Super Cup: La Fiorita come back from two goals down but Tre Fiori triumph on penalties

A thrilling 2026 San Marino Super Cup between Tre Fiori and La Fiorita opened the new football season this evening in Acquaviva. The two yellow-and-blue sides shared a half of dominance each and, after more than 120 minutes, penalties were needed to decide the winner. The match started at a furious pace because with the very first chance – inside three minutes – Tre Fiori broke the deadlock. Bernardi carried the ball forward and slid a perfect pass in behind for Censoni, who reached the byline and picked out the ever-present Prandelli at the far post, ruthless and clinical like a cobra. La Fiorita immediately reacted and two minutes later Nardi had to be alert to deal with a first-time effort from new signing Filippo Berardi on a driven cross from Djuric. The contest in Acquaviva was entertaining and on 10 minutes Bernardi escaped Barretta and drove towards goal, but Vivan stretched well to parry. Girolomoni’s side did not let up and in the 12th minute doubled their lead: once again the move developed down the right, with Bernardi once more sowing panic – in sparkling form this evening – and from the edge of the area delivering with just the right spin for the run of Mengucci. The former Domagnano man made no mistake to make it 2-0. Two goals down, La Fiorita tried to shake themselves awake and created more through headed chances for Bonetti and Mazzotti. Djuric also began to grow into the game, threatening on a couple of occasions midway through the first half. Ten minutes from the break the Montegiardino club pushed again, protesting for a challenge on the edge of the box between Berardi and Mengucci, but Barbeno waved play on. La Fiorita also controlled the final stages of the half but were unable to fashion further clear-cut chances. The sides went into the break with Tre Fiori holding a valuable two-goal advantage. At half-time Ceci opted for a double change, sending on Errico and new signing Serges for Cicarelli and Zafferani. And it was Serges – one of the new arrivals – who produced a fine piece of skill to release Grandoni down the left; the winger delivered a perfect cross for Berardi, who pulled one back to finish off a move entirely made in San Marino. The goal changed La Fiorita’s attitude because within barely two minutes parity was restored. Again the move came down the left with Serges – a huge impact from the number thirty-two – who from the byline fired a powerful ball across towards Berardi. The Tre Fiori defence initially cleared but the ball stayed in the box, where Bonetti – last season’s top scorer with Domagnano – arrived to strike an incredible 2-2 equaliser. The game remained wide open and on 66 minutes came the episode that once again changed the face of the contest. From a debatable Tre Fiori corner, Djuric recovered and pushed the ball forward, Benedettini tried to close him down and then Djuric clashed heavily with the Tre Fiori midfielder. Barbeno – assisted by fourth official Guidi – opted to show the La Fiorita player a second yellow card, leaving his side a man down. Fatigue began to weigh in at Acquaviva and chances started to dry up. In the 77th minute it was the ever-lively Serges – the revelation of the second half – who tried his luck from distance, but Nardi was equal to it. A little later (85’) Nappello attempted the big hit from a direct free-kick, the ball drifting wide by just a few centimetres. The ninety minutes came and went, with Beltrano signalling four minutes of stoppage time. Substitute Ben Kacem – on for an exhausted Prandelli – also had a chance to show his skills, but La Fiorita held firm. With the 240 seconds elapsed, the match moved into extra time. In the first half of extra-time little of note happened. The best chance arrived three minutes from the end of the period with a fine through ball from Sami for Ben Kacem, but Barretta read it well and intervened in time. The second half of extra time followed, with both coaches using their final substitutions with the looming prospect of a penalty shoot-out in mind. In the first of the two added minutes, Ben Kacem had a golden opportunity to win it, but his left-footed effort shaved the post by the narrowest of margins. And so it all came down to penalties. Errico stepped up first and, in bizarre fashion, crashed his effort against the crossbar. Tre Fiori were flawless, converting through Sami, Bernardi, Dolcini and Ben Kacem. For La Fiorita, Nappello had the chance to keep his team alive but Nardi guessed right, saved, and was the hero. The 2026 San Marino Super Cup belongs to Tre Fiori. Among Girolomoni’s Gialloblù – who thus complete a league and Super Cup double – Tommaso Bernardi was also honoured, claiming the Dolomia Player of The Match award as the best player on the night.

2026 San Marino Super Cup | Tre Fiori – La Fiorita 2-2 (4-2 pens)

TRE FIORI (3-4-1-2)

Nardi; D’Addario, Pesaresi, Sancisi; Mengucci (106’ Guerra), Sami, Censoni (78’ Dolcini), Terenzi (60’ Cuzzilla); Benedettini, Bernardi, Prandelli (78’ Ben Kacem)

Substitutes: Marchini, Castagnoli, Ciccione, Van Nek

Coach: Danilo Girolomoni

LA FIORITA (4-2-3-1)

Vivan, Nigretti, Mazzotti, Barretta, Grandoni; Djuric, Cicarelli (46’ Errico); Enchisi (118’ Nappello), Berardi (71’ Mularoni), Zafferani (46’ Serges); Bonetti (111’ Paramatti)

Substitutes: Zavoli, Di Giuli, Imola, Marcaccini

Coach: Stefano Ceci

Referee: Michele Beltrano

Assistant referees: Gianmarco Ercolani, Ernesto Cristiano

Fourth official: Andrea Righi

Scorers: 3’ Prandelli, 12’ Mengucci, 55’ Berardi, 57’ Bonetti

Booked: Terenzi, Djuric, Pesaresi, Benedettini, Ben Kacem

Sent off: Djuric 66’ for second yellow card

Penalty shoot-out sequence: Errico (missed), Sami (scored), Serges (scored), Bernardi (scored), Serges (scored), Dolcini (scored), Paramatti (scored), Ben Kacem (scored), Nappello (saved)