Futsal: San Marino scare Austria, who pull away at the end

Second outing in just over twenty-four hours for San Marino’s futsal National Team who, after the draw on debut with Israel (1-1), take on hosts Austria, narrow winners in their opener against Bulgaria (1-0). The 0-0 draw in the earlier game of the day between Bulgaria and Israel hands a match point to the Central Europeans – guaranteed a place in the Main Round if they beat the Titans. The technical-tactical content is totally different from the game with Israel, which Osimani had worked on during the morning’s video session. Yet, what makes the difference at the start is the officials’ assessment of a challenge on Ercolani – which appeared to be a foul. Not according to the referees, and from the ensuing play Jatic fires in with his right foot. Before and after the goal San Marino had threatened with Moretti and Mattioli, while two attempts from Busignani failed to hit the target. Austria are more consistent in their pressure, forcing Protti into at least three further interventions in which the San Marino goalkeeper is up to the task. As the minutes go by, the Titans grow into the game, winning back possession on several occasions. On 12 minutes Moretti is freed to shoot from a Franciosi set play, drawing a brilliant stop from Sadílek – but Castilho does not award the corner. At the other end Protti gets down well to block Pezic’s angled effort. Just when the Biancazzurri seemed to have settled better on the court, Steinwandter doubles the lead – drilling a powerful and precise diagonal into the far bottom corner. On 18 minutes the Biancazzurri then survive by the skin of their teeth following a persistent attack by Gager, who finds space thanks to a couple of ricochets. The winger tests Protti again in the final minute, when Austria switch to a flying goalkeeper. The last chance of the half falls to San Marino, with Zafferani setting up Moretti’s right-footed strike – kept out by Sadílek. After the restart Austria again come out with a dynamic, aggressive approach, forcing San Marino into another twenty minutes of sheer heart and hard work. Osimani’s men rise to the challenge, relying a couple of times on Protti and on two other occasions on the woodwork coming to their aid to deny strikes from Gager and Pezic. In between those scares, however, the Biancazzurri reopen the contest on the scoreboard. From a corner taken by Franciosi, the ball runs out to Moretti on his right foot, who tightens the angle on his shot and finds the base of the post to beat Sadílek. It is the winger’s first goal in European qualifying. On 17 minutes he then wins a free-kick – taken by Busignani and pushed away by Sadílek. The closing stages are understandably tense, with just one goal between the sides and San Marino attacking with a flying goalkeeper. From this tactical setup comes the goal that allows the home crowd to breathe again: Austria defend their box well and win a loose ball that results in Steinwandter’s 3-1, struck into an empty net from his own penalty area. Calculated risks for the Titans, who persist with the extra man in possession but are unable to fashion a series of clear threats on Sadílek’s goal. The hosts thus see out a win that is overall deserved but hard-fought, and which sends them through early to the Main Round as group winners. San Marino will play for second place on the final matchday, when they face Bulgaria in a game both sides will have to win to keep alive their hopes of reaching the next round.

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Futsal EURO 2026, Preliminary Round – Matchday 2 | Austria-San Marino 3-1 AUSTRIA Sadílek, Jatic, Skrgić, Muharemovic, Pezic Substitutes: Hemmelmayer, Kreka, Meitz, Binder, Steinwandter, Flögel, Bicer, Rajkovic, Gager Head coach: Patrik Barbic   SAN MARINO Protti, Pasqualini, Busignani, Moretti, Ercolani Substitutes: Pazzini, Geri, Maiani, Franciosi, Mattioli, Zafferani, Ceccoli, Belloni, Toccaceli Head coach: Roberto Osimani   First referee: Darko Boskovic (SUI) Second referee: Miguel Castilho (POR) Third referee: Admir Zahovič (SNV) Timekeeper: Daniel Stauber (AUT) Scorers: 1'54" Jatic, 15'32", 37'39" Steinwandter, 31'40" Moretti Booked: Meitz, Rajkovic, Binder

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