Under-21: Titans repeatedly close to scoring but Cyprus prevail (2-0)

The San Marino Under-21 national team finish their European qualifying group with their heads held high. At the AEK Arena in Larnaca the hosts Cyprus win it with a goal in each half, but the young Sammarinese came close to scoring on several occasions. On 3 minutes it is immediately a chance for San Marino with a fine run down the flank by Semprini, who crosses into the box for Grandoni. He steals in at the near post but his header from an excellent position is off target. The Titans keep pressing and repeatedly threaten Cyprus goalkeeper Ortelli. On 9 minutes the home side spark into life with a fine ball played in behind for centre-forward Charalambous, who finds the target but also a very alert Amici. Cyprus are not especially dangerous but in the 18th minute they come up with the move that breaks the deadlock: Charalambous works the ball on the edge of the final third and spreads it to the right for Poursaitides, who has space and then beats Amici.

Nikolaou’s team keep pushing and in the 26th minute create a fresh opportunity: captain Vrontis plays vertically for Savva, who finds space down the right, then at the decisive moment squares it across goal – but Guerra is perfectly positioned and clears the danger.

On 35 minutes, however, Cecchetti’s Titans respond superbly and go very close to an equaliser: an excellent cross from Terenzi is initially deflected by Poursaitides, then Sensoli meets it with a twisting header, but Ortelli produces an incredible save to keep his team in front. Soon after, the hosts threaten again through Poursaitides, whose curling right-footed effort drifts not far wide of Amici’s left-hand post. In the closing stages of the half one of the most dangerous players is Savva, who goes close a couple of times, but the sides go in at the break with the home team holding a slender lead.

The second half starts brightly for San Marino who, after just a minute, carve out a good chance through Semprini, whose shot from distance flies well wide, but the attitude of the Titans is spot on. The Biancoazzurri grow in confidence and five minutes later put together a fine team move that ends with another effort – on this occasion a more gentle one – from Semprini, which Ortelli gathers comfortably. Cyprus reappear later – from the first corner of the match – with an effort in the six-yard box from Panteli, who blazes over from a great position. From the resulting passage of play the Titans respond with another good cross from Semprini, picking out the run of Sensoli, whose shot flies just over the bar. It is all, however, brought back for offside against the young Sammarinese forward. Cyprus chase a second goal to kill the game and only just miss out in the 68th minute, when a thunderous strike from Zinonos – after sustained pressure from the hosts – crashes off the top of the crossbar. The contest remains finely balanced. On 74 minutes Sensoli tries his luck again: number ten shows great determination in the build-up but his shot from outside the box is weak and Ortelli can claim it. The final ten minutes begin. On 80 minutes it takes a superb save from Amici, who stretches to turn away Tzoliou’s precise effort from distance. From the ensuing corner, however, Cyprus double their lead: an outswinging delivery from Evripidou finds the head of Charalambous, who flicks it on for team-mate Kyriacou. The Titans protest, believing him to be offside, but the replay also backs the decision of Ilioski’s assistant. Four minutes of added time are signalled. Deep into stoppage time, the Titans keep pushing until the very end: a cross from the exhausted Valli Casadei is swung into the area towards Ciacci – pushed forward as an additional striker – who even attempts an acrobatic finish but without success. It ends 2-0 to Cyprus and the European qualifying campaign comes to a close for the San Marino Under-21 national team.

Under-21 European Qualifiers | Cyprus v San Marino 2-0

CYPRUS [4-3-3]

Ortelli; Nikolau (63’ Koutsoudakis), Vrontis, Panteli, Zinonos; Avramidis (74’ Pattichis), Poursaitides (79’ Christodoulou), Kyriacou; Kontopoulos (63’ Evripidou), Savva (46’ Tzouliou), Charalambous

Substitutes: Kyriakou

Coach: Marios Nikolaou

SAN MARINO [5-3-2]

Amici; Terenzi (78’ Domeniconi), Guerra (63’ Zavoli), Ciacci, Montali, Semprini; Chiaruzzi, Valli Casadei, Cervellini (63’ Bucchi); Sensoli (87’ Casadei), Grandoni (63’ Canarezza)

Substitutes: Conti, Valentini, Molinari, Terni

Coach: Matteo Cecchetti

Referee: Vlatko Ilioski (MKD)

Assistant referees: Darko Vidinic (MKD), Kliment Ristoski (MKD)

Fourth official: Stojanče Stojanov (MKD)

Scorers: 18’ Poursaitides, 81’ Kyriacou

Booked: Chiaruzzi, Bucchi