League: Virtus the new leaders, Tre Penne beat Tre Fiori and join the title race

Matchday 22 on Sunday fully lived up to expectations. Virtus beat Faetano with a goal in each half and – thanks to the simultaneous defeat of Tre Fiori – move to the top of the table. The Gialloblù lose for the first time in the league, undone by a clinical Tre Penne who win 2-0 and are right back in the title picture. We start from the Montecchio big match between Tre Fiori and Tre Penne. The early stages favour the Gialloblù – today coached by Stradaioli, standing in for the suspended Girolomoni – who threaten first through Prandelli and then Pesaresi. On the half-hour the Tre Fiori striker again goes close with a brilliant left-footed turn, but Migani is equal to it. Tre Penne sit deep and – at the moment when the leaders seem in full control – strike to take the lead: on 32 minutes Errico wins the ball back on the edge of the attacking third and launches the counter, then at the edge of the box slips it wide to Bartoli who, with a delicate touch, lifts it over the onrushing Migani to the far post, where Filippo Berardi pounces decisively. Tre Fiori roar back and on 43 minutes have a big chance to level: Migani saves everything from Bernardi’s effort, and on the rebound Braschi tries his luck but hits the post.

The start of the second half mirrors the first: Tre Fiori make the running and Tre Penne defend. The Biancazzurri have to thank their goalkeeper Migani in the 52nd minute, as a fantastic reflex stop denies Bernardi’s header. Another chance for the pressing Gialloblù falls to Scarcella, who, unmarked from close range, cannot generate enough power with his header. Just as in the first half, Bonini’s men hit again to double their lead: Pieri and Scarcella duel for a long ball, the Tre Penne forward comes out on top and plays in Peluso, who races through on goal, rounds Nardi and – despite the tight angle – manages to find the net. Tre Fiori keep forcing the issue and on 72 minutes another opening for the Gialloblù falls to Benedettini, but Migani – one of the standout Biancazzurri performers today – is monumental yet again and clears. The Fiorentino side push on with sheer desperation and on 80 minutes Sensoli, stretching to reach the ball, is only centimetres away from reopening it. But it is not Tre Fiori’s day: in the space of one afternoon they lose their unbeaten record (their last defeat in the regular season dated back to April 2025) and surrender top spot. By contrast it is a hugely positive afternoon for Bonini’s Tre Penne, who had not beaten the Gialloblù in the regular season for three years (in another match also played in February…). The Biancazzurri close in on the Gialloblù, now just three points behind, and thrust themselves back into the title race.

The other big side celebrating are Virtus, who at Dogana beat Faetano with a goal in each half to reclaim top spot. There was less drama at the “Ezio Conti”, with the deadlock broken on the half-hour: cross from the left by Piscitella, Galesi comes out but not convincingly, the ball stays dangerously in the six-yard box where Zenoni is quickest to react to score his ninth goal of the league campaign. Bizzotto’s side keep pushing and, just before the interval, go agonisingly close to doubling their lead when Golinucci hits the outside of the post – after being picked out by a delightful pass from Zenoni.

After the break, it is Scappini who kills the game off 15 minutes from time: the striker finishes in the area after Lombardi’s overhead-kick assist – both players having come on in the second half – to make it 2-0. Sperindio’s Faetano threaten late (83’) through Contino, who can only find the side-netting after a good move. It ends 2-0 at Dogana for Bizzotto’s team, who are now two points clear of Tre Fiori at the top.

There was an even more emphatic and comprehensive win for Domagnano over Murata. Leading the way for the Giallorossi – celebrating a second consecutive victory – was marksman Bonetti, who produced four goals and an assist. The game opened up on 21 minutes when Bonetti scored from the spot, before doubling the advantage on 36 minutes with a powerful right-footed strike from a Guglielmi assist. In the second half referee Xhafa awarded a further three penalties: Bonetti converted two of them (53’ and 80’), while Murata missed theirs in the 58th minute when Papi saved Uva’s attempt. In between, on 73 minutes, Ferraro also got on the scoresheet from a pass by MVP Bonetti. It finishes 5-0 to Domagnano in Fiorentino.

Penalties were also decisive in the clash between San Giovanni and Cailungo. It was the Rossoneri, registering a second straight win, who came out on top 2-1. All three goals were scored from the penalty spot. D’angeli opened the scoring on 19 minutes, then Bua levelled for the Rossoverdi on 33. The winner again came via D’angeli, ruthless from twelve yards. San Giovanni draw level with Pennarossa on 20 points and rise to 11th place.

Just a single goal was enough to separate Cosmos and San Marino Academy: it was Selva’s team who took all three points with an hour played, despite a fine performance from the Titani. In the first half it was in fact Di Maio’s youngsters who repeatedly threatened the opener, especially with two chances for Markaj and a crossbar hit by Canarezza. Cosmos survive and the sides go in level at the break. The turning point arrives on 60 minutes: Ceccaroli swings the ball in from the left, Renzi’s clearance is unconvincing, and the former Tre Penne man seizes on it to strike from the edge and beat Conti. That goal decides the match in Domagnano, with Cosmos, thanks to this win, closing the gap to Fiorentino in seventh to just one point.

Below is the full set of results from Matchday 22 of the 2025-26 Campionato Sammarinese: