Play-offs: Cosmos prevail in arm wrestle with Libertas

In the Montecchio afternoon staged the first leg of the first play-off semi-final of the Campionato Sammarinese BKN301 2022-23. Facing each other are Cosmos and Libertas, in a match with a great deal at stake. And the teams were fully aware of it, judging by the opening quarter of an hour in which very little happens. On 13 minutes the Gialloverdi look for Nisi in behind: the forward is beaten to it by Zavoli rushing out, but the goalkeeper cannot turn the ball away to safety. Guidi pounces on the loose ball with the goal gaping. The striker, however, opts against an immediate shot and the move fizzles out with a right-foot effort from Zulli that is blocked. Shortly after, Guidi tries with his left from twenty metres but sends it over. Libertas show a sign of life on 26 minutes, when Perretta breaks free and unleashes a right-foot shot that is too central to trouble Simoncini. The San Marino goalkeeper is stunning on the half-hour, denying Olcese the opener when the hard work seemed done. The Cosmos centre-backs lose track of Olcese, released one-on-one with the keeper by Sapori. Simoncini is monumental as he diverts the shot for a corner with the toe of his right boot, leaving his opponent speechless. From the ensuing corner Libertas squander another huge chance: Olcese finds Pesaresi in the six-yard box, but incredibly his header fails to hit the target, to general disbelief. Heads in hands all round for the Maroon side, unable to comprehend how they are not in front. At the other end Costa is decisive, throwing his body in the way of Zulli’s goalbound right-foot strike after a lay-off from Pastorelli. That combination would later yield the opening goal, putting Cosmos 1-0 up. Less than three minutes of the second half have been played when Palazzi crosses to the near post. Pastorelli lays it off for Zulli, whose right-foot finish from close range gives Zavoli no chance. Effectively, with their first real shot on target, the Gialloverdi edge in front, proving far more clinical than their opponents in taking the chances they create. Underlining that point, ten minutes later, is Alessandro D’Addario. Cosmos win the ball back deep and break quickly through Nisi and Capicchioni. The Sammarinese midfielder, on the pitch for less than a minute, is kept onside by Barone and, through on goal against Zavoli, squares for his compatriot D’Addario to tap into an empty net. It is a hugely important goal in the context of the two-legged tie which, in the event of an aggregate draw, would see Cosmos through to the final thanks to their better record in the regular season. Having found the goals, Berardi’s side take control of the match and give virtually nothing away at the back, even in the face of Libertas throwing everything forward in an ultra-attacking finale. It is still not enough for the Maroon side to find a goal that would narrow the deficit ahead of Sunday’s return leg on 14 May (Acquaviva, 15:00). The only real scare of the second half for Simoncini is a tame header from Olcese – just seconds after the second goal. Late on, Guerra goes very close to making it three, while earlier Zulli and Capicchioni had both tried their luck without success. Tomorrow, once again in Montecchio, the second play-off semi-final of the Campionato Sammarinese BKN301 2022-23 will be played. From 15:00 live, free-to-air with Italian commentary on TITANI.TV, La Fiorita take on Virtus.

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FSGC | Press Office