Under-21s: only the goal is missing in second friendly with Gibraltar

The San Marino and Gibraltar Under-21 national teams met again in Montecchio two days on from their previous unofficial friendly, which ended in a clear and deserved 3-0 victory for the young Biancazzurri. In today’s match, played at midday, Cecchetti’s side once again stood out for personality, aggression and positivity, and on the pitch they certainly merited much more than the final draw. Compared to the match in Acquaviva, Gibraltar are much more in the game, but the first chance falls to San Marino on the Riccardi-Terenzi axis, the latter hitting on the volley a 50-metre diagonal from his team-mate. The visitors attack mainly down the right, making use of Yeo’s long balls: in the 19th minute De Rio fails to make the most of a cross from Richards, heading wide as he dives in. San Marino respond with a fine move from Terenzi, who breaks away down the right before laying the ball off on the edge of the box to Giocondi: a subsequent ricochet sets up a central right-footed effort from Valli Casadei. In the 28th minute San Marino run a big risk: on yet another long ball from Yeo, Amici miscues coming off his line, but De Rio cannot adjust his body to apply the finishing touch, letting the home keeper off the hook. San Marino’s build-up play is more expansive and varied, and just after the half-hour mark they work the ball wide for Riccardi’s cross: a precise left-footed delivery finds Toccaceli’s head, but he sends it just over. Things don’t go any better for Tommaso Benvenuti, who in the 55th minute fails to hit the target with his left foot from a very promising position. The Sammarinese wing-back then sparks the move that ends with Gasperoni shooting from inside the box, but Ostheider makes a crucial deflection from point-blank range. From the resulting corner, Matteoni rises highest but cannot find a free team-mate at the far post. The Biancazzurrini continue to look the better side, but lack a clinical edge in front of goal. So in the 67th minute Gasperoni fires straight at Avellano from the edge of the six-yard box, and is again denied by the visiting goalkeeper’s reflexes on the attempted tap-in. It really seemed San Marino’s moment had come, and they go close again in the 79th minute with D’Addario’s angled drive. Gibraltar’s best chance arrives from a Richards set-piece in the 81st minute, which Amici fails to hold: the Sammarinese goalkeeper then ends up with the ball in his hands amid the ensuing scramble in which Douah incredibly fails to apply the decisive touch. The incident does not alter the Biancazzurrini’s approach, as they remain proactive and dangerous right to the end: Marco Pasolini’s header misses the target by a whisker, while in the 90th+4 minute the centre-back is already anticipating the joy of scoring after Avellano misjudges a high ball. Douah spares Gibraltar a second defeat in a matter of days, clearing off the line and thus redeeming his earlier miss in front of goal.  

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Under 21, international friendly (unofficial), MD2 | San Marino – Gibraltar 0-0 SAN MARINO Amici; Guidi (from 79' Ciacci), Matteoni, M. Sancisi (from 46' M. Pasolini); Guerra (from 11' Giocondi), N. Sancisi (from 66' F. Pasolini), Valli Casadei, Toccaceli (from 79' Chiaruzzi), Riccardi (from 46' T. Benvenuti); Terenzi (from 46' M. Gasperoni), Giacopetti (from 66' D'Addario) Substitutes: Borasco, Giambalvo, Dolcini Head coach: Matteo Cecchetti   GIBRALTAR B. Avellano; Ostheider (from 89' Hancock), Yeo (from 72' Douah), Britto, Smith; Stevens (from 89' De Torres), Federico (from 46' Borge); Richards, Clinton, Mauro (from 58' Mason); De Rio (from 58' McGrail) Substitutes: Victor, L. Avellano, Emrani, Soleci Head coach: David Ochello   Referee: Michele Beltrano Assistant referees: Giuseppe Maccadino and Andrea Zaghini Fourth official: Luca Zani Booked: Clinton, De Rio, Riccardi, D'Addario, M. Pasolini, T. Benvenuti, Britto, Gasperoni

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