National Team: Austria clinical, superb second-half Colombo saves a penalty

In a packed San Marino Stadium, the San Marino National Team hosted Austria on Matchday 4 of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Rangnick’s Reds and Whites ran out 4-0 winners after a dominant first half, but after the break the Titans grew into the game and kept them out – thanks also to an outstanding performance between the posts from Edoardo Colombo.

Before kick-off, the entire Stadium impeccably observed a minute’s silence in memory of the victims of today’s tragedy at a school in Graz. Austria flew out of the blocks and were in front as early as the 3rd minute: two players currently in Italy combined, with Posch – the Atalanta defender – bursting into the box on the right and squaring for Arnautovic – the Inter striker – who could not miss from two yards. The pressure from Ralf Rangnick’s side did not let up and in the 11th minute they doubled their lead: Alberto Riccardi, retained by Cevoli after his good performance in Bosnia, lost the ball on the edge of the final third under pressure from Laimer and Grigoritsch pounced, placing a left-footed effort into the far corner from the edge of the area. The Titans struggled against Austria’s passing and quality, and shortly afterwards the visitors struck again: on 14 minutes the Austrian attacking move ended with Sabitzer supplying the assist for Arnautovic’s brace, the forward once again deadly in the box. The tough spell for the Titans continued, with Austria never taking their foot off the accelerator. On 20 minutes it took a goal-line clearance from Lazzari to deny Arnautovic his hat-trick, and a minute later Sabitzer unleashed a superb left-foot strike from distance that rattled the crossbar. To make San Marino’s first half even more complicated, there was also Andrea Contadini’s injury, which forced him off prematurely (Nicko Sensoli came on in his place). Austria kept piling on the pressure and struck again just before the half-hour: a cross from the left by Gregoritsch, flicked on by Arnautovic for Baumgartner, who arrived at the back post to beat Colombo. The Sammarinese defenders appealed for offside, but after a brief pause the referee allowed the goal to stand, despite some doubts.

The first real breather for Cevoli’s side came on 37 minutes: from Lazzari’s corner the Austrian defence headed clear, but the loose ball fell to Riccardi, who struck it brilliantly from distance, only to be denied by the visitors’ defensive wall. The Titans gained confidence and shortly afterwards Nanni tried an overhead effort after Giacomo Benvenuti’s cross from the right, but keeper Pentz gathered, prompting applause from the Stadium, keen to spur on the Biancoazzurri. Despite the heavy scoreline, the Titans finished the half well, and in stoppage time a driving run from Giacomo Benvenuti earned a valuable corner. From the ensuing delivery, Zannoni attacked the near post well and headed goalwards, sending the ball just over the bar.

Austria made four substitutions at half-time, including goalkeeper Lawal replacing Pentz. Early in the second half Rangnick’s team continued to press and, on 52 minutes, referee Berka awarded a penalty for a handball in the area by Giacomo Valentini. However, VAR intervened and sent the referee to review the incident. After watching the footage, Berka overturned the penalty decision. The Sammarinese defender then distinguished himself at the other end, going very close to scoring five minutes later, when his effort from a corner was deflected at the last moment by the Austrian defence. There was more work for VAR in the 67th minute when substitute Ballo found the net after a cross from the right. Berka initially awarded the goal, then ruled it out after another on-field review – signalling offside. Rangnick used up his substitutions by the 63rd minute, while Cevoli followed suit a few minutes later (72nd) by bringing on yet another debutant: this time it was Gabriel Capicchioni, who replaced Lazzari in attack. Austria’s intensity dropped, but they remained dangerous. Colombo stepped up to prevent further damage, flying to his right on a Sabitzer free-kick in the 74th minute, then, a couple of minutes later, producing rapid-fire saves to deny powerful efforts from Querfeld and Grüll. But his most important save came in the 83rd minute, when Valentini’s foul on Arnautovic led to a penalty for Austria. The Inter forward himself stepped up in search of his hat-trick, but Colombo kept it out and sent the Stadium into raptures. Moments later there was more excitement, but in the other box, as the Titans went close to a goal of their own: an inch-perfect cross from the excellent Giacomo Benvenuti on the right picked out Giacopetti, whose first-time effort was heading in before Lawal denied the young Sammarinese forward his moment of joy. It finished 4-0 to Austria at the Stadium, their second consecutive win in Group H.

European Qualifiers 2024-25, Matchday 4 | San Marino – Austria 0-4

SAN MARINO (4-3-3)

Colombo; G. Benvenuti, Valentini, T. Benvenuti, Riccardi; Golinucci, L. Capicchioni (63’ Valli Casadei), Zannoni (72’ Mularoni); Contadini (22’ Sensoli), Nanni (72’ Giacopetti), Lazzari (72’ G. Capicchioni)

Substitutes: Zavoli, Amici, Fabbri, Cevoli, Rossi, Matteoni, Pasolini

Coach: Roberto Cevoli

AUSTRIA (4-2-3-1)

Pentz (46’ Lawal); Friedl, Lienhart (46’ Querfeld), Posch, Honsak; Laimer (46’ Schmid), Seiwald; Baumgartner (63’ Grüll), Sabitzer, Gregoritsch (46’ Ballo); Arnautovic

Substitutes: Polster, Wöber, Veratschnig, Schlager, Grillitsch, Mwene, Wimmer

Coach: Ralf Rangnick

Referee: Ondřej Berka (CZE)

Assistant referees: Ivo Nadvornik (CZE), Matěj Vlček (CZE)

Fourth official: Marek Radina (CZE)

VAR: Stuart Attwell (ENG)

AVAR: Tomas Kocourek (CZE)

Scorers: 3’ and 15’ Arnautovic, 11’ Grigoritsch, 27’ Baumgartner

Booked: Ballo, Posch, Riccardi

Attendance: 3,075

Note: In the 83rd minute Colombo saved a penalty from Arnautovic