National Team: Finland score in the second half but Berardi’s historic late goal steals the spotlight

The San Marino National Team take to the Stadium pitch for their final EURO 2024 qualifier against Finland, buoyed by the excellent performance against Kazakhstan. Compared to last Friday’s match at the Astana Arena, Costantini is forced into as many as five changes due to suspensions and injuries. The Finns, already out of the running for qualification, start on the front foot, but the Titani sit deep and organise well, without conceding too much. San Marino show themselves in attack and try their luck from a free kick on the left – the same position from which Franciosi scored in Astana – but cannot repeat the feat. The best chance for the Scandinavians soon follows when Galvez slips in behind the Biancazzurri backline and finds himself one-on-one with Simoncini, but the Cosmos goalkeeper – preferred to Elia Benedettini – produces a brilliant save to loud applause from the Stadium. Finland enjoy long spells of possession but, in truth, rarely look threatening. The Titani are always accurate in their defensive shape and, shortly after the half-hour mark (35’), D’Addario – in for the suspended Fabbri – drives forward 20–30 metres with the ball at his feet before being brought down by Galvez, who is shown a yellow card. However, from the resulting free kick Tosi cannot pick out a team-mate. Finland create little and Costantini’s Titani go into the break with an excellent 0-0. During the interval, Finland coach Kanerva turns to his bench and sends on Venezia striker Joel Pohjanpalo to add more attacking threat. But the first chance of the half falls to San Marino: Simone Franciosi latches onto a knock-down and unleashes a powerful effort from outside the area, the ball flying just over with the whole Stadium ready to explode. Finland nonetheless manage to find a way through and break the deadlock: from a scramble in the box the ball falls to Soiri, who fires home. The Titani protest for a foul on Simoncini, but after a VAR check the goal is confirmed. The strike galvanises the Scandinavians, who soon double their lead: once again it is Soiri, collecting a ball from the left, taking a touch and beating Simoncini with a precise low finish. Finland keep pushing and, on the hour mark, think they have a third through Teemu Pukki, the darling of the travelling fans, but this time VAR rules it out for offside against the number ten. The Finns are undeterred and go close again to a third when Hoskonen thunders a header against the post. Despite a strong second half from the visitors, the Titani carve out a good opportunity at the other end against goalkeeper Sinisalo: a fine move orchestrated by Alessandro Golinucci ends with a pass to Tosi on the edge of the box, but the Victor San Marino winger’s powerful driven cross-shot flies well wide of the target. Costantini’s men continue to grow into the game and, towards the end, D’Addario’s cross is turned behind for a corner. The decisive moment, though, comes in stoppage time: Filippo Berardi goes down in the area after a challenge and the referee points to the spot. Tension rises in the stands, children urging on the young forward and countless phones raised to capture the decisive moment. Berardi keeps his cool and makes no mistake. History is written tonight at the Stadium: never before had the Titani scored in three consecutive matches. Costantini’s players finish off their best-ever qualifying group to warm applause. With the Nations League coming next year, there is plenty to look forward to.  

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UEFA European Qualifiers | San Marino-Finland 1-2 SAN MARINO Simoncini; Palazzi, Rossi (78' Ma. Battistini), Franciosi; Tosi, Mularoni (78' Zafferani), Capicchioni, A. Golinucci, D'Addario; Lazzari (90+1 Magi), Vitaioli (61' Berardi). Substitutes: E. Bendettini, S. Benedettini, E. Golinucci, F. Tomassini, Grandoni, Brolli, Pancotti, Lunadei. Coach: Fabrizio Costantini FINLAND Sinisalo; Galvez, R. Jensen, Soiri (70' Uronen), Hoskonen; Kamara (70' Kairinen), Taylor, Lod (46' Pohjanpalo); Lingman, Pukki (78' F. Jensen), Hakans (70' Kallman) Substitutes: Hradecky, Keto, Ivanov, Tenho, Schüller, Alho, Pallas Coach: Markku Kanerva   Referee: Manfredas Lukjančukas (LTU) Assistant referees: Mangirdas Mirauskas (LTU) and Aleksandras Stepanovas (LTU) Fourth official: Mindaugas Jackus (LTU) VAR: Jochem Kamphuis (NED) Assistant VAR: Erwin Blank (NED)   Booked: Vitaioli, Tosi, Capicchioni, Ma. Battistini, Zafferani; R. Jensen, Galvez Scorers: 50' and 58' Soiri, 90+7' pen. Berardi Attendance: 1,426  

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