League, Quarter-finals: La Fiorita through despite a good Faetano; Fiorentino’s super Benedettini not enough as Tre Fiori deliver

It was yellow-and-blue joy in both of Sunday’s first-leg Quarter-final ties in the Campionato Sammarinese playoffs. La Fiorita beat Faetano 2-1 – with Ricchiuti’s side waking up too late – while Tre Fiori took the Fiorentino derby against Costantini’s Rossoblù, despite a super Benedettini who prevented a debacle.

 Before kick-off in Montecchio (match scheduled for 15:00), Ceci had to do without Mazzotti, who pulled up in the warm-up, so Filippo Santi started in defence from the off. Very little happened in the opening stages; on 24 minutes La Fiorita put together a fine team move, with a cross from Marco Gasperoni that only found Acquarelli, whose chest control turned dangerously towards Forconesi, forcing the goalkeeper into action to avert the danger. La Fiorita grew as the minutes went by and broke the deadlock just before the half-hour: a free-kick from the right by Cicarelli was swung into the box, where Olcese made no mistake. Goal number 18 in the league for him, behind only Prandelli. Ceci’s team were far from satisfied and doubled just a few minutes later: Marco Gasperoni won the ball back high up the pitch and, once he reached the right edge of the box, unleashed a stunning right-footed strike that gave Forconesi no chance. All the momentum was with the Montegiardino Gialloblù, who on 36 minutes went very close to a third: Affonso got past Bertuccini out wide and squared it, Forconesi got a touch but the ball then dropped dangerously at the far post for Vitaioli, who from the corner of the six-yard box somehow blazed over. Before the interval there was another chance for La Fiorita: a free-kick from the edge by Alberto Riccardi, whose left-footer was heading for the bottom corner, but it took a super save from Forconesi to prevent it becoming 3-0. Despite the two-goal cushion, Ceci’s side did not take their foot off the gas after the restart and tried to stretch their lead further. On 55 minutes Riccardi persistently drove to the byline and pulled the ball back; Affonso couldn’t get there but Gasperoni was well placed on the edge of the box and hit a first-time volley, failing however to hit the target. Faetano couldn’t find a reaction to the blows landed by their opponents, who kept pressing relentlessly. On 67 minutes it was Affonso – among the best for La Fiorita – who tried his luck from the edge, but Forconesi parried; the backline of Ricchiuti’s Gialloblù then failed to clear properly, so Semprini had a go, only for his right-footed effort to crash against the crossbar. Despite being in full control of the match, a mistake by Brighi in the build-up on 74 minutes proved costly for La Fiorita: Romano – who had come on at half-time in place of Famiglietti – nicked the ball off him and, once through on Zavoli, skipped past the keeper with a delightful touch. The goal that halved the deficit inevitably fired Faetano up as they went in search of a major result. Just before the ninetieth minute a free-kick by Brisigotti flew just over the bar, but the clearest chance came in stoppage time. A cross from deep by Bertuccini perfectly picked out Acquarelli who directed it goalwards, but Zavoli was decisive and saved his side. It finished 2-1 to La Fiorita, with Faetano waking up too late. In the second leg – scheduled for Wednesday 7/5 – Ricchiuti’s team will have to win by two clear goals to go through. 

 Also in Montecchio, but at 18:15, it was then time for the Fiorentino derby between Tre Fiori and Fiorentino. The contest opened up as early as the 16th minute: a short corner from Bernardi to Benedettini, who drove to the byline and then delivered a pinpoint cross into the area (his 8th assist of the season) for the head of Alberto Tomassini, who rose highest and scored his first league goal. Fiorentino immediately replied with a fine free-kick from out wide by Abouzziane, struck directly on goal, but Nardi punched clear. Ten minutes after taking the lead, Girolomoni’s side struck again. Diagne and Bernardi tangled in the box and referee Ricciarini pointed straight to the spot without hesitation: Prandelli made no mistake (19th goal) and Tre Fiori doubled their lead. Fiorentino, however, reacted and pulled one back on 30 minutes: Abouzziane persisted down the left and sent the ball across, with Belward getting the better of Pesaresi by getting in front of him and then slotting home for 2-1. The match remained very much alive and shortly afterwards Costantini’s side had a chance to equalise, but from close range Diagne’s right-footed effort lacked accuracy. Before the break, though, Girolomoni’s men restored their two-goal advantage over their rivals: on the trajectory of a fine right-footed shot by Federico Dolcini – facing today his brother Andrea, who plays for Fiorentino – came the decisive touch from the inevitable Prandelli, who completed his brace (20th league goal).

The second half began with Tre Fiori looking to wrap up qualification. On 56 minutes a big chance fell to Manfroni, who looked set to finish off an excellent move by the Gialloblù, but his right-footed strike – powerful and well-placed – was kept out by a brilliant intervention from Simone Benedettini. A few minutes later it looked as if the fourth goal for the Gialloblù had arrived, but Federico Benedettini’s powerful left-footer crashed against the angle of post and bar and bounced out just in front of the goal-line. Tre Fiori kept pouring forward and it took another great save from Simone Benedettini to deny Prandelli (65’) and once again keep Fiorentino in it. If Costantini’s side stayed in the game, it was entirely down to their goalkeeper who, after those interventions, was once again the main man on 77 minutes when Prandelli’s inch-perfect cross picked out Bernardi’s head, only for the reflex save from Benedettini to prove decisive. The minutes ticked away and Tre Fiori continued to chase a fourth goal. The Gialloblù, however, only managed to force the fourth crucial save from Benedettini, the undisputed star of the second half, when he again denied Prandelli his hat-trick. It finished 3-1 to Tre Fiori in Montecchio, bringing the semi-finals into even sharper focus. Next Wednesday Fiorentino will need a minor miracle to progress (they must win by three clear goals).

This weekend also saw a delegation of referees from the San Marino Referees’ Association fly out to Andorra as part of the regular exchange programme between federations. Michele Beltrano took charge of the match between Rangers and Santa Coloma, assisted by Alessandro Salvatori and Andrea Zaghini, with Mattia Andruccioli acting as fourth official.

Here is the full schedule for the Campionato Sammarinese play-off Quarter-finals: