League: Virtus stumble, Tre Fiori draw level and Tre Penne three points off top

A new chapter in the title race on this Saturday of Campionato Sammarinese early fixtures: Tre Penne, needing to close the gap on Tre Fiori and Virtus, come flying out of the blocks against Juvenes Dogana – going 3-0 up inside the first half-hour. Peluso breaks the deadlock after just 47 seconds with a fine lob over Battistini, while Pieri doubles the lead with a simple finish after Mosquera’s knockdown at the far post. In between, both Migani and Battistini pull off excellent saves. On 27 minutes a through ball from Casadio sends Berardi onto the scoresheet. Before the interval Migani is called into action again to beat away Lisi’s powerful right-footed strike. In the second half Tre Penne manage their advantage expertly, with Bonini’s men twice going close to a fourth through Pastorelli, who is denied by Battistini. Juvenes Dogana, for their part, appeal for a penalty on 72 minutes, while substitute Aprea causes some anxiety in the light-blue rearguard. The finale belongs to Boldrini’s side, who pull one back on 80 minutes through Benedetti – set up by Gianmaria Borghini’s assist. The scoreline does not change again despite Badalassi’s efforts and a trivela attempt by Borghini himself. It goes into the books as another overall positive day for Tre Penne – now three points off top spot, helped by Virtus dropping points and being caught on 56 by Tre Fiori.

The games involving Virtus and Tre Fiori are, however, much tighter affairs. San Giovanni defend in an organised fashion against the initiatives of the day’s league leaders – who threaten through Gori and Buoconuto. Before half-time, reached with the score at 0-0, Amati sends a promising free-kick over the bar. After the restart the Neroverdi go close to taking the lead on 55 minutes when Benincasa thunders a shot off the crossbar from a Ciacci assist. To make matters worse, a minute later Corinti sets off on a solo run from the halfway line, gliding past four opponents before drilling the ball into the corner for San Giovanni’s opener. As you would expect, Virtus pour forward into the opposition half – and on 65 minutes hit the woodwork again through a trademark acrobatic effort from Benincasa. After a fine Casadei save to deny Scappini, the reigning champions deservedly draw level: Benincasa brings down a Ciacci cross and scores with a bouncing volley from the edge of the box, picking out the corner. The closing stages are wide open: Casadei is decisive in blocking a driving run from Gori, while on 86 minutes Calp clears off the line with the goalkeeper beaten. Virtus’ all-out assault yields no further reward; they surrender their outright lead at the top after just one matchday in first place – now sharing it with Tre Fiori, who are up against neighbours Fiorentino.

The Fiorentino derby, naturally staged at the “Federico Crescentini”, opens with a miraculous reflex save from Nardi to deny Mariano’s close-range right-footer. Fiorentino are clearly the better side in the opening stages, with Tre Fiori also under threat from the forays of Belward and Abouzziane. Once past the half-hour, the Gialloblù grow into the game and break the deadlock: after Benedettini fires wide across goal, Bernardi steps up to score. It is a goal of real quality, as he skips past Bottoni with ease before beating Berardi as he comes off his line. Costantini’s men protest about an earlier coming together involving Luca Evaristi at the start of the move, which the referee deems legal. Fiorentino reel from the blow and have to rely on the crossbar and a monumental save from Berardi to deny Sensoli and Prandelli a second. After the break Tre Fiori look to cement their lead, threatening with their attacking players, but Fiorentino are anything but beaten – as shown by Belward’s surge that allows Abouzziane to test Nardi. The Gialloblù keeper then produces heroics to tip Marco Evaristi’s fierce left-footer onto the bar, preserving the lead which is soon doubled: Bernardi beats Molinari in the box and claims his brace with a diagonal finish, sealing the derby in Tre Fiori’s favour – back on top of the pile, albeit alongside Virtus.

In a surprise twist, Faetano go in at half-time a goal up in their always lively clash with La Fiorita. After a series of attempts from Guidi and his team-mates, Sperindio’s side make the most of a counter-attack led by Elia. Breaking through to shoot from a very tight angle, he catches Vivan out with his left foot – with the goalkeeper not blameless on the play. At the other end, his team-mates are equally unlucky: Nappello hits the post on the half-hour and forces Venturini into a tough save from a set piece shortly afterwards. It is a misleading scoreline that La Fiorita overturn within five minutes of the restart: Nappello finally breaks his personal woodwork curse, netting the 1-1 equaliser on 61 minutes after a frantic, scrappy move in the Faetano penalty area. The turnaround is completed less than 300 seconds later, when Olcese shows all his technique and striker’s instinct – cushioning the ball on his chest in the box, skipping past Tugliani and finishing from close range. With the lead secured, La Fiorita wrap up the victory through Vitaioli’s well-timed run, as he ghosts in at the far post to turn in Zaccaria’s cross.

Below is the partial schedule for Matchday 23 of the league: