Virtus’ night: Benincasa puts the Neroverdi back on top

All eyes of San Marino football fans, including the more than 300 unique users who flocked to the event on TITANI.TV, were quite rightly fixed on La Fiorita–Virtus. Separated by just a single point at the top of the table, they produced a high‑voltage encounter. The first half was a tactical affair, with the best chances falling to Virtus late on: Rinaldi saw a goal ruled out following a corner, while in the 40th minute Benincasa got to the ball before Zavoli as he came out, but his lob was gathered by Mazzotti inside the six‑yard box. The second half followed the same pattern, with chances that could be counted on the fingers of one hand – at least until the final straight. The sustained move in the 80th minute that led to Benincasa’s opener, a little fortunate with a couple of ricochets but clinical in front of Zavoli, sparked a game within the game. Pecci was inches away from doubling the lead on 85 minutes, before passing up a glaring chance in the third minute of added time – when he mis‑hit in front of the keeper. In the meantime, La Fiorita – down to ten men from the 88th minute after Guidi’s dismissal – threw everything forward. Ambrosini couldn’t bring under control Zampano’s driven cross‑shot in the six‑yard box, while Passaniti put his hands on the win by beating away the point‑blank effort from the former Victor San Marino man. It was a key evening in the title race, as Cosmos and Tre Fiori cancelled each other out. Straight from kick‑off Errico lost the ball while building out from the back, allowing the Gialloblù to go straight through on goal via the Bernardi–Islamaj combination, with the latter applying the finishing touch for an immediate lead. The runners‑up of San Marino hit back on the half‑hour, with a penalty won by Zulli and coolly converted by Errico. Ben Kacem gave Nardi a scare just before the break, while in the second half he arrived just too late to meet Pastorelli’s inch‑perfect cross. On the hour mark Tre Fiori were back on the front foot, threatening with a header from substitute Cirrottola. Simoncini then had far sterner work to do, saving well from powerful strikes by Micchi and Bernardi. It was Tre Fiori’s best spell, but they failed to make it count, not even with efforts from Islamaj and Tomassoni. So, in the closing stages it was Cosmos who almost snatched all three points: first through Loiodice, then with a thunderous drive from Sapori – parried away by Nardi. In between, a goal by Micchi was disallowed – he was needlessly caught offside despite being completely unmarked. In Montecchio it finished without a winner and, in the wider context of the title race, probably with two sides feeling they had lost out. There were few clear‑cut chances in the matches played in Fiorentino and Domagnano. In the former, Folgore and Libertas shared the points in a 1–1 draw. After a match spent almost entirely on the front foot and with more than one opportunity passed up – notably Pancotti’s strike against the post on 21 minutes and Angelini’s header wide with the goal gaping – Folgore fell behind in the second half to a thunderbolt from Ulloa. The forward ghosted in unmarked, latched onto Monteleone’s pass and unleashed a long‑range effort that gave Venturini no chance. His opposite number Del Prete produced some fine saves and a few occasional wobbles over the course of the game, but there was nothing he could do about the equaliser. The newly introduced Anzaghi crossed from the left for the run of Pancotti, who got in front of his marker and headed home with both feet planted inside the six‑yard box. Folgore laid siege in the closing minutes in search of a winner, but instead ended up with a red card for Bruno. Libertas get their tally moving again, drawing level – for the moment – with Faetano, who play tomorrow against Cailungo. There were no goals, finally, between Domagnano and Pennarossa. After three wins on the spin, the Wolves were unable to claim the scalp of the Chiesanuova club, who pick up a point after the only other one they had managed so far, on 26 November. As on that occasion, tonight’s positive result was built on a clean sheet. And to think the first chance fell to Dolci’s men, who struck the post on 29 minutes through Pintore. At the other end Perazzini couldn’t turn the ball over the line from close range, while after the restart Domagnano wasted the chance to go ahead through Babboni. A wide free‑kick sparked a pinball sequence that led to a soft header from Giovanardi and then Gozzi hitting the post. Babboni then sent an incredible right‑footed effort into the stands, blazing over from two yards out. Ferrero was no longer flawless, while Barbieri reacted well to deny Perazzini and Angelini on 67 minutes. The goalless draw survived even Merendino’s last‑gasp free‑kick, which failed to hit the target. There is a bitter aftertaste to this fourth consecutive positive result for the Wolves, who squander the opportunity to extend their cushion over 13th‑placed Libertas – which remains at seven points. Below is the fixture list for Matchday 22 of the Campionato Sammarinese BKN301, with all games available on demand on Titani.tv:

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