Futsal: Latvia run out 8-0 winners

Ercolani edges out De Angelis in the ballot for the target man role in San Marino’s starting five chosen by Osimani to take on hot favourites Latvia. As announced, Pazzini replaces the suspended Protti in goal. Maiani, Moretti and Pasqualini complete the starting line-up for the Biancazzurri.

The Baltic side need less than a minute to knock on Protti’s door, breaking the deadlock through Kuļepovs from a pass by Babris. San Marino show their best moves when they can lean on De Angelis, while at the other end Latvia’s pressure produces a few sporadic efforts – including a powerful right-foot strike from Kozlovskis following a second successive corner. On that occasion, Pazzini is monumental. The second goal arrives on 7 minutes, when the same winger coolly beats the San Marino keeper at his near post. The Titans respond through Chezzi, who forces Mūrnieks into action. Bellarte’s side, not satisfied, also find the net from distance thanks to Tarakanovs’ right-foot effort with 12’16” on the clock. Shortly afterwards, Pazzini shows fine reflexes to deny Rimkus from a tight angle. The keeper repeats the feat on 15 minutes against Mickēvičs. San Marino reply with two attempts from Moretti and Chezzi, one from a corner and one from a kick-in. Then, with another precise right-foot shot from well outside the area, Kozlovskis completes his brace. Latvia’s fourth quickly becomes five just a few seconds later, when Pazzini is also unlucky on Babris’ finish. A good counter-attack built on the Ceccoli-Ercolani axis allows San Marino to relieve the pressure and show themselves around the opposition area. Before the break, a great piece of play from captain Belloni: he wins back possession and sets off on a solo run – beating his marker to free up a right-footed diagonal that drifts just wide.

San Marino make a very convincing start to the second half, immediately dangerous through Moretti – directly from the free kick earned by a fine piece of play from Ercolani. Shortly after, the pivot himself has the chance to make it 1-5 but cannot make it count from a promising position after being set up by Maiani. Moments later, an unfortunate touch from Moretti – trying to prevent Mickēvičs from scoring into an empty net – and Babris’ second of the night take Latvia’s tally to seven. Approaching the half-hour mark, the Baltic side also profit from a free kick hotly disputed by the San Marino players and bench: Baklanovs, given room to shoot, makes no mistake. Earlier, Ūdris had been denied by the post, as was Kuļepovs on 32 minutes. A few minutes later, San Marino’s good off-the-ball work sparks a counter by Moretti, who forces Labuts into a two-step save. The Biancazzurri go close again through Pasqualini, who gets in front of his direct opponent before cutting inside onto his left: a near-perfect strike, drawing the very best from Labuts. The same fate befalls Chezzi’s diagonal effort, with the debutant close to scoring roughly 200 seconds from time. Then there is pure bad luck between Pazzini’s effort on the buzzer and the consolation goal that wasn’t: the crossbar saves Latvia, denying the 21-year-old what would have been the first international goal scored by a San Marino goalkeeper.

The opening match of FIFA Futsal World Cup 2028 qualifying ends in a clear and deserved win for Latvia. For San Marino, there are full senior debuts for Chezzi and Verri. Osimani’s men, who came close to scoring on several occasions in the second half, now have just over 24 hours to reset and be ready to face hosts Albania – tomorrow at 19:00.

FIFA Futsal World Cup 2028 – Preliminary Round, Matchday 1 | Latvia-San Marino 8-0

LATVIA

Mūrnieks, Kuļepovs, Tarakanovs, Babris, Baklanovs

Substitutes: Labuts, Atamaņukovs, Jelagovs, Ūdris, Mickēvičs, Rimkus, Kozlovskis, Kuļešovs, Motiļs

Head coach: Massimiliano Bellarte

SAN MARINO

Pazzini, Maiani, Moretti, Pasqualini, Ercolani

Substitutes: Chiaruzzi, Ceccoli, Zafferani, De Angelis, Belloni, Verri, Chezzi, Toccaceli

Head coach: Roberto Osimani

Referee 1: Mariia Myslovska (UKR)

Referee 2: Antonios Adamopoulos (GRE)

Referee 3: Nurlybek Kalimaganbetov (KAZ)

Timekeeper: Arlind Subashi (ALB)

Scorers: 0’45” Kuļepovs, 7’00” and 15’01” Kozlovskis, 12’16” Tarakanovs, 15‘47” and 23’11” Babris, 21’47” (og) Moretti, 28’06” Baklanovs

Booked: Ercolani

Attendance: 25