Titano Futsal Cup: Fiorentino closing in on the final, Tre Fiori and Folgore keep it tight

In the first leg of the Titano Futsal Cup semi-finals, Fiorentino have taken a very serious option on a place in the final, while Tre Fiori and Folgore have postponed any verdict to the return match on 2 May. The first of yesterday’s two fixtures on the Multieventi court opened up early: after 5 minutes Busignani’s toe-poke into the bottom corner put the holders in front. The 2-0 arrived midway through the half with a fine piece of skill from Zafferani, who cut inside from the right flank and, with his favoured left foot, fired the ball under the crossbar. Busignani was on the scoresheet again on 19 minutes with a powerful effort right inside the post, finishing off a free-kick move he had started himself. The alternation of Busignani and Zafferani on the scoreboard was confirmed at the end of the half, when the number 11 went one-on-one with Franciosi and, as he slipped, still managed (this time with his right) to steer the ball into the far top corner, the pick of the goals on the night and the one that completed the four-goal haul. After the break, despite excellent chances at both ends and despite Busignani sending a 10-metre free-kick wide in stoppage time, the scoreline would not change. It was instead in the second half that the clash between Tre Fiori and Folgore really took off. The Giallorossoneri broke the deadlock on 26 minutes with Chezzi’s precise low drive. At the start of the second half Tre Fiori drew level thanks to a move involving the two Burioni brothers: Filippo shot from the flank, Geri got a touch and Lorenzo was ready on the line to turn it in for 1-1. Within 4 minutes Folgore were back in front with Biordi’s close-range touch on a corner-kick routine. Tre Fiori’s second response again came from the Burioni brothers: Lorenzo fed Filippo who, one-on-one with Geri, kept his cool and showed great precision in placing the ball beyond the Giallorossoneri keeper. Amid a string of outstanding saves from Andreani (a constant throughout the match), Chezzi struck a clattering post from close range. Tre Fiori, however, were anything but passive. Geri also had his work cut out, but in the 55th minute Zonzini’s keeper could not keep out Crescentini’s placed finish at the end of a swift yellow-and-blue counter-attack led by Toccaceli. There was very little time left before the final whistle, but Folgore made the most of it to haul themselves back on level terms. The 3-3 arrived on 59 minutes with the flying keeper on. It was Geri himself, from the right attacking corner, who started the move that Chezzi finished off by planting the ball right into the top corner. The very last moments of the match produced yet more drama, with Andreani and Geri pulling off crucial saves to deny Bernardi and Morini. It finished all square: the finalist will emerge from the outdoor return leg in early May. Here is the semi-final line-up for the 2023-24 Titano Futsal Cup:

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