National Team: Giocondi scores on debut in 4-1 defeat to Cyprus

The hot Serravalle afternoon sets the scene for San Marino’s final friendly before the upcoming Nations League. Lining up against the Titano side is Cyprus, who threaten early on with a couple of surges from Spoljaric in the opening minutes, causing some problems for the home back three. At the other end, forward runs from D'Addario and Tosi produce some dangerous crosses, albeit not capitalised on. On 15 minutes Rossi makes a brave and crucial intervention, blocking a point-blank effort from Kastanos. The first shot on target comes from Pittas, who on 21 minutes tests Colombo’s reflexes – the goalkeeper responds decisively with a save using his feet. Another break from the Cypriot forward is thwarted at the last moment by Berardi, whose challenge to concede a corner is vital. Unfortunately, that effort forces a premature withdrawal for the Cosmos striker, replaced by Pancotti shortly before the half-hour mark. Soon after, Cyprus go close through Gogic, who fires just wide following a corner. San Marino reply with a sustained move that sees Nanni bring the ball under control in the box on 36 minutes, but the Olbia striker is unable to get his shot away, just as Tosi is – storming in on the edge of the area. Two minutes later Colombo is called into action again, saving in two attempts from Kastanos. On 40 minutes San Marino are dangerous again as Sensoli hesitates at the crucial moment when well placed in the penalty area. In the continuation of the move the wide forward finds Nanni, whose header misses the target. The same fate befalls Malekkidis’ header, set up in the area by Kastanos at the end of the half. Just before the interval San Marino go inches from taking the lead: Nanni wins the ball back in midfield and, as the move develops, D’Addario’s shot-cross forces Mall into action; the keeper can only parry into a dangerous area. As Sensoli pounces, he is crowded out at the vital moment. To add insult to injury, on the final action of the first half Cyprus break the deadlock: Satsias lashes in on the half-volley from a corner routine, finding the top corner. Both sides make changes at the restart, with Giocondi coming on for his National Team debut in place of Sensoli. Cyprus respond with a triple substitution that includes Kakoulli – who proves dangerous twice in the first three minutes of the half. As at the end of the first period, a promising San Marino move is followed by a clinical Cypriot reply. The Biancazzurri threaten with a fine run from D’Addario, released to shoot after a good team move. At the other end, Kastanos benefits from a deflection to double the visitors’ lead. The Salernitana midfielder strikes again a minute later, taking advantage of an unfortunate slip from Battistini to score from the edge of the box. San Marino push forward again with two set pieces from Tosi: the first, a deflected free-kick, gives the Serravalle crowd a scare. The subsequent corner is flicked on by Nanni and flashes right across the six-yard box before being cleared by the Cypriot defence. The visiting back line is then late in tracking the run of the home striker, only for the danger to be averted by Mall’s timely intervention off his line. Midway through the half Cyprus reappear in attack with a Kyriakou set piece. Tosi’s response is even more ambitious, forcing Mall into a save directly from the corner flag. More straightforward is the keeper’s next involvement, dealing with yet another left-footed curling effort from distance by the Sammarinese full-back. In the meantime, San Marino make a triple substitution that includes the second debut of the night, for Valentini. But it is undoubtedly Giocondi who enjoys the more memorable bow, as in the 82nd minute he meets a perfectly weighted pass from Vitaioli and curls a right-footed effort into the far top corner, scoring one of the finest goals in the history of San Marino’s National Team. Cyprus, however, have the final say, capitalising a couple of minutes later on a mistake in San Marino’s build-up play to score through Kakoulli. It is the last major incident in a match in which the Titano side showed determination and courage, improving in this respect on their performance against Slovakia in Austria.

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Official Friendly | San Marino-Cyprus 1-4 SAN MARINO Colombo; D'Addario, Cevoli (from 74' Valentini), Rossi, Tosi; A. Golinucci, Mi. Battistini (from 84' Valli Casadei); Contadini (from 74' Mularoni), Berardi (from 28' Pancotti), Sensoli (from 46' Giocondi); Nanni (from 74' Vitaioli) Substitutes: Zavoli, Amici, Palazzi, E. Golinucci, Franciosi, Pasolini Coach: Roberto Cevoli   CYPRUS Mall; Kyprianou, Gogic, Panagiotou; Satsias (from 46' Panayiotou), Kastanos (from 62' Chrysostomou), Artymatas, Spoljaric (from 46' Kyriakou), Malekkidis (from 68' Pileas); Loizou (from 46' Kakoulli), Pittas (from 62' Katsantonis) Substitutes: Panayi, Demetriou, Karo, Correa, Andreou, Ilia, Gavriel Coach: Temur Ketsbaia   Referee: Ishmael Barbara (MLT) Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella (MLT) and James Muscat (MLT) Fourth Official: Michele Beltrano (SMR) Scorers: 45'+2' Satsias, 53', 54' Kastanos, 81' Giocondi, 86' Kakoulli Booked: Cevoli, Giocondi Attendance: 358

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