On the 26th matchday the Titans play early and in a different stadium from the one they usually play at home.
Freedom is in Montecchio for a direct clash – yet another of this period – with very important points up for grabs for the race for salvation. The Titanes arrive with the enthusiasm of Pavia in their bodies and with the awareness that winning would mean moving forward in a decisive – and perhaps decisive – way towards the desired goal. This time Mister Venturi cannot confirm the eleven from the previous match. Physical problems stop Carlini (not even called up) and Puglisi, sitting on the bench. In their place there are Prinzivalli as left arm and Bertolotti as midfielder. The formation remains 3-5-2.
Freedom gets off to a rocket start and after 40” goes for a shot with Cocco, screened in the area by Prinzivalli. In the 2nd minute the guests broke the deadlock with Martin’s header, perfectly served to the far post by Devoto. After such an approach to the match by their opponents, the Titanes get to work to propose an adequate reply. Bertolotti moves the net but from the outside with a right foot that is too crushed. Then, in the 6th minute, a great chance for Giuliani, served with the tachometer by Ladu and quick to anticipate, with his right, Fedele’s exit: the diagonal of the number 30, however, goes out by a whisker. Identical fate for Barbieri’s conclusion in the middle of the half: Brambilla intercepts a raise and, in fact, puts his partner in front of Fedele, albeit in a slightly out of the way position. Here too, it is the centimeters that make all the difference in the world. Freedom sees themselves forward again with Martin’s left-handed cross for Burbassi, perfectly calibrated but which catches the 11 slightly late. You arrive without major shocks at the very last part of the hamlet. Here comes the episode that the Titans needed. Tamburini did a great job in pouncing on a ball that seemed easy for Mellano to manage. The guest number 7, already intent on throwing the ball back, does not notice Titana’s arrival, and in fact kicks. The referee immediately points to the spot, from which Barbieri appears: Fedele guesses but it’s not enough to avoid the 1-1 goal and the 15th goal of the season by the blue and white captain, always on target in the last three games. The personal score of the 2019-20 season, that of promotion to Serie A, has been equalled. The reaction of the girls in orange shirts only brings with it a strangled shot from Di Lascio, from the edge, after the short clearance from the home defence: no problem for Limardi.
Bertolotti does not re-emerge from the changing rooms of the San Marino Academy, having been warned: Carrer is in his place. The Freedom starts in high gear as in the first half. The intensive presence of the guests in the last thirty meters of the San Marino Academy resulted in a weak shot by Burbassi – easily blocked by Limardi – and in the double chance that happened to Martin and Burbassi in the 50th minute. It all started with a throw intercepted by Mellano: Martin didn’t shoot immediately in the area but lost some playing time, favoring the recovery of the defense which however was unable to completely remove the threat. The action remains alive and is concluded with a right-footed shot from Burbassi which ends up not far from the target. On the other front there is a good chance for Carrer, who is good at disorientating Giatras with a feint and moving the ball to his preferred foot, the left: the shot, however, doesn’t have enough venom. However, it is the beginning of a phase of good push from the girls of the house. A push that soon led them to a turnaround. The action starts from afar: Carrer crosses to the center for Giuliani, who doesn’t arrive in time for the appointment. Tamburini keeps the ball on the pitch and waits for the arrival of Giuliani, who passes it for Ladu: the latter takes action on his own and with his left foot he shoots around the far post, calling Fedele to a short clearance which Peare pounces on, quickly to unload the ball into the net for his first celebration in the Academy jersey. And above all an advantage that “risks” weighing heavily.
Freedom, long-time master of the game, doesn’t fit. Just as Mr. Ardito is not there, throwing Vazquez and Battaglioli into the fray in one fell swoop. It is precisely the latter that initiates a very elaborate action that flows from the left to the right. Here Devoto goes to cross, the defense intercepts, Burbassi wins the ball back and from the back serves Asta at the near post, who spins well but has to surrender to Limardi’s reflex, sensational and decisive as in Pavia. Once the danger was over, the Titans went back up and brought the score closer to 3-1 with a great left-footed shot from the edge of Carrer, who was able to carve out space for the conclusion and was also a little unlucky, because the ball missed the top corner by really nothing . In the 81st minute the match suffers another jolt and Carrer is invaluable here too. He intercepted the ball which would allow Tamburini to fly across the open field towards Fedele’s goal. The conditional is a must because Di Lascio’s foul denies the 22 this opportunity: Di Lascio, however, was already booked and the referee, inevitably, had to send her off. Although outnumbered, the Freedom does not give up the final boarding. The diminishing forces, however, take their toll, while, at the Academy, the psychological advantage has the effect of multiplying the defensive attention, as well as the garra. More than one scrum (with the ball removed with difficulty, but removed) and a conclusion largely off target by Burbassi, the Titans did not concede. An exhausted Tamburini leaves the field to Bonnín, called to revive the energy of an attack that is dedicated more to patching up than to the search for 3-1. But that’s fine: Venturi’s girls emerge from the trio of head-to-head matches with six points out of nine, taking a further and significant step towards achieving their seasonal goal.
Women’s Serie B 2023-24, 26th matchday | San Marino Academy – Freedom 2-1
SAN MARINO ACADEMY [3-5-2]
Limardi; Manzetti, Gardel, Prinzivalli; Ladu, Giuliani, Brambilla, Bertolotti (from 46′ Carrer), Peare; Tamburini (from 85′ Bonnín), Barbieri
Available: Montanari, Montalti, Menin, Mariotti, Puglisi, Buonamassa, Pirini
Coach: Giacomo Venturi
FREEDOM [3-5-2]
Loyal; Zito, Bruni (from 79′ Serna), Giatras; Devoto, Mellano (from 68′ Vazquez), Di Lascio, Cocco (from 68′ Battaglioli), Asta (from 89′ Marrone); Martin, Burbassi
Available: Nucera, Servetto, Fadini, Ara, Eletto
Coach: Michele Ardito
Referee: Samuel Dania from Milan
Assistants: Marco Giuliani from Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, Stefano Allievi from San Benedetto del Tronto
Booked: Bertolotti, Di Lascio
Expelled: Di Lascio (double yellow card)
Scorers: 2′ Martin, 40′ pen. Barbieri, 64′ Peare
