Romania-San Marino Giacopetti scores early, Vitaioli reaches 100 caps

A series of surprises and unforeseen events marks the build-up to the Titans’ final fixture in FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers. Nanni drops out of the match sheet due to a late-afternoon illness, while Rossi is a doubt right until kick-off – to the extent that Michele Cevoli takes part in the pre-match warm-up despite not having been named in the starting eleven.

San Marino make an exceptionally convincing start. In the very first minute, Giacopetti leads a counter-attack with the ball at his feet and cuts it back for Golinucci, who is denied at the crucial moment in the middle of the box. The next move develops from wide and produces Giacopetti’s first international goal: timing his run through the middle, he coolly beats Târnovanu after just 111 seconds. Not the fastest goal in the history of the Titans, but one of huge significance. This is only the fourth time San Marino have scored at least twice in World Cup Qualifiers. To find another opponent struck both home and away, you have to go back to 2000-2001, when Selva scored against Belgium in Serravalle and in Brussels. Romania respond immediately, calling Colombo into action through efforts by Raţiu and Tănase. Shortly afterwards, Bîrligea heads over from a very favourable position. Approaching the quarter-hour mark, the scoreline is levelled by Rossi’s unfortunate own goal: Romania win the ball back on the edge of the San Marino area and break through with Bîrligea. His low cross is deflected by Rossi, who turns it into his own net as he tries to get there ahead of the Romanian forwards lurking in the box. The heavy, waterlogged pitch does nothing to help the fluency of the passing: Romania go close again on 26 minutes with Man, whose right-footed effort finds only the side netting. Three minutes later, though, everything comes off for Baiaram, who showcases his athletic exuberance, slaloming past a couple of opponents before going one-on-one with Colombo and beating him with a close-range right-footer. San Marino threaten again on 37 minutes through a one-two between Giacopetti and Mularoni, but the latter’s shot is scuffed. A minute later, Edoardo Colombo has to produce a stunning reflex save: Dragomir looks certain to make it 3-1 with a powerful diving header, but the San Marino keeper somehow claws it away. There is nothing he can do, however, on 43 minutes, when a low drive across the area is slowed by the sodden turf and effectively teed up for Man’s left foot, leaving the goalkeeper no chance. Moments later, another chaotic pinball in the box involving Valentini and Colombo almost results in a second own goal of the evening – and that is how the first half ends.

When the teams re-emerge after the break there is Giacomo Benvenuti on for Rossi: following in the footsteps of his brother Tommaso, he partners Valentini at centre-back. Colombo is called into action immediately by Bîrligea, then Man’s left-footed effort, seemingly destined for goal, is held up by the very slow surface, helping the visiting keeper make the save. That is nothing compared to the intervention on the same forward, also well known for his time at Parma, on 55 minutes: a back pass from Fabbri holds up in the soaked grass, allowing Romania a shot on goal, brilliantly kept out by Colombo. Two minutes later, the Gzira United goalkeeper is powerless against the fortuitous deflection off Valentini on a cross from the byline. The second own goal of the night sends Romania 4-1 ahead. On 62 minutes Colombo has to conjure up another display of agility to deny Tănase, who shoots from the edge of the box. Just under ten minutes later, San Marino threaten again: Pancotti cuts inside onto his left and releases Riccardi, who bravely strikes right-footed from distance, but sends it over the bar. At the other end, Colombo produces another save on Munteanu’s venomous diagonal effort. On 76 minutes Hagi adds his name to the scoresheet, turning in a moving-ball penalty with a precise left-footed finish from the heart of the area. A minute earlier, Matteo Vitaioli had come on: for the captain and long-serving San Marino international, this is his 100th appearance for the national team. No one has ever gone that far before. In the closing stages, Romania pull further clear through Raţiu – who needs two attempts to beat Colombo from very close range – and Marin, who scores from the spot after a debatable coming together between Riccardi and Petrila.

European Qualifiers 2025, Matchday 10 | Romania-San Marino 7-1

ROMANIA (4-3-3)

Târnovanu; Raţiu, Ghiţă, Eissat, Bancu; Tănase (62’ Hagi), Screciu (46’ Marin), Dragomir (46’ Olaru); Man (74’ Petrila), Bîrligea (62’ Munteanu), Baiaram

Substitutes: Radu, Aioani, Racoviţan, Rus, Chipciu, Miculescu, Sorescu

Head coach: Mircea Lucescu

SAN MARINO (4-3-2-1)

Colombo; Fabbri (63’ Tosi), Valentini, Rossi (46’ G. Benvenuti), Riccardi; Golinucci, Valli Casadei, Mularoni; Pancotti (87’ G. Capicchioni), Zannoni; Giacopetti (75’ Vitaioli)

Substitutes: Zavoli, De Angelis, Cevoli, Vitaioli, Berardi, Sensoli, Lazzari

Head coach: Roberto Cevoli

Referee: Mohammad Al-Emara (FIN)

Assistants: Turkka Valjakka (FIN), Mika Lamppu (FIN)

Fourth official: Peiman Simani (FIN)

VAR: Michael Fabbri (ITA)

AVAR: Federico La Penna (ITA)

Scorers: 2’ Giacopetti, 13’ (o.g.) Rossi, 29’ Baiaram, 42’ Man, 57’ (o.g.) Valentini, 76’ Hagi, 82’ Raţiu, 86’ (p) Munteanu

Booked: Pancotti, Giacopetti, Riccardi, Golinucci

Attendance: 8,426