League: Unstoppable Cosmos, Folgore still perfect

A resounding victory – their first in the league – for Paolo Rossi’s Cosmos. Nothing doing for Pennarossa, whose biggest regrets centre on the Abouzine effort that struck the post on 41 minutes – by which time the Yellow-Greens had already knocked twice on Manzaroli’s door. Lisi opens the floodgates, his first-time left-footed strike finding the far corner after a quarter of an hour. The second arrives on 38 minutes, when Cosmos strike on the counter through the Cremonini-Guidotti axis. The former also finds his way onto the scoresheet, coolly converting a penalty awarded shortly before the interval. After the break, the pattern does not change – if anything, it becomes even clearer: the Yellow-Greens score three more times in just over 15 minutes. Guidotti bags his brace on 48 minutes, pouncing on a loose ball in the box and finishing with a left-footed diagonal. Pennarossa threaten through Abouzziane, who cannot find the corner with his effort from the heart of the area. It is plainly not their day, as Costantini’s men realise again on 55 minutes: first Semprini produces a stunning reflex save to deny Mema, who had diverted the ball goalwards with his chest from no more than three metres out, then Abouzziane sees a goal ruled out for offside from the ensuing corner. It would have made it 5-1, because earlier Cremonini – released by Domini – had completed his personal brace, rounding Manzaroli as he came out. Shortly afterwards, Tonini also gets on the scoresheet, timing his run through the middle to perfection to again find the net following an excellent pass from D’Addario. In the final stages the game becomes completely stretched and the scoreline could have swelled further at both ends: in the end, though, it is only Pennarossa who strike, and only once. The consolation goal on 68 minutes bears Mema’s signature, although a little later he spurns a great chance to complete his brace. At the death, Marco Evaristi wins a penalty for a handball in the wall from his free-kick: from the spot, the Pennarossa midfielder incredibly fires wide.

Packed with incident and tension was the Castello di Serravalle derby between Juvenes Dogana and Folgore, staged at the “Ezio Conti” Stadium. The Falciano club impose themselves in terms of footballing approach and, after going close with a header from Augusto Garcia Rufer, take the lead through their centre-forward. Credit to De Nicolò, who robs Giovagnoli of the ball right on the edge of the opposition area and sets up his team-mate for an unstoppable right-footed finish. Up to that point Juvenes Dogana had only threatened from set pieces, but they find the equaliser at the end of a fine passing move on the floor. It appears to be the former Folgore man Lorenzo Dormi who gets the decisive touch on Giacomo Borghini’s cross, scoring midway through the half. Before the interval, Folgore pass up a couple of promising openings and see a stunning acrobatic strike from De Nicolò disallowed for offside. Their second lead of the night does, however, arrive early in the second half: on 47 minutes Fabbri glances home a corner from Azael Garcia Rufer, steering the derby and all three points towards Falciano. Just before the hour Merli is inches away from 2-2 with a thunderous drive that flashes wide, while Giacomo Borghini miscontrols at the crucial moment on 77 minutes and cannot get his shot away from inside the area. Folgore also have chances to kill the game off and avoid any late scares, but lack composure – particularly with Fabbri in added time. Ricci’s side can nonetheless celebrate a third win from three, keeping them joint-top with Tre Fiori and Tre Penne, all on maximum points.

The clash in Montecchio between Faetano and San Marino Academy proved far less entertaining, with Cancelli’s Biancazzurrini picking up a second consecutive draw. This time, however, the positive result was not accompanied by the proactive, attacking display seen in the opening outings of the season against Fiorentino and La Fiorita. After an early effort from Nicola Molinari, which flew just over on 8 minutes, a good chance falls to Grandoni – his shot is blocked in the area by his marker. In between, a Tugliani header drifts wide. The best chance of the first half falls to Faetano, with Golinucci ghosting in behind Montali before being denied by Amici’s reflex save. The San Marino keeper repeats the feat on 36 minutes, bravely diving at the feet of Rivas, who had broken through on goal from close range. After the restart, Elia and Canarezza both try their luck from distance without causing major problems for either goalkeeper. A more inviting opportunity comes on the hour mark, when Elia drills a shot at the near post with his right foot – only to be thwarted by a brilliant save from Amici. Approaching the 90th minute, the Academy appeal for a penalty after a coming together between Ciacci and Tugliani from a corner, but the referee and his assistant see no grounds for awarding the spot-kick.

Here is the full schedule from Matchday 3 of the 2026-27 Campionato Sammarinese: