League: Virtus the new leaders, Fiorita’s last-gasp comeback

Virtus win again – four in a row now – and, while waiting for Tre Fiori and Tre Penne who play tomorrow, move to the top of the Campionato Sammarinese. In this afternoon’s games, valid for Matchday 5, Bizzotto’s side beat the San Marino Academy U22 2-0.

The first part of the match belongs to the champions of San Marino, who try several times, but the Titans’ defence – marshalled today by Achille Conti between the posts – manages to hold out. However, in the 21st minute it is the number 21 in the black-and-green shirt who breaks the deadlock: Montanari plays it short to Amati, who sets his sights from the edge of the area and left-footed, curls it perfectly beyond Conti. Virtus keep pushing and it takes a superb save from Conti on a wicked right-footed effort by Gori to prevent the Acquaviva club from doubling their lead. In the closing stages of the half Academy also show themselves with a great piece of play from Enea Della Balda, who skips past Amati and Gori, but his finish is poor and flies well wide of the target.

After the break Academy turn up the pressure: on the hour mark it is again Della Balda proving the main threat when he latches onto a long ball and drives towards goal; the Titans’ number ten even wins a rebound against Sabato but with the goal at his mercy he fails to hit the target. Virtus stay calm and five minutes later they double their advantage: Montanari wins the ball back and from the byline pulls it back into the area for Buonocunto, who unleashes a powerful right-footed strike into the top corner to make it 2-0 on 66 minutes. Virtus look to kill it off and on 70 minutes go very close with a right-footed effort from substitute Lombardi, which crashes back off the post. Academy are also inches away from scoring shortly afterwards, when Marco Gasperoni meets a cross with a header that flashes centimetres wide, sparing Guddo. The scoreline does not change again and Virtus claim a fourth straight victory, taking them – for the moment – back to the top of the league.

Honours even instead between Juvenes-Dogana and La Fiorita in a match packed with twists and turns. There is great balance between the two sides in the first half. Around the half-hour mark there are two big chances, one at each end. La Fiorita strike first, thanks above all to a double, crucial intervention by Bakalyar: Affonso, who had earlier also been named Player of the Month, is picked out in the area by Olcese and tries to break the deadlock, but the Juvenes-Dogana centre-back is in the right place and even gets a touch that sends the ball onto the crossbar. Dormi pounces on the rebound, but again Bakalyar says no. On the counter, Aprea produces a fine right-footed effort that forces Zavoli into a two-time save.

After the restart, the match really comes to life. On the hour mark there is contact in the area between Lisi and Zafferani and Beltrano points to the spot. Aprea steps up and makes no mistake. La Fiorita respond: in the 68th minute a free-kick from Nappello is heading for the top corner, but Colonna flies and claws it away with a spectacular save. A minute later Zavoli’s covering challenge on Gianmaria Borghini’s attempt is equally crucial. Just past the quarter-hour of the second half, Juvenes-Dogana double their lead: with the Gialloblù all poured forward in the opposition box, they lose a bad ball which Lisi recycles brilliantly, sending Aprea through. The former San Giovanni man drives half the pitch with the ball at his feet and, once inside the area, beats the advancing Zavoli. It seems all over for the Serravalle side, but a foul in the area by Ghiggini on Guidi leads to a penalty in the 83rd minute for La Fiorita. Guidi himself keeps his cool and pulls one back. Ceci’s Gialloblù believe, and in the first minute of stoppage time they complete the comeback: once again two substitutes are the protagonists, with Zafferani heading vertically for Vitaioli, who slips between defenders and beats Colonna for 2-2. In the 94th minute Fiorita even have the chance to win it when a deft touch from Affonso picks out Semprini, but Colonna is quick off his line; the loose ball breaks to Barretta, who however commits a foul in attack. In the end Beltrano calls time: it finishes 2-2 in Montecchio, and La Fiorita remain unbeaten.

Here is the updated Matchday 5 schedule after this afternoon’s games. Three more matches tomorrow, all kicking off at 15:00 and live on Titani.tv.