U16: Slovenia defeat San Marino and join Georgia at the top, Titano side struck at the start and end

San Marino’s Under-16 National Team open their home UEFA Development Tournament campaign with a 2-0 defeat. Slovenia, the Biancoazzurrini’s first opponents, come flying out of the blocks, breaking the deadlock in the 6th minute thanks to a header from Šunta, who rises highest in the box and powers home Dassena’s pinpoint cross. Shortly after the quarter-hour mark, the same Slovenian number 10 threatens again with a powerful surge down the flank that takes him to the by-line, from where he looks for better-placed team-mates in front of Casadei’s goal: a crucial interception from Bugli averts the danger. On 20 minutes it is Bindi who has to produce the decisive intervention after a fine Slovenian move (embellished by Šunta’s backheel) that seemed certain to send Miloševič clean through on Casadei. That opportunity only vanishes thanks to Bindi’s perfect timing, as his sliding challenge does just enough to put off the other number 7 on the pitch, allowing the San Marino goalkeeper to come out and collect. Magnani’s team, however, refuse to sit back. They look to exploit the counter-attack in particular, having little choice but to concede to Slovenia both territorial dominance and the bulk of possession – at times very prolonged but not especially fruitful, since, aside from the goal, there are no truly dangerous efforts on Casadei’s goal. One fast break had been managed by Della Balda shortly before Bindi’s goal-saving tackle (Valentini had made himself available on the wing but was closed down by the Slovenian defence), and another counter is launched in the 25th minute, when Della Balda again, making the most of the space created for him by Protti and Valentini, drives the ball up to around 25 metres out and from there fires a shot that forces Žnuderl into a difficult save. If in the very early stages San Marino had appeared a little overawed, as the minutes tick by they grow in belief. Their high pressing forces Slovenia into errors on several occasions as they try to build from the back. A couple of corners are the result – they come to nothing, but they show the Biancoazzurrini’s desire not simply to absorb pressure but to use every possible route to get back on level terms. Even so, Slovenia are very much still in the contest. Indeed, on 34 minutes they carve out a huge chance that Raspet wastes badly. It all starts from an Ačimović cross that Miloševič nods back across for Bilač; the powerful centre-back – forward from a corner – climbs highest and forces a stunning reflex save from Casadei. The goalkeeper is helped out by the crossbar, but the rebound falls invitingly for Raspet, who somehow blazes over from inside the six-yard box. A few minutes later, Forcellini has to produce a vital intervention to halt Ačimović, who was racing clear towards the San Marino goal. The Slovenian number 9 is dangerous again from a corner – not with a header this time, but from the set-piece itself. It is directly from the corner flag that the Slovenian forward tries to catch out Casadei, who is rescued by the post. At the end of the half, it is instead the assistant referee’s flag that preserves the 1-0 scoreline: Drobnič is quick to slip Raspet through following a free-kick, and the forward easily beats Casadei in the one-on-one, but the defensive line has stepped up with perfect timing, leaving the goalscorer clearly offside and the goal rightly ruled out. At half-time, Slovenian coach Radoslavljevič opts to use all the substitutions at his disposal. Magnani, by contrast, makes only two changes: Burioni and Giorgetti replace Valentini and Semperlotti. The second half begins with a cross from one of the substitutes, Voldrih, which turns into a dangerous looping effort that Casadei shepherds onto the crossbar without needing to touch it behind for a corner. At the other end, San Marino win a free-kick that Della Balda swings onto the head of Bugli. It’s an excellent run from the centre-back, who ghosts in ahead of everyone and glances just wide. Slovenia respond with a flash from distance by Žužek that forces Casadei into a fine, full-stretch save. Much more straightforward is the San Marino keeper’s catch from Hočevar’s tame central header. After Magnani makes a quadruple change (Nicolini, Zavoli, Contucci and Mularoni all come on), Dassena – one of the few remaining from Slovenia’s starting XI – darts down the right and whips in a teasing cross for Hočevar, who stretches as far as he can but cannot steer it on target. Now Slovenia are pushing with greater conviction in search of a second goal, which they go close to around the half-hour mark with a ferocious drive from Dassena that whistles just wide. It then takes two outstanding saves from Casadei to keep it at 1-0, both to deny Suhovršnik. In the first instance, the San Marino goalkeeper shows excellent judgment in leaving his line early and getting to the ball before the forward can shoot with the goal at his mercy. In the second, it is pure instinct that guides Casadei’s foot to block the close-range effort, virtually a certain goal, from the Slovenian number 20. In the end, though, Suhovršnik does get his reward: it is his simple finish that makes it 2-0 in the closing minutes, after an inch-perfect delivery from Dassena. There are some protests from the San Marino ranks regarding the starting position of the assist provider. Meanwhile, Magnani sends on Faetanini and Gualtieri as well. At the end of the three minutes of stoppage time, the San Marino National Team leave the pitch to warm applause from the large crowd in Acquaviva – fitting recognition for a match in which the Titano side showed great generosity and commitment. Slovenia, for their part, pocket three points that see them join Georgia at the top of the table. Earlier in the day, Georgia had taken maximum points against Montenegro. That match also finished 2-0: Ratiani opened the scoring on 36 minutes with a right-footed strike from outside the area that caught Montenegrin goalkeeper Durovic out, while the second arrived midway through the second half via a simple tap-in from Kutateladze. The four teams will return to the pitch on Thursday for Matchday 2. In the morning (11:00) it will be Slovenia v Montenegro; in the afternoon (15:00), Georgia v San Marino, which will also be shown live on Titani.TV. Click here for the updated standings.

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Under 16, UEFA Development Tournament 2023, DAY 1 | Montenegro – Georgia 0-2   MONTENEGRO Durovic; Mugosa (from 46' Stokanovic), Maras, Martinovic, Dukic (from 70' Jovanovic); Bastrica (from 61' Pavicevic), Karabasil (from 46' Jokanovic); Knezevic (from 46' Nikcevic), Savovic (from 70' Miljanic), Vlahovic (from 61' Jaukovic), Kostic (from 61' Milosevic) Substitutes: Bozovic Coach: Radovan Kavaja   GEORGIA Asanidze; Khachidze, Amisulashvili, Gogoli; Chubunidze (from 75' Nikvashvili), Surguladze, Ratiani, Lashkhia; Gogilashvili, Kutateladze (from 88' Nakhutsrishvili), Mzhavanadze (from 84' Peradze) Substitutes: Bakhutashvili, Tatishvili, Bedianashvili, Kvashilava, Jaoshvili, Nioradze Coach: George Chitauri   Referee: Nicola Villa Assistant referees: Ernesto Cristiano, Andrea Zaghini Fourth official: Luca Zani Goals: 36' Ratiani, 65' Kutateladze  

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Under 16, UEFA Development Tournament 2023, DAY 1 | San Marino – Slovenia 0-2 SAN MARINO Casadei; Marani, Bugli (from 72' Faetanini), Marinucci (from 60' Zavoli); Bindi (from 60' Mularoni), Semperlotti (from 46' Giorgetti), Pasolini, E. Della Balda (from 60' Nicolini), Forcellini (from 60' Contucci); Protti (from 72' Gualtieri), Valentini (from 46' Burioni) Substitutes: F. Della Balda Coach: Matteo Magnani   SLOVENIA Žnuderl (from 46' Antonič); Dassena, Bilač, Drobnič (from 46' Hočevar), Petrovič (from 46' Voldrih); Jurgec (from 46' Viher), Šabotič (from 46' Žužek); Ačimović (from 46' Pečjak), Šunta (from 46' Meško), Miloševič (from 46' Suhovršnik), Raspet (from 46' Vukelič) Coach: Aleksandar Radoslavljevič   Referee: Laurentiu Ilie Assistant referees: Alessandro Salvatori and Gianmarco Ercolani Fourth official: Emiliano Albani Booked: Viher, Faetanini Goals: 6' Šunta, 88' Suhovršnik

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