Under-21s: Young Biancazzurri go close against determined Poland

The Under-21 National Team fall 5-0 to Poland in the penultimate fixture of the two-year cycle, the last one at the San Marino Stadium. The build-up to this match gradually becomes more and more complicated for Matteo Cecchetti. The eve-of-match training session rules out De Angelis. During the pre-match warm-up, Moretti is also forced to withdraw. Between the posts it is therefore a debut for 2004-born goalkeeper Pietro Amici. Moretti’s place is taken by Filippo Pasolini, who slots in as right wing-back, with Franciosi dropping into the back line. Poland, third and one point behind Israel, are hungry for three points. That is clear straight away: inside the opening minute Skóraś runs at Pasolini and cuts inside onto his right, unleashing a shot that does not catch the home goalkeeper unprepared. Shortly after, it takes a crucial recovery run from Franciosi to prevent Białek’s effort – after dribbling past Matteoni – from causing real damage. On 4 minutes the home defence is caught open, Kozłowski bursts through the Biancazzurri shirts and whips in a powerful cross for Białek who, unmarked, can simply side-foot home. San Marino show themselves in attack through a deep free-kick from Tosi: Contadini times his leap better than anyone, but his header is off target. Past the quarter-hour mark Poland win a corner; from the resulting play there is a breakdown in communication in the box between Amici and his team-mates, allowing Łopata to steal in and power home the header for Poland’s second. On 32 minutes Lazzari drives at half the opposing defence, and does it rather well, only to reach the shot too tired to trouble Miszta. Immediately afterwards, Łakomy releases Skóraś in behind who, starting from a borderline position, races through on Amici and beats him with a precise finish. The home players protest, and shortly afterwards they have to be grateful for the slightly wayward aim of Lederman: the Polish midfielder’s diagonal strike whistles just past Amici’s left-hand post. In the closing stages of the first half Poland threaten again on the break: San Marino’s defence is outnumbered but survives Lederman’s right-footed effort, lacking in angle. On the counter, San Marino create their best attacking move of the opening period: winning the ball high up the pitch gives Pancotti the chance to pull the trigger with his left from mid-range. The player who scored the second goal in the most recent league title decider does not think twice and, with the help of a deflection, forces a truly outstanding save from Miszta to keep Poland 3-0 up. Before the half-time whistle there are more scares for the home defence: Skóraś accelerates down the right and puts in a perfect cross for Białek, who goes close to his brace. The second half starts with immediate changes for San Marino. Ciacci and Pasolini do not reappear after the break: they are replaced, respectively, by Zannoni and Cecchetti. Head coach Matteo Cecchetti immediately calls for a braver pressing game. The San Marino boss’s shouts have an effect: after just two minutes one of the new arrivals, Zannoni, wins the ball on Poland’s first build-up. Lazzari feeds it straight back to him, allowing him to shoot from inside the area: the number 18 opts for the outside of the boot and his strike flies over the bar. The high press allows the Titani to stay constantly lurking in the most “dangerous” area of the pitch, but inevitably leaves them open to counter-attacks. That is what happens in the 52nd minute, when Karbownik slaloms brilliantly before releasing Lederman, who immediately looks infield for Łakomy: it takes a big intervention from Amici to neutralise the Polish midfielder’s run. Soon after, Poland are dangerous again on the break: Białek cuts inside onto his right foot and looks for a curling effort, but once more Amici produces an excellent save. At the other end, another big chance falls to San Marino. It all starts with a back-heel from Pancotti to release Contadini on the left: the San Marino full-back’s cross reaches Capicchioni, who shoots almost from point-blank range only to see a couple of defenders – and, unfortunately, also Lazzari – get in the way of his effort. Poland remain threatening in the spaces that inevitably continue to open up between the home lines. The Biancazzurri back line deal with a couple of critical situations. Then, on 86 minutes, a decisive intervention from Tosi is needed on Łakomy after Białek, closed down by Amici, chooses to square the ball to his better-positioned team-mate in the box. From the resulting corner a scramble ensues in the area. Capicchioni tries to clear his lines by thumping the ball away, but Mosór gets there a split-second earlier and the contact is foot-on-foot. The referee points straight to the spot, where Białek steps up and opts for a blend of power and precision to make it 5-0 and complete his brace. That is how it ends: a harsh scoreline for an Under-21 National Team who would have deserved at least a goal to bid farewell to their home fans with a smile. Next Tuesday the Young Biancazzurri will conclude their European qualifying campaign away to Israel.

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Under-21, Euro 2023 qualifiers | San Marino–Poland 0-5 SAN MARINO Amici; Franciosi, Matteoni (from 57' Santi), Tosi; F. Pasolini (from 46' Cecchetti), Ciacci (from 46' Zannoni), Capicchioni, Toccaceli (from 65' Valentini), Contadini; Lazzari (from 81' Babboni), Pancotti Substitutes: Paolini, Baldazzi, Santi, M. Pasolini Head coach: Matteo Cecchetti   POLAND Miszta; Gruszkowski (from 61' Długosz), Łopata, Poręba (from 68' Kałuziński), Mosór, Karbownik (from 68' Wdowik); Łakomy, Lederman, Skóraś (from 61' Fornalczyk); Kozłowski (from 61' Myszor), Białek Substitutes: Majchrowicz, Paluszek, Sezonienko, Łęgowski Head coach: Maciej Stolarczyk   Referee: Luka Bilbija (BIH) Assistants: Aleksandar Smilijanic and Damir Lazic (BIH) Fourth official: Dragan Petrovic (BIH) Booked: F. Pasolini, Zannoni, Franciosi Scorers: 4' and 89' (pen.) Białek, 16' Łopata, 33' Skóraś, 82' Kałuziński

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