National Team: Cyprus pull away late after a first half full of regret for the Titano side

San Marino’s last home fixture in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers is scheduled for an early Sunday afternoon in October, in mild conditions. Cevoli makes four changes to his starting XI compared to the match in Vienna, handing starts to Sammaritani, Riccardi, Rossi and Golinucci. The latter, back from suspension, replaces Berardi and allows Lazzari to operate in a more advanced position.

The Titano side start with high intensity and aggression but are forced to deal with a serious setback after just 200 seconds. Following a ball won back in the Cypriot half by Lorenzo Capicchioni, Contadini is on the receiving end of a heavy challenge that forces him off on a stretcher, leaving the pitch to the applause of the entire San Marino Stadium. The clock has not yet reached the 10th minute and Cevoli is already obliged to make the first of his five changes, sending on Berardi. As play restarts, Cyprus immediately break forward and take the lead through Loizou – a lengthy VAR review confirms the legitimacy of the visitors’ goal. The same forward has the chance to double the lead on 27 minutes, released one-on-one with Colombo after a powerful run from Tzionis, but he drags his left-footed effort wide. Nonetheless, San Marino continue to play with aggression and intent, pushing up the pitch through Lazzari, Riccardi and Nanni, though lacking precision with the final ball. Shortly after the half-hour mark, Cyprus threaten again with powerful strikes from Pileas and Kastanos: Colombo deals with the first and then watches the next one over the bar. On 37 minutes, Berardi tries his luck: picked out by Capicchioni, he cuts inside onto his left and gets a scuffed effort away from twenty metres. A minute later, Colombo reacts sharply to keep out a drive from Charalampous. In the closing stages of the first half, San Marino carve out a huge chance to level: Nanni powers down the left and reaches the byline, drilling a cross-shot to the far post which Berardi can only get the faintest of touches on from close range, without managing to steer it on target. The substantial added time ends with a rising right-footed shot from Charalampous after an effective lay-off from Pittas inside the box. In stoppage time there is also a yellow card for Lorenzo Capicchioni, who will now miss the away match in Romania through suspension.

On the restart, Matteoni replaces Sammaritani, while the first effort of the half comes from Charalampous, who warms Colombo’s gloves in the 58th minute. A minute later, the visitors double their advantage: Andreou finishes off a goalmouth scramble, firing in with his right foot from close range. Cevoli turns to the fresh legs of Sensoli and Valli Casadei, but it is a substitute from the opposite bench who makes the next decisive impact: Kakoulli wins a penalty, which is then dispatched with a perfect spot-kick by Kastanos. On 69 minutes San Marino show again in attack through a late run from captain Golinucci, whose right-footed cross from the corner of the box turns into a dangerous, looping ball for Mall. Even more threatening is Sensoli’s move as he cuts inside onto his right and delivers into the middle for Nanni, who is denied and forced to settle for a corner just when it seemed easier to score. From the ensuing corner, Berardi’s effort crashes off the base of the post, with Mall rooted to the spot. The whole Stadium is left frozen again on 79 minutes, as it witnesses a moment of magic from Kakoulli – he meets a cross from the left first time and sends it into the far top corner, grazing the underside of the bar. The Biancazzurri chase a consolation goal until the final whistle, going close in the 89th minute following a move involving Sensoli and Zannoni, but the latter’s header drifts wide. In the first of two added minutes, there is also room for a left-footed effort from Nanni from outside the area, but his attempt from mid-range fails to trouble the target.

Cyprus confirm their excellent run of form, with Mantzios’ side now having put together three positive results in a row against Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and San Marino. For the Titano side there remains the regret of not capitalising on the chances created, in particular the opportunity for a potential equaliser shortly before the interval.

European Qualifiers 2025, Matchday 8 | San Marino-Cyprus 0-4

SAN MARINO (4-3-2-1)

Colombo; Sammaritani (46’ Matteoni), Cevoli (77’ Valentini), Rossi, Riccardi; Golinucci, L. Capicchioni (61’ Valli Casadei), Zannoni; Contadini (9’ Berardi), Lazzari (61’ Sensoli); Nanni

Substitutes: Amici, Zavoli, Vitaioli, Tosi, G. Capicchioni, Giacopetti, Mularoni

Head Coach: Roberto Cevoli

CYPRUS (4-3-2-1)

Mall; Shikkis, Andreou, Laifis, Pileas (54’ Correia); Artymatas (54’ C. Kyriakou), Charalampous (63’ Kyprianou), Kastanos (63’ Koutsakos); Loizou, Tzionis; Pittas (63’ Kakoulli)

Substitutes: P. Kyriakou, Michael, Panagiotou, Satsias, Kousoulos, Angelopoulos, Malekkidis

Head Coach: Apostolos Mantzios

Referee: Aliyar Aghayev (AZE)

Assistant referees: Zeynal Zeynalov (AZE), Akif Amirali (AZE)

Fourth official: Elchin Masiyev (AZE)

VAR: Pawel Malec (POL)

AVAR: Tamás Bognár (HUN)

Scorers: 10’ Loizou, 60’ Andreou, 67’ (p) Kastanos, 79’ Kakoulli

Booked: Pileas, Pittas, L. Capicchioni, Lazzari, Laifis

Attendance: 598