Play-offs: Virtus come from behind to claim the runners-up spot

At the San Marino Stadium, Virtus and La Fiorita brought down the curtain on the 2025-26 Campionato Sammarinese. The final post-season match had effectively been emptied of its primary objective – qualification for the Conference League – a target both sides had already secured thanks to their play-off semi-final results and La Fiorita’s simultaneous progress to the Coppa Titano final.

After a minute’s silence ordered to commemorate the passing of Romeo Casadei – one of La Fiorita’s founders and a long-serving FSGC associate – it was the Montegiardino club who first threatened through the Zaccaria–Olcese combination. The striker shot across goal with his right, only to see the effort come back off the base of Passaniti’s post. The Gialloblù looked the sharper side, also going close twice through Semprini. Their lead was therefore deserved and arrived on 28 minutes, via a devastating counter-attack from Affonso who, freed in the box by Zaccaria, chose a delicate dink over the goalkeeper to break the deadlock. Parity, however, lasted only a few minutes: a mistake by Golia allowed Virtus to spring forward through Scappini and Buonocunto; the playmaker set up Piscitella to strike right-footed, Vivan failed to hold and Golinucci pounced with a tap-in. For the third year running, the San Marino midfielder scored in Virtus’ final league match (overall or regular season, having also netted in the 9-0 win over Libertas). The sides went in level at the break – a situation which, if unchanged at the end of normal time, would have sent the game to extra time.

At the start of the second half, Buonocunto crossed for Scappini, whose free header failed to trouble the goalkeeper. The scene was repeated on 50 minutes, this time with Amati looking for the striker at the far post. It was third time lucky two minutes later, when Scappini was clinical in front of Vivan, opening up his body to side-foot home and complete the Neroverdi comeback. Much of the credit went to De Santis, who won the ball back deep in his own half and then carried it for fifty metres before releasing his team-mate with perfect timing. La Fiorita replied with a right-footed effort from Serifoski, diverted behind by Passaniti. At the other end, Scappini and Lombardi – on since half-time – both fired over from promising positions. La Fiorita then tried to make them pay through Dormi: the playmaker, introduced on the hour, struck the inside of the near post after a lay-off from Affonso. That proved the last real chance for the Gialloblù to get back on terms, and they slipped to a narrow defeat after the two minutes of stoppage time indicated by Beltrano. Little harm done, though, as Ceci’s men will now turn their focus to next Sunday’s Coppa Titano final – chasing an eighth title against Tre Fiori.

Earlier in the afternoon, in Acquaviva, Tre Penne prevailed in the play-off final for fourth place final, overcoming Domagnano. The victory was effectively wrapped up before the break thanks to goals from Palazzi (penalty), Peluso and Badalassi. In the second half Bonetti reduced the deficit, but could not drag his side fully back into the contest: Bonini’s team ran out 3-1 winners.