Titano Futsal Cup, Murata labour but reach the final: they will face Virtus

Murata reach the Titano Futsal Cup final and will look to defend the title won last year. This time, however, there will be no Pennarossa – as there was then – to challenge them for the trophy. Instead, it will be Virtus, who last night, in the second of the two semi-finals, comfortably got the better of the Chiesanuova side. In the 20:15 kick-off, Murata had to work hard – and not a little – to get the better of Domagnano. The Bianconeri broke the deadlock early on through Moretti’s strike, finishing off a rehearsed free-kick routine. Domagnano, though, stayed in the game and levelled it late in the first half with De Bellis’s first goal of the season, the forward keeping his cool in a one-on-one with Protti. Vagnini’s goal, 11 minutes into the second half, fanned the dreams of Gasperoni’s men. However, Murata needed only a few minutes to haul themselves back onto level terms: exactly halfway through the second half, as Vagnini tracked back, he was struck by a powerful pass and ended up, against his will, wrong-footing Muraccini. The deadlock was finally broken in the closing minutes: Busignani and Mattioli broke from halfway in a two-on-none counter-attack, finished off by the Bianconeri captain with a close-range effort that gave Muraccini virtually no chance. More dangerous moments than expected, but Murata are once again through to the showpiece of the competition. Virtus, by contrast, wrapped up the second semi-final with far fewer worries. Michelotti’s men conceded to Verri in stoppage time, a goal useful only for updating the scoreline, not for casting doubt on the outcome. By that stage, Virtus were already 3-0 up. The opening goal arrived on 8 minutes thanks to Zafferani’s close-range finish, set up by Belloni. Then Belloni’s own brace, struck between the 40th and 45th minutes, gave the Acquaviva outfit the decisive push towards Sunday 3 May’s grand final.