Development Tournament: shoot-out heartbreak against Malta for the U16 Titans

The second matchday of the U16 Development Tournament pits San Marino against hosts Malta. Cancelli sets his side up in a 4-4-1-1 with Yazici playing off Cavalli. The first opportunity, however, falls to a centre-back, Valentini, who glances on a Cervellini corner – but Scicluna gathers safely. The hosts respond soon after, yet Giacomo Benvenuti is perfectly placed to deny captain Azzopardi. Malta and San Marino go toe to toe, serving up an entertaining, end-to-end contest: the islanders have a good chance on 11 minutes when they win the ball back pressing Casadei, but Cervellini sprints back to bail out his team-mate. Ohaka tries his luck from distance without finding the target, while it takes a crucial save with his feet from Bernardi to deny Farrugia the opener on 21 minutes. Shortly afterwards, San Marino win a corner that leads to fierce protests from the Sammarinese for a suspected foul on Giacomo Benvenuti. The closing stages of the half belong to the Titans, who keep the press high and free Casadei to shoot after a fine exchange between Tommaso Benvenuti and Yazici: the effort sails over the bar. On 36 minutes it is Zafferani’s turn, bursting past three opponents down the flank but arriving out of steam when it is time to pick out a team-mate in the middle. Towards the end of the half, Malta try to relieve the pressure with long-range efforts from Briffa and Refalo that yield no more than a corner, comfortably dealt with by Bernardi. There is a Sammarinese spark on 38 minutes when Tommaso Benvenuti steals the ball in the Maltese box, only to be halted by a risky but fair tackle. A minute later, the Titans threaten again from a corner: Giacomo Benvenuti acts as the target man, nodding the ball down to Zafferani, who fires a tame effort straight into the arms of Scicluna. The half ends with a speculative cross-shot from Glumac, easy pickings for Bernardi. After the restart there is one change apiece, with Giacobbi and Ewurum entering the fray. Tommaso Benvenuti is booked almost immediately for a foul on Micallef. From the resulting free-kick, Cavalli concedes a corner. The Sammarinese backline block subsequent attempts from Glumac and Micallef, before finding themselves with an extra man for eight minutes. This is the effect of the white card – or sin bin – shown to Bugeja for a tactical foul on Riccardi, who had been released down the wing. San Marino create several chances in power play but Casadei and Giacomo Benvenuti are unable to hit the target. On 56 minutes another white card is shown to Malta, this time to Azzopardi. Temporarily two men up, San Marino go close through a volley from Tommaso Benvenuti, who cannot generate enough power to turn Domeniconi’s cross into the opening goal. The same player then sees a header suffer the same fate, this time from a Giacobbi delivery. On the hour mark Malta are back to full strength with Micallef’s return, and three minutes later Azzopardi also re-enters the field, restoring numerical parity. Moments on, the home coach makes a triple substitution and the islanders nearly take the lead. A curling free-kick from Azzopardi from the edge of the area crashes into the side-netting, giving the illusion of a goal. Tension is palpable both on the pitch and on the benches, and there is a growing sense that a single incident could tip the balance either way. Malta push for the decisive breakthrough, setting up Mattocks to shoot: Bernardi is outstanding, pulling off a superb save with the help of the post. From the ensuing corner Zammit tries his luck, calling the Sammarinese keeper into action once more. Cancelli sends on Dolcini and Giacopetti for the final stages, during which there is room for another Bernardi intervention, this time with his foot to deny Azzopardi. With five minutes to go, a moment of brilliance from Giacobbi: an unstoppable coast-to-coast run that ends with a powerful but wayward shot. In the closing minutes Vella introduces Agius, while his Sammarinese counterpart hands minutes to Menicucci and Gennari. The latter proves decisive in the scramble where Malta have a double chance to win it at the death: like Riccardi, Gennari throws himself in the line of fire to protect Bernardi’s clean sheet. The contest is decided on penalties, where Malta show greater accuracy. Successful spot-kicks from Giacobbi, Riccardi, Domeniconi, Cervellini, Giacomo Benvenuti and Menicucci are not enough for San Marino. The home goalkeeper proves decisive, saving the penalties of Valentini and Gennari – after Ewurum’s earlier miss for Malta. The match is officially recorded as a 7-6 win on penalties for Malta, who collect two points in the standings. San Marino pick up one point, falling only in the penalty shoot-out. On Monday comes the final outing for the Under-16 National Team, who will face Gibraltar at the Bezzina Stadium in Valletta – the current leaders (5 points) after their 2-0 victory over Liechtenstein. Behind San Marino’s next opponents, who are now out of contention for top spot, the Maltese and the Liechtensteiners are level on 3 points.  

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Under 16 UEFA Development Tournament, 2022 | Malta-San Marino 7-6 (pens.)   MALTA J. Scicluna, Briffa, Farrugia, Azzopardi, Bugeja (from 64' Delicata), Ohaka (from 46' Ewurum), Refalo, Glumac (from 64' Carabott), Micallef (from 64' Fardell), Mattocks (from 81' Agius), Zammit Substitutes: N. Vella, K. Scicluna, Cassar, Okeke Coach: Andrea Vella   SAN MARINO Bernardi, Domeniconi, T. Benvenuti (from 81' Menicucci), Cervellini, G. Benvenuti, Valentini, Casadei (from 71' Giacopetti), Yazici (from 46' Giacobbi), Riccardi, Zafferani (from 81' Gennari), Cavalli (from 71' Dolcini) Substitutes: Mularoni, Barbano, Biagioli Coach: Nicola Cancelli   Referee: George Anthony Attard (MLT) Assistants: Wayne Spiteri (MLT) and Ranald Portelli (MLT) Booked: T. Benvenuti Sin bin: 52' Bugeja, 56' Azzopardi Note: Scicluna saves penalties from Valentini and Gennari; Ewurum misses from the spot

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