Under-16: San Marino defeat Andorra 2-0

Outstanding start for San Marino’s Under-16 National Team, currently in Malta for the UEFA Development Tournament in their age category. Bonesso’s side approach the game with clear ideas and great attacking intent, to the point that their Andorran counterparts are forced into desperate defending against a Montebelli effort as early as the 1st minute – after the Little Eagles had already earned a corner. San Marino are the better side, pressing high and building up with quality, though lacking a little decisiveness and clarity when it comes to finishing moves. As the minutes tick by, Andorra also begin to show themselves, lively especially down the flanks. It is, however, San Marino who break the deadlock, going ahead on 28 minutes from the spot through Mazza. The penalty is won by a rampant Montebelli – shaking off his marker before driving into the area and being brought down illegally. The celebrations are repeated less than 300 seconds later, when Aureli catches out Andorra’s very high defensive line and slips in behind the back four. Ice-cool in the final metres, he evades a last-ditch challenge in extremis before beating the keeper one-on-one and giving San Marino’s National Team a two-goal lead at the interval.

No tactical changes for Bonesso after the restart, while his opposite number José Salvador makes six substitutions. The Pyreneans are tasked with a comeback, but it is the Titani who threaten first: on 62 minutes, two attacking transitions carry San Marino to the edge of the penalty area, where the final ball lacks the required quality. Shortly afterwards Mattei also has a go, unstoppable in his surge forward and able to deliver an inviting cross from the byline that flashes right across the penalty area without Achilli or Montebelli managing to get a touch. There is no real danger around Michelotti’s goal, apart from sporadic and rather hopeful long-range efforts. In fact, it is the Little Eagles who come closer to making it 3-0, especially through the Baggiarini-Frisoni combination: the latter, set free in front of Arnau Rodriguez, is denied by an excellent reflex save from the goalkeeper. At the other end, Michelotti has no difficulty in dealing with a strike from Adri Casas and can celebrate both the victory and a clean sheet, achieved despite San Marino spending the final minutes with ten men after Berardinelli was sent off for a second yellow card. In two days’ time comes the test against hosts Malta, who today swept aside Gibraltar 7-0.

UEFA Development Tournament, Malta 2026 – Matchday 1 | Andorra-San Marino 0-2

ANDORRA

Soares (46’ Rodriguez), Nuñez (46’ Ferreira), Cerqueda, L. Fernandez, Gracia (74’ Opoku), N. Fernandez (74’ Sonejee), Huguet (57’ Martinez), Magalhaes (46’ Casas), Ber (46’ Millan), Del Amo (46’ Ribo), Vidal (46’ Kampfraat)

Head coach: José Salvador

SAN MARINO

Michelotti, Mattei, Montali (75’ Frisoni), Cola (58’ Berardinelli), Piergiacomi (58’ Della Balda), Prendi, A. Ceccoli (58’ Baggiarini), Monaldi (75’ Angelini), Montebelli, Mazza (90+1’ M. Ceccoli), Aureli (58’ Achilli)

Substitute: Della Valle

Head coach: Alessandro Loris Bonesso

Referee: Ranald Portelli (MLT)

Assistants: Sara Kankaras (MLT), Sanu Joy (MLT)

Scorers: 28’ (p) Mazza, 33’ Aureli

Booked: Baggiarini, Berardinelli, Ferreira, Fernandez

Sent off: Berardinelli (second yellow card)