National team: Romania make no mistake but Zannoni celebrates his first goal

In a sold-out San Marino Stadium, San Marino’s National Team made their home debut in 2026 World Cup qualifying against Romania. After ninety minutes it was Lucescu’s side who claimed the first three points in the group, but in the second half the Titans found the joy of a goal through Zannoni – scoring for the first time.

Cevoli had to do without the injured Vitaioli and Colombo and, in place of the No.1 in white and light blue – one of the best performers in Cyprus – Pietro Amici made his debut. In the opening minutes the Titans covered well, but in the 6th minute the scoreline swung in favour of Mircea Lucescu’s team: a wicked cross from the left by Bancu, Cevoli slid in to cut it out but inadvertently sent the ball on a trajectory that proved fatal for Amici.

The Tricolorii kept pressing with efforts in quick succession from Popescu (15’) and Razvan Marin (17’), both going close to Amici’s posts. Romania’s pressure was constant but not suffocating, and on chances for Man and Popescu it was Amici who intervened decisively on both occasions. Just before the break, however, Romania managed to double their lead: a powerful strike from Dragus was well punched away by Amici but the loose ball fell to centre-back Popescu – the liveliest of his side – who fired into the net.

Back from the interval, Cevoli opted for a couple of changes: Sensoli and Valli Casadei came on for Contadini and Capicchioni. As in the first half, though, the start of the second did not smile on the Titans, who conceded a third goal on 55 minutes. The contact in the box between Man and Tosi was deemed illegal by Polish referee Sylwestrzak, who pointed to the spot. Razvan Marin – the Cagliari midfielder – stepped up, sent Amici the wrong way and made it 0-3. The Sammarinese goalkeeper was not the only debutant of the evening, though. Shortly after the hour mark Tosi went off injured and Cevoli handed a first cap to Alberto Riccardi on the left flank.

If Tosi’s injury was bad news for the Titans, in the 67th minute there was huge joy for Samuele Zannoni, who with a precise finish from inside the penalty area – after a low ball from the left by Sensoli – scored his first goal for the white-and-light blues, sending the whole Stadium of “Titanic” faith into raptures.

The goal gave Cevoli’s side a lift, but Lucescu’s men were quick to reassert themselves. After a VAR check on a penalty not given to the Tricolorii, Romania struck again in the 74th minute, once more from the spot (foul by Cevoli on Man). This time Hagi took responsibility, with the same outcome: 4-1 in the 75th minute. Romania looked to widen the gap in the 82nd minute through substitute Politic, but Amici produced a fine reflex save to deny a fifth. In stoppage time Lucescu’s team went close again when a cross-shot from Mitrita to the far post found Alibec, whose touch from close range clipped the upright. Almost at the death, Romania’s sustained pressure finally paid off with Alibec’s winning header.

At the Stadium it therefore finished 5-1 to Romania, but San Marino’s positive home scoring streak in the European Qualifiers (a fourth match in a row, a run started on 17 October 2023 with Golinucci’s goal against Denmark) continued thanks to Zannoni’s strike, ensuring there was still something positive to take from the night.

European Qualifiers 2024-25, Matchday 2 | San Marino – Romania 1-5

SAN MARINO (4-3-3)

Amici; G. Benvenuti, Cevoli, T. Benvenuti, Tosi (62’ Riccardi); A. Golinucci, Capicchioni (46’ Valli Casadei), Zannoni (76’ Santi); Contadini (46’ Sensoli), Nanni, Berardi (65’ Giacopetti)

Substitutes: De Angelis, Zavoli, Fabbri, Rossi, Valentini, Pasolini, Mularoni

Head coach: Roberto Cevoli

ROMANIA (4-4-2)

Moldovan; Ratiu, Popescu (61’ Ciobotariu), Burca, Bancu; R. Marin (79’ Politic), M. Marin (46’ Mitrita), Stanciu (61’ Dragomir); Man, Dragus (80’ Alibec), Hagi

Substitutes: Nita, Tarnovanu, Rus, Ghita, Chipciu, Sorescu

Head coach: Mircea Lucescu

Referee: Damian Sylwestrzak (POL)

Assistant referees: Paweł Sokolnicki (POL), Adam Karasewicz (POL)

Fourth official: Lukasz Kuzma (POL)

VAR: Piotr Lasyk (POL)

AVAR: Wojciech Myc (POL)

Scorers: 6’ og Cevoli, 44’ Popescu, 55’ pen. R. Marin, 67’ Zannoni, 75’ pen. Hagi, 90+5' Alibec

Booked: G. Benvenuti, Cevoli, Nanni, Politic

Attendance: 3,556