Futsal Week, defeat for the Titans in their debut against Morocco U21

The Futsal Week October Cup begins with a defeat for the San Marino National Futsal Team. In the now traditional venue of Poreč (Croatia), Roberto Osimani’s Titans fell to Morocco Under 21, who ran out 7-0 winners.

San Marino made a positive start, with the team spared on a couple of occasions by some excellent saves from Mattia Protti. The Titans continued to hold out and it took a superb move full of pace and technique, finished by Iouazzinen, for the Moroccans to break the deadlock a little over three minutes from the end of the first half. The young North Africans pushed on, but the Titans defended well and went into the break trailing by just one goal.

The second half, however, began in the worst possible way for San Marino, who conceded a second after just one minute: a powerful strike from distance by Chkairi underlined the quality in the Moroccan ranks. The Titans’ reaction came shortly afterwards with a thunderous left-footed effort from distance by Elia Pasqualini, which crashed against the crossbar. The move continued and Barbano’s back pass to Protti was interpreted by the referee as a double touch by the goalkeeper in his own half. From the resulting indirect free-kick on the edge of the area, Morocco needed just two quick passes to free Azzakhnini Aouragh, who made it 3-0. A minute later Morocco scored again: Protti, who had pushed beyond halfway, lost possession and with the goal unguarded Benbrahim found the target from distance to make it 4-0. The match then settled until the 32nd minute, when Morocco again increased the score: Protti kicked away Benbrahim’s venomous left-footed effort, but Edders was first to the rebound and netted the fifth for the North Africans. Garrimou’s side kept pressing and after just one more minute they struck again with another lethal left-footer – this time from Ahib – that flew into the corner. Morocco did not let up and, after Nassiri hit the inside of the post with around six minutes to play, they also found a seventh and final goal with another fine team move, finished by El Jarrari, who on this occasion was acting as flying goalkeeper. It ended 7-0 to Morocco Under 21. San Marino will be back on court at 18:15 against Greenland in the second game of the tournament this afternoon.

Futsal Week October Cup, DAY 1 | San Marino – Morocco U21 0-7

SAN MARINO

Protti, Pasqualini, Maiani, Michelotti, Ercolani

Substitutes: Giulianelli, Para, Zafferani, De Angelis, Barbano, Cola, Chezzi, Toccaceli, Dolcini

Head coach: Roberto Osimani

MOROCCO UNDER 21

Laghrissi, Chkairi, El Jarrari, Iouazzinen, Ait Hemmou

Substitutes: Ahir, Azzakhnini Aouragh, Benbrahim, Edders, El Amri, Laghrarba, Nassiri, Tuhami, Yarti

Head coach: Youssef Garrimou

Referee 1: Nejc Duscak

Referee 2: Semir Keserovic

Scorers: 17’ Iouazzinen, 21’ Chkairi, 25’ Azzakhnini Aouragh, 25’ Benbrahim, 32’ Edders, 33’ Ahib, 39’ El Jarrari

Booked: Ercolani, Chezzi