Under-16: brave Titani fall just short as Malta edge the win

Not even 48 hours later, the two Under-16 national teams of San Marino and Malta are back on the pitch at the Montecchio Stadium for their second international friendly. The Titani are eager to make up for the 5-1 defeat suffered in Monday’s opening game and Magnani’s boys make a flying start. On 3 minutes Semperlotti wins a good ball on the edge of the final third and drives towards goal; the young Titano shows great pace and unleashes a thunderbolt that clips the bar on its way in, beating Sissons for 1-0. Malta refuse to lie down and begin to press. On 12 minutes Magri tries his luck from distance, but Casadei is safe and gathers the effort. On 18 minutes Magri goes again, this time from the right as he looks to break through, but Mularoni reads it well and blocks the attempt, with Casadei then coming out to claim the ball. Malta keep pushing and go very close to an equaliser shortly afterwards (20’), once more through Magri from outside the box, but Casadei produces a brilliant save and again says no. The white-and-blues respond through one of their brightest performers, Semperlotti, who on 23 minutes finds the gap and once again goes one-on-one with Sissons, but this time miscues his shot and fails to generate power. Malta’s equaliser arrives just before the half-hour: corner to Vella’s side, Hijazi rises highest and powers home the 1-1 header. Malta keep their foot on the gas and try again from range through Micallef, with Casadei once more alert. It is an open game packed with chances: on 33 minutes San Marino are close to regaining the lead when Semperlotti shoots on target, Sissons parries and on the rebound captain Protti somehow fails to hit the target – although the forward can ‘console’ himself as he was in an offside position when he struck the ball. The sides go in level at the break (1-1).   At the start of the second half Protti does well down the left and crosses into the middle for the incoming Bindi, who tries a stretching volley, but the Maltese backline snuffs out the danger. On 51 minutes Hijazi, the scorer of the equaliser, bursts away at pace and closes in on Tassinari before shooting just wide of the keeper’s left-hand post; Tassinari had replaced Casadei at half-time. Two minutes later Tassinari comes out on Hijazi in the box and referee Andruccioli points to the spot. Hijazi himself steps up, converts, completes his brace and puts the reds and whites in front. As usual, a flurry of substitutions follows, with the match finely balanced and Malta holding only a one-goal advantage. On 73 minutes comes an incident that could change the game: move down the right, cross from Jayden Borg that strikes Marani’s body, but the referee deems it handball and awards another penalty. Nathan Grech takes responsibility, but Tassinari guesses correctly and saves the spot-kick to loud applause from those present in Acquaviva. Malta push on and just after the half-hour mark Piscopo produces some neat footwork on the edge of the area before shooting, the ball rolling inches wide of the post. San Marino also believe they can still get something, as Protti sets up Colonna, whose powerful attempt lacks accuracy and flies well off target. Malta look again to kill the contest: Farrugia drives forward and picks out the run of Jayden Borg, whose shot on goal is once more kept out by the ever-alert Tassinari. In the closing stages, Protti wins the ball back superbly on the right and shoots, forcing the Maltese defence to concede a corner. From the ensuing delivery, Ivan Contucci finds room but hesitates before pulling the trigger, allowing the Maltese rearguard to clear. Despite five minutes of added time, Magnani’s boys cannot find an equaliser and – this time by the narrowest of margins – must once again give way to their Maltese counterparts in the second friendly.  

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  Friendly, Under-16 | San Marino-Malta 1-2   SAN MARINO Casadei (46' Tassinari); Bindi (69' Colonna), Faetanini (62' Marani), Marinucci, Mularoni (55' Zavoli); E. Della Balda (80' Baldacci), Forcellini, Pasolini (80' Giorgetti); Protti, Semperlotti (80' Bernardi), Valentini (55' Contucci). Substitutes: F. Della Balda, Ugolini Head coach: Matteo Magnani   MALTA Sissons; Magri (83' Pullicino), Joyce, El-Nasar (65' A. Vella), Grima; Jake Borg (65' Farrugia), J. Vella ( 54' Grech), Micallef (65' Jayden Borg); Hijazi (83' Grioli), Mercieca, Zerafa (54' Piscopo). Substitutes: Massa, Seychell. Head coach: Andrea Vella   Referee: Mattia Andruccioli Assistants: Alfonso Gallo and Alfonso Giannotti   Booked: 57' Bindi, 58' Tassinari, 72' Marani; 47' Magri, 76' Mercieca   Scorers: 3' Semperlotti, 27' and pen. 59' Hijazi  

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