League: Pennarossa win at the death, draw between Faetano and Libertas

A convincing start from Spartera’s Faetano in today’s clash with Libertas, played on the artificial pitch in Acquaviva. After a series of attempts thwarted by the maroon back line, Devenuto has the chance to give his side the lead on 25 minutes, but fires over the bar from the heart of the penalty area. In football, missed chances often come back to haunt you: the most famous unwritten law of the game takes effect three minutes later, when Caputo brings down Casotti and concedes a penalty. The goalkeeper is unable to redeem himself in the one-on-one from the spot with Morelli: the Libertas captain puts the Borgo Maggiore club ahead with a perfectly taken kick just before the half-hour. The episode unlocks Buda’s side, dangerous again through Fabio Ramòn Tomassini before the interval and at the start of the second half. However, after the break comes the Faetano reaction, with Devenuto levelling on 55 minutes – clinical in making the most of Morgante’s unstoppable surge, who deserves most of the credit for the move that leads to the equaliser. The result is an open, lively final half hour, with the game on a knife-edge: the score stays at 1-1 also because both forward lines lack a cutting edge in front of goal.

The meeting between Pennarossa and San Giovanni goes the way of the Chiesanuova club, who deserve credit for their determined approach to the game. Dulcetti rattles the crossbar after just 4 minutes with a stunning left-foot curler. Twenty minutes later Casadei is decisive again in denying the former Faetano man: in the continuation of the move, Ricchiuti’s side appeal for a possible handball in the box. The duel between Dulcetti and Casadei resumes on the half-hour, with the San Giovanni goalkeeper once again coming out on top. He can do nothing, though, to prevent Gregori making it 1-0, finding space at the far post to nod home Depaoli’s perfect delivery on 40 minutes. San Giovanni show signs of life after the break, dragged forward by Gakou: the forward initiates the move that leads to the equaliser – which arrives shortly after the hour mark – finished off with great composure by D’angeli, who does brilliantly to meet Della Valle’s driven cross-shot with a diving finish. In a frenetic finale it is Pennarossa who once again edge in front to claim three precious points: Varrella starts and finishes the move that seals the win, which also features a dramatic goal-line clearance by Tiraferri. The centre-back denies Dulcetti a certain goal, but the ball falls kindly to Varrella, who can spark the red-and-white celebrations.

It’s all straightforward in Domagnano for La Fiorita, who hit three without reply against Cailungo. The first signs of the breakthrough come on 6 minutes, when Radici clears off the line to deny what looked a certain goal for Affonso, who was already preparing to celebrate. The same fate befalls Guidi’s acrobatic effort, finished in great style but from an offside position. Shortly afterwards Gallinetta is called into action to deal with Olcese’s right-foot effort from the edge of the area; the experienced striker will get on the scoresheet on the half-hour. He converts a penalty awarded for a foul by Iuzzolino on Affonso: nothing doing for Gallinetta, sent the wrong way on this occasion. Inzerauto tries to shake Cailungo with an off-target right-footer, while at the other end Vitaioli and Gasperoni both threaten a second. La Fiorita must wait until the 56th minute to celebrate their 2-0 goal, directly from a corner, courtesy of the Cicarelli-Brighi combination. Midway through the half Zavoli is quick off his line to deny Radici, first to react to a loose ball in the yellow-and-blue area. Overall, Ceci’s side produce such an authoritative performance that they do not allow a single shot on target. In fact, in the closing stages there is time for Brighi to hit the bar – again with a header from a corner – before the third goal finally arrives. This one also comes from a corner and completes Olcese’s brace, meeting Dormi’s inswinging delivery.

Virtus keep on winning and move into second place on their own. The 18:15 kick-off is decided in emphatic fashion by Bizzotto’s side: a 4-0 victory over Fiorentino, with Lombardi the undisputed MVP of the contest. The number 11 starts making his mark as early as the 4th minute, when he whips in a cross that Sabato, arriving right on cue at the far post, turns into the opening goal. Just a few minutes later, Lombardi again – who in the meantime had gone close to scoring himself after a ricochet – delivers from the right to pick out Buonocunto inside the six-yard box, who duly taps in for 2-0. Virtus wobble when Ben Kacem bursts clear, leaving Sabato in his wake before shooting straight at Guddo; Gjonaj picks up the loose ball but squanders more than a simple tap-in. Benedettini stretches to tip away Amati’s free-kick, then is let off the hook by Benincasa who, on the umpteenth moment of magic from Lombardi, finds himself clean through on the Fiorentino goalkeeper but drags his shot wide. The half ends in controversy after Ben Kacem’s goal is initially allowed but then ruled out for a fairly clear shirt pull by the Fiorentino forward on De Lucia before finishing. After the restart Fiorentino immediately threaten through Gjonaj, who forces Guddo into a fine save. The champions’ reply once again comes from Lombardi, who this time puts it on a plate for Zenoni, wastefully profligate at the back post. Gjonaj tries again: his effort beats Guddo but not De Lucia, who clears off the line. Benedettini has to intervene on a wicked Virtus corner, before Fiorentino respond with three attempts – shots from Ben Kacem, Tosse and especially Dolcini, who goes within a whisker of finding the top corner. Virtus sense it is time to put the game to bed, and there is only one man for the job: Lombardi. The number 11 in black and green crowns his display with a piece of pure brilliance: a lob struck directly from the centre circle. The final seal on Acquaviva’s fifth consecutive win – their fourth with a clean sheet – is applied by Scappini from the spot in the first minute of added time, after a tangle between Diop and Capicchioni.

Here is the partial schedule for Matchday 6 of the 2025-26 Campionato Sammarinese: