Under-15s: San Marino narrowly miss out after coming back from two goals down in the final minutes

The UEFA Under-15 Development Tournament kicked off today in Malta. At the Centenary Stadium, in the morning, Dario Vanni’s young Biancazzurri made their debut against the hosts – who went 2-0 up around the midway point of the first half thanks to goals from Spiteri and Romao. The opener arrived on 23 minutes at the end of a prolonged passing move on the deck, finished off by the midfielder’s precise right-footed side-foot. Four minutes later, the second came in similar fashion: Melarosa played in Romao, who made no mistake with his left foot in front of the goalkeeper.

In the closing stages, the young Biancazzurri produced one of the most incredible comebacks in the history of San Marino’s youth national teams. After surviving efforts from Giordimaina and Grech – both of which crashed off Morri’s woodwork – San Marino got themselves back into it thanks to a stoppage-time brace from Samuel Mattei. The striker timed his run perfectly to stay onside from Cola’s outside-of-the-boot pass; Cola did brilliantly to turn defence into attack with a 40-metre surge before calmly slotting past Pulé in the one-on-one. The extraordinary 2-2 equaliser was a real billiard shot, born from winning the ball back in midfield: Mattei, picked out unmarked in the box, controlled with his right and fired an extremely tight angled drive that kissed the post before nestling in the net.

Under the tournament regulations, the match was decided on penalties: two points to the shoot-out winners, one to the losers. From the spot the hosts proved more clinical, and also a little fortunate with Giordimaina’s third penalty – Morri got a good hand to it but could not keep it out. Pulé showed no such leniency, saving the fifth and final penalty of the San Marino series, taken by De Biagi.

UEFA Development Tournament Under 15 | Malta-San Marino 2-2 (7-6 pens)

MALTA

Pulè, Camilleri (67’ Pace), Inguanez (67’ Vella Brincat), Giordimaina, Cutajar, Montebello (75’ Calleja), Olorundare (61’ Azzopardi), Spiteri (61’ Mifsud), Mangion (67’ Zammit), Melarosa (75’ Grech), Romao (75’ Bonanno)

Coach: Jonathan Holand

SAN MARINO

Morri, Donci (57’ Francioni), Taddei (46’ Ricci), Cola, Mattei, Gobbi (71’ Rosati), Berardinelli (75’ Celli), Ugolini (46’ Pigniatiello), Selva (46’ Grandoni), Gualandi (57’ De Biagi), Frisoni (46’ Rastelli)

Coach: Ettore Vanni

Scorers: 23’ Spiteri, 27’ Romao, 89’ and 90+2’ Mattei

Penalty shoot-out: Grech SCORES – Mattei SCORES; Zammit SCORES – Grandoni SCORES; Giordimaina SCORES – Rosati SCORES; Azzopardi SCORES – Cola SCORES; Cutajar SCORES – De Biagi SAVED