Super Cup: Virtus win in style, adding a second trophy in 2023 to their cabinet

Tre Penne and Virtus launch the 2023-24 season by facing off at the San Marino Stadium with the 11th edition of the Supercoppa Sammarinese up for grabs, a competition that has replaced the Trofeo Federale since 2012. With Stefano Ceci suspended and replaced on the bench by Marco Protti, Tre Penne are forced to reshuffle their midfield due to multiple absences: Gai sits in the middle with Giovagnoli and Dormi either side. On the opposite touchline, Bizzotto hands the gloves back to Passaniti and starts two new arrivals from the first minute: Piscaglia and Pecci. The opening is an extended feeling-out phase, with both sides rationing their energy mindful that the match could last 120 minutes. A free-kick from Giovagnoli and a headed incursion from Sabato cause no real problems for the two goalkeepers, providing only faint thrills in the first quarter of an hour. The first real chance stems from an unexpected error by Gai, who loses the ball in his own defensive third. The move involving Buonocunto, Sabato and Tortori releases the latter’s left-footed strike, which Migani fails to hold. Benincasa pounces on the loose ball in the box, but cannot steer it into the net for what would have been a potential Virtus opener on 27 minutes. The champions of San Marino respond again from a dead ball, but from 20 metres out Dormi fails to hit the target. It is the Acquaviva side who look the sharper and in the 34th minute they also take the lead. Buonocunto whips in a corner, Migani misjudges the flight and timing of his exit, allowing Golinucci to break the deadlock with a simple header into an empty net. Just as in the BKN301 Coppa Titano final, Virtus find the 1-0 from a corner thanks to the header of a Sammarinese midfielder. Tre Penne try to shake themselves awake and come within a whisker of an immediate equaliser through Gai, who hits a first-time left-footed volley from the edge of the area, flashing just wide of Passaniti’s left-hand post. Badalassi fares no better, sending a fine cross from Nigretti wide of the target on 41 minutes. As the half draws to a close, Virtus again look dangerous, breaking into the area with Pecci, who however lacks precision as he looks for Ciacci in the middle, wasting a golden opportunity. The 21-year-old winger redeems himself by threading in Benincasa, who goes through one-on-one with Migani on the stroke of 45 minutes. This time the Rimini-born keeper is monumental, turning the forward’s left-footed diagonal behind for a corner, which brings the half to an end. There are no substitutions at the break, after which Tre Penne appear much more assertive. It takes Badalassi just sixty seconds to test Passaniti, who does superbly to claw away the striker’s header that was heading for goal. On 50 minutes it instead takes all of Nigretti’s defensive nous to thwart a counter-attack that could have brought Virtus a second. Benincasa breaks the offside trap, but just as he seems set to finish, he is denied by a sensational recovery from the defender, who is also decisive in the ensuing challenge with Golinucci in the heart of the area. With left-sided full-back Poggi coming on in the 54th minute, Tre Penne look to free Gai from screening duties, entrusting Nigretti with shielding the defence. Virtus, however, are soon back on the front foot thanks to a slaloming run from Buonocunto, whose shot is deflected behind for a corner. Bizzotto’s side aim to manage the game, making the most of the technical quality of their ball-players, without turning down chances to break forward. So it is in the 62nd minute, when Buonocunto bursts into the box and delivers his second assist of the evening, headed in by Simone Benincasa for 2-0 – the forward is booked for taking off his shirt in celebration. Tre Penne feel the blow and struggle to find answers to Virtus’ confident and convincing spell of possession, even after the introductions of Cecchetti and Scarponi. Booked for a late challenge in midfield, Badalassi attempts an overhead effort on a cross from wide, but the flawed execution betrays the high degree of difficulty of the attempt. Virtus make their first changes on 75 minutes, when Bizzotto sends on Sopranzi, Angeli and Rinaldi all at once without altering his tactical shape. In the closing stages Virtus are rarely in danger and instead go close to a third through first Tortori and then Angeli. The winger gives the illusion of a goal when he rattles the side netting from a free-kick, while the experienced forward – brought on late – forces an acrobatic save from Migani in the 88th minute. A minute later Tre Penne protest after Dormi scores from a free-kick. Referee Beltrano chalks it off because he had not yet blown his whistle for the restart, while the former Folgore man insists the goal is valid as he had not requested the wall to be set at distance. When play resumes, Passaniti dives to his right to deny the playmaker’s attempt at another spectacular strike. Deep into stoppage time, Albini slides in Sopranzi, who cannot hurdle the onrushing Migani to then slot into an empty net. There are no regrets, only satisfaction in the Virtus camp. After six minutes of added time, the Acquaviva side can finally raise their arms to the sky and place the third trophy in their history – their second of the 2023 calendar year – in the club cabinet. Tre Penne are beaten once again, and even more convincingly than in the previous meeting in the BKN301 Coppa Titano. The Supercoppa Sammarinese, awarded for the first time at the San Marino Stadium, is lifted aloft by captain Manuel Battistini, confirming the strength of the Virtus project.

---

Supercoppa Sammarinese 2023 | Tre Penne – Virtus 0-2   TRE PENNE Migani; Nigretti (from 66' Scarponi), Lombardi, Rosini, Vandi; Dormi, Gai (from 83' A. Gasperoni), Giovagnoli (from 54' Poggi); Pieri (from 83' Stellato), Badalassi, Ceccaroli (from 66' Cecchetti) Substitutes: Di Giuli Coach: Marco Protti (Ceci suspended)   VIRTUS Passaniti; Ma. Battistini, Giacomoni, Piscaglia (from 75' Rinaldi), Sabato; Ciacci, Golinucci; Pecci (from 75' Sopranzi), Buonocunto (from 83' Pirini), Tortori (from 87' Albini); Benincasa (from 75' Angeli) Substitutes: Barbieri, Tomassini, Muggeo Coach: Luigi Bizzotto   Referee: Michele Beltrano Assistants: Gianmarco Ercolani and Ernesto Cristiano Fourth official: Laurentiu Ilie Scorers: 34' Golinucci, 62' Benincasa Bookings: Giacomoni, Giovagnoli, Benincasa, Badalassi, Poggi

---