Under-19: first clean sheet for the Titani brings a point awaited for over 22 years

Tasked with making amends for the lacklustre display against Belarus just three days ago, San Marino’s Under-19s did so in style – delivering a result that had been missing for a very long time. More than 22 years separate today’s draw with Latvia (0-0) from the only previous positive result, achieved in 2003 against Lithuania (1-1). If matches against Baltic sides can be seen as favourable, the one played late this morning at the “Ezio Conti” Stadium in Dogana is also the first-ever clean sheet in official matches for this national team.

On top of that, if there is a side that should feel more regret for not having taken all three points, it is San Marino. From the off, Canarezza was already at the byline to whip in a cross towards the near post. A few minutes later Balagušs was alert to deal with Bucchi’s dangerous free-kick from wide, which bounced in the penalty area, while on 6 minutes Meloni missed the target from mid-range. The San Marino captain was among the standout performers, although there were many excellent displays today: Bucci was called into action on 7 minutes by a tame effort from Dzenītis, while a minute later it was Meloni again to have a go. His header from a Bucchi cross drifted just wide, providing the main goalscoring opportunity of the first half. Before the interval, a nice one-two between Canarezza and Colombini led to a dangerous cross from the latter, while Bucci took a small risk coming off his line on 20 minutes. Latvia often tried to involve the talented Menniks and Gomins, but struggled to finish off their moves.

After a goalless first half, the second period was less lively, with the main chances coming from set pieces. Brūns failed to hit the target, and at the other end an imperfect outing by Balagušs caused some concern for the Baltic backline, before the goalkeeper himself managed to make amends for his mistake. We were already past the midway point of the second half when Sammaritani unleashed a right-footed drive from over twenty metres, which the Latvian keeper parried away to his right. Then came the final rush: there were no major problems for Bucci, and even in the last quarter of an hour – when Montali’s injury forced Elia Zavoli to slot in, excellently, at centre-back – the game passed by in relative calm. In fact, the chance to win it fell to San Marino: in the first minute of added time, Tamagnini robbed Rošā near the byline and looked for substitute Raschi. The forward was unable to get his shot away at the near post, sending wide what could have been a three-point chance. From then to the final whistle, the only scare came from Čugunovs’ header on the last corner, at the tail end of the five minutes of stoppage time. Despite the disappointment of not snatching a stoppage-time victory – which would have been anything but undeserved – San Marino’s Under-19s can certainly be more than satisfied with a result that had been missing for over twenty years.

UEFA European Under-19 Championship 2027 Qualifiers, Round 1 – Group B3, Matchday 3 | San Marino-Latvia 0-0

SAN MARINO (4-4-1-1)

Bucci; E. Zavoli, Montali (78’ Pala), Sammaritani, Colombini; Bucchi (68’ Terni), Molinari (74’ Pennacchini), Meloni, Canarezza; Tamagnini; Grandoni (78’ Grandoni)

Substitutes: Conti, M. Zavoli, Valentini, Cervellini

Head coach: Roberto Di Maio

LATVIA (3-5-2)

Balagušs; Čugunovs, Brūns, Rošā; Bušs (60’ Šulcs), Menniks, Gomins (86’ Kotļevs), Butriks (60’ Sproģis), Rekmanis; Ščerbinskis (74’ Blaubergs), Dzenītis (60’ Bajārs)

Substitutes: Mihelsons, Boroviks

Head coach: Viktors Dobrecovs

Referee: Menelaos Antoniou (CYP)

Assistant referees: George Kontemeniotis (CYP), Jordan Lee Christopher (WAL)

Fourth official: Tom Owen (WAL)

Booked: E. Zavoli, Meloni, Tamagnini, Rošā, Grandoni