UEFA Regions' Cup: NAT San Marino fight hard but fade after the break against the Irish

Under a light mist in Albena (Bulgaria), the campaign began for NAT San Marino in the intermediate round of the UEFA Regions' Cup 2022. The clash between the amateur representative of the Titano and the Irish side was also the opening match in Group 6. Early on it was the team from across the Channel enjoying more possession, but the Biancazzurri stood up well to the initial pressure. On 15 minutes the first interesting move for San Marino: Andrea Comuniello did well down the left and tried a low cross towards Elia Ciacci at the far post, but the young Sammarinese forward was just inches away from making contact with his stretching attempt. On 23 minutes Ireland created their first big chance, with Hayes slipping in behind the Biancazzurri backline – today in a blue navy strip – and firing on goal, but Fabio Gentilini produced an excellent save. The Juvenes-Dogana goalkeeper was called into action again just after the half-hour mark, reacting well to a McMullan header; in any case, the Irish centre-back would have been flagged offside. A few minutes before the half-time whistle from Armenian referee Hovhannisyan, Parma mis-hit a back-pass to his keeper, Ireland pounced and Murphy found himself with the goal almost at his mercy, but his right-footed effort lacked precision and San Marino were spared. In stoppage time there was also room for a Casey free-kick, but once more Gentilini got down well to turn it away. Then the sides went in at the break, with the Irish ahead on points after a first half in which they had been more active and dictated the tempo. It was also a fairly physical contest, with three yellow cards already shown by the referee (two for San Marino, Parma and captain Angelini, in the opening twenty minutes).   At the restart the Irish representative immediately threatened, Chambers latching onto a pass from Murphy but steering his side-footed finish just wide of the post. The Biancazzurri reply was not long in coming. Within a few minutes Mema earned a good free-kick on the edge of the area: Lorenzo Dormi stepped up with his left foot but saw his effort deflected for a corner. NAT San Marino believed they could get something and shortly afterwards Ciacci did well to win the ball back on the halfway line and, with the outside of his boot, played an elegant pass to the rapid Comuniello who, instead of shooting first time, hesitated and lost the ideal moment, allowing the Irish defence to recover. The Irish in green responded in kind: a corner on 54 minutes and a towering header from centre-back McMullan, the ball flashing just past Gentilini’s left-hand post. From the ensuing phase of play, however, Angelini brought down Irish forward Murphy in the inside-left channel and the referee showed a second yellow card to the NAT San Marino captain, leaving his side to play for more than half an hour with ten men. From the resulting free-kick Casey tried his luck but Gentilini held it well. Bizzotto reacted by withdrawing Comuniello and sending on Olivieri as a central defender. On 63 minutes another good chance for the Irish, Carr unleashing a powerful drive that went just wide of the upright. Only a minute later came another incident that did not go the way of the Titano side: Gentilini came off his line to challenge Murphy and, to the amazement and protests of the Sammarinese players, the referee showed a straight red card. NAT San Marino were now down to nine men, with two dismissals in the space of ten minutes. Bizzotto naturally introduced the second goalkeeper, Denis Broccoli, who was immediately alert to keep out Murphy’s free-kick. On 74 minutes, however, after several attempts the men in green finally broke through: a cross from the right, Chambers flicked on with his head for Casey, who ghosted in behind Olivieri and with a firm header found the goal that broke the deadlock. Bizzotto’s side tried to respond, but Ciacci’s turn and shot from the edge of the area on 78 minutes was too high and drifted well over O’Connell’s crossbar. Just two minutes later came Ireland’s second: Pesaresi lost the ball in the inside-left channel, Arrigoni tried belatedly to patch things up but the ball ricocheted to Murphy, who rounded Broccoli and made it 2-0 on 81 minutes. Little else of note happened after that, and after six minutes of added time the referee called a halt. NAT San Marino had held out well, even with a man down, but the straight red for Gentilini (his suspension still to be assessed and potentially ruling him out of both remaining matches) proved to be the decisive blow for Bizzotto’s men, who then conceded twice. The Biancazzurri will be back in action on Friday 28 October at 16:00 local time (15:00 in Italy) against the Bulgarian representative side.  

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UEFA Regions' Cup 2022 | RAT Ireland – NAT San Marino 2-0   RAT IRELAND O'Connell; McColgan, Crowley, McMullan, Chris; O'Connor, Carr (84' Broderick), Murphy (88' Hyland); Hayes (77' Burgess), Chambers, Casey (83' Humpries). Substitutes: Cunnigham, Parke, Daly. Coach: Gerry Davis   NAT SAN MARINO Gentilini; Parma, Arrigoni, Angelini, Pesaresi; Gaiani (81' Senja), Ciacci, Semprini (67' Broccoli); Comuniello (58' Olivieri), Dormi (82' Colagiovanni), Mema (66' Urbinati). Substitutes: Baizan, Grieco Coach: Luigi Bizzotto   Referee: Zaven Hovhannisyan (ARM) Assistant referees: Mesrop Ghazaryan (ARM); Georgi Stamboldjiev (BUL) Fourth official: Radoslav Gidzhenov (BUL)   Booked: 7' Parma, 21' Angelini, 52' Gaiani; 41' Carr, 70' Casey Sent off: 56' Angelini for second yellow card, 64' Gentilini Scorers: 74' Casey, 81' Murphy

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