National Team: Gibraltar edge a brave and high-quality San Marino

San Marino’s second visit to Gibraltar is the first at the Europa Point Stadium, with the Victoria Stadium currently undergoing renovation works. For the Biancazzurri, Sensoli – the match-winner against Liechtenstein on 5 September – starts on the bench. The hosts immediately confirm how dangerous they are from set pieces, forcing San Marino’s backline into a couple of last-ditch interventions in the opening quarter of an hour. In particular, on 5 minutes a Walker corner flashes through the six-yard box, with San Marino closing in extremis on Torrilla. At the other end, Zannoni – making his first start after two substitute appearances in the previous international window – wins the ball high and unleashes a first-time right-footed effort that finishes well wide. The middle phase of the first half belongs to Gibraltar, who are left with their heads in their hands on the quarter-hour mark when Lopes rattles the crossbar with Colombo beaten. San Marino respond with a Zannoni corner that Rossi fails by millimetres to glance on target: it proves to be the centre-back’s last involvement, as he is forced off injured on 28 minutes, with Giacomo Valentini coming on in his place. In the closing stages of the half, San Marino grow exponentially: on 33 minutes Contadini switches play to the opposite flank, where Tosi cushions the ball and lays it off first time to Zannoni who, after shaking off a defender, lets fly from twenty metres but sends his effort over. The Sammarinese attacking midfielder, deployed today as a mezzala, is involved again two minutes later when Contadini picks him out right in the penalty area: the timing of his run is perfect, but he cannot quite catch the ball cleanly and his swivelling effort sails over the bar. San Marino’s best chance of the half arrives on 39 minutes: Contadini wins the ball in midfield and exchanges passes with Zannoni, who slides a clever through ball into Nanni’s path. The striker rounds Banda, but the keeper’s touch proves crucial in slowing the ball down, allowing Lopes to clear almost on the goal line. Before the interval, Gibraltar break forward – briefly with a man advantage while Contadini receives treatment – but Julio Ribas’ men waste the opportunity as De Barr’s final pass for Scanlon lacks accuracy. After the restart, Gibraltar come out flying, racking up early corners and ruing Torrilla’s deflection, which is taken off target by Valli Casadei. Around the hour mark come the key moments: Zannoni steals the ball twenty metres out and drives into the box, but his rising effort goes over. Five minutes later, Gibraltar strike: De Barr gets away from Valentini and Tosi and immediately switches play to the opposite side, where Britto finds the perfect left-footed diagonal that leaves Colombo with no chance. San Marino respond superbly, taking control of the game. Contadini is unlucky with a rebound from Tosi’s cross, and in the 74th minute he bursts onto Nanni’s through ball only to be crowded out at the crucial moment. A minute later Nanni tries his luck himself from the edge of the area, but his shot is deflected and easy for Banda to gather. On 85 minutes Contadini launches a counter-attack, burning past his marker to break into the box; there he opts to look for a teammate instead of going alone, which allows Banda to intervene decisively ahead of Lazzari. The home keeper is alert again to palm away Michael Battistini’s right-footed strike from the edge, and in the 90+6th minute substitutes Tommaso Benvenuti and Fabbri combine to create the final chance, ending with a towering but off-target header from the 2002-born forward. At Felix Zwayer’s final whistle, Gibraltar move top of Group D2, one point ahead of San Marino, who can still take pride in a courageous, determined and high-quality performance in which only the goal was missing – a reward they would have fully deserved for the volume of play produced.

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UEFA Nations League, Matchday 3 | Gibraltar-San Marino 1-0 GIBRALTAR Banda; Jolley (90+3' Pozo), Annesley, Lopes, Olivero; Torrilla, Bent; Scanlon (77' Ronan), Walker, Britto; De Barr (88' Bartolo) Substitutes: Lopez, Hankins, Ronco, De Haro, Casciaro, El Hmidi, Santos, Jessop, Ruiz Coach: Julio Ribas   SAN MARINO Colombo; G. Benvenuti (81' Fabbri), Cevoli, Rossi (28' Valentini), Tosi (81' T. Benvenuti); Valli Casadei, Mi. Battistini, Zannoni (70' Lazzari); Contadini, Berardi (70' Sensoli); Nanni Substitutes: De Angelis, Zavoli, Vitaioli, Pasolini, Giocondi, Giacopetti, Mularoni Coach: Roberto Cevoli   Referee: Felix Zwayer (GER) Assistant referees: Robert Kempter (GER) and Christian Dietz (GER) Fourth official: Florian Badstübner (GER) Scorer: 62' Britto Booked: Tosi, Valli Casadei, De Barr, Britto, Zannoni, Mi. Battistini, Lazzari, Torrilla, T. Benvenuti, Sensoli, Contadini Attendance: 677

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