National team: Narrow win for Czechia, Titans in the game and close to levelling through Riccardi

Excellent performance from the San Marino National Team in this evening’s friendly in Karviná against Czechia. The hosts edge it by a single goal thanks to a Souček strike at the end of the first half, but the Titans were always in the game – and came very close to an equaliser.

The opening minutes were evenly balanced in the freezing Mestsky Stadion, with the Titans showing good athleticism in their pressing. The Czechs began to push down the left through Jurásek, who would be a constant menace for the first 45 minutes. A cross from the winger picked out Sejk’s run, but his effort missed the target. On 12 minutes came the first Czech shot on goal, Sadílek’s header forcing Colombo into a superb one-handed save. Shortly afterwards San Marino had a chance of their own: Nanni went to ground under a challenge from Vitík – the centre-back on the books of Bologna – on the edge of the area. The referee – Polish official Raczkowski – blew for handball. Play was halted for a VAR intervention, which however confirmed the on-field decision. From one unclear incident, play switched to another, similar one in the opposite penalty area. On 28 minutes Karabec went down in the box after a duel with Riccardi. To the disbelief of the Titans, and even some in the stands, the referee pointed to the spot. Again VAR intervened but ultimately upheld the decision. Any doubts were then dispelled by captain Souček, who opened up his body too much and sent the ball wide. Shortly after the half-hour mark Jurásek tried again with a left-footed outside-of-the-boot effort that was not far off target. On 40 minutes came the incident that changed the game and proved decisive: a corner to Czechia found the head of Souček, who made amends for his earlier miss by powering a header past Colombo.

The second half began with a very different Czechia, as the hosts created two quick-fire chances right after the restart. For the Titans, Colombo was fundamental, first saving with his feet from Ladra and then from Coufal. The Czechs’ pressure appeared to bring a second goal when Zelený struck right-footed from the edge of the area. However, play was stopped as assistant Boniek raised his flag to signal offside – a call that was confirmed by a subsequent VAR check. The Titans thus stayed in the game and, on 65 minutes, produced an excellent move between Nanni and Riccardi. The left winger reached the byline and fired a powerful ball across for Lazzari’s run, but the Czech defence managed to clear.

Cevoli and Köstl turned to their benches for fresh legs. The minutes ticked by and, on 81 minutes, a golden chance for the Titans: from their first corner of the match, won and taken by Sensoli, the Czech defence cleared only as far as the edge of the box, where Riccardi let fly without hesitation and produced an almost perfect trajectory that shaved the outside of the net, just centimetres away from what would have been a goal as stunning as it was important.

Just before added time Cevoli threw on two more forwards, Giacopetti and Vitaioli – who made his 99th appearance in the white-and-blue shirt – in place of Nanni and the injured Valli Casadei. The 4 minutes of stoppage time were not enough for the Titans, who had to concede a narrow defeat to the Czechs. San Marino will be back in action next Tuesday in their final World Cup qualifying match, against Romania.

International Friendly | Czechia-San Marino 1-0

CZECHIA (4-2-3-1)

Jedlička; Coufal, Vitík, Zelený, Jurásek (63‘ Ryneš); Hellebrand (63‘ Beran), Sadílek; Karabec (63‘ Douděra), Souček (77‘ Cerv), Ladra (77‘ Daněk); Sejk (63‘ Schick).

Substitutes: Kovář, Markovič, Chaloupek, Hranáč, Provod, Chorý

Head coach: Jaroslav Köstl

SAN MARINO (4-3-3)

Colombo; G. Benvenuti (61’ Fabbri), Cevoli, Rossi, Riccardi; A. Golinucci (71’ Mularoni), Valli Casadei (87’ Vitaioli), Zannoni; Berardi (61’ Sensoli), Lazzari (71’ G. Capicchioni), Nanni (87’ Giacopetti)

Substitutes: Colonna, De Angelis, Tosi, Pancotti, Valentini

Head coach: Roberto Cevoli

Referee: Paweł Raczkowski (POL)

Assistant referees: Marcin Boniek (POL), Dawid Golis (POL)

Fourth official: Filip Kotala (CZE)

VAR: Pawel Pskit (POL)

AVAR: Pavel Ochotnicky (SVK)

Scorer: 40’ Souček

Booked: Lazzari, Valli Casadei, Sadílek, Souček, Coufal, G. Capicchioni

Notes: 3,721 spectators – 32’ Souček missed a penalty