League: Virtus stay on track, six-goal thriller in Fiorentino

The table finally splits at the top, with Virtus confirming they belong there thanks to this afternoon’s win over Murata. Behind Bizzotto’s men – their coach absent today for personal reasons – lurks Faetano, seven points adrift of the Acquaviva club and pegged back by Juvenes-Dogana in the 90’+5. At Montecchio, Virtus start the brighter but can’t find a way through in an opening quarter of an hour they control with authority. After Venerucci’s injury, which forced Sarti into an early change with Comuniello coming on, Murata threaten through Valentini – denied by Passaniti. The Neroverdi push with growing continuity, but Buonocunto, Benincasa and Angeli all fail to hit the target. At least until first-half stoppage time, when Virtus score the first of their two goals from corners through Angeli, picked out by the ever-influential Buonocunto. The former Rimini midfielder starts the second half with a moment of genius, a back-heel that sends Benincasa through on goal, only for Manzaroli to block. As so often happens, a missed chance is punished at the other end. And it’s a stunning goal from Baldini, who meets a cushioned ball from Comuniello first time and curls it into the top corner on the hour mark. Virtus could restore their lead, but Benincasa’s lack of ruthlessness and a miraculous save from Costantini keep the scores level. The new Neroverde advantage arrives anyway, again from a Buonocunto corner in the 79th minute: Sabato helps it on at the near post and Ferraro turns into his own net as he tries to intervene. Virtus bank three massive points: Buonocunto and team-mates are now four points off top spot with a game in hand on league leaders La Fiorita. And next weekend brings the looming big match with Cosmos. Behind the leading pack of five sides who currently look capable of fighting for the national title on equal terms, come Faetano. The Gialloblù move onto thirteen points – but in the fourth minute of added time they were sitting on fifteen. Benedetti’s fine swivel and finish in the box spared Juvenes-Dogana from defeat, after they had earlier gone in front through a magnificent twisting header from Pasquinelli, who had struck the crossbar just moments before. Faetano – ponderous in the first half – rediscover a ruthless streak after the break, when Marseljan Mema catches fire. The Albanian forward hits a brace and lays on a goal for Ferrario – all in the space of twenty minutes, to make it 3-1 in the 69th minute. Amati sends on Baldazzi, Merli, D’angeli and Benedetti – all initially rested with an eye on Wednesday’s first leg of the Coppa Titano BKN301 quarter-finals – and turns the game around. Merli halves the deficit with a quarter of an hour remaining, before Benedetti uses all his guile and street-smarts to wriggle free in the penalty area, cushion a header and unleash the turn and shot that beats Porcellini for a cathartic, final 3-3.

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