NAT San Marino: 4-0 against Anenii Noi, everything on the line with Vojvodina on Wednesday

Compared to the opening match, there are only two changes to the starting XI for Luigi Bizzotto, who confirms the defence in toto for the second outing in the Intermediate Round of the UEFA Regions’ Cup 2026-27. One new face per unit, instead, in midfield and attack. Azzurro starts from kick-off alongside Garcia Rufer, while Belward – a standout coming off the bench two days ago – is brought into the line of attacking midfielders behind Bernardi. The Tre Fiori forward is chosen as the central reference point in the absence of Imre Badalassi – for whom the UEFA Disciplinary Unit’s ruling on the length of his suspension is still awaited. The match is officiated by Vitālijs Spasjoņņikovs, who certainly did not leave fond memories for the Biancazzurri just 72 hours earlier.

NAT San Marino start brightly, even if – at least in the early stages – they are a little hasty in shifting the opposition block from one side of the pitch to the other to free Ura and Belward – who are almost always unplayable for the Moldovans. Bernardi has the chance to put his side ahead on 10 minutes, but Sanduta denies him from close range with a fine reflex save and, on the follow-up, Belward cannot make it count. The centre-forward then fires over from a set move; the same fate befalls Perazzini’s right-footed effort at the near post from a corner routine. The Biancazzurri control proceedings and deservedly break the deadlock through captain Ciacci – rising imperiously to head home from the familiar Garcia Rufer corner. Anenii Noi feel the blow and are close to collapsing again straight after the restart, when Belward slaloms past a series of opponents and fires the ball across to the far post, where no team-mate can connect. Shortly afterwards Sanduta produces a phenomenal save to keep out Ura’s right-footed strike, after a neat exchange in the box with Bernardi. We are only midway through the half but chances are already piling up: Costantini flicks on a corner with his head without finding a team-mate; similarly, Garcia Rufer’s free-kick, slightly deflected, flashes right across the area. The golden chance to double the lead arrives on 28 minutes, when Bernardi does well holding the ball up and releasing Belward on the run: the winger is unstoppable and almost reaches the end zone before squaring a tap‑in for Ferraro in front of an open goal, which somehow goes begging. Ura’s subsequent attempt is again dealt with by Sanduta. Before the break, Anenii Noi finally show themselves with a sustained but scrappy move around the edge of the box, but San Marino’s back line steps up well, repeatedly blocking the medium-range shots aimed at Guddo’s goal – effectively untroubled throughout his outing.

The second half follows the same pattern, to the point that on 49 minutes the 2-0 is there for the taking – thanks to Sanduta’s unorthodox intervention with his feet, which effectively recycles the ball inside the area with the goal gaping. NAT San Marino fail to take advantage, but are back threatening a minute later when Belward picks out Ura at the far post: his header, though from close range, does not hit the target, also because of the ascending trajectory of the ball after the bounce. The Biancazzurri keep pouring forward, with Bernardi also forcing a save from Sanduta – this time good in getting down smartly at his near post. Further attempts by Ferraro and a stretching effort from Belward – who only just fails to make contact from close range – significantly swell the tally of missed chances, leaving the contest dangerously open. Thus, on 63 minutes Anenii Noi appeal for a penalty after a robust coming-together in the box involving Costantini and Ipati: in the very same area where three days ago he awarded a soft penalty against NAT San Marino, this time Spasjoņņikovs lets play continue. The Titans show they have learned their lesson and put the game to bed with two goals in 100 seconds: yet another surge by Ura ends with a cross to the opposite side, where Bernardi and Belward keep the move alive, especially the latter, who finds the gap to finish left-footed. Riding a wave of confidence, Bizzotto’s side then hit a third on the counter, once again with their wide men in the spotlight: Belward leads the break before switching play with a trivela. Ura shows composure and precision in slipping Sartini through in the middle of the box, and he scores just a few minutes after coming on. The Biancazzurri could have added more and more, such as in the 71st minute when Sanduta wins a one‑on‑one in open field against Ura, or on Garcia Rufer’s header – pushed away from goal by the same Moldovan keeper. Merli misses the target from distance and – after the tournament debuts of Francioni and Quaranta – Ura once again tests the visiting keeper, who does well to block his near‑post effort. The only on‑target attempt allowed to Anenii Noi comes in the 87th minute through Catinsus, who wins the ball back and shoots from outside the box without, however, troubling Francioni. Before the final whistle, San Marino’s fourth bears the signature of Soufiane Belward – once again man of the match. Picking up the ball at the corner of the area, he loses his marker with a feint and cuts inside onto his left foot, sending a stunner into the far top corner.

A piece of magic that gives NAT San Marino a huge injection of confidence as they remain fully in the hunt to confirm their place in the Finals of the UEFA Regions’ Cup. Whether they succeed will be known next Wednesday, when the head‑to‑head with Vojvodina will decide who earns another chance to go for the trophy lifted last year under the skies of the Acquaviva Stadium. The hope is to have the entire squad available: with the risks linked to today’s six booked players avoided, positive news is expected from the UEFA Disciplinary Unit, called upon to assess the straight red card shown to Badalassi in the opening match against Ptuj.

UEFA Regions’ Cup 2026-27, Intermediate Round – MD1 | NAT San Marino-Anenii Noi 4-0

NAT SAN MARINO (4-2-3-1)

Guddo (77’ Francioni); Perazzini, Costantini, Ciacci, Fabbri (77’ Quaranta); Azzurro (61’ Buda), Garcia Rufer; Belward, Ferraro (61’ Sartini), Ura; Bernardi (70’ Merli)

Substitutes: Bottoni

Coach: Luigi Bizzotto

ANENII NOI (3-5-2)

Sanduta; Bodolica, Demian, Cheptene (74’ E. Damaschin); N. Rusu (74’ Catinsus), Renchez, D. Rusu (83’ A. Mavruvian), Ipati, Ilovan (83’ Jalba); D. Damaschin, Lomaca (83’ P. Mavruvian)

Substitutes: Cosciug, Nazarco

Coach: Vadim Toma

Referee: Vitālijs Spasjoņņikovs (LVA)

Assistant referees: Andrejs Kolosovs (LVA), Aleš Rumež (SVN)

Fourth official: Blaž Bezjak (SVN)

Scorers: 18’ Ciacci, 65’ and 90’ Belward, 68’ Sartini

Booked: Azzurro, Rusu, Ipati

Attendance: 17