Under-19: Denmark flawless, Cenci shines among the Titans

Even a superb performance from goalkeeper Alessandro Cenci was not enough for the San Marino Under-19 National Team, who this afternoon at the Ezio Conti Stadium in Dogana had to surrender 4-0 to Denmark in their second match in Group B2 of Round 2 of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifiers currently taking place in San Marino.

Head coach Dario Vanni made a few changes, including Cenci coming in for Bucci to marshal the Biancoazzurrini backline. It was the San Marino keeper who, early on (5’), immediately kept the scores level with a magnificent save on Fenger’s close-range header. The Scandinavians took control of possession, while the Titans, in the opening stages, also picked up two yellow cards (Stefani and Grandoni). After a good punched clearance by Cenci on Lucena’s long-range strike, Denmark broke the deadlock on 26 minutes. The visitors pressed and, from outside the box, Fenger managed to flick a header into the path of Pimpong, who applied the finish for 1-0. Denmark kept pushing and soon doubled their lead: a brilliant solo run from Fetterlein caused chaos in the San Marino area before he laid the ball off to Thomsen, whose shot was diverted into his own net by Montali, resulting in an own goal by the San Marino defender. The Scandinavians were still not done and struck again. On 39 minutes the Titans showed themselves with a fine ball into the area for Stefani, who tried to knock it down but found no teammate; Denmark cleared and launched a swift counter-attack through Fenger, who burst from the halfway line and, once one-on-one with Cenci, slotted home for 3-0. Shortly before the interval it took another important save from Cenci on Fetterlein’s shot from distance to prevent the deficit from growing. The half-time whistle came with Denmark three goals to the good.

After the restart Denmark continued to dictate the game, albeit without the same tempo as in the first half. Nevertheless, on 54 minutes a right-footed effort from substitute Ambæk – at the end of a good team move – flashed just wide of Cenci’s right-hand post. In the 68th minute the Titans also pushed forward: Molinari battled to win the ball and released Grandoni, who then picked out his teammate’s run into the box, but the San Marino number ten failed to make clean contact from a promising position. Shortly afterwards Denmark threatened again with a Pimpong header from a corner, but Cenci once more reacted brilliantly to keep it out. As Denmark began to show signs of fatigue, San Marino tried to capitalise, as on 82 minutes when Raschi drove forward excellently before finding Molinari, whose effort from outside the box missed the target. The Scandinavians responded on 84 minutes through Lucena, drawing yet another save from Cenci, underlining the keeper’s excellent afternoon. But deep into stoppage time the San Marino goalkeeper was finally beaten again on the last action of the match, when Lucena crossed for Storch’s firm header to seal the 4-0 scoreline.

Denmark therefore remain on maximum points together with Bosnia and Herzegovina, who beat Georgia earlier in the day: two goals in a minute for the Balkan side at the start of the second half, before a Nišić penalty (his second of the game) wrapped up a 3-0 win. San Marino will be back in action next Tuesday against Georgia (Dogana, 16:30) in their final match of the mini-tournament.

Euro U-19, Round 2 – Group B2, Matchday 2 | Denmark – San Marino 4-0

DENMARK (4-3-3)

Lyhne; Lucena, Storch, Rutkjær (78’ Kupijbida), Brolund; Faber (46’ Svart), Keller, Fetterlein (65’ Al-Najar); Thomsen (46’ Ambæk), Fenger (65’ Bunten), Pimpong

Substitutes: Søndenbroe, Monrad, Gammelgaard, Hvistendahl

Head coach: Morten Karlsen

SAN MARINO (3-4-2-1)

Cenci; Sammaritani (46’ Colombini), Montali (82’ Terni), Zavoli; Podeschi (60’ Raschi), Balsimelli, Stefani, Tamagnini; Cangini (60’ Molinari), Cervellini (60’ Valentini); Grandoni

Substitutes: Bucci, Bucchi, Canarezza

Head coach: Dario Vanni

Referee: Bulat Sariyev (KAZ)

Assistant referees: Alexey Dolgikh (KAZ), Christophe Loureiro (SUI)

Fourth official: Sven Wolfensberger (SUI)

Booked: Grandoni, Stefani, Faber, Podeschi

Scorers: 25’ Pimpong, 34’ (o.g.) Montali, 39’ Fenger, 90+2’ Storch