League: Libertas return to winning ways after ten weeks

An almost unprecedented schedule with five simultaneous early kick-offs on Matchday 12 of the Campionato Sammarinese involves seven of the top eight sides. The only team not in action today is Domagnano, who play tomorrow as – like Faetano – they are not involved in the second leg of the Coppa Titano quarter-finals, scheduled for 10 December.

The main stage is Montecchio, hosting the big match between Virtus and Tre Penne. The reigning champions go in front in a flash, striking after 250 seconds through a Benincasa header from a Buonocunto corner. Bonini’s side almost level in identical fashion, but Fabbri is denied by the woodwork on 8 minutes. No more fortune for Errico and Peluso, who both hit the base of Passaniti’s right post. After the break, Virtus once again show their ruthless streak, doubling the lead through Zenoni: his header crashes against Ferrani’s outstretched arm and sends Migani the wrong way. Tre Penne refuse to give in and pull one back deservedly through Badalassi – on the pitch only a few minutes and on target from the spot on 79 minutes. It’s a tense finale for Bizzotto’s team, who hold their breath when Pieri goes within centimetres of equalising in the third minute of added time. The big match thus goes Virtus’ way, leaving Tre Penne eight points off the summit.

The Serravalle derby between Cosmos and Folgore is an intriguing one, with the latter going close to a stunning goal midway through the first half. After a ricochet, Miori sets himself on the edge of the box and connects with an overhead kick: Semprini is caught out but rescued by the crossbar. The woodwork count is levelled on 38 minutes by a solo run from Hamati. Earlier, De Angelis had kept out Ceccaroli’s left-footed effort from the heart of the box, and then denied the San Marino winger and Mossolini before the interval. In the second half it is Semprini’s turn to take centre stage with a series of saves, the standout being a brilliant reflex stop from Daidola’s header on 56 minutes. But it is Islamaj who breaks the deadlock on 82 minutes: the Cosmos playmaker nets his sixth league goal, making the most of Mossolini’s lay-off to bring the points home for Cosmos.

Juvenes-Dogana, La Fiorita and Tre Fiori all went into their fixtures as clear favourites – on paper – against Libertas, San Giovanni and Murata respectively. The league leaders need less than four minutes to break the deadlock through the Nardi-Scarcella combination, with De Biagi and Bracconi badly at fault. On the half-hour mark Prandelli also comes knocking at Murata’s door, doubling the advantage with a header from a pinpoint Mattia Sancisi cross. Murata will rue a glorious chance wasted by Gashi, denied one-on-one by Nardi on 36 minutes. The Gialloblù effectively wrap it up at the start of the second half, with Bernardi converting from the spot. There is still time after the break for Prandelli’s brace, his second of the day making it four and lifting him alongside Bonetti at the top of the scoring charts (8). The Fiorentino club stay top, closely followed by Virtus.

At Fiorentino, La Fiorita need just over a quarter of an hour to take the lead thanks to a penalty won by Affonso and converted by Olcese. Before that, an Ankotovych cross-shot had clipped the top of the bar. San Giovanni do not deserve to be behind, frequently working shooting opportunities: on the half-hour Vivan has to fling himself to his left to claw away a superb free-kick from Zanni. After the restart Zanni twice goes close to levelling: first with a weak effort from inside the box, then flashing a left-foot volley just wide from a D’angeli cross. La Fiorita can finally breathe and guard against any late shock by doubling their lead on 76 minutes through Vitaioli, quickest to react to a mishit clearance from Casadei. In the closing stages the Gialloblù almost add a third through Affonso – denied by the goalkeeper – and Guidi, who hits the post, but 3-0 would have been too harsh on a San Giovanni side who arguably did not even deserve to lose. La Fiorita climb to fifth place, overtaking Folgore.

Juvenes-Dogana, by contrast, go into the break 1-0 down, paying the price in the fourth minute of added time: Senja connects superbly with a Quarta corner to volley home with his right foot. Earlier, the same midfielder had gone close with a header, only to be denied by a brilliant Colonna. Manzaroli is no less impressive and, with the score still goalless, produces outstanding saves to thwart Nicola Sartini and Benedetti. In a second half short on emotion, Juvenes-Dogana appeal for a penalty after a coming together between Senja and Benedetti inside the Libertas area. Libertas thus seal a victory they had been waiting ten weeks for, along with a second league clean sheet after the same length of time. It is a precious three points for Buda’s side, who rekindle their play-off ambitions.

Below is the partial programme for Matchday 12 of the Campionato Sammarinese, broadcast in full live and free-to-air on Titani.tv: