Under-19s: Finland too strong for Cancelli’s boys

The third and final match of the qualifying tournament for the Under-19 European Championship – held in Ostrava (Czech Republic) – for the San Marino national team ends in a resounding 8-0 win for Finland. Cancelli’s side succumbed to their Finnish counterparts, who pushed right until the end in an attempt to qualify – an objective they ultimately failed to achieve. Peter Lundberg’s team needed at least eight goals and, at the same time, Romania had to lose to the Czech Republic. While the Nordics did win by the required margin, the other match finished level, sending the Czech Republic and Romania through. As mentioned, the Finns needed to break the deadlock as early as possible, and that is exactly what happened. After just five minutes Toivonen struck, finishing from a Hannula assist. Cancelli’s team struggled above all from a physical point of view against their opponents and the Titans could not catch their breath. On the quarter-hour, from a corner by the ever-dangerous Hannula, San Marino were also unlucky as the second goal came via an own goal by Tommaso Benvenuti. San Marino were constantly on the ropes, trying to fend off wave after wave of Finnish attacks. The third goal arrived on the half-hour mark through Otto Hannula, and just four minutes later came the fourth, scored by Bulgakov from a Purosalo assist. After the break the Titans tried to react following a first half spent largely on the back foot, but Cancelli’s boys lacked the final decisive ball to create real danger. The Finns, on the other hand, never stopped attacking, with qualification still in their minds, and came out strongly again. Early in the second half came the 5-0 goal, scored by David Ezeh from another Purosalo assist. Cancelli attempted to shake things up with four substitutions at once, but the pattern of the game changed little, and Finland struck again on 77 minutes through Ezeh. The young Finnish forward was unstoppable and ten minutes later he completed his hat-trick. Finland, however, still needed one more goal to keep their qualification hopes alive and in the 90th minute came the eighth, scored by Puukko. As stated at the outset, it still was not enough for Finland. For Cancelli’s boys, this was a third defeat following those against the Czech Republic and Romania. The team will return home to the Republic tomorrow evening.

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EURO U19, 2024 – Qualifying Round | San Marino – Finland 8-0 SAN MARINO Borasco; S. Riccardi (54' Zafferani), M. Ciacci, F. Ciacci; Valli Casadei, Ugolini, Renzi (54' Casadei), Gasperoni (54' Cervellini), Benvenuti; Famiglietti (80' Della Balda), Capicchioni (54' Molinari) Substitutes: Hoel, A. Riccardi, Bugli Head coach: Nicola Cancelli   FINLAND Jantunen; Purosalo (78' Lähteenmäki), Vaisto (46' Armstrong), Kuismala, Puukko; Hannula (86' Ternava), Ritari, Toivonen (65' Ulundu); Hudd, Ezeh, Bulgakov (65' Laine) Substitutes: Piispa, Naamo, Simojoki, Kekarainen Head coach: Peter Lundberg   Referee: Miloš Savović (MNE) Assistant referees: Marko Gojkovic (MNE), Jakub Bureš (CZE) Fourth official: Filip Kotala (CZE) Booked: Borasco, F. Ciacci, Valli Casadei, T. Benvenuti Scorers: 5' Toivonen, 15' own goal Benvenuti, 31' Hannula, 35' Bulgakov, 50', 77', 87' Ezeh, 90' Puukko

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