League: many teams back to winning ways in goal-filled early fixtures

A Saturday packed with goals and emphatic, redemption-flavoured wins marked the early fixtures of Matchday 21 in the Campionato Sammarinese. La Fiorita and Domagnano swept aside Cailungo and Juvenes Dogana respectively, while San Giovanni and San Marino Academy were inspired by hat-tricks from Zanni and Markaj.

Starting with the clash in Dogana, Ceci’s La Fiorita got back to winning ways after their midweek setback against Fiorentino. The Montegiardino side broke the deadlock ten minutes before the interval through Barretta, who stepped out from the back line to launch the move, then met Gasperoni’s floated cross from the by-line with a diving header. Early in the second half, Gimenez fouled Lunadei in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Olcese stepped up and, after his miss last Wednesday against Fiorentino, made amends to double his side’s lead. The third goal that wrapped up the contest arrived on 77 minutes: once again Barretta – again with his head – found the net, this time meeting a Cicarelli corner. A brace for the former Tre Penne centre-back and Cailungo beaten.

Just behind the Gialloblù, currently fifth, sit Domagnano, who lift their heads after a difficult spell (four consecutive defeats). In Fiorentino the game was balanced early on, with Papi saving from Ghiggini in the opening stages, but midway through the half Domagnano’s one-two punch proved lethal. On 23 minutes Perazzini intercepted a long ball on the halfway line, it broke kindly for Bonetti who controlled, drove forward and, from the edge of the box, picked out the far corner. That’s goal number 14 for the league’s second-top scorer. Just three minutes later the Giallorossi doubled their lead: Pedini tried to clear Santi’s move from the edge of the area but only succeeded in teeing up Buda, who didn’t hesitate and let fly from distance, sending the ball into the top corner and catching Colonna out. With a two-goal cushion, the Giallorossi played with greater freedom and early in the second half even added a third: fine work by Perazzini to reach the by-line and cut back for Santi, whose effort on goal took a crucial deflection off Ghiggini, wrong-footing the keeper and going down as an unfortunate own goal for the defender. Things went from bad to worse for Juvenes Dogana on the hour mark with the dismissal of Kevin Lisi for a second yellow card. On 90 minutes, though, Boldrini’s side reacted and pulled one back: a fine cross from Cecchetti found Comuniello – both substitutes – who got in front of Papi to make it 3-1. In stoppage time there was still room for another Domagnano goal to seal a 4-1 scoreline: Buda’s cross into the box was again diverted by Ghiggini, who thus scored his second own goal of the day. It’s a first league win of 2026 for Domagnano, whose last success dated back to 7 December (also 4-1, away to Faetano).

San Giovanni were winners too, handing Pennarossa a clear-cut 3-0 defeat: the man of the match was Mattia Zanni, scorer of all three goals. The opener came on 11 minutes: D’Angeli started deep in his own half, produced a powerful run to the final third and then slipped the ball into the box for his striker, who brought it under control before beating Filippo Tordella. The Pennarossa goalkeeper produced two more key saves to keep his side in it, but on 43 minutes he was beaten again: once more it was D’Angeli providing his second assist for Zanni, who was ruthless from inside the area. After the restart the pattern did not change. Filippo Tordella pulled off yet another outstanding save, then Pennarossa were reduced to ten men following Arlotti’s second yellow card. The curtain finally came down in Acquaviva on 84 minutes: a Pennarossa mistake was pounced upon by Bianchi, who slipped the ball to an unmarked Zanni, and he made no mistake, completing his hat-trick. Tognacci’s side could finally celebrate a league win that had been missing since 24 January.

A fine, convincing victory too for San Marino Academy, who, after their midweek draw, managed to claim all three points with a 4-1 success over Murata. The Montecchio contest was unlocked on 21 minutes when Righi’s cross from the left found Markaj in the six-yard box, and he slammed it home to start his afternoon in the best possible way. The Academy continued to press and just before the break went 2-0 up: Tamagnini beat the offside trap and, once in the area, fired powerfully; Sias managed to parry but Canarezza was on hand to apply the winning tap-in. It was a first league goal for the young Sammarinese midfielder. Di Maio’s men added a third on 79 minutes: a superb team move from the Titani, featuring a neat exchange between Tamagnini and Domeniconi, with the latter squaring for Markaj, who finished clinically from inside the box to complete his brace. And there was more to come from the Academy striker because, on 84 minutes, he made the most of a whipped cross from Valentini to convert from close range and round off his personal hat-trick. Murata showed some life only at the very end when, two minutes later, Tahiri netted his second goal in a matter of days with a precise angled effort, although during the celebrations Gyjla was sent off for grabbing the ball too forcefully and in doing so colliding with Mattia Ciacci. Deep into added time Murata were reduced to nine men, as Tahiri lunged in – rashly and needlessly – on Valentini and was shown a straight red. With this win, the Academy reach double figures in the league and draw level with Cailungo, while for Murata it is a twelfth straight defeat.

While awaiting tomorrow’s fixtures, featuring the long-distance battle at the top between Tre Fiori, Virtus and Tre Penne – all kicking off at 15:00 – here is the partial programme for Matchday 21 of the 2025-26 Campionato Sammarinese: