NAT San Marino only knows how to win: 3-0 over RAT Slovenia in the final group match

With historic qualification already secured, there was a risk of underestimating the last home game of the group. But that thought never even crossed the minds of the NAT San Marino players, who make it three wins from three and, on top of that, keep De Angelis’ goal untouched for the second match running: in short, they cap off a simply perfect campaign. Gigi Bizzotto makes a few changes to his starting line-up compared to the two matches with RAT Hungary and RAT Türkiye, bringing in Sartini, Babboni, Boldrini, Michelotti and Terenzi. The morning draw between RAT Türkiye and RAT Hungary (2-2, with the Magyars once again unable to manage a 2-0 lead) opens the door for RAT Slovenia to overtake the Hungarians. But only on condition they beat NAT San Marino. And that is precisely what the hosts are not prepared to allow. The first half, far from spectacular, is nonetheless managed expertly by Bizzotto’s men, who control proceedings almost entirely: Gori (captain for the day) and his team-mates strike at the right time and reduce De Angelis’ workload to a minimum, the keeper never really being tested before the interval. Gori’s header from a Parma free-kick is the moment that breaks the deadlock on 24 minutes. The 2-0, meanwhile, comes from a huge blunder by Slovenian goalkeeper Verbič, who gets himself tangled up with the ball at his feet right on the goal line: Babboni gratefully accepts the gift and tucks it away. Up to that point Babboni had been doing plenty of the "dirty" work for his team-mates, and as early as the 3rd minute he had pounced on a misunderstanding between Gaj Brus and Verbič: his touch had sent the ball just wide of the Slovenian goal, giving Staric’s selection their first scare of the afternoon. The second half is noticeably livelier and sparks into life immediately with a superb reflex save from De Angelis to deny a close-range touch from Enej Brus on a Kolar free-kick. The reply from the Biancoazzurri is instantaneous: Sartini unleashes a sudden right-footed effort from the corner of the box that whistles inches past the post. RAT Slovenia then break forward twice on the counter, using both flanks. On the first occasion Veiss spreads play to the left for Brvar, who finishes his surge by firing high and wide. On the second, Adamič cuts in from the right and sets up Veiss for a left-footed strike from the edge, which is not far off the top corner. In this phase of sustained Slovenian pressure there are also chances for Klančar (who swings and misses in front of De Angelis after Brvar’s shot is deflected) and for Brvar himself, who culpably fails to get a telling touch on Veiss’ low, perfectly measured cross. NAT San Marino "interfere" with this Slovenian forcing through a free-kick from just outside the box taken by Parma, which sails just over. NAT are dangerous again on 73 minutes: Babboni lays it off to Bernardi, who breaks into open field and squares the ball to the freer Merli. The dummy from the Juvenes-Dogana player slightly throws off Sartini, who nevertheless recovers the ball and lashes it viciously towards Šobar’s goal (who had in the meantime replaced Verbič), sending it just over the bar. RAT Slovenia, however, stay in the game and even force De Angelis into action three more times in the space of a few minutes. Tratnik goes clean through on the San Marino keeper, who averts the danger with a brilliant low save. Then NAT’s number 1 gets a hand to both Oderlap’s venomous angled drive and Adamič’s powerful effort, which was otherwise destined to dip under the crossbar. Bizzotto’s men lie in wait for the ideal chance to kill off the contest, and they reach their goal on 81 minutes through Merli, who first plays in Bernardi and then, after Šobar’s save, pounces on the loose ball and rifles it into the net, signing his second goal in as many games after scoring against RAT Türkiye. The Slovenians make one last attempt to blemish De Angelis’ clean sheet through Veiss, who spots the keeper off his line and tries to lob him from 40 metres, but sends his effort wide. At the final whistle it is all hugs and smiles for Gigi Bizzotto and his players who, after clinching a historic place in the Regions’ Cup Finals, enjoy the added satisfaction of gifting the NAT another first: winning three games in the same group.  

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UEFA Regions' Cup, Intermediate Round 2024 | RAT Slovenia – NAT San Marino 0-3   RAT Slovenia Verbič (from 60' Šobar); Adamič, Zrimšek, Kolar, Brvar; E. Brus, Veiss, G. Brus (from 46' Tratnik); Ovijač (from 46' Uršič), Klančar (from 76' Oderlap), Munda (from 46' Simionov) Head coach: Žiga Staric NAT San Marino De Angelis; Gori, Moretti, Ciacci, Parma; Lisi (from 67' Merli), Michelotti (from 82' Benincasa); Terenzi (from 67' Bernardi), Boldrini, Sartini, Babboni (from 75' Pancotti) Substitute: Bottoni Head coach: Luigi Bizzotto   Referee: Tim Marshall (NIR) Assistant referees: Ryan Kelsey (NIR) and Ragnar Þór Bender (ISL) Fourth official: Vilhjalmur Thorarinsson (ISL) Booked: G. Brus, Ovijač, Parma, Moretti, E. Brus, Tratnik Scorers: 24' Gori, 33' Babboni, 81' Merli  

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