footing. The forward moves on to fourteen goals in the league, just one behind top scorer Prandelli. Before the interval, Malaponti and Pancotti waste the chance to double the lead: the former shoots tamely when clean through, the latter hits Parisi’s back on the rebound with the goal gaping. In much the same fashion, Folgore do eventually find their second through Raschi on 56 minutes. It is a magical spell for the San Marino winger who, after rattling the crossbar with a thunderous effort, completes his personal brace on the hour mark: a splendid assist from Ura sets up his team-mate’s low finish, ice-cool in front of Filippo Tordella. Pennarossa refuse to give in and set up a grandstand finish. It begins with Pintore’s goal from a Papa assist and builds to a chaotic 3-2: De Angelis, retreating after a poor attempt to come off his line, chases the ensuing ball pumped into the area and ends up colliding with a team-mate and losing it. The ball, trickling over the line, puts the game back in the balance. Lasagni’s side respond by going straight for goal from the kick-off, with Augusto Garcia Rufer sending a lob just wide. Folgore avoid a cruel twist at the death: they are left shaking when Angelini’s strike from the heart of the box flashes wide in the 95th minute, and they can only breathe again when Papa’s left-footed effort is tipped onto the bar by Tourè a minute later.

At the “Federico Crescentini” in Fiorentino it is Libertas who take the lead through a moment of brilliance from Guidotti, his second goal in as many games. It is a true striker’s goal, an acrobatic finish that settles a scramble in the opposition box. Buda’s team make the most of their first real foray forward, having survived several scares beforehand. Grandoni’s header and Mazzotti’s effort had already sent shivers through the defence, while Nappello – with the score still 0-0 – struck the bar with a fantastic free-kick. A few minutes earlier, La Fiorita had protested over a foul in attack given against Guidi: chasing down a poor back-pass from Severi, he had gone past Manzaroli as well before clashing with the providential Baiardi – in an illegal manner, in the referee’s view. Later, Nappello is again denied from a set piece, this time seeing his effort crash against the post with the keeper beaten. Deep into added time, the Gialloblù finally get their deserved equaliser: Manzaroli produces two outstanding saves to deny Affonso but can do nothing about Guidi’s tap-in, which punishes Libertas’ sluggish reactions. In the second half, Quarta and Rigoni both threaten, while Dormi – with a ferocious volley on his left – takes La Fiorita’s tally of woodwork hits to three. Rigoni then tries again and this time, on his left foot, whistles an effort just past the upright from the edge of the box. At the other end, Olcese is deadly accurate in meeting Semprini’s knock-down to coolly beat Manzaroli and complete the comeback. It proves only partial, though, because from one of the final attacks Libertas find a last-gasp leveller for 2-2: Vivan is outstanding to keep out Nigro’s twisting header, but can do nothing about Mantovani’s tap-in that secures the draw.

Below is the partial schedule for Matchday 22 of the 2025-26 Campionato Sammarinese: