San Nicolo won a seven-goal thriller in Italian Serie D on 18 October 2026, beating Mar Ratase 5-2 in a match that swung wildly before the hosts took full control in the second half. A hat-trick from Luca Di Paolo powered San Nicolo to an emphatic home victory.

Match overview

The game started at a furious pace, with both sides committing numbers forward and leaving space in behind. San Nicolo struck first and added a second inside the opening half-hour, but Mar Ratase responded before half-time to keep the contest alive. The visitors then equalised early in the second half, setting up a tense period.

Rather than collapse, San Nicolo raised their intensity and scored three unanswered goals to pull away. The home side’s finishing proved decisive, while Mar Ratase’s defensive organisation fell apart under sustained pressure. The result was a clear statement of San Nicolo’s attacking potential.

Key moments

• 8 minutes: Luca Di Paolo opened the scoring with a low drive from the edge of the box.
• 22 minutes: Marco Santucci doubled the lead, heading in from a corner.
• 35 minutes: Andrea Testa pulled one back for Mar Ratase with a close-range finish.
• 49 minutes: Di Paolo restored San Nicolo’s two-goal cushion with a composed finish.
• 58 minutes: Samuele Orlando made it 3-2, briefly giving Mar Ratase hope.
• 72 minutes: Di Paolo completed his hat-trick, finishing a rapid counter-attack.
• 85 minutes: Filippo Neri sealed the win with a fifth goal for San Nicolo.

Tactical story

San Nicolo played with aggressive width and looked to get crosses into the box early. Their midfield pressed high to force turnovers, and the front three combined well with quick one-twos. Di Paolo’s movement between the centre-backs was particularly effective, and Mar Ratase never found a reliable way to track him.

Mar Ratase were dangerous on the break and scored twice, but their defensive shape was too open. Once San Nicolo regained the lead at 4-2, the visitors’ confidence drained. San Nicolo managed the final stages intelligently, keeping possession and attacking only when the right space appeared.

Standout players

Luca Di Paolo was the star of the show with a well-taken hat-trick, showing pace, composure and clinical finishing. Marco Santucci controlled the midfield and added a goal, while Filippo Neri made an impact from the bench. For Mar Ratase, Andrea Testa and Samuele Orlando took their goals well, but the defensive unit struggled throughout.

Season impact

The three points give San Nicolo a strong platform in Serie D and highlight their ability to score freely when their attacking players click. For Mar Ratase, the defeat exposes the need for greater defensive discipline, especially away from home. Conceding five goals will hurt, but the team’s fighting spirit in getting back to 3-2 offers at least some encouragement.