Super Cup 2024: Tortori strike as Virtus go back-to-back

After last year’s triumph over Tre Penne, Virtus also claim the 2024 San Marino Super Cup thanks to a clinical finish on the hour from Loris Tortori, which sinks La Fiorita in the match that opens the 2024-25 San Marino football season. On his first outing in the Montegiardino dugout, Stefano Ceci immediately opts to start the new signings Zazas Sanchez in defence and Massari up front. Just one new face for the champions of San Marino, with former San Giovanni goalkeeper Mirco De Angelis between the posts in place of Alex Passaniti. Few thrills early on, aside from a Virtus penalty shout (9’) when a Battistini cross strikes the body of new Gialloblù man Zazas Sanchez, but Beltrano waves play on. Almost midway through the half (22’) the game begins to spark into life: from a set piece, Buonocunto picks out Rinaldi, who controls and shoots in the box, but Vivan turns it behind for a corner. From the resulting delivery another ball is swung in, this time for the head of Sabato, who sends it just wide. It is a good spell for Virtus, who press again shortly afterwards with an effort from Angeli, who has all the time he needs to shoot at Vivan, but the experienced Gialloblù keeper manages to parry at the second attempt. La Fiorita struggle more to show themselves in attack, but on 39 minutes a fine effort from Tommaso Zafferani from the edge of the box forces De Angelis into heroics, turning it behind for a corner. In stoppage time Virtus break well, led by Buonocunto, who plays in Tortori nearby; he, in turn, slides a ball in behind for the rapid Pecci, but once he reaches the corner of the area he cannot get the ball across to trouble the Gialloblù defence. The sides go in at the break goalless, with Virtus having created the better chances. No changes at half-time from Bizzotto or Ceci and, after five minutes, the first opening of the half falls to the Neroverdi of Acquaviva: Angeli – picked out from a corner by the ever-influential Buonocunto – somehow fails to hit the target with his header from inside the six-yard box. On the hour, however, the deadlock is broken: Olcese gives away a poor ball on the edge of the area, Buonocunto pounces and senses the opportunity to take the lead as he squares it for the unmarked Tortori, who can do nothing but turn it into the net for 1-0 Virtus. Ceci turns to his bench, sending on Andrade (another new signing) and Toccaceli. La Fiorita look to respond and do so in the 73rd minute with a superb, curling free-kick from Cicarelli that just clears the bar. Bizzotto also makes a few changes and calls upon the experience of Federico Piovaccari, who has stayed at Virtus after their European campaign: the former San Marino Calcio forward powers past Brighi and gets a shot away from a good position, but Vivan is equal to it. La Fiorita do not give up and go close through Vitaioli, who from the corner of the area looks to pick out Marco Gasperoni at the far post, but the Gialloblù wide man cannot generate enough power on his effort. The Montegiardino side push right to the end, but Virtus hold firm through the four minutes of added time. Tortori’s strike on the hour is enough for the Neroverdi to take home the Super Cup, their second in a row after last year’s success against Tre Penne, and to start the 2024-25 campaign in the best possible way.

San Marino Super Cup 2024 | Virtus – La Fiorita 1-0

VIRTUS

De Angelis; Sabato (68' Gori), Piscaglia (68' De Lucia), Rinaldi, Battistini; Ciacci (90+1' Vallocchia), Golinucci, Pecci (74' Lombardi); Buonocunto, Tortori, Angeli (74' Piovaccari)

Substitutes: Passaniti, Montanari, Muggeo, Rizzo

Coach: Luigi Bizzotto

LA FIORITA

Vivan; Mazzotti, Zazas Sanchez, Brighi; Zafferani (60' Andrade), Lunadei (79' Leka), Cicarelli, Gasperoni; Massari (62' Toccaceli), Vitaioli; Olcese

Substitutes: Zavoli, Dragone, Lampo, Santi, Capozzi, Sottile

Coach: Stefano Ceci

Referee: Michele Beltrano

Assistant referees: Gianmarco Ercolani, Laura Cordani

Fourth official: Mattia Andruccioli

Booked: Battistini, Massari, Lunadei, Cicarelli, Ciacci, Gori, Brighi

Scorer: 59' Tortori

Attendance: 323