National Team: last-gasp equaliser slips away as Malta win 1-0

San Marino’s first ever match in Malta begins with a minute’s silence in memory of the untimely passing of Mark Piscopo, kitman of the home side, who died after a long illness. Costantini confirms the rotations announced in the pre-match press conference, recalling Fabbri to the starting XI and giving a start to David Tomassini, with Lunadei either side of Battistini. D’Addario and Grandoni operate out wide, with Ceccaroli supporting Nanni. Palazzi and Rossi keep their places, while Elia Benedettini returns as starting goalkeeper. The contest is physical from the first challenges, but after an initial sparring phase San Marino seem to take control of the pitch, pinning the hosts back with four set-pieces played into the box in the opening seven minutes. The most promising early chance comes from a Lunadei interception in midfield, springing a move that ends with a pass wide to Nanni. The striker hesitates and misses the timing for a shot from medium range and the home defence closes ranks effectively. Shortly afterwards, Grandoni tries his luck from 20 metres with his left, but the effort is off target. The hosts appeal on 19 minutes when, from a corner, D’Addario nudges Apap in the penalty area. Dutch referee Higles allows play to continue and this time VAR remains silent. The National Stadium, however, is on its feet three minutes later for a left-footed volley by Camenzuli, set up by a ricochet off D’Addario on the edge of the box. It is Malta’s best spell, with their restored left wing-back producing their most dangerous play. The clearest chance for the Knights of St George comes around the half-hour mark, when Teuma controls in the box and quickly flashes a cross into the middle, where Montebello gets in front of Palazzi but blasts over from point-blank range – effectively a penalty in open play. Malta finish the first half stronger, yet Benedettini reaches the interval virtually untested. His opposite number Bonello is worried on 40 minutes by a curling right-footer from Ceccaroli, released on the left by outstanding work from Nanni, who shields a defensive clearance under intense pressure from Pepe. Malta respond in similar fashion with a shot that also misses the target: Teuma unleashes a thunderous left-foot strike that whizzes just past the top corner. At the start of the second half Malta step on the accelerator and win two corners within a few minutes. The pressure leads to a loose ball in the box, intended for Montebello, who is clearly in an off-side position. The officials judge the striker to be non-active and the move continues down the flank, ending with a cross from Camenzuli that picks out the run of Zach Muscat at the near post. His close-range header gives Benedettini no chance. San Marino protests and call for VAR intervention, but there is no indication of a review from the Dutch control room. Buoyed by the goal, Malta push on and on 58 minutes threaten again through the Guillaumier-Mbong combination, the latter’s driven cross-shot being pushed away to safety by Benedettini in his first real save of the evening. On the hour Costantini makes a double change, introducing Rinaldi and Mularoni. However, it is Malta who strike again, finding the net from a corner: Montebello wins the physical duel with Palazzi and finishes from close range. The second Maltese goal is checked and disallowed by VAR, which spots the home striker marginally offside. The silent check cancels what would have been 2-0, but Malta keep pushing and go close once more when Teuma fires in a right-footed shot that Benedettini tips behind for a corner. San Marino’s reply comes on 68 minutes, with D’Addario’s left-foot strike glancing the outside of Bonello’s left-hand post. Hands on head for the Tre Fiori wing-back. San Marino naturally commit more men forward in the closing stages in search of an equaliser and Malta threaten on the break with Mbong, who exploits a slip by Fabbri to shoot from the heart of the area, only for Benedettini to deny him. The San Marino keeper is alert again shortly afterwards to prevent Camenzuli scoring directly from a corner. Benedettini then produces the save of the night on 72 minutes, blocking a point-blank header from Teuma, who meets the ball on the edge of the six-yard box and powers it towards the near post. A monumental stop that keeps San Marino alive. Five minutes later he is a spectator as Teuma connects sweetly with another left-foot volley that flies just off target. San Marino are back in the Maltese box after a second double substitution: Zafferani, on just like Hirsch, finds Fabbri, who delivers from the by-line. Bonello is alert and denies Rinaldi what would have been a simple tap-in. The home Reds and Whites respond with a move helped by at least two lucky deflections, which Montebello fails to make the most of. Completely unmarked in the box, the Mangia forward scuffs his right-foot finish. The sides are stretched in a finale that promises further changes to the scoreline at either end. On 84 minutes it is San Marino who are under siege, as Mbong nutmegs Rossi and is then halted in the nick of time by Benedettini’s brave intervention. The Cesena goalkeeper shines again on 88 minutes, pushing away Degabriele’s curling left-foot effort from the edge of the box. At the start of the four minutes of added time, Fabbri goes to ground with cramp after winning a challenge on the edge of the area. The Titans have to face the entirety of stoppage time with ten men, yet they still manage to create a huge last-second chance to equalise. Nanni races into space and recycles the ball to Rinaldi, who in turn tees up Vitaioli’s left foot – but his effort is off target. There is further regret at not finding a goal which, once again tonight, was very much within reach – and with it a draw that would have been fully deserved.  

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UEFA Nations League, Matchday 4 | Malta v San Marino 1-0   MALTA Bonello; Apap (from 78' J. Borg), Pepe, Z. Muscat; J. Mbong, Guillaumier, Paiber (from 78' Vella), Camenzuli; Teuma; Gambin (from 71' Degabriele), Montebello (from 87' Satariano) Substitutes: Formosa, Galea, Magri, S. Borg, N. Muscat, Corbalan, Busuttil, Micallef Head coach: Devis Mangia   SAN MARINO E. Benedettini; Fabbri, Rossi, Palazzi; D'Addario (from 78' Zafferani), Lunadei (from 85' Vitaioli), Mi. Battistini, D. Tomassini (from 60' Mularoni), Grandoni (from 60' Rinaldi); Ceccaroli (from 78' Hirsch); Nanni Substitutes: A. Simoncini, S. Benedettini, Cevoli, E. Golinucci, F. Tomassini, Censoni, Cesarini Head coach: Fabrizio Costantini   Referee: Dennis Higles (NED) Assistant referees: Erwin Zeinstra (NED) and Mario Diks (NED) Fourth official: Sander Van der Eijk (NED) VAR: Jeroen Manschot (NED) AVAR: Allard Lindhout (NED) Scorer: 50' Z. Muscat Booked: Lunadei, Mi. Battistini, Rossi Attendance: 2,646.

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