League: only Virtus win in the afternoon, Pancotti fires Folgore up to third place

Virtus turn to their key man – Ivan Buonocunto – to defend top spot and move six points clear of La Fiorita, who tomorrow face the Tre Penne test. The other matches scheduled for 15:00 all ended level, with Cosmos twice pegged back by Libertas. No goals between San Marino Academy and Domagnano, nor in Juvenes-Dogana vs Fiorentino. In Fiorentino, San Giovanni once again prove a tough nut to crack, even for the reigning champions. Passaniti protects the Virtus goal from the first two attempts by Tognacci’s men, who are not punished when Benincasa’s header on 15 minutes goes begging. Vandi makes his presence felt in both penalty areas, nodding a Boldrini cross just over. De Nicolò then forces an alert Passaniti into action midway through the half, moments before a huge chance for Benincasa – his right-foot effort from close range is crucially deflected behind for a corner. What tips the balance in Virtus’ favour is a piece of magic from Buonocunto on 37 minutes: the playmaker whips in a pinpoint free-kick to beat Starna and certify the black-and-greens’ lead. Before the break Benincasa wastes a sitter to double the advantage from a corner situation, while on 55 minutes San Giovanni are centimetres away from an equaliser – but the crossbar denies Corinti’s thunderous right-footer. The Rossoneri pour forward relentlessly but cannot find a way past the champions’ backline. Bizzotto’s team become dangerous again on the break, freeing Tortori to shoot, though his efforts lack accuracy. The forward is decisive, however, in winning the penalty that settles the contest in the closing stages: from the spot Buonocunto moves on to eight league goals (as many as his assists in the competition), while San Giovanni’s protests result in a red card for Robba. No goals either in Dogana and Domagnano, in two see-sawing encounters. San Marino Academy hosted Domagnano on the latter’s home pitch, but chances were scarce – especially in the first half. Free-kicks from Amati and Santi – both narrowly wide – were the main openings of the opening 45 minutes. The first save of the game comes from Colonna, who at the start of the second half beats away a powerful edge-of-the-box strike from Marco Gasperoni. The Biancazzurrini show more initiative and test the Domagnano keeper with a header by Mattia Ciacci. Precision is lacking instead on Santi’s trivela on 69 minutes, as he seeks another wonder goal after the stunner he scored in the reverse fixture. Despite a one-way second half, the Academy cannot find the decisive touch, not even through Giacopetti and Nicolò Sancisi. A goal seemed certain on 84 minutes, when Colonna needed all his agility to tip Molinari’s rocket over for a corner. It goes down as a missed opportunity for San Marino Academy to close in on the postseason places, while – given how the match unfolded – Domagnano will gladly take the point earned this afternoon. Juvenes-Dogana vs Fiorentino also finishes goalless, but Fabbri’s side must mea culpa for not taking an early lead. Traglia first fires straight at Benedettini from point-blank range, then wins a penalty after being brought down by the same goalkeeper. From the spot Mazzavillani opens up his left foot, but finds Simone Benedettini in his way, the keeper saving at the second attempt. Fiorentino respond through Belward, whose long-range effort is just off target. At the other end Gentilini has to work in the 22nd minute to parry a shot from Simoncini. Ten minutes later Belward’s decision to go it alone denies Omar Diop a simple tap-in in the middle of the box. Tarini’s side will regret it, as they prove unable to land the knockout blow for three points today – also because of a superb Gentilini, who pulls off a miraculous stop on Abouzziane on 40 minutes. After a lively first half, the game becomes almost soporific after the restart and only comes back to life at the death: Benedettini is forced into heroics to deny Paszynski, while Gakou’s last-gasp roar of celebration is choked in his throat. On debut, the Senegalese forward produces a fine volley on Simoncini’s knock-down to find the net, but is flagged offside by Manuel Bellavista. There are four goals between Cosmos and Libertas, where the new Andy Selva era yields a bitter draw for the Gialloverdi, who lead twice. Rosini and Ben Kacem waste two big chances early on, while Morelli drags a tempting right-footed effort wide on 20 minutes. Cosmos make the running, but Ben Kacem and Di Meo continue to misfire. So it falls to Pierri to curl in the right-footed strike that breaks the deadlock on 32 minutes, leaving Manzaroli with no chance. Libertas’ instant response is ruled out for offside against Michelotti, who had scored from an offside position. Shortly after the restart comes the equaliser from the former Pennarossa man – he records his second goal in as many games for Libertas, once again with a right-footed strike into the top corner and into the same net he rippled last week. The game is now wide open and, after Ben Kacem hits the side-netting with his left foot, Morelli curls just wide of the angle. On 67 minutes Manzaroli produces heroics: after gifting the ball to the opposition, he redeems himself with two stunning saves to deny Badalassi and Ben Kacem. The latter is locked in a personal duel with his former team-mates and sees another effort blocked on the line by Moretti. Ben Kacem’s persistence is rewarded on 77 minutes: a fine vertical move ends with Badalassi laying the ball off for his strike partner to sweep a left-footed shot into the far corner. Even this second lead is not enough for Cosmos, though, as they are breached on 83 minutes by the sharpness of Osayande – clever and cunning as he slips away from Fatica’s marking to beat Boldrin with an outside-of-the-boot finish. In the closing stages there is one more chance each for Ben Kacem and Osayande, but the scoreline stays at 2-2, despite a questionable coming together between Fermi and Osayande in the Libertas box from one of the game’s final balls. Wrapping up the day’s early fixtures is the top-of-the-table clash between Folgore and Tre Fiori, an extremely even contest throughout. On 6 minutes Nardi makes amends for a mistake of his own by recovering and blocking Pancotti’s left-footed shot with his body. Tre Fiori reply through Braschi, who after a mazy run forces Guddo into action: a superb, and complicated, intervention from the Folgore keeper. After one chance apiece, the defences take centre stage and the first half offers few clear openings. After the break it is again Folgore who start better, with Golinucci’s run into the box failing to trouble Nardi. In this spell Lasagni’s side have the upper hand, working the ball to Ura on his right – his first-time effort from the heart of the area lacks the precision required. The turning point arrives on 76 minutes, when Folgore switch play out wide to Pancotti: the San Marino winger cuts inside onto his left, drives at his marker before beating him and curling an extraordinary shot past Nardi. Tre Fiori throw men forward in search of an equaliser, but Boldini and Benedettini cannot find a way past Guddo. There is nothing more to report from the evening in Montecchio, which sees Folgore draw level with Fiorentino in third place on 33 points – four clear of Tre Fiori and two behind La Fiorita, who are in action tomorrow in the big match against Tre Penne. Tomorrow’s fixtures, valid for Matchday 16 of the Campionato Sammarinese, will also, as always, be broadcast live streaming and on-demand on the Titani.TV platform. Here is the provisional schedule:

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