Under-15s, San Marino play well but Armenia take the win: final match in Cyprus ends 0-2

The San Marino Under-15 National Team signed off from their UEFA Development Tournament experience in Cyprus with a strong performance, facing their Armenian counterparts in the final game of the week. Magnani’s youngsters started on the front foot, immediately dangerous through the Raschi-Bucchi combination: Raschi won the ball high up the pitch and released his strike partner, who was denied at the last moment by a defender. The Titani threatened again on 6 minutes when Zavoli backed Raschi’s pace, picking him out with a pass which the forward controlled well before driving into the area, only to be stopped by a robust challenge from an Armenian defender, which was not punished with a penalty, to the clear frustration of the Biancazzurri bench. San Marino continued to push, forcing Nazaretyan into action shortly before the quarter-hour mark. The goalkeeper was well placed to deal with a powerful header from Zavoli, picked out by a cross from deep. Five minutes later came Armenia’s first real warning sign, from a corner that freed captain Yeghoyan’s run into the box, his finish drifting just wide. Goalless at the break, after one more opportunity at each end. First San Marino, again from a set-piece situation: a series of ricochets in the penalty area sent the ball to Terni, who fired narrowly wide. Right at the end of the half Armenia replied with a shot that also missed the target. After twenty minutes of relative balance and no clear-cut chances, Nazaryan’s side broke the deadlock, capitalising on a lapse in the San Marino defence which opened the door of the penalty area for substitute Aghoyan, ice-cool in front of Bucci. With the simultaneous introductions of Yervandyan, Gevorgyan, Edigaryan and Gyozalyan, Armenia firmly took control of the game, though they did not create any real danger for the San Marino goal until the closing stages. In fact, the young Biancazzurri kept pushing right to the end in search of an equaliser, leaving space for Armenian counter-attacks: it took all of Bucci’s reflexes to deny Petrosyan a second goal, the forward seeing his strike blocked by the outstretched leg of the San Marino keeper after being played through by Grigoryan. The great commitment shown by Magnani’s boys in throwing men forward unfortunately did not produce the goal they would have deserved. Instead, Armenia struck on the counter-attack to double their lead and seal the victory. Aghoyan, clearly the match winner on the day, shook off Losco’s pressure to reach the byline and cut the ball back for Gevorgyan’s winning run. The midfielder finished from the edge of the six-yard box, where you simply cannot miss. Not even San Marino’s final assault yielded any reward, with looping efforts from Ciacci and Zavoli dropping just wide of the Armenian woodwork.

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UEFA Under-15 Development Tournament 2023, DAY 3 | San Marino – Armenia 0-2   SAN MARINO Bucci, Battazza, Terni (from 56' Losco), Cervellini (from 56' Ciacci), Stefani, Pala, Cika, Raschi (from 56' Partisani), Bucchi (from 79' Maiani), Zavoli, Valentini (from 85' Berardi) Substitutes: Frisoni, Gritti, Guidi, Muccioli Head coach: Matteo Magnani   ARMENIA Nazaretyan, Se. Petrosyan (from 88' Gyozalyan), Yeghoyan, Ghazaryan (from 60' Aghoyan), Asatryan, Arakelyan (from 79' Gevorgyan), Grigoryan, Hakobyan (from 60' Su. Petrosyan), Ayanyan, Khachatryan (from 46' Yervandyan), Poghosyan (from 60' Edigaryan) Substitutes: Harutyunyan, Avanesyan Head coach: Erik Nazaryan   Referee: Konstantinos Theodorou (CYP) Assistant referees: Dimitris Dimitriou (CYP) and Christalla Chatzhpolydorou (CYP) Fourth official: Panagiotis Andreou (CYP) Scorers: 64' Aghoyan, 87' Gevorgyan Booked: Zavoli, Aghoyan

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