League: Tre Penne back to winning ways after five rounds, Virtus win and move above Folgore

Tre Penne finally break their run of draws after five games that had all finished level. An early goal from Palazzi and a missed penalty by Salemme on 19 minutes prove fatal for Fiorentino, whose own streak of one draw and two wins comes to an end. As mentioned, it takes very little for the game to really open up. With less than a minute played Tre Penne already have a corner, punched clear by Benedettini. Dormi keeps the move alive, Guidi rescues a ball that seems destined to run out of play, and Moscardi, scuffing his shot, in effect serves up a gift for Palazzi, who brings it onto his left and lashes it violently in under the crossbar. Tarini’s side respond from a set piece: Belward’s free-kick delivery is excellent, but it thuds back off the post. Belward is dangerous again after a wide one-two with El Ardoudi: his shot is straight at Migani and the save is routine. Fiorentino remain very lively, especially Abouzziane, who in the 18th minute bursts at great speed between two opponents and, under pressure from Dormi, goes to ground. The referee points to the spot and Fiorentino hand the penalty to Salemme. Migani decides to hold his position in the centre of the goal, and it proves the right choice because the shot lacks angle and the Berardi number 1 is even able to hold it. Tre Penne push back upfield and carve out two big chances to double their lead through Guidi: first he is denied one-on-one by Benedettini, then the combined efforts of Benedettini and Diagne block him on a gilt‑edged chance created by Ceccaroli. The second half is anything but explosive, yet it immediately offers a scare: from a free-kick Amati bounces the ball just in front of the goal line, but Benedettini is alert and turns it behind for a corner. Guidi makes another attempt to get on the scoresheet (a curling left‑footer that drifts just wide) while, at the other end, Belward slaloms past opponents before unleashing a left-footed strike that Migani gets a crucial touch to, preserving a lead that – confirmed at the final whistle – gives Tre Penne their first win since Matchday 2, almost two months ago. Virtus had been without a win for a much shorter spell, having also taken three points in their previous outing, and they back that up in Friday’s other early kick-off, against Folgore. It was effectively one of the big games of the round (together with tomorrow’s La Fiorita v Cosmos), between the former second-placed and former fourth-placed sides. Former, because with this win sealed by Alessandro Golinucci the Neroverdi knock Folgore off second place and temporarily move onto the heels of leaders Cosmos, pending the latter’s own big match. Folgore had not lost since the opening day and again in this 8th-round curtain-raiser they showed they are in excellent form. There are many chances for the side of the suspended Lasagni, starting from midway through the first half, when Pitti pounces on a misplaced back‑pass to burst through the defensive line and shoot from a good position: his left‑footer, however, is not far enough into the corner and Passaniti saves. After an appeal for a penalty for a possible handball by Ciacci, Folgore again come close to taking the lead, once more through Pitti. Again it all stems from a Virtus error in possession: Vallocchia releases Enrico Golinucci, who evades Passaniti’s very advanced rush off his line and squares for Pitti, who fails to hit the target of an unguarded goal. The last snapshot of the half also has Folgore’s stamp on it: Pitti accelerates down the flank and delivers a very dangerous cross for Ura, who is guilty of arriving late to the rendezvous. Buonocunto opens the second half with a shot from the edge of the box that goes just wide. But Folgore’s attacking edge is anything but blunted. Pancotti and Ura both give Passaniti a scare with efforts that miss the far corner by a whisker, especially the number 7’s attempt. Shortly afterwards, it takes a spectacular flying save from Passaniti to deny Ura another chance to get his name on the scoresheet. Folgore stay on the front foot, but it is from one of their unused corners that the counter-attack deciding the game is born. Benincasa releases Pecci, who reaches the byline and pulls the ball back: Toure’s touch makes it perfect for the onrushing Alessandro Golinucci, who only has to open up his left foot to give Virtus a hugely valuable lead. There are still ten minutes plus added time to play. Folgore throw everything forward to avoid a second league defeat and the loss of their place in the table. Pancotti goes close from a Toure knockdown and Ura also has a go: in both situations Passaniti is monumental. And where the Neroverde goalkeeper cannot reach, his team-mates step in – as when Sabato blocks Cateni’s diagonal effort with Passaniti (perhaps) beaten.

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