Titano Futsal Cup: both semi-finals will be derbies

No turnarounds in the second legs of the Titano Futsal Cup quarter-finals. Not even in Juvenes-Dogana v Virtus, a tie that was still wide open after the 1-0 first-leg win for the Biancorossoazzurri. Zonzini’s side go in front after 10 minutes through Gatti and then really pull away thanks to goals from Giardi and Mazza, both in the second half. Virtus try to get back into it through their goalkeeper–goalscorer, Angelo Casadei, but by now it’s too late to set up a thrilling finale: in fact, it is Juvenes-Dogana who put the final stamp on the contest – and on qualification – with Borasco’s goal. Zonzini’s men now meet Folgore in the semi-final, after Folgore had no issues in the first leg and just as few in the return. Cailungo score two more than they managed in the opening 60 minutes; in return, they concede seven. Here too there is a goalscoring goalkeeper to talk about: Gianluca Geri is actually the top scorer of the night for Spada’s team. The number 1 nets twice at the start of the second half, but only when the game – and even more so the two-legged tie – is already in the books. By that point Folgore, on the strength of their 6-0 first-leg win, had already scored four: first with Giardi and then through Ercolani and Bernardi, plus Sabatino’s own goal. Cailungo have a flash of life with Frisoni, but Folgore add another through Chezzi before Venerucci, in stoppage time, signs the goal with which Cailungo effectively bow out of the 2022-23 edition of the national cup. There will also be a derby semi-final in the bottom half of the draw. Fiorentino had dominated the first leg and manage the second leg in relative comfort as well. This despite the early dismissal of Bollini (denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity in the 4th minute) and Busignani having to step in between the posts (with Protti absent). Pennarossa score during their two minutes of numerical superiority through Podeschi and, buoyed by growing confidence and by the fact there is an outfield player in the Fiorentino goal, they go on to double their lead with Gasperoni and even make it 3-1 through Naouar. The problem for Casadei’s men is that Fiorentino had equalised at 1-1 through Maiani. So the comeback remains extremely difficult, though in theory still possible. Also because only 23 minutes have passed when Naouar makes it 3-1. But Matteo Michelotti, even without a specialist goalkeeper, can still count on his attacking firepower. Among them Nicolas Rossini, who between the end of the first half and the start of the second delivers three hammer blows to Pennarossa’s hopes. In goal, Ercolani replaces Busignani, but little changes. Pennarossa are now on the ropes. There will be no more goals from Chiesanuova, while Fiorentino add gloss through Zafferani, firmly booking their place in a semi-final where they will meet local rivals Tre Fiori. The latter had won the first leg, but by a margin that did not quite amount to a foregone conclusion. The 2-0 kept Libertas alive, but over the second 60 minutes they are unable to find a way to turn the tie around. Instead, Tre Fiori complete the job thanks to Verri’s fifth goal of the week, enough to banish any lingering doubts. What’s more, Tre Fiori can also boast the title of the only side not to have conceded a goal over the 120 minutes of the quarter-finals. This is the full picture of the Titano Futsal Cup quarter-finals: Click here to view the bracket.

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