League: La Fiorita stay perfect, Murata and Cailungo also win

La Fiorita make no mistake in their first match of the second half of the season and, with a win over Tre Penne, stay right on the heels of leaders Virtus. In the big match of the 16th round of the Campionato Sammarinese, Ceci’s side respond to yet another victory by the Neroverdi of Acquaviva – secured yesterday – and, with a goal in each half, remain just three points off the top. After an evenly balanced opening spell, the Montegiardino side manage to break the deadlock shortly after the half-hour mark. A right-footed effort from Alex Ambrosini from the edge of the box is initially parried by Migani but the Gialloblù marksman pounces on the rebound and fires home to put his side in front. It’s a fourth goal in two games for Ceci’s striker. Just two minutes later the match becomes even tougher for Berardi’s men: Zazas Sanchez and Guidi clash in the Tre Penne area and then the Tre Penne midfielder – facing his former club – catches the Gialloblù defender with a heavy blow. The referee has no doubts and shows a straight red to Guidi. With a man advantage, La Fiorita look to kill off the contest, and Ambrosini’s effort against the bar late in the half is a clear warning. Tre Penne, however, refuse to roll over and, in stoppage time, Gianluca Vivan produces a crucial reflex save from close range to deny De Queiroz – formerly of San Marino Calcio and a new signing for the Biancazzurri. Early in the second half (54’) there are Gialloblù protests for a coming together in the box between Affonso and Migani, but referee William Villa lets play continue. The game remains on a knife-edge and on 71 minutes Vivan again comes to his side’s rescue: a perfect cross from Vandi finds Dormi, who ghosts between the Gialloblù shirts and heads towards the corner, but Vivan flies across once more and gets his fingertips to it. Ceci and his men decide it is time for the decisive push and in the 78th minute the contest is effectively over: Alberto Riccardi sends Jacopo Semprini through on goal, and as he reaches the area he squares for Vitaioli, who controls and steers it into the corner to make it 2-0. It’s the goal that seals it for La Fiorita, who now have eleven league wins – three on the bounce – and remain unbeaten. Tre Penne, by contrast, see a run of three straight victories come to an end. First win of the year for Murata, who record a clear-cut 4-0 victory over Pennarossa, ending a drought that had lasted almost two months (since 24 November). The deadlock is broken on 34 minutes, when Giaretta puts his side in front: the move develops down the left and finishes with the left-footed strike from No. 18, who unleashes towards goal. Del Prete gets a touch and the ball dances dangerously on the line, but referee Luci awards the goal to Murata. The second arrives shortly afterwards, again through Giaretta. Salemme finds his team-mate on the left-hand edge of the area; the winger goes for goal from a tight angle and finds a winning trajectory that catches Del Prete out. Two goals before the break and two after it for Camillini’s side, who celebrate their first win of the season. The third comes on 70 minutes when Salemme works the ball well on the right and, from the byline, pulls it back into the middle where Delvecchio brings it under control and, from the penalty spot, unleashes a powerful right-footer beyond Del Prete. The exclamation mark for Murata comes shortly before the ninetieth minute when Echel, making the most of his fresh legs off the bench, charges down the right and crosses for the completely unmarked Monterosso, who finishes it off for a final score of 4-0. A narrow but hugely important win in terms of the post-season race for Cailungo, who edge Faetano 1-0. The first half belongs to the Gialloblù, with the clearest opportunity on 27 minutes falling to Terenzi, but the San Marino midfielder fails to hit the target from a great position after good work from Brisigotti. Ricchiuti’s side continue to dictate the play after the interval but still cannot find the decisive touch. On 68 minutes comes another huge chance for Faetano: captain Lisi clips a neat ball in behind for new signing Coratella, who drives forward and squares perfectly to the far post, where an unmarked Brisigotti, from inside the six-yard box, looks certain to score but somehow crashes his effort against the post with the keeper beaten. Faetano fail to break the deadlock and Cailungo duly take advantage. The winning goal arrives on 79 minutes: a cross from the right is headed clear by Ioli, but the loose ball falls to Alessandro Conti, who controls and then catches it perfectly on the volley with his right, sending it into the corner. A stunning and hugely significant strike from the San Marino midfielder, which hands Roberto Sarti’s side all three points and kick-starts their climb up the table (the post-season berths are now just five points away). Here is the full rundown of the 16th round of the Campionato Sammarinese:

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