EURO 2024: Northern Ireland win 2-0, but strong second half from the Titans

Plenty of enthusiasm – with over two thousand in attendance – for the opening EURO 2024 qualifier for the San Marino National Team at the Stadium against Northern Ireland. It was also Fabrizio Costantini’s first European Qualifiers match in charge, following his experience in the Nations League. Debut as well for Roberto Di Maio – starting from the first minute at the heart of the defence – and a welcome return to the biancazzurri shirt for Filippo Berardi, after two long and difficult years blighted by bad luck for the forward. Northern Ireland, meanwhile, were back on the Titano for the first time since September 2017, in the qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. After a first quarter of an hour without any real chances, one comes for each side. The visitors threaten first through McNair, who connects with a cross from the right, but Elia Benedettini is equal to it. Shortly after comes the response from Filippo Berardi, who bursts away brilliantly down the right and heads for goal, but Peacock-Farrell denies him and the whole crowd. A moment later, after the save from the goalkeeper, the flag is up from the assistant of Hungarian referee Bogár, who had already signalled offside. Northern Ireland keep pushing – also urged on by their own fans, who fill much of the old stand at the San Marino Stadium – with captain Cathcart unable to find the target. The deadlock is broken soon after, though, with a cross from the right to the far post, where Dion Charles arrives to turn it in for the opener for Michael O’Neill’s team. Just past the half-hour mark there is another good move down the right: Bradley delivers into the middle, Saville tries his luck and his effort whistles just wide. On the stroke of half-time Bradley lets fly again, but Elia Benedettini produces a superb save to prevent the second. The visitors continue to press, but after two minutes of added time the sides go in with O’Neill’s men holding the narrowest of leads. At the break Costantini turns to his bench, sending on Cevoli for Rossi and Tosi for Palazzi. At the restart Northern Ireland maintain the pressure, but the Titans’ back line stands firm. San Marino also attempt a few forays forward, with Lazzari shooting from the edge of the area, but his effort lacks power and Peacock-Farrell gathers comfortably. Shortly afterwards the visitors double their advantage: Lewis swings in a cross from the left, Charles powers in a header, Fabbri tries to intervene but cannot prevent the ball from crossing the line for 2-0. A few minutes later Northern Ireland go close to a third when Brown’s shot flashes just past Elia Benedettini’s post. Costantini’s Titans, however, look to react: Manuel Battistini delivers an excellent cross for substitute Danilo Rinaldi, who is denied at the last moment by Brown. San Marino’s best chance arrives soon after. Lorenzo Lazzari wins the ball and drives forward from the halfway line, spots Nanni making a run in behind and finds him with a delightful lob; the biancazzurro forward brings it down and picks out the far corner for what could have been the goal to make it 1-2, but the raised flag cuts short the celebrations of the many in the Stadium who were already cheering. Even so, the disallowed goal injects belief and courage into the Titans, who enjoy more possession and consistently break up the visitors’ attacks. In the closing minutes the game is played largely in the visitors’ half, but Northern Ireland, with a goal in each half, manage to secure all three points in Group H. Costantini’s men now turn their focus to the away trip to Slovenia, where they will be in action in Ljubljana on Sunday 26 March at 18:00.  

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UEFA European Qualifiers | San Marino–Northern Ireland 0-2   SAN MARINO E. Benedettini; Palazzi (46' Tosi), Rossi (46' Cevoli), Di Maio, Fabbri; Lazzari, Capicchioni ( 73' Mi. Battistini), A. Golinucci, Ma. Battistini; Nanni (85' Vitaioli), Berardi (60' Rinaldi) Substitutes: Simoncini, S. Benedettini, D'Addario, Lunadei, Ceccaroli, Franciosi, Hirsch. Head coach: Fabrizio Costantini   NORTHERN IRELAND Peacock-Farrell; Ballard (67' McGeehan), Brown (73' Price), Cathcart; Bradley, Charles, Saville (73' Thompson), Lewis (73' Ferguson); McNair, Washington (67' Magennis), Charles. Substitutes: Southwood, Hume, Toal, Hazard, , Goss, , Taylor, Whyte,. Head coach: Michael O'Neill Referee: Gergo Bogár (HUN) Assistant referees: Péter Kóbor (HUN) and Theodoros Georgiou (HUN) Fourth official: Ádám Farkas (HUN) VAR: Tamás Bognár (HUN) Assistant VAR: Katalin Kulcsár (HUN)   Booked: 43' Brown Scorers: 24' and 55' Charles Attendance: 2,099  

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