Futsal Week: second consecutive 0-0 for the National Team

Second match and second 0-0 for the Futsal National Team at the Futsal Week in Poreč. Although it is an unofficial tournament, the Titans record for the first time two consecutive clean sheets. Right from kick-off, Osimani’s men – with the exact same starting five as the previous day – try to sting Estonia: Busignani picks out Moretti well, but he is unable to properly direct his volleyed pass towards Ercolani, all alone at the far post. In the opening 10 minutes the Biancazzurri struggle to develop their play, though they concede very little. The Ercolani-Moretti connection produces the first real warning sign: the pivot shields the ball and lays it off to the winger, who aims for the corner, drawing a save from Boskin. Moretti is lively also in the press: Manni completely miscues a square pass and the number 10 pounces on the ball, only to send it wide. Estonia threaten with a shot from Desjatski which, deflected by Pasqualini, gains the venom it initially lacked: a rooted Protti can only watch the ball drift just wide. The last chance of the first half falls to San Marino: Moretti breaks away on the counter and opts for an early toe-poke in an attempt to catch Boskin by surprise. The Estonian keeper, however, holds his ground and deals with it comfortably enough.

In the second half San Marino’s build-up play immediately looks more fluid. Estonia give Protti a scare with a tight-angled effort from Vnukov that finishes close to the far post. The Titans’ reply is perfectly in tune: a quick counter-attack finished by Verri with a shot that shaves the near upright. The Baltic side once again look to Vnukov who, set free by a set-piece routine, is providentially (for San Marino) denied by Busignani’s foot. At the other end, Verri picks out Zafferani’s central run, and the latter anticipates his marker with a toe-poke that forces a brilliant save from Boskin. And it doesn’t end there: after the stop, the ball rebounds off the post and falls again to Zafferani, who seems certain to score but is once more denied by Boskin. Matinaro’s left-footed drive across goal whistles past Protti’s left-hand post, while Desjatski, free at a corner, gets too much under his shot. Busignani also profits from a corner-kick routine, but in his case the shot on the run, though on target, is too central. Moretti, with a powerful right-foot strike from distance, forces Boskin into a difficult save. The number 10 soon tries again, this time shooting just wide, after Busignani had already tested Boskin with a strong but central free-kick. The balance is seriously threatened with 30 seconds left on the clock. Estonia push Boskin up into San Marino’s half and it is the goalkeeper who initiates the move that forces Protti into two extraordinary interventions, both on Gussev and both from close range. The third attempt from Estonia’s number 4 could be the decisive one, but this time it is Pasqualini who disrupts his finish, effectively sealing a second 0-0 in as many days. Osimani’s men will be back on court on Sunday at 10:00 for the third and final game of the tournament, against Montenegro.

Futsal Week September Cup, DAY 2 | Estonia - San Marino 0-0

ESTONIA

Boskin, Rebane, Vnukov, Matinaro, Desjatski

Substitutes: Tsvetkov, Gussev, Bazkov, Manniste, Savikink, Dikopavlenko, Stuf, Manni

Head coach: Mikko Kytola

SAN MARINO

Protti, Pasqualini, Busignani, Moretti, A. Ercolani

Substitutes: Pazzini, Dolcini, Zafferani, Barbano, Toccaceli, Cola, Tamagnini, M. Ercolani

Head coach: Roberto Osimani

Referee 1: Dražen Vukčević

Referee 2: Andrea Naudi

Referee 3: Jangar Jakobson

Booked: Rebane, Bazkov, Busignani