Tre Penne go top, with Cosmos to respond tomorrow

Tre Penne did not waste the chance to climb to the top of the table and at the same time pile the pressure on Cosmos, who face a testing clash with Libertas. Ceci’s men reap the rewards of a blistering start, with Ceccaroli having a good opening as early as the 7th minute, before setting up Badalassi to break the deadlock on 11 minutes with a fine outside-of-the-boot strike from distance that catches Gentilini out. The San Marino runners-up see a potential second goal crash against the post from a superb curling right-foot effort by Ceccaroli, and then ride their luck on an initiative from Benedetti. Even so, it is Tre Penne who create the better chances, but on the half-hour mark their fans and bench are left ruing Badalassi’s over-elaboration as he tries in vain to beat Gentilini with a close-range chip. A gilt‑edged opportunity then falls, almost by chance, to Cibelli, who fires straight at the visiting goalkeeper. For Juvenes-Dogana, the forward forays of D’Angeli and Stella – both very close to scoring – do not bring the equaliser. Rounding off a first half that was nothing short of sparkling is a driving run from Ceccaroli, whose finish is just off target. After the break, Tre Penne keep a clean sheet, only really risking it when Pasolini makes a central run in the 77th minute, but the 20-year-old Sammarinese forward cannot get on the end of Benedetti’s ball across. The match becomes horribly complicated for Amati’s side around the hour mark, when Stella is sent off for a second yellow card. The contest stays alive right up until the final minute of added time due to Tre Penne’s lack of ruthlessness in front of goal, as they fail to put away the 2-0 goal. In any case, there is no regret for Ceci’s team, the new leaders while they wait on Cosmos, who still have their rest day to take. The negative spell continues for La Fiorita, who have now gone three games without a win, collecting just one point in that run despite being reigning champions. The Acquaviva meeting with Virtus ends in favour of the Neroverdi, who confirm themselves as the bogey team for the Montegiardino club. It is Sorrentino who blows the game wide open on 74 minutes, making the most of excellent approach play from Angeli to beat Vivan from close range. It is a very balanced encounter, in which the defences looked set to come out on top before the decisive episode. The introduction of Pancotti injects life into La Fiorita’s attacking play, but they are still unable to find a way past Passaniti – who secures his second consecutive clean sheet. Virtus thus close in on La Fiorita’s third place, now just two points behind, and temporarily overtake Tre Fiori, who face Pennarossa tomorrow. There is a crucial play-off battle between Fiorentino and San Giovanni, in which literally everything happens. It starts with a storming opening from the Rossoblù, who go very close around the quarter-hour through Hirsch, Torsani and D’Addario. On the last of the double chances, De Angelis is decisive. But he is powerless on 24 minutes when Torsani threads a ball through the middle for Hirsch’s run – the winger keeping his cool to unbalance the Sammarinese keeper and tuck the ball inside the near post. The Fiorentino wide man looks in the mood, forcing De Angelis into heroics again a minute later. San Giovanni wake up a phase of the game late, but then set about mounting a remarkable comeback. Their intentions are denied by the crossbar on 38 minutes when a cross from Nicola Sartini – deflected – spares Bianchi and comes back off the woodwork. As anticipated, it is in the second half that the Rossoneri turn things around, aided by the enforced substitution of the injured Torsani, depriving Fiorentino of their main outlet. It is, however, two defensive lapses that undo all the good work Malandri’s men produced in the first period. A misjudged come‑out by Bianchi on a wide free-kick from Corinti allows Angelini to glance a header into the net. The captain then takes responsibility from the spot to convert the penalty for 2-1, won by Nicola Sartini on 75 minutes. The wide attacker, though limping, then delivers the knockout blow four minutes later, stealing in front of his marker to meet Giacomo Conti’s cross and flicking it with his right foot into the far corner. Another defeat for Murata, who concede once in each half to a Folgore side that are more clinical than sparkling. After one chance apiece for Di Marzio and Comuniello, Folgore take the lead down the right flank. Sottile picks out Golinucci’s run off the ball, and he cuts it back for Di Marzio. The latter mishits his effort, but it falls kindly to Bernardi – lurking at the far post and doing well to follow the move that developed on the opposite flank to his. There is little else to report before the break, during which Angelini tries to shake up his Murata side who, straight after the restart, have a golden chance to level through Ferraro and Ura, both denied by an inspired Piscaglia. It is the Bianconeri’s best spell, with Ura also having a crack at goal a minute later. Folgore hit back through a powerful run from Mami, who shrugs off two opponents before laying a perfect ball on a plate for Di Marzio, far from his usual clinical self today. On 63 minutes Murata protest vehemently for a penalty, claiming a handball by Deluigi after the ball had ricocheted off the right foot of the centre-back in yellow. Clear-cut scoring chances are few and far between, and so Folgore’s second arrives almost out of the blue a quarter of an hour from time. A breakdown in communication between Matteoni and Costantini sees Urbinati ghost in behind the latter to get a faint touch on Brolli’s free-kick from halfway – whipped in with just the right pace for his team-mate to glance it beyond Gueye. At the death, Di Marzio cannot redeem a performance less effective than usual, thwarted by the reflexes of the Murata goalkeeper – quick to get down on his strike from close range. More bad news for Murata comes from San Giovanni’s win, which moves them further away from the bottom two places. Cailungo will hope to do likewise tomorrow when they take on Domagnano. Also embroiled in this scrap is Pennarossa, who face a tough test against Tre Fiori. With very different ambitions, Cosmos and Libertas will take to the pitch in Montecchio. The Gialloverdi aim to return to the summit, while the Granata are looking to gauge their level and try to get back into the race for third place – an ambitious target, but not an impossible one. Here is the partial picture from Matchday 21 of the Campionato Sammarinese BKN301, as always live with free streaming and commentary on the Titani.tv platform:

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