League: Tre Penne back in the title hunt as Ceccaroli downs Virtus

On the Sunday of the Ceccaroli brothers, Luca’s strike in the 82nd minute keeps Tre Penne’s title defence hopes alive. Ceci’s side, ten points off the top, could not afford any missteps, and the match in Montecchio could not have gone any better for the Biancazzurri. At the first attempt, in fact, the reigning champions take the lead through Righini: Vandi’s cross balloons up and drops onto the midfielder’s head, giving him his fourth goal of the league campaign. It is Virtus who make the running, camping in the opposition half from the very first exchanges. Migani is called into action several times, but the former Rimini keeper is in one of those moods that make beating him a real feat. Just ask Tortori and Pecci. At the other end, Badalassi and Pieri try to threaten on the counter, but Passaniti has little or nothing to worry about. After the half-hour mark the Neroverdi begin to find more consistent ways of getting around Tre Penne’s well-organised defensive set-up. It takes a series of outstanding saves from Migani to deny the equaliser to Pecci, Tortori and Angeli. However, on 44 minutes comes the leveller: Buonocunto’s corner finds Rinaldi at the far post for a thumping header that makes it 1-1. And to think that in the two minutes of stoppage time, Virtus failed to convert two more glorious chances through Tortori and Pecci, both wasteful in front of Migani. Virtus also dictate play after the restart, but even Buonocunto has to bow to a stunning save by Migani on his angled drive from the heart of the penalty area. At the other end Tre Penne threaten through Pieri, who spins and shoots just wide with his right. We move into the final half hour, when it is the reigning champions who find the decisive moment: Barretta swings the ball to the far post where, in the duel between Battistini and Ceccaroli, it is the latter who gets the better of his marker and prods home from two yards out with the sole of his foot. It’s the 82nd minute and Tre Penne have scored the winner that allows Ceci’s side to stay in the title race, now six points behind Virtus and seven adrift of La Fiorita – who secured the winter title at the end of the first round having finished the day top of the table. At the same time in Fiorentino, Tre Fiori and Domagnano served up just as much drama. It was a fine performance from the Wolves, today in all black. Paolo Rossi’s team looked bright and clinical, at least for 75 minutes. Not enough, however, to inflict defeat on their opponents, who once again showcased their ability to cling onto a match right to the very last second. So, after an early left-foot effort wide from Islamaj, it is Nardi who makes the first decisive intervention – racing off his line to smother Mattia Ceccaroli’s right-footed effort. Just before the interval, Bernardi finds himself with a great headed chance to put Tre Fiori in front, but the winger betrays his lack of confidence in the air. The second half brings fireworks. After a good counter-attack snuffed out by the Tre Fiori backline, an excess of confidence from Nardi ends up opening the door for Gregori, who makes no mistake and breaks the deadlock. De Falco’s men – with Stradaioli standing in on the bench – struggle to find an outlet for their build-up play and, after a couple of long-range efforts dealt with by Colonna, they end up paying the price on another counter. This time it is Perazzini who tears down the left flank before squaring for Mattia Ceccaroli, who in the 65th minute makes no mistake with his right foot. With their backs to the wall, Tre Fiori – who a minute before Domagnano’s second had squandered a great chance to equalise through Cirrttola – unleash all their firepower. It’s the 78th minute when Islamaj, from a corner situation, rifles the ball past Colonna from close range to halve the deficit. Just two minutes later, the number ten repeats the trick with a thunderbolt from twenty metres that flies into the top corner. A goal to watch over and over again, sealing the final 2-2 scoreline. The result stands despite late attempts from Islamaj himself, Ruocco and Parma. Here is the full picture from Matchday 15, the last round of the first half of the season – broadcast in full and free of charge live, with Italian commentary, on TITANI.TV:

---