National Team: Berardi not enough as opening friendly goes Saint Kitts & Nevis’ way

The first friendly of the San Marino National Team against Saint Kitts and Nevis goes the way of the Caribbean side, who run out 3-1 winners at the San Marino Stadium. For his debut in charge of the Titani, Roberto Cevoli immediately hands starting debuts to three youngsters: Edoardo Colombo in goal, Marco Pasolini in defence and Andrea Contadini out wide in attack. After an opening phase of study and balance between the two sides, it is the Titani who first create danger: from a good cross into the box by Tosi, the move continues and D’Addario plays it back across goal; in the ensuing scramble Filippo Berardi tries an overhead effort, the ball drifting just wide to the right of goalkeeper Archibald. The promising move lifts San Marino and in the 11th minute they go very close to taking the lead when Tosi exploits a defensive error and drills a powerful ball across for Nanni, who stretches but is a fraction away from making contact. The goal is in the air for the Titani, and on 21 minutes they duly and deservedly go in front: Berardi escapes down the left and, after a coming together with centre-back Burley, goes down in the box. Referee Deborah Bianchi points to the spot. Berardi himself steps up – as he did last time out against Finland – and fires it into the top corner without mistake. The Stadium can celebrate and, for the Titani, it is the fourth consecutive match with at least one goal scored. The goal galvanises the Titani, who shortly afterwards even threaten to double their lead through a thunderous strike by Nicola Nanni, which however misses the target from a tight angle. Saint Kitts and Nevis, though, are having none of it and hit back soon after with a huge chance for Harry Panayiotou, who shoots over from a very promising position. The Caribbean side keep pressing and just after the half-hour they silence the Stadium: from a corner the ball is swung into the area, the Titani fail to clear and Tyquan Terrell pounces, shooting towards goal and placing it into the far corner where Colombo cannot reach. As was the case for San Marino, the goal gives the Caribbean side added belief, and they appear more and more often in Colombo’s area. Indeed, right at the end of the half they even manage to turn the game around: from another corner, Panayiotou heads towards goal, Colombo gathers low but fails to hold – also due to an opposing touch – and Burley is first to the rebound, turning it in from close range to send his side into the break 2-1 up. The second half, however, begins in the worst possible way for the Titani, who concede a third goal on 48 minutes from a counter-attack finished off by a pinpoint right-footed strike from Panayiotou past Colombo. The Titani refuse to give up and respond with good combination play and sustained possession. The Caribbean side, for their part, sit deep against Cevoli’s men and look to hurt them with pace on the break. Wanting to change something, Cevoli brings on Pancotti for Contadini just after the hour mark. Saint Kitts and Nevis drop ever deeper, so the Titani coach also introduces Matteo Vitaioli and switches to an unfamiliar and more attacking 4-2-3-1, with Berardi, Pancotti and Berardi operating behind Nanni. The pattern of the game does not change: the Titani keep the ball but struggle to be incisive in the final third. One of their best chances comes on 88 minutes, when Pancotti delivers an excellent cross from the left onto the head of Vitaioli, who however cannot generate enough power. In stoppage time the Titani produce a superb move and come within a whisker of scoring: Nanni, with a clever back-heel in tight space, finds Pancotti, whose strike at the near post is well hit but Archibald produces his first – and excellent – save of the evening. After four additional minutes the contest comes to a close, and victory goes to the Caribbean visitors. The Titani will have a chance to go again next Sunday, once more at the Stadium.  

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International Friendly | San Marino–Saint Kitts and Nevis 1-3 SAN MARINO Colombo; D'Addario, Fabbri, Cevoli, Pasolini (76' Vitaioli), Tosi (84' Grandoni); A. Golinucci, Capicchioni (76' E. Golinucci), Contadini (69' Pancotti); Nanni, Berardi (84' Sensoli). Substitutes: Amici, Rossi, Ma. Battistini, Franciosi, Valentini, Lazzari, Mularoni Head coach: Roberto Cevoli   SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS Archibald; Roberts, Freeman, Burley, Hanley; Somersall, Lewis, Terrell (81' Kelly); Sterling-James (89' Springer), Panayiotou (81' Edwards), Shade (87' Cooney) Substitutes: Trotman, Parke, Williams, Bennett, Thomas, Vanterpool, Hamilton Head coach: Francisco Molina   Referee: Deborah Bianchi (ITA) Assistant referees: Filippo Meli (ITA), Stefania Signorelli (ITA) Fourth official: Mattia Andruccioli (SMR)   Booked: A. Golinucci; Tyrrell Scorers: 21' pen. Berardi, 31' Terrell, 45' Burley, 49' Panayiotou Attendance: 622

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