League: Virtus crowned winter champions, Academy celebrate against Cosmos

With their ninth league win in a row (ten in all competitions if we include the Coppa Titano), Virtus also get the better of Pennarossa and are crowned winter champions. Bizzotto’s side – with their coach having been honoured before kick-off as Manager of the Month – make no mistake in their first outing of the year. The Neroverdi break the deadlock after just a few minutes: a handball in the Pennarossa box leads to a penalty for Virtus. As usual Buonocunto steps up and makes no mistake in the 5th minute. The second goal is not long in coming: from just inside the Cosmos half, Montanari plays a ball in behind; Martini gets a touch but it’s not enough, and the ball runs through for the onrushing Gori, who brings it under control and curls in with his right on 21 minutes. Bizzotto’s men stay firmly in control and Pennarossa cling on thanks to saves from Gennaro Del Prete, the new signing from Libertas. Virtus, however, fail to find the decisive blow and so Dolci’s team try to spring a surprise. The new face in the Biancorossi ranks, Matteo Zenoni, first forces Passaniti into a superb save and then, from the resulting corner, the goalkeeper can do nothing about the shot from the new signing that makes it 2-1. In the closing stages there is a chance apiece: Pecci fires just wide instead of killing the game off, while Pintore does find the net for Pennarossa but from an offside position. In the end it is Virtus who can celebrate yet another victory and, as mentioned, secure the honorary title of winter champions (three points clear of La Fiorita). The most dramatic match of the day was probably the one in Fiorentino between San Marino Academy and Cosmos. At the "Crescentini" it is Cecchetti’s side who stun Lepri’s men, claiming a hugely valuable 3-2 victory. The first half is all about the Biancoazzurri. The Titani take the lead as early as the 6th minute with Simone Santi, who pounces on an error in Gialloverdi build-up play, robbing Loiodice of the ball and beating debutant keeper Brando Boldrin as he comes out. The Academy are on song and double their advantage on 25 minutes: the move develops down the right with Nicolò Sancisi, who plays a vertical ball for his brother Mattia. The Academy captain drives forward, goes past Fatica and, from a tight angle, curls a brilliant right-footed finish into the net. To round off an almost perfect first half there is another strike from Simone Santi – facing his former club – who on 37 minutes bends in a stunning free-kick for a remarkable 3-0 lead. Cosmos react and pull one back before the break: a cross from Fermi on the right, a header from Ben Kacem towards the far post where Andrea Grandoni arrives to make it 3-1. In the second half Cosmos also send on Imre Badalassi – back after a long lay-off – and it is Lepri’s centre-forward who has a chance almost immediately on 66 minutes, firing with his left from a good position, but Alessandro Casadei – starting in goal after Borasco pulled up in the warm-up – produces a fine save. The Serravalle side pile on more and more pressure, while the Academy defend stoutly, as shown by an excellent block from Riccardo Zafferani once again to deny Badalassi. The San Marino defender is back in the spotlight shortly afterwards (80') when he wins the ball – again from Badalassi – and releases the pacey Marco Gasperoni in behind. Gasperoni drives towards goal but, just when it looks on, fails to hit the target with what could have been the knockout blow. On 84 minutes, though, Cosmos do find the net, inevitably through Badalassi, who marks his return with a goal: Rosini launches it from midfield, Fatica nods it down for the striker, who controls and beats Casadei. The striker’s finish, however, is not enough to complete the comeback and Cecchetti can celebrate. It is a second win in three for the Academy, who edge closer to the post-season, while for Cosmos it is a second consecutive defeat. Virtus are now 11 points clear at the top. Cosmos’s slip-up also benefits Tre Fiori, who beat San Giovanni in Domagnano with a goal in each half and overtake the Gialloverdi into fifth place. Tognacci’s Rossoneri – with Nicola Sartini presented before kick-off with the December Player of the Month award – concede the opener on 28 minutes: Manfroni swings in a cross from deep and picks out Prandelli, who opts for a looping header. The trajectory catches Starna out; he gets a touch but cannot prevent the goal. Early in the second half, however, the San Giovanni keeper is crucial in preventing a second: Prandelli leads a counter-attack and, at the key moment, looks to square for the supporting Bernardi, but Starna reads it perfectly and intercepts. Tognacci’s side respond as they go in search of an equaliser, but a right-footed effort from the edge of the box by Aprea – set up by Sartini – whistles just wide. The contest remains finely balanced until the 72nd minute, when Girolomoni’s Gialloblu land the decisive blow: a fine move starting with Censoni, who releases Pini on the right; his first-time ball finds Benedettini, who controls, shifts the ball onto his left and picks out the far corner for the final 2-0 scoreline. Here is the complete picture from Matchday 15 of the 2024-25 Campionato Sammarinese:

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