League: no comebacks as La Fiorita and Tre Fiori reach the semi-finals

Tre Fiori and La Fiorita protect the “investments” made in the first legs and book their place in the play-off semi-finals. Both Girolomoni’s side and Ceci’s choose the 2-0 route to complete their respective missions. In Montecchio, Prandelli breaks the deadlock on 26 minutes with a superb free-kick, his third goal in two matches in this quarter-final derby with Fiorentino. Up to that point Fiorentino had threatened through Chiaruzzi (surging run and left-foot effort into the side netting) and above all with Abouzziane’s curling right-footer, expertly turned away by an outstanding Nardi. Tre Fiori, for their part, had rehearsed the 1-0 with a scuffed attempt from Sensoli (nice build-up down the left) and then with an ambitious chip from distance by Federico Benedettini: the ball not all that far from the frame guarded by his namesake Simone. Like Abouzziane, Sensoli also tries the big curler, venomous but off target. Molinari instead opts for a fierce drive with the laces to trouble Nardi, who gets down smartly to his right to save. The scene is repeated in very similar fashion on 35 minutes: Bottoni unleashes a powerful right-foot shot from distance, Nardi flies and punches clear to protect his clean sheet. The final flash of the first half comes from Sensoli: brilliant dribble down the flank to get past Diagne, cut inside and a fierce right-foot strike that whistles just over the bar. The second half opens with a left-footed free-kick from Belward, bent in a touch too much. Shortly after, a turnover by Galeone sparks a Tre Fiori counter-attack, finished by Pini with a fast, fizzing cross that flashes right across the face of goal without being turned in by either Sensoli or Errichiello. Simone Benedettini gets his gloves to Guerra’s effort, while Bottoni, soon after, has to make a deep, decisive covering run – even risking an own goal – to get in ahead of Errichiello on the edge of the six-yard box. Fiorentino show again with a piece of trickery from Belward in the middle of a cage of opponents, followed by a left-foot shot that brings Nardi into action, though without unduly worrying him. In the closing stages Tre Fiori double lock the match – and put an extra padlock on the quarter-final – with an easy tap-in from Bernardi on a low cross by Terenzi that takes a slight deflection. San Giovanni will be the side to challenge Girolomoni’s men for a place in the final.

La Fiorita will instead face Cosmos after their 2-1 and 2-0 wins over Faetano. The second “Marano derby” in the space of a few days sparks into life immediately with a long-range right-foot effort from Gasperoni, gathered at the second attempt by Forconesi. Soon after, Ambrosini receives in the box, juggles and then goes for a goal for the highlights reel: a spectacular but tame overhead kick that does not trouble the Faetano keeper. Vivan has no difficulty either in holding Faetano’s first attempt, Brisigotti’s effort from the edge of the area on 10 minutes. La Fiorita at once re-establishes its presence in the opposition half, seeking the opener twice through Ambrosini (powerful right-foot shot off target) and Massari, whose effort from the D whistles just past Forconesi’s right-hand post. One minute later, Riccardi decides to have a go as well: great dribble to beat Bertuccini, but the right-foot shot (his weaker foot) from the 2006-born midfielder flies over. The goal seems to arrive on the half-hour: Zafferani is on hand to divert in Ambrosini’s low cross, but he is coming from an offside position. The flag stays down, instead, when Massari, all alone in the middle of the box, fails to make the most of yet another inch-perfect cross from Ambrosini. On 41 minutes Massari tries to make amends with a great piece of skill on the by-line and a subsequent cut-back for Zafferani, whose shot is parried by a remarkable Forconesi. The Faetano goalkeeper then watches Ambrosini’s free-kick drop just wide; but, on the stroke of half-time, he cannot get to Gasperoni’s curling left-footer which “dies” near the far post: La Fiorita move 3-1 up on aggregate. At the start of the second half, Riccardi switches to his favoured left foot to try and get on the scoresheet, but again sends the ball over. The former San Marino Academy man does not have long to wait, though, to enjoy the satisfaction of scoring. Ambrosini sends Gasperoni racing away, and with a delicate cross he picks out Riccardi perfectly at the far post: clinical header and 2-0 on the night. On 67 minutes Riccardi turns provider: burst down the flank and cross for Leka, who cannot keep his effort down. A few minutes later Faetano carve out their best chance of the evening: Romano leaves two opponents on the spot with a body feint and then unleashes a ferocious left-foot drive that crashes against the crossbar. Soon after it is Brisigotti who goes close to Vivan’s goal: a rainbow effort dropping just wide. It is effectively the final attempt to shake up a game that brings the curtain down on Faetano’s season, just as earlier in Montecchio the final credits had rolled on Fiorentino’s campaign.

Here is the full picture of the 2024-25 Campionato Sammarinese play-off quarter-finals: