Under-21: ruthless Kosovo sweep aside the Titans

First win in Group A of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers for Kosovo, who cruise to a resounding 7-0 victory over the San Marino Under-21 National Team at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina.

Cecchetti makes just one change from the friendly against Albania, with Protti leading the line alongside Marco Gasperoni. The hosts come flying out of the blocks and after just a few minutes they already find the net through Muqaj’s close-range tap-in, but the Titans are spared by the Kosovar number 8’s offside position. The home side’s real opener, however, is not long in coming: on 11 minutes Muqaj slides a ball in behind for Bujupi, who beats the onrushing Jacopo Casadei to make it 1-0. Kosovo keep pushing and five minutes later Muqaj supplies his second assist of the evening, squaring for Frokaj, who finds the far corner. Things go from bad to worse for the Titans, who are unable to stem the Kosovar attacks. Renzi’s mistake in the build-up proves costly, as Berisha collects the ball in the final third, drives towards goal unchallenged and calmly makes it 3-0 on 20 minutes.

After the third goal the hosts ease off and the game settles down. Toverlani’s men still try their luck from distance late in the half, with two efforts from Imeri that finish well off target. Imeri goes close again just before added time after a good exchange with Frokaj, but Jacopo Casadei reacts well and turns it behind for a corner. The half ends with the home side three goals to the good.

At the break Cecchetti reshuffles his pack, introducing three players from the bench (Bugli, Guerra and Canarezza). The first clear chance of the second half comes on 51 minutes with Berisha’s close-range effort, beaten away by Casadei. The Titans respond with a fine vertical pass from Protti to the newly introduced Canarezza, who however is unable to get a shot away. Kosovo keep their foot on the pedal and on 57 minutes it takes a brilliant save from Casadei to deny Igball Jashari and prevent a fourth. Three minutes later, though, the hosts do make it 4-0 when Berisha escapes Zavoli’s loose marking and slots home. The new goal further lifts Toverlani’s side who, three minutes later (63’), extend their lead: a right-footed strike from distance by Lirim Jashari – only just on the pitch – nestles in the corner, leaving Casadei helpless.

Despite their excellent display and the wide margin, Kosovo’s evening is marred slightly on 69 minutes when Lleshi’s challenge on Protti earns him a second yellow card, leaving the hosts down to ten men. The dismissal does nothing to unsettle them, though, and on 76 minutes they find a sixth: a short corner is played to Gashijan, who carries the ball into the area and crosses, with centre-back Selmonaj rising highest to head in number six. San Marino are unable to muster a reaction, while Kosovo remain relentless and go within centimetres of another goal when a shot in the box is deflected by Simone Gasperoni onto the post on 78 minutes.

The seventh does arrive, however, five minutes from time when Frokaj cuts the ball back from the by-line but overruns it; Marco Casadei slips as he tries to clear and the number 10 is left with a simple task to fire past Jacopo Casadei.

It was an uphill evening for the Titans, who nonetheless carve out at least two excellent chances to score late on. First Cervellini unleashes a superb strike from outside the box, but Sejji pulls off a decisive save, flying to the top corner. From the resulting corner, Tamagnini’s header from point-blank range is diverted by Parduzi and in the same phase of play a coming together in the box between Fazlija and Guerra is right on the limit, but referee Sabotic allows play to continue amid protests from the Biancoazzurri. Complaints also follow in stoppage time after a foul is given against Marco Casadei on Seldjan, sparking anger on the San Marino bench and leading to the dismissal of Fabio Borasco for dissent. After three minutes of added time the referee blows for full-time: Kosovo claim their first win in the group.

Under-21 European Championship qualifiers | Kosovo v San Marino 7-0

KOSOVO (4-4-2)

Selji; I. Jashari (68’ Gashjan), Selmonaj, Lleshi, Parduzi; Imeri (46’ Sadriu), Ademi (61’ L. Jashari), Muqaj (61’ Fazlija), Frokaj; Berisha (74’ Dardan), Bujupi

Substitutes: Gjokaj, Vokrri, Mavraj, Shala

Head coach: Afrim Toverlani

SAN MARINO (3-5-2)

J. Casadei; Domeniconi (77’ Tamagnini), Zavoli, M. Casadei; Chiaruzzi (46’ Guerra), Arlotti, Della Balda (65’ Cervellini), Renzi (46’ Bugli), S. Gasperoni; Protti, M. Gasperoni (46’ Canarezza)

Substitutes: Borasco, Ciacci, Riccardi, Molinari

Head coach: Matteo Cecchetti

Referee: Jasmin Sabotic (LUX)

Assistant referees: Joaquim Da Silva (LUX), Dani Dias Balsa (LUX)

Fourth official: Ricardo Morais (LUX)

Scorers: 11’ Bujpi, 16’ and 84’ Frokaj, 20’ and 60’ Berisha, 63’ L. Jashari, 75’ Selmonaj

Booked: Lleshi, Della Balda, Protti, Zavoli, Arlotti, Tamagnini

Sent off: Lleshi (second yellow card), Borasco (dissent)

Attendance: 602