Under-21: the Titano youngsters fight and create but Spain show all their quality

Second home match in a week for the San Marino Under-21 National Team who, after facing Kosovo, host Spain at the Stadium. A few changes for Cecchetti compared to last Thursday, with a full debut in the starting XI for 2009-born Francesco Bucchi. Spain respond with a side packed with talent from the top leagues across Europe. The match begins with La Rojita already on the front foot from the very first exchanges. In the ninth minute Pablo Garcia unleashes a powerful drive towards the corner but finds Amici alert to the task. David Gordo’s team keep pressing and moments later they take the lead thanks to Mendoza’s clinical right-foot finish after a lay-off from Iker Bravo. The visitors continue to dominate possession and shortly after the quarter-hour mark they come very close to doubling their lead. A perfect ball is played through to Carlos Espì, the Real Madrid forward bears down on goal but Amici parries his shot; the Spanish delantero has another go and hits the crossbar, while on the rebound Pablo Garcia tries again but fails to hit the target. The second goal, however, is not long in coming for a relentless Spain. Pablo Garcia combines at pace with Virgili and the Racing Santander forward then slots past Amici for 2-0. It takes two more outstanding saves from Amici to keep the scoreline down: first the San Marino goalkeeper produces a prodigious reflex stop to deny a header from Jacobo Ramòn (defender of surprise package Como in Serie A) and shortly afterwards he says no to a long-range rocket from Virgili. The “Furie Rosse” pile on the pressure and just after the half-hour they make it three through Jacobo Ramòn, who makes the most of a knock-down from Carlos Espì and finishes from close range, leaving Amici helpless. The Titans are on the ropes and Spain land another heavy blow. On 34 minutes, from a corner to the visitors, Marinucci fails to clear convincingly and the ball drops dangerously in the area where Carlos Espì scores his side’s fourth. San Marino regroup and try to push forward. On 40 minutes the move crafted by the Biancoazzurri is a real breath of fresh air and almost becomes something more: rookie Bucchi drives in from the edge of the box and the ball then breaks to Sensoli, who strikes well from distance, forcing Iribarne into a save. Spain keep pressing and on 42 minutes they produce the manita: once again a set piece proves fatal for the Titans, with centre-back Gasiorowski heading in at the far post. Before the break San Marino show themselves again, once more with a fine long-range effort from Sensoli, but Iribarne is equal to it. With no stoppage time, Kazakh referee Sariyev sends the teams into the dressing rooms with Spain leading 5-0.

The second half could not start worse for San Marino because after just 18 seconds Virgili’s surge proves lethal, the Club Brugge winger unleashing a powerful right-footed shot that gives Amici no chance. The left flank remains Spain’s favourite hunting ground and on 52 minutes it is again Virgili who sows panic and crosses to the far post for Carlos Espì’s brace. Despite the opponents’ strength and skill, San Marino respond to the Spaniards: Riggioni recovers superbly on Iker Bravo and then lets fly with a powerful right-foot effort, Iribarne does not deal with it cleanly but somehow manages to clear. Gordo’s boys are still not satisfied and on 62 minutes they net their eighth goal: once more the move develops down the left, with Virgili a constant thorn in the side; he reaches the by-line and cuts the ball back for Carlos Espì, who wins his duel with Marinucci and, even as he slips to the ground, manages to shoot towards goal. Bad luck also plays its part for San Marino as Spain’s ninth goal is a scrappy one: Iker Bravo’s shot is saved by Amici, but the ball then rebounds off Carlos Espì’s face, allowing him to complete his personal haul of four goals on 68 minutes. Gordo’s side seem to have endless energy because just seconds later Virgili finishes off a counter-attack to make it ten for the visitors. Spain do not let up and further increase the score: Gonzalo’s long-range strike is only parried by Amici and, pouncing like a hawk on the rebound, Carlos Espì scores his fifth of the night. After two more saves from Amici to deny Gonzalo and the irrepressible Espì, the Titans show themselves again in attack through Sensoli – their liveliest player this evening – who once more shoots well from distance, but Gasiorowski intervenes; the San Marino number ten then attempts an acrobatic effort but without success. The Stadium applauds the young Titans, who keep fighting and creating despite the heavy scoreline. Spain still have more to give and from the feet of substitute Jesus Rodriguez – the Como midfielder – comes the assist for Mario Martin to make it 12-0. Despite the already sizeable deficit, the referee adds one minute of stoppage time. In that spell there is a blot on an otherwise near-perfect evening for La Roja: after a coming together in the area between Riggioni and Jesus Rodriguez, the Spanish midfielder is shown a straight red card, punished for a violent blow on the San Marino defender. Play is halted for a few minutes and, once it resumes, Spain force their way through again to score a final goal through Pablo Garcia. It finishes 13-0 to the visitors at the Stadium. Now a few days’ rest before the Titans fly to Larnaca to face Cyprus in their final match of European qualifying.

Under-21 European Championship Qualifiers | San Marino - Spain 0-13

SAN MARINO [5-3-2]

Amici; Bugli (60’ Domeniconi), Riggioni, Montali (60’ Zavoli), Marinucci, Semprini; Chiaruzzi (46’ M. Casadei), Valli Casadei (70’ Cervellini), Bucchi; Sensoli (79’ Grandoni), Canarezza

Substitutes: Conti, Ciacci, Protti, Guerra

Coach: Matteo Cecchetti

SPAIN [4-3-3]

Iribarne; Obrador, Gasiorowski, Ramòn (46’ Juanma Herzog), Garrido Hierro (70’ Angel Ortiz); Iker Bravo (70’ Gonzalo), Mendoza (46’ Espart), M. Martìn; Pablo Garcia, Carlos Espì, Virgili (75’ Jesus Rodriguez)

Substitutes: Esquivel, J. Martìn, Valle, Bernal

Coach: David Gordo

Referee: Bulat Sariyev (KAZ)

Assistants: Yuriy Tikhonyuk (KAZ), Denis Labashov (KAZ)

Fourth official: Danil Gorda (KAZ)

Scorers: 9’ Mendoza, 25’ and 90+6’ Pablo Garcia, 32’ Ramòn, 34’, 52’, 62’, 68’ and 74’ Carlos Espì, 42’ Gasiorowski, 46’ and 69’ Virgili, 85’ Martin

Booked: Angel Ortiz, Riggioni

Sent off: Jesus Rodriguez on 90+5 for violent conduct

Attendance: 721