League: Virtus progress powered by the B factor, Tre Penne by the constant zero

After Tuesday’s fireworks came the more measured game plans of Wednesday. The two ties that started from the goalless deadlock in the first leg produced similarly cautious developments, which ultimately suited Virtus and Tre Penne.

In Acquaviva, Cosmos immediately try to release Gjurchinoski – but the striker, from a very inviting position, can’t steer his effort on target. At the other end, Tre Penne are centimetres away from taking the lead on the Turchetta-Pieri axis, with the latter nodding just wide. Turchetta’s initiatives provide the main threats to Selva’s defence, who are spared by a Semprini intervention on the half-hour. Cosmos are the side in need of a goal, and their job is made harder when Santoni goes off injured on 37 minutes. His replacement Andretta is immediately involved in the move which, after an Islamaj-Ceccaroli one-two, sees Ambrosini side-foot into an empty net. All in vain, though: the San Marino winger had started from an offside position. A first half higher in intensity than quality ends with a big chance for Peluso, whose shot is blocked by Maioli’s body. At the start of the second half Gjurchinoski clips the crossbar with an overhit cross, while the subsequent set-piece attempts do little to trouble Migani. In truth, the City club’s biggest scare comes from a clumsy intervention by D’Addario who – with Migani out of the picture – crashes a header against his own crossbar, watching the ball drop behind for a corner. From then to full time it’s more kicking than football: Peluso and Grieco pay the price, both sent off on 88 minutes after getting tangled up. In terms of this season, that will only be an issue for Tre Penne, who reach the semi-finals against La Fiorita after a double 0-0 draw – and will have to do without their former star man for at least one match.

Not much more thrilling was the clash at the “Ezio Conti” in Dogana, where Virtus immediately go close through Zenoni – picked out in the box by Piscitella. Benincasa does no better midway through the half, blasting over from close range after a perfect Zenoni assist. Shortly afterwards, the Bologna-born forward more than makes amends: timing his run in behind Bakalyar to perfection onto a long ball from Rinaldi, he unleashes a shot of extraordinary power and precision from the corner of the penalty area, the ball kissing the bar before nestling behind a stunned Davide Colonna. A goal of rare beauty by Benincasa, both in execution and in the angle from which he struck it. Forced either to win or go out, Juvenes Dogana finally throw caution to the wind. A well-worked move down the flank results in a venomous cross from Pedini, and an uncertain piece of goalkeeping from Venturini almost lets the Serravalle club back into it, but his fellow defenders snuff out the danger. In the opposite box, Davide Colonna is decisive in keeping Biancorossazzurri hopes alive: Zenoni embarks on a coast-to-coast run before squaring to Piscitella to finish from the heart of the area, but the San Marino keeper produces the right reflex. Early in the second half there is work for Venturini, called into action at his near post by Aprea, who had done well to slip between the lines of the Virtus defence. Soon after, Gianmaria Borghini also has a go, but cannot find the miracle strike from an impossible angle. And if Juvenes Dogana are still in it right to the end, it is only because the Piscitella-Benincasa combination smashes against the base of Colonna’s right-hand post, with the goalkeeper beaten on that occasion. The Neroverdi continue to waste chances to land the knockout blow, but Boldrini’s men are no longer incisive enough when it comes to turning their attacking intentions into something concrete to try and salvage a situation that, minute by minute, looks ever more critical. Almost desperate, when on 87 minutes Nicola Sartini slaloms past opponents to free up a right-footed effort from the edge of the area that fails to trouble Venturini. It is the swansong for Juvenes Dogana, who concede the 0-2 on 90+1 minutes, when Buonocunto pounces on Colonna’s parry, virtually carrying the ball over the line with him and sending Virtus into the play-off semi-finals against Domagnano.

Below are the outcomes of the two-legged ties at the stage of the Championship 2025-26 play-off quarter-finals: