Superb Under-21 in friendly: Zannoni sinks Gibraltar with a hat-trick

Although it was not an official match, the Under-21 National Team rediscovered the taste of victory after a long time, doing so by putting three past Gibraltar, guests of the Titani in Acquaviva for the first of two close back-to-back friendlies. The undisputed star of the afternoon is Samuele Zannoni, who gets his name on all three goals for the Biancazzurri. But a special mention must also go to the home side’s defensive phase, which allowed the opposition virtually nothing. When all is said and done, Pietro Amici is called into serious action only once – and with the result already well in hand. Matteo Cecchetti sets his team up in a 3-5-2. Out wide are the two Albertos, Guerra and Riccardi: the latter – born in 2006 – is making his Under-21 debut. As mentioned, it is Samuele Zannoni’s day. The Biancazzurri no. 10 immediately tests Victor after a one-two with Guerra: the Gibraltar goalkeeper goes down quickly and prevents the ball from nestling inside the near post. A corner results, which Riccardi curls perfectly onto the head of the same Zannoni, left all alone at the far post: a ruthless header and San Marino are in front. On 7 minutes there is a great chance to double the lead: Zannoni robs Stevens, skips past Douah and finds himself one-on-one with Victor, but his shot lacks venom. Zannoni is instead merciless when Riccardi picks him out with a low cross from the left channel: everyone misses it at the near post, but not the Biancazzurri no. 10 at the far. Up to that point Gibraltar had attacked in a disorganised manner, collecting a couple of corners without any end product. Otherwise, it is a San Marino side fully in control of the pitch and of the game. Such dominance, however, needs to be turned into an even bigger scoreline. Mission accomplished on 26 minutes, when Victor comes out badly on Guerra’s cross and leaves the ball there for Zannoni, who wins the aerial duel with Ostheider and heads into an empty net. The hat-trick only further fires up Cecchetti’s no. 10, who around the half-hour mark goes close to an incredible fourth: the woodwork keeps out his left-footed effort. A second effort against the woodwork comes in the second half. Zannoni wins the ball back in the final third and lays it off to Giacopetti, who opens up his body and curls a right-footer against the base of the post to Victor’s right. Again it is Zannoni in the role of creator on 58 minutes: his back-heel sets up a shooting opportunity for Toccaceli, whose effort from the edge of the box forces Victor into a difficult save. The tempo drops and it takes another twenty minutes or so before we see another clear chance. Gibraltar build down the right, the defence only half-clears the cross and McGrail takes advantage to unleash a powerful right-footed drive towards Amici’s goal, but the keeper protects his clean sheet with a strong double-fisted punch. In the closing stages it is San Marino who create two big chances to add further gloss to the scoreline. The first is all the work of Tommaso Benvenuti, who surges down the flank for metre after metre before unleashing a left-footer destined for the top corner nearest to him: Victor is alert and tips it behind for a corner. In added time, Guidi pickpockets McGrail and immediately plays in Zannoni, who darts through the gaping holes in the visiting defence but shoots without opening up his body, making Victor’s save easier. The Biancazzurri no. 10 can still be more than satisfied – he takes home the match ball – as can head coach Matteo Cecchetti. The Under-21 National Team turned in an excellent performance in terms of focus, garra and also ruthlessness in the opposition box, fully deserving this comprehensive win. Now a few days’ rest before taking on Gibraltar again in the second friendly (scheduled for Saturday at 12:00 in Montecchio), aiming to reproduce – and perhaps even improve – everything that shone today.

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Under-21, international friendly (non-official), MD1 | San Marino – Gibraltar 3-0   SAN MARINO Amici; Guidi, Matteoni, M. Sancisi (dal 65' Ciacci); Guerra (dal 46' Giocondi), N. Sancisi (dal 62' Pasolini), Valli Casadei (dal 77' Dolcini), Toccaceli (dal 77' Chiaruzzi), Riccardi (dal 46' T. Benvenuti); Zannoni, Giacopetti (dal 62' D'Addario) A disposizione: Borasco, Terenzi, Giambalvo Allenatore: Matteo Cecchetti   GIBILTERRA Victor; Ostheider (dall'88' Hancock), Douah (dal 64' Smith), Britto, Mauro (dal 46' Yeo); Clinton (dall'88' De Torres), Stevens (dal 46' Federico); Borge (dall'88' L. Avellano), Emrani (dal 40' McGrail), Richards (dall'88' Soleci), De Rio (dal 64' Mason) A disposizione: B. Avellano Allenatore: David Ochello Arbitro: Mattia Andruccioli Assistenti: Gianmarco Ercolani, Salvatore Tuttifrutti Quarto Ufficiale: Andrea Righi Ammoniti: Dolcini, Giocondi, L. Avellano Scorers: 5', 16' and 26' Zannoni

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