League: Unstoppable Virtus, Fiorentino win at the death

It’s an unstoppable Virtus side that clinches a tenth consecutive victory, keeping a firm grip on top spot in the Campionato Sammarinese BKN301. This time it is Folgore who succumb to the Neroverdi’s blows in the Sunday evening fixture of matchday ten. The first chance of the game at the "Federico Crescentini" in Fiorentino falls to the Acquaviva side, who come within a whisker of taking the lead in the 22nd minute: Pecci strikes superbly with his left foot, but the ball crashes against the angle of post and bar. The deadlock is broken right at the end of the half: from a corner taken, as usual, by Buonocunto, Rinaldi rises highest and flicks it on for Sabato, who heads home to give Virtus the lead. After the restart, Bizzotto’s men look to kill off the contest early, but on 56 minutes Benincasa rattles the crossbar after an excellent team move. Just after the hour it is again Benincasa who has another chance after another fine exchange with Tortori, but his left-footed effort from a good position is powerful yet finishes well off target. Virtus fail to put the game to bed, so Folgore try to spoil the Neroverdi’s plans. In the 77th minute they have a gilt‑edged chance to equalise: Sartori’s free-kick is helped back into the danger area by Angelini, Passaniti parries, the ball stays in the six-yard box where Ankotovych tries his luck but, incredibly, he fails to hit the target. But the "law" of missed chance-conceded goal punishes Lasagni’s Giallorossoneri, because just two minutes later Virtus double their lead: Buonocunto, from the edge of the box, delivers an assist onto the head of Tortori; the ball also hits the post before nestling behind Lazzarini. Late on there is even a chance for a third with the newly introduced Angeli, who moves well in the box but fires over from close range. It is not a major concern for Virtus, who celebrate a tenth win on the spin and stay five points clear of second-placed La Fiorita. Besides boasting a wonderfully functioning attack, the Neroverdi can also record another clean sheet (their sixth of the campaign) along with the best defence, with only four goals conceded. They have also never let in more than one goal per game. Folgore, by contrast, extend their poor run with a second straight defeat. Fiorentino, meanwhile, snatch victory with the very last kick, edging Libertas by a single goal in Montecchio. In the first half it is Sperindio’s Granata who find the net on 41 minutes through Grieco, but the assistant referee disallows it for offside. In the second half, too, the backlines marshalled by the two Benedettinis – Elia for Libertas and Simone for Fiorentino – get the better of the opposing attacks, at least until the 90th minute, when the goal that decides the contest arrives. In the first minute of stoppage time, the Rossoblu Maxi Baizan, from the edge of the area, plays it wide to Colagiovanni, who sends the ball across for Salemme, whose control and precise right‑footed finish beat Elia Benedettini to the delight of Fiorentino. Libertas push until the very end, but Camillini’s side hold firm and claim a precious victory that lifts them into ninth place on ten points, one more than the Granata. On a Sunday short of goals – just three scored in total – the match in Domagnano between Cailungo and Pennarossa ends goalless, but it does yield the Biancorossi’s first point of the season. The Chiesanuova side might even have broken the deadlock in the fourth minute, but Montefrancesco’s fine left‑footed effort from the edge of the box thunders against the woodwork. Cailungo respond at the end of the half with a header from Raschi, but Lazzarini is outstanding and palms the attempt away. In the 69th minute, Iencinella’s team have a chance to go in front when Urbinati collects the ball following a corner and shoots on target, only to be denied by the post. Cailungo keep pushing, but Pennarossa hold out and take home their first point of the league campaign, bringing to an end a run of nine straight defeats, though they remain bottom of the table. It’s a second consecutive draw instead for the Rossoverdi, who are currently seventh with eleven points to their name. Finally, here is the updated schedule for the tenth round of the Campionato Sammarinese BKN301:

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