League: title party postponed for Virtus, Fiorentino back smiling

This afternoon four important Campionato Sammarinese fixtures were played, crucial both in the title race and in the battle for the play-off places. On the pitch were leading contenders Virtus, La Fiorita, Fiorentino and Tre Fiori, all of whom came out on top in their respective matches.

At 15:00 at the “Ezio Conti” Stadium in Dogana it was Faetano v Virtus. Total dominance from the Neroverdi, who imposed their game right from the opening minutes. Bizzotto’s men took the lead as early as the 12th minute: Sabato delivered a perfect ball into the box for Benincasa, whose shot was saved by Forconesi. However, the goalkeeper failed to hold it, the ball stayed alive in the area and was quickly pounced on by Pecci, sharpest to react to the loose ball and turn it into the net for 1-0. Virtus kept pushing, creating plenty of chances, such as the one for Golinucci who, picked out by Benincasa, tried his luck but Forconesi made a crucial save to turn it behind for a corner. On the half-hour mark, fine play from Sabato to find Buonocunto, who back-heeled the ball back to his team-mate before the cross into the middle for Benincasa, whose finish was once again denied by Forconesi. After so much pressure, the Neroverdi doubled their lead on 40 minutes from the penalty spot: Pecci drove into the area and was brought down by Csiszer. Buonocunto stepped up from twelve yards, aiming to the keeper’s right; Forconesi got a hand to it but could not keep it out and it was 2-0. After the break, Bizzotto’s side managed the lead and went close to a third through Lombardi and Golinucci, but were repeatedly denied by an alert Forconesi. Also noteworthy was the substitution of the booked Buonocunto, with an eye on the next clash with Tre Fiori. The Acquaviva club controlled proceedings through to the final whistle. Owing to La Fiorita’s victory, the title celebrations are temporarily on hold. Virtus now have an appointment next Saturday 19 April when they face Tre Fiori in Montecchio.

At the same time but at the Montecchio Stadium, La Fiorita ran out 2-0 winners over Folgore. It was a game full of chances, including a fine move by Lunadei, who picked out Olcese; he tried to wriggle free between two defenders before laying the ball off to Affonso, whose shot was blocked. From the continuation of the move, Olcese tried the effort but it was deflected behind for a corner. Shortly afterwards, the Gialloblu struck the crossbar through Cicarelli, a warning sign ahead of the breakthrough which came in the 28th minute: Brighi was brought down in the box by Guddo and Andorran referee Chiaramonti pointed to the spot. Olcese took responsibility from the spot, Guddo guessed the right way but could not prevent the goal for 1-0. In the closing minutes of the first half, Marco Gasperoni hit the post after a splendid one-two with Affonso. Just a few minutes into the second half, the Giallorossoneri wasted a golden chance to level when Sartori stepped up from the spot after Mazzotti’s foul on Pancotti: powerful strike, but Zavoli guessed correctly and saved. Zavoli was on hand again to keep out Brolli’s free-kick, before a fine move from the Gialloblu involving Affonso, this time with Guddo coming out to narrow the angle and deny the La Fiorita forward. The game remained finely poised and in the 76th minute Folgore came within a whisker of equalising when Adami Martins’ header was kept out by a vital intervention from Gasperoni. Ceci’s men, however, killed the contest off a few minutes from time: Zaccaria released Massari down the left, his cross flashed across the box and found Olcese, who slotted home to complete his brace and make it 2-0. The table remains unchanged: La Fiorita stay five points off the top with only two rounds remaining.

In Domagnano, a statement performance from Fiorentino, who swept aside Domagnano to claim three vital points. The Rossoblu started strongly and fashioned a big chance inside the opening quarter of an hour: a miracle save from Colonna on a thunderous strike by Galeone immediately preserved the deadlock. A few minutes later, the side led by newly appointed coach Fabrizio Costantini – back in charge of the Rossoblu after several years – earned a penalty after Faetanini fouled Abouzziane. The striker took the spot-kick himself, sending Colonna the wrong way to make it 0-1. The Giallorossi almost levelled at the end of the first half through Moscardi, who seized on a mistake by goalkeeper Benedettini when coming out, but Diop cleared Babboni’s effort off the line. After the restart, Fiorentino put the game to bed: on 49 minutes Belward collected from Abouzziane, set himself and fired a left-footed shot past Colonna for the second. On 61 minutes Belward was again the provider, sliding in Chiaruzzi, who made no mistake from close range and finished for the final 3-0. It was a comprehensive win for the Rossoblu, their first in two and a half months. For Domagnano, meanwhile, their play-off bid is becoming more complicated after a fifth straight defeat.

Rounding off Sunday’s late kick-offs, at the “Federico Crescentini” Stadium in Fiorentino it was Cailungo v Tre Fiori. It was a hard-fought contest between the two sides, with the Gialloblu able to overturn an early deficit. After a balanced first half, the Rossoverdi broke the deadlock in the second period: a quick exchange between Colagiovanni and Labas, with the former receiving the return pass and, with a precise right-footed finish, beating Nardi for 1-0 to Cailungo. Girolomoni’s men reacted within a few minutes: in the 54th minute, from a corner, Benedettini delivered a pinpoint cross for Prandelli who rose highest to head home for 1-1. Four minutes later, again Benedettini from the corner flag, this time picking out Rea, who managed to get the decisive touch to complete the turnaround. Late on, Manfroni had the chance to seal it but, with the goal gaping, fired incredibly wide. In stoppage time Cailungo also had the opportunity to make it 2-2, but Bastianelli failed to hit the target. It finished 2-1 to Tre Fiori, who remain third in the table.