January Cup: Morocco show no mercy; Moretti and Busignani on target again

Sixth in the world ranking and among the top eight at the last World Cup, Morocco went into yesterday’s semi-final with impeccable credentials. San Marino tried to limit as much as possible the superior quality and intensity of Dguig’s side. At times that mission was accomplished. At others, the gap between the two teams was more evident. So the final scoreline is a heavy one: 12-2, with Busignani and Moretti getting on the scoresheet again after finding the net the previous day against Switzerland. Led by a refereeing team that also included ASA referee Laurentiu Ilie, the two sides got straight into the thick of the action. Morocco pressed from the opening seconds and broke the deadlock on 3’ from a corner routine: Madih quickly swivelled to fire home the ball played in by El Mesrar. The second goal followed shortly after: El Mesrar himself beat Protti at the end of a slick, quick passing move with Charraoui. After this initial Moroccan onslaught, the Titano national team adjusted defensively, keeping the contest balanced through to the closing minutes of the first half. There the North Africans added to their tally through El Idrissi’s touch from close range and, moments later, Bakkali’s stunning right-foot strike into the top corner.

It was 4-0 at the break, but early in the second half the Titans pulled one back through Moretti, who beat the keeper at the near post after excellent target play from Verri. Morocco replied via Sena, who took advantage of a set-piece move to carve out space and slot past Pazzini, who had come on for Protti in the meantime. Even so, San Marino still had the physical and emotional resources to respond once more. This time it was Busignani with a direct free-kick, just as the day before. On this occasion, though, his shot was not low and skimming the post, but powerful and under the crossbar. The incident did not unsettle Morocco, who instead stepped up the tempo, repeatedly using the flying goalkeeper. In the final nine minutes, Dguig’s side struck seven more times. Three of those goals came from El Fenni who, however, would not finish as best scorer of the match, because El Mesrar, already on target for 2-0, found the net three more times to complete his personal four-goal haul. The other goal resulted from an unfortunate deflection by Maiani on another fierce effort from the irrepressible El Mesrar. In the midst of this very difficult spell, the Titans nevertheless came close to a third goal. A rare mismanagement of the flying goalkeeper by Morocco allowed Pazzini to win back the ball and shoot from one end of the pitch towards the other: his attempt had the San Marino bench and stands on their feet, but the ball drifted agonisingly wide. Today will be dedicated to recovery work. Tomorrow San Marino will return to the court for their third and final match of the tournament, the play-off for third place: at 16:00, Osimani’s men will face Turkey.

Futsal Week January Cup, DAY 2 | Morocco – San Marino 12-2

MOROCCO

Cheridou, Charraoui, El Mesrar, Bakkali, Madih

Substitutes: Ben Sellam, El Idrissi, Borite, El Fenni, Yanis, Alla, Sena, Kamal, Najeh

Head coach: Hichame Dguig

SAN MARINO

Protti, Maiani, Verri, Busignani, Moretti

Substitutes: Pazzini, Ceccoli, Cecchini, Gamba, Chezzi, Toccaceli, Cola, Belloni, De Angelis

Head coach: Roberto Osimani

Referee 1: Noa Mečić

Referee 2: Emilie Aubry

Referee 3: Laurentiu Ilie

Booked: Busignani

Scorers: 2’49’’ Madih, 4’12’’, 36’30’’, 39’16’’ & 39’50’’ El Mesrar, 16’37’’ El Idrissi, 17’52’’ Bakkali, 24’23’’ Moretti, 25’28’’ Sena, 29’49’’ Busignani, 31’04’’, 31’49’’ & 38’22’’ El Fenni, 33’54’’ Maiani (og), 39’