Under-17: own goal punishes impressive San Marino, Cenci saves a penalty at 0-0

An excellent performance from San Marino’s Under-17 national team in their second outing of Round 2 – League B of EURO 2025. The outcome of the clash with highly rated Belarus was decided only by an unfortunate own goal in the 73rd minute from a corner. Towards the end of the first half there was also a penalty brilliantly saved by Cenci from Charheika.

The match began on an even footing, with San Marino virtually never in danger, conceding only a few sporadic and inaccurate long-range efforts. The young Biancazzurri caused concern in the Belarusian defence with a short-corner routine for Terni and, above all, with the following move, when good work from Grandoni led to a shot from the edge of the box by Meloni that he unfortunately scuffed. The Titani went close again on 18 minutes, with a wide free-kick swung in towards the near post: Chuprynski somehow managed to keep out Arlotti’s powerful effort, despite being hindered by team-mates and opponents. A similar situation unfolded midway through the half at the other end, when the Sammarinese backline survived by a whisker after a Snapkou knock-down at the far post put Priemko in space to shoot almost unopposed. The potential turning point arrived on 39 minutes, when Belarus were awarded a penalty for a foul by Terni on Lutskovich. The spot kick stemmed from a misunderstanding between San Marino’s defenders and goalkeeper, but Cenci put everything right by saving Charheika’s attempt.

In the second half Belarus tried to step up the tempo, but the Biancazzurri remained compact and disciplined in marking. On 48 minutes Priemko was denied at the vital moment by a remarkable defensive recovery, while San Marino showed themselves a few minutes later through a Tamagnini-Canarezza move that ended with a driven cross-shot gathered by Chuprynski. Luck appeared to be leaning towards a draw when Priemko – picked out from a corner – crashed a header against the crossbar and then, on 59 minutes, was thwarted by a brilliant piece of anticipation from Cenci, who cut out what looked a simple lay-off in the six-yard box for Snapkou. The Titani continued to push forward, creating two chances in the 63rd minute: from the corner the ball was delivered to the far post for a header back across that sparked a scramble on the edge of the six-yard box, eventually cleared by a Belarus defence under serious pressure again on the next ball played into the middle. From that clearance came the move that ended with a towering but off-target header by Priemko from a great position. The deadlock was broken by the most classic of freak incidents: Belarus swung in an inswinging corner from the left of Cenci, who was beaten by a touch from his own team-mate Stefani, attempting to glance the ball across to the far side of the box. San Marino, however, continued to show themselves as a well-balanced side and did not allow themselves to be overrun by the opponents’ renewed attacks: Cenci reacted sharply to a Zhyvushka free-kick that squeezed through the wall, while the backline dealt well with the subsequent corner dangerously whipped to the near post. Before the final whistle, Belarus also struck the woodwork: Zablotski postponed his appointment with a goal, finding Terni’s intervention to deflect his left-footed effort, which seemed certain to go in. Bonesso’s youngsters will be back on the pitch this afternoon (13:00) to face Armenia (beaten 3-0 today by Bosnia and Herzegovina) in their final fixture of League B – Round 2.

EURO U17 2025, Round 2 – League B | Belarus – San Marino 1-0

BELARUS (3-5-2)

Chuprynski; Snapkou, Sakuta, Sheremet; Zablotski (89’ Hasymau), Charheika (46’ Viarenich), Dehtiarenko, Hudach (46’ Fezhanka), Kalesnikovich (46’ Zhyvushka); Priemko (81’ Yastachkin), Lutskovich

Substitutes: Aleksandrovich, Zhyhimont, Safi, Chernyavskiy

Head coach: Pavel Yauseyenka

SAN MARINO (3-5-2)

Cenci; Sammaritani, Stefani, Montali (79’ Colombini); Tamagnini, Canarezza (58’ Molinari), Meloni, Bucchi (72’ Cervellini), Terni; Arlotti (79’ Ciacci), Grandoni (58’ Guidi)

Substitutes: Conti, Zavoli, Pennacchini, Biordi

Head coach: Alessandro Loris Bonesso

Referee: Roman Jitari (MDA)

Assistant referees: Alexandru Sajin (MDA) and Bojan Makarić (BIH)

Fourth official: Danijel Perić (BIH)

Booked: Sheremet, Arlotti, Grandoni, Shyvushka, Lutskovich, Montali, Guidi

Scorer: 73’ og Stefani

Note: Cenci saved a penalty from Charheika in the 41st minute