Futsal, San Marino pay for lack of ruthlessness: Cyprus win 3-1 late on

Final stop in the Preliminary Round of FIFA Futsal World Cup 2028 qualifying: San Marino face Cyprus, aiming to leapfrog the islanders and finish third in the group. Motivation is no less strong for Athos Stylianou’s side, who could take second place with a win and a simultaneous Albania defeat – though in that case they would still need to overturn a twelve-goal advantage in favour of the hosts. Together with Latvia, it remains to be decided who will progress to the Main Round.

The need to score – and to score plenty – prompts the Cypriot coach to go with a flying goalkeeper right from the opening exchanges, initially with Iosif in that role. The first chances, however, come with the conventional goalkeepers on court: first Krekos and then Pasqualini are denied by Protti and Kyriacos Stylianou. In between, Maiani fires a right-footed effort over. And playing without the flying goalkeeper, Cyprus take the lead in the 7th minute: after a brilliant reflex save by Protti on Savva, the move continues and allows Tsitsos to break the deadlock from a central position. San Marino’s response involves the entire five on the court, working a shooting chance for Ceccoli – off target on the bounce. The Titans give something away, but Protti bails them out midway through the half in a one-on-one with Kouloumbris. The back line also stand firm on a free-kick from the edge dubiously awarded to Cyprus in the 12th minute. San Marino stay switched on and a minute later find a deserved equaliser: Belloni wins the ball and threads it through for Verri, ice-cool in front of goal as he slots home with his right for 1-1. After Chezzi, Verri too can celebrate his first international goal on his debut tournament in the Azzurro and White. The match, already lively, sparks further into life: on 18 minutes Belloni leads and finishes a counter-attack, but the Cypriot keeper does just enough. In the dying moments of the first half there is a hint of apprehension but no real danger at either end: it is all square at the break thanks to Verri’s strike.

The second half begins under the sign of aggression and intensity: three fouls in two minutes pose a serious problem for San Marino, who in the meantime record an attempt from Krekos from a set-piece. In the 25th minute it is San Marino who raise the temperature: Protti picks out Ercolani, whose lay-off into the middle is just fractionally late for Chezzi. An even more incredible chance arrives a minute later: Ercolani releases Maiani in front of Kyriacos Stylianou, who diverts with his foot. Chezzi pounces on the rebound but, with the goal gaping, smashes his left-footed effort against the crossbar. On 28 minutes De Angelis produces a piece of skill, cushioning a high ball from Protti with the toe to set up a right-footed strike – which, however, lacks accuracy. San Marino keep flirting with a second goal, notably when they win a free-kick on the edge of the area – given for a dive by the Cypriot keeper – a minute before the midway point of the half. Moretti’s effort is blocked by the wall, while Ceccoli curls the rebound just wide. The contest remains highly charged, even though chances dry up until the final six minutes. It is at this stage that Cyprus retake the lead, capitalising on a perfectly worked move with the flying goalkeeper on court. The finish from the heart of the area, with 34’18” on the clock, comes from Savva. Seconds later there is a promising ball into the middle for Chezzi, who cannot get a shot away before a defender’s tackle. With two minutes to go, San Marino also switch to a flying goalkeeper, with Belloni stepping into the role. The decision immediately generates a fine move, but Ercolani cannot apply the finish at the far post. With the ball still in play, Savva draws the winning card, finding the empty net from distance for 3-1.

That is how the World Cup qualifying campaign ends for San Marino, who even hit the outside of the post with Pasqualini five seconds from time. Aside from the game against Latvia – out of reach for almost everyone in this group, as Albania are about to discover – San Marino can regret not taking a host of clear chances against both the hosts and Cyprus. Had those two games ended in draws, it would not have been far from a fair reflection of events.

FIFA Futsal World Cup 2028 – Preliminary Round, Matchday 3 | San Marino-Cyprus 1-3

SAN MARINO

Pazzini, Maiani, Moretti, Pasqualini, Ercolani

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

Head coach: Roberto Osimani

CYPRUS

K. Stylianou, Krekos, C. Stylianou, Tsitsos, Savva

Substitutes: Christoforou, Chadjigeorgiou, Iosif, Exadactlylos, Kanjo, Papaspyrou, Kouloumbris, Koulloupas, Georgiou

Head coach: Athos Stylianou

Referee 1: Mariia Myslovska (UKR)

Referee 2: Nurlybek Kalimaganbetov (KAZ)

Referee 3: Antonios Adamopoulos (GRE)

Timekeeper: Arlind Subashi (ALB)

Scorers: 6’24” Tsitsos, 12’39” Verri, 34’18” and 38’44” Savva

Booked: Maiani, Chadjigeorgiou, K. Stylianou

Attendance: 20 spectators