Friendlies: Under-16 National Team dazzles in first test against Gibraltar

Speed of ball circulation, quick passing, an unrelenting desire to press the game and the opposition, seemingly undeterred by the high temperatures of a late August afternoon. All this, and more, was on display in the first of two (non-official) friendlies in which San Marino’s Under-16 National Team faced and will face their Gibraltar counterparts. Bonesso’s boys simply dominated yesterday. The final 5-1 scoreline faithfully reflects a performance with barely a blemish, the only exception being the deflection early in the second half that led to the penalty for the temporary 3-1, confidently converted by Poggio. But it was only an isolated incident. The rest of the match in Acquaviva belonged to San Marino, and San Marino alone. And it was clear very early that the young Titani were hungry. Capitalising on a poor clearance by the visiting defence, Federico Raschi pounced like a hawk, rounded Johnson Laoudy and slotted into an empty net: not even 60 seconds had been played. With the deadlock broken, the Titani took full control of possession and tempo, repeatedly threatening the opposition box with quick interchanges and aggressive pressing on the ball carrier. On 12 minutes, Ciacci forced Johnson Laoudy into a difficult save from a wicked free-kick. From the resulting corner, swung towards Stefani, he nodded the ball back across goal for Bucchi: the number 8 stretched and turned it into the net. Midway through the half, Stefani himself tried his luck from distance with a brave effort that missed the target by not very much, and above all snuffed out at birth a timid attempt at a Gibraltar reaction. Even 2-0 was not enough for the Titani, who extended their lead near the end of the half once again through Raschi: Ciacci’s long ball to his team-mate was inspired, allowing him to burn half the defence – and also Bucchi – before lifting a delicate lob over Johnson Laoudy. At the break, San Marino could boast three goals scored and zero shots conceded to Gibraltar. The second half kicked off with no changes, at least for San Marino. Gibraltar showed a livelier attitude than in the first period, and their good spell yielded a penalty after a handball in the area by Amoretti. Poggio stepped up and sent Bucci the wrong way from the spot. Then came the time for some substitutions, with Guidi and Berardi replacing Stefani and Valentini. Conceding did nothing to break the focus or the garra of the Titani, who on 57 minutes restored their three-goal cushion by capitalising precisely on their committed press, with Raschi closing down goalkeeper Johnson Laoudy, who overdid the touches and was "robbed" of the ball: the San Marino forward made no mistake into the unguarded net, crowning his excellent display with a hat-trick. After the introductions of Cangini, Gritti and goalkeeper Sami, Bucchi went close to a brace with a left-footed effort that skimmed the crossbar by a matter of centimetres. Balsimelli and Maiani came on for Amoretti and Ciacci and it was Maiani himself, in the fourth minute of stoppage time, who weighted the pass perfectly for Gritti’s run in behind, the latter remaining cool to round the onrushing Becerra Lopez and then slot home for a 5-1 that fully reflects the first of the two performances produced by Bonesso’s boys. The second round is scheduled for Wednesday, again at 16:30, again in Acquaviva and again live on Titani.TV.

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Under-16, international friendly (non-official), MD1 | San Marino – Gibraltar 5-1   SAN MARINO Bucci (from 70' Sami); Amoretti (from 82' Balsimelli); Stefani (from 56' Guidi), Pala; Valentini (from 56' Berardi), Cervellini (from 70' Gritti), Muccioli, Bucchi, Terni; Ciacci (from 82' Maiani), Raschi (from 70' Cangini) Substitutes: Argenziano, Colapinto Coach: Alessandro Loris Bonesso   GIBRALTAR Johnson Laoudy (from 70' Becerra Lopez); Soleci, Garratt, Haddad (from 46' Phillips), Pecino; Fortunato, A. Sanchez Soiza (from 56' Dahrouch); Rowbottom (from 70' Perera Vinent), Poggio, Martinez, B. Soiza Substitutes: Hollins Key, Omara, Bahadur Bonet Coach: Victor Manuel Gonzalez   Referee: Mattia Andruccioli (RSM) Assistant referees: Gianmarco Ercolani (RSM) and Elisa Cecchetti (RSM) Scorers: 1', 37' and 57' Raschi, 13' Bucchi, 53' pen. Poggio, 90+4' Gritti

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