Regions’ Cup: final to be played between Aragón and Dolnośląski

The 18:00 kick-offs brought the curtain down on Group B of the 2025 UEFA Regions’ Cup. The Polish side Dolnośląski – already assured of a place in Tuesday’s final – completed a perfect group stage, overcoming Länsi-Vantaan Ylpeys thanks to goals from Wasilewski (from the spot) and Bońkowski. The Finns pulled one back late on through Merinen, but could not avoid defeat and bottom place in the group. One of the two bronze medals therefore goes to Rijeka, who had themselves trailed 2-0 at half-time against Vaud. Swiss strikes from Hanchour (three goals in as many games) and Grand from the penalty spot put them in charge, but the Croatians roared back after the break: Hodak struck at the start of the second half and, above all, a stoppage-time brace of real quality from Matković completed the comeback and sealed second place in the group for Rijeka, one of the two teams to finish third ex aequo at the 13th UEFA Regions’ Cup.

Everything was still to play for in the evening fixtures, which wrapped up Group A. Top spot was on the line in Montecchio, in the head-to-head between Aragón and Vojvodina – with the Serbians going through even with a draw. The various permutations also left Hradec Králové and San Marino with hopes of taking bronze. Bizzotto opted for heavy rotation, backing the desire of many players to leave their mark. The start was promising, driven by an enterprising Moretti: it was from his cross that Terenzi fashioned a right-footed effort, kept out by Hladík. The defender, deployed at full-back on the day, then tried a header from a corner on 26 minutes but failed to hit the target. The Czechs threatened around the half-hour mark, but the Biancazzurri survived the one-two between Štepánek and Kollár. The best chance of the first half came on 39 minutes, when Hradec Králové sliced through the San Marino backline and Rojšl went one-on-one with Davide Colonna. The keeper blocked with his foot and, on Strasser’s tap-in, it was Tomassoni who threw himself in the way. Dvorák’s men made amends soon after, as Blažek picked out the bottom corner with a right-footed strike from mid-range that clipped the post and nestled to Colonna’s left. Between those two opportunities, Moretti had been forced off through injury, making way for Gori.

San Marino changed goalkeepers at the break, with Davide Colonna unable to continue due to a problem picked up shortly before the Czech goal. The Titans once again showed the same lack of cutting edge that had cost them against Aragón and on 58 minutes Hradec Králové had a gilt-edged chance to double their lead, but Rojšl fired into the side netting. Bizzotto tried to jolt his side by introducing Benincasa and Pancotti: on 68 minutes the latter attempted a first-time right-footed volley but failed to hit the target. Shortly afterwards, the two combined again, yet Benincasa could not direct his team-mate’s cross goalwards. The Czechs replied with a low driven effort from Brejcha on the edge of the box that shaved De Angelis’ goal. Five minutes from time, Hradec Králové again went close: Brejcha struck what looked a certain goal, but Tomassoni’s deflection – which wrong-footed his own goalkeeper – sent the ball behind for a corner. Deep into stoppage time, De Angelis produced a monumental save in a one-on-one with Novotný. That was the final act of the match, which ended in victory for the Czechs. The three points took them level with Vojvodina, but the Serbians claimed second place thanks to the head-to-head record.

In Montecchio, meanwhile, Aragón lived up to expectations and, with a goal in each half from Chegu plus a strike from Torcal, won the decisive showdown with Vojvodina that offered a ticket to Tuesday’s final. The winger opened the scoring midway through the first half with a fine first-time finish, then doubled the advantage on 68 minutes, showing real poacher’s instinct. Three minutes later Vojvodina were reduced to ten men following Mojsilović’s sending-off, and the Iberians added a third through Torcal. For the Serbians there was scant consolation in receiving bronze medals for finishing second in Group A – by virtue of their head-to-head advantage over Hradec Králové. The showpiece of the 13th UEFA Regions’ Cup, the first ever to be staged on San Marino soil, will be played on Tuesday 1 July at the Acquaviva Stadium, kicking off at 20:45. As mentioned, the title will be contested by Aragón and Dolnośląski.

UEFA Regions’ Cup San Marino 2025 | Hradec Králové – San Marino 1-0

HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ (4-2-3-1)

Hladík; Strasser, Škoda, Knap, Mahr (90+2’ Slavík); Kabelać (46’ Čechovič), Brejcha; Štepánek (84’ Bekera), Blažek (65’ Franc), Kollár; Rojšl (65’ Novotný)

Subs: Vaniček, Ptáček, Petřik

Coach: Miloš Dvorák

NAT SAN MARINO (4-2-3-1)

D. Colonna (46’ De Angelis); Bottoni, Tomassoni, Guglielmi, Moretti (42’ Gori); Gaiani, Corinti (78’ Bernardi); Terenzi, R. Colonna, Ura (65’ Pancotti); Sartini (65’ Benincasa)

Subs: Senja, Lisi, Sartori

Coach: Luigi Bizzotto

Referee: Dumitri Muntean (MDA)

Assistant referees: Victor Mardari (MDA), Vytenis Kazlauskas (LTU)

Fourth official: Robertas Volikonis (LTU)

Scorer: 45’ Blažek

Booked: Kabelać, Štepánek, Guglielmi, Benincasa, Novotný

Attendance: 138