Nations League: Sensoli strike sinks Liechtenstein as the Titans win after twenty years!

3 September is the most important holiday in San Marino, celebrating the foundation of the Republic. Two days later, on 5 September, will be an equally historic day for the Titan and its football. In their UEFA Nations League debut, Roberto Cevoli’s Biancoazzurri beat Liechtenstein 1-0 and return to winning ways – only the second victory in their history – exactly twenty years on. First it was Andy Selva; tonight it is Nicko Sensoli the match-winner with a poacher’s finish on 52 minutes. Among the Titans there is a full debut – the sixth youngest ever – for Giacomo Benvenuti in defence, while in attack Sensoli and Contadini support centre-forward Nanni. The first clear chance falls to the Titans on 11 minutes: from Lorenzo Capicchioni’s long delivery comes a perfect knockdown from Cevoli for Rossi, who even tries an overhead kick but sends it wide to applause from the Stadium. On the quarter-hour mark the opportunity is even bigger for the hosts: Alessandro Golinucci’s quickly taken free-kick into the box reaches Nanni, who from inside the area strikes goalwards, only to hit the woodwork in dramatic fashion. To soften the blow, the assistant’s flag was already raised for offside against the Biancoazzurri striker. Fünfstück’s side try to respond: Cevoli loses a dangerous ball on the left, captain Nicolas Hasler bursts onto it and drives it hard across the face of goal, but no team-mate can get a touch. Midway through an entertaining first half, the Titans put together a good move with Tosi exchanging superbly with Nanni but unable to get a shot away; from the continuation of the action Capicchioni tries his luck from distance but without success. On the half-hour Liechtenstein do find the net as a cross from the right by Saglam picks out Luque Notaro in the box, who beats Colombo. However, after a VAR check the referee rules out the visitors’ lead for offside by Saglam. In added time at the end of the half, another chance arrives for Cevoli’s men: Nanni wins a free-kick 25 metres out and Tosi steps up with his left foot to curl it; the ball clears the wall but does not dip enough and goes just over. After two added minutes, the sides go in at 0-0. The restart favours Liechtenstein, who within a few minutes go close to taking the lead through Hasler, his effort blocked at the crucial moment by Rossi with a vital intervention. On 52 minutes, though, the deadlock is broken: a deep ball into the area is glanced on by Nanni, then indecision in the Liechtenstein defence allows the crucial run of Nicko Sensoli, who gets there before Benjamin Büchel and lifts the ball delicately over him for 1-0. The whole Stadium erupts in joy for the goal by the 2005-born forward, on the scoresheet for the first time in just his fourth cap. The goal fires up the crowd and Cevoli’s Titans, who soon after could even double their lead when Contadini’s left-footed effort rolls just wide. On the hour mark, Cevoli and Fünfstück turn to their benches: the San Marino coach throws on debutant Samuele Zannoni and Michael Battistini for Sensoli – who leaves to inevitable applause – and Alessandro Golinucci respectively. The Liechtenstein boss, meanwhile, makes four substitutions at once in an attempt to change the game. On 72 minutes Contadini puts the turbo on and attempts a coast-to-coast run, but just as he is about to pull the trigger the Alpine defence manages to concede a corner. Shortly beforehand, Cevoli had made two more changes, handing full debuts to Nicolas Giacopetti and Tommaso Benvenuti. On 74 minutes a shiver runs down the spine of Cevoli and all Biancoazzurri fans as Meier’s powerful effort from the edge of the area flashes just past Colombo’s left-hand post. The match is thrilling and the drama unrelenting. On 76 minutes Contadini embarks on another surging run down the left, drives into the area and, instead of picking out a team-mate in the middle, chooses to shoot at the near post where Benjamin Büchel is well positioned to claim. On 84 minutes the Titans probe again through the middle, slipping in the perfectly timed run of the newly introduced Mularoni, who then collides with the Liechtenstein goalkeeper in the box, but the referee waves play on. San Marino look to exploit the visitors’ high line and try to strike again on the counter with Zannoni, who shoots well from the edge but is once more denied by Büchel. Stoppage time begins, with seven minutes added – met by whistles of disapproval around the Stadium. The Titans hold firm, and even Marxer’s header, which goes close to the post, proves to be Liechtenstein’s final chance as they are forced to yield. Treimanis’ final whistle sparks wild celebrations for San Marino and the entire Stadium. History is made. The National Team win only their second official match, exactly twenty years on and once again against Liechtenstein. If this is a dream, don’t wake us up.

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UEFA Nations League | San Marino-Liechtenstein 1-0 SAN MARINO Colombo; G. Benvenuti, Cevoli, Rossi, Tosi (71' T. Benvenuti); A. Golinucci (62' Mi. Battistini), Capicchioni (80' Mularoni), Valli Casadei; Contadini, Sensoli (62' Zannoni); Nanni (71' Giacopetti) Subs: De Angelis, Zavoli, E. Golinucci, Franciosi, Valentini, Pasolini Coach: Roberto Cevoli   LIECHTENSTEIN B. Büchel, N. Beck (63' Marxer), Wieser, Göppel (63' Oberwaditzer); S. Wolfinger, M. Hasler, M. Büchel, Sele (63' Lüchinger), Zünd (63' Meier); Luque Notaro (81' J. Beck), Saglam Subs: Foser, Lo Russo, F. Wolfinger, Netzer, Graber, Marxer, A. Hasler Coach: Konrad Fünfstück   Referee: Andris Treimanis (LVA) Assistant referees: Haralds Gudermanis (LVA), Aleksejs Spasennikovs (LVR) Fourth official: Aleksandrs Golubevs (LVA) VAR: Kristaps Ratnieks (LVA) AVAR: Andrejs Gluhovs (LVA)   Scorer: 52' Sensoli   Booked: Hasler, Cevoli, Mi. Battistini, Wieser, Rossi Attendance: 914  

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