Regions Cup: NAT San Marino celebrate, Romanian side beaten 3-2

The NAT San Marino side win and impress in their final match of the intermediate round of the UEFA Regions' Cup in Albena (Bulgaria). The objective, with qualification already out of reach, was to finish on a high after the last two outings. In recent days coach Luigi Bizzotto had been clear: the target was victory. And so it proved. The Titano representative comes from behind to beat the Romanian amateur selection Prahova Muntenia 3-2. Bizzotto changes his system compared to the previous two games, switching to a 4-3-1-2 with Dormi in the hole behind the two forwards Mema and Urbinati. With Gaiani suspended, captain Angelini and goalkeeper Gentilini return from their bans. Right from kick-off the San Marino side are bright. After just two minutes Semprini tries his luck from the edge of the box, Romanian keeper Preda reacts well. A minute later Dormi lets fly with his left foot from distance, but sends it over. NAT San Marino keep up the pressure and on 9 minutes Urbinati does well to find space just inside the area and shoots, but Preda saves again. From the subsequent move the Titans go close once more through a Pesaresi turn in the box that flies just over. On 15 minutes there is another fine exchange between Dormi and Urbinati, whose effort also finishes not far over the bar. The Romanian amateur selection begin to show on 24 minutes with a long-range effort from Trifan that sails over. A minute later Tintaru unleashes a powerful strike from distance and Gentilini turns it behind for a corner. Shortly afterwards Prahova Muntenia threaten again from a free-kick on the edge of the area by captain Micu, which flashes just wide of the post. A few minutes before the end of the first half there is a huge chance for NAT San Marino as Ciacci strikes well from the edge but Preda produces an outstanding save to deny the young Sammarinese. The sides go in at the break goalless. At the start of the second half it is the Romanian side who almost take the lead: the NAT San Marino backline fail to clear their lines and Tintaru pounces, his shot going agonisingly close to the post to Gentilini's right. The deadlock, however, is broken shortly afterwards: a long ball from deep by the Romanians penetrates down the Titans' right flank, Nicolae controls well and, once through one-on-one with Gentilini, beats him to make it 1-0. Bizzotto’s men in white and light blue refuse to give in and within a few minutes they are level: there is contact on the edge of the box between Micu and Pesaresi and the referee points to the spot. Mema steps up and, having already scored from the spot against the Bulgarians, he repeats the feat and beats Preda to make it 1-1. A few minutes later, on 64 minutes, Bizzotto’s side almost take the lead: a perfect cross from Ciacci on the right finds Pesaresi, whose header clips the top of the crossbar. The white and light blue shirts keep pushing and substitute Comuniello has an immediate attempt, but his effort from just inside the area lacks power. The Murata winger quickly makes amends in style, because with a delightful chip he first lifts the ball over the goalkeeper, then controls and, with the goal gaping, slots home for 2-1, sending the whole team wild. NAT keep pressing and find a third goal: from a corner, Oprea turns the ball into his own net and it is 3-1 to Bizzotto’s side. After conceding a third, the Romanian team pour forward and leave space for the Sammarinese to counter. On two occasions, first Ciacci – flagged offside – and then Dormi fail to add further gloss to the scoreline. In the closing minutes, however, the game is reopened: from a corner Prahova Muntenia make it 3-2 on 86 minutes as Anghel finishes off a goalmouth scramble. Bizzotto’s team hold firm and on the break are unable to find the goal to kill it off through Mema. But after four minutes of added time they can finally celebrate. NAT San Marino claim a valuable victory, also in terms of ranking points, and finish the intermediate round group on 4 points, behind only Ireland (who end with a 100% record and qualify). It is a deserved reward for Bizzotto’s players, who in Bulgaria have enjoyed a very positive tournament, proving to themselves they can compete even with bigger nations.  

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  UEFA Regions' Cup 2022 | NAT San Marino-Prahova Muntenia 3-2         NAT SAN MARINO Gentilini; Pesaresi, Angelini, Arrigoni, Grieco (77' Baizan); Semprini (61' Senja), Colagiovanni, Ciacci; Dormi; Mema, Urbinati (61' Comuniello).   Substitutes: Broccoli, Parma, Olivieri.   Coach: Luigi Bizzotto     PRAHOVA MUNTENIA Preda; Jitaru, Mihalia, Oprea (73' Anghel), Rosu (69' Codreanu); Baciu, Micu; Trifan, Nicolae, Tintaru; Moise.     Substitutes: Badea, Teru.   Coach: Iulius Margarit       Referee: Zaven Hovhannisyan (ARM) Assistant referees: Mesrop Ghazaryan (ARM), Georgi Stamboldjiev (BUL) Fourth official: Radoslav Gidzhenov (BUL)     Booked: 74' Senja; 57' Mihalia, 70' Oprea.   Scorers: 52' Nicolae, 58' pen. Mema, 67' Comuniello, 72' Oprea (o.g.), 86' Anghel

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