Women’s team: Romania win again, but Benedettini scores a stunning goal

The second and final test match also goes Romania’s way at Under-15 level, with the visitors able to make the most of their chances above all in the second half, after a first half in which San Marino’s Under-16s applied themselves very well, even if they were punished right at the end. The match opens with a fine move down the flank from Elisa Terenzi: the No. 10 crosses for Paone, who is hindered by Grigore’s off-balance but ultimately effective intervention. Defences are on top for long spells, broken up only by the odd set-piece that promises interesting goalscoring situations which, in the end, are always left unexploited. Gradually the game moves into the final ten minutes of the half, ushered in by a perfectly weighted ball from Paolini into the area for Paone: the No. 9, however, does not quite grasp how inviting that ball is and fails to attack it with the required conviction, allowing Grigore to gather. Paone immediately tries to make amends with a bold right-footed effort from distance: her technique is good, but Grigore is equal to it. At the other end Romania finally threaten with a long ball from Suciu to pick out the run of Ciortea, who shakes off her markers but not Forcellini, flawless in coming off her line. Suciu’s right foot remains red hot: it is she, on 43 minutes, who provides the assist for Mihalache-Vosloban, who darts in behind the defence and, one-on-one with Forcellini, keeps her cool. The desire to react to a somewhat harsh lead takes shape in a free-kick from three-quarters that Terenzi wins and Benedettini takes: plenty of power in the captain’s right foot, but the ball drifts wide. The second half begins with Romania pouring forward. Substitute Miucsan immediately scares the Titane from a Ciortea free-kick floated into the box: her header flies over. Just thirty seconds later it is Ciortea herself who pounces on a loose ball on the edge of the box and curls a delightful right-footed effort inside the post: nothing Forcellini can do. Buoyed by their second goal, Romania crank up the pressure. Miucsan has another go with a sudden left-footed strike from the edge of the area, flashing just wide. Then another free-kick gives Forcellini and her team-mates something to think about: Crisan delivers for Abagiu, who rises highest but fails to hit the target. San Marino struggle to get back into the game and in the meantime Piva makes his first changes, sending on Bonciucci and Zanotti for Penserini and Elisa Terenzi. A rare foray forward earns a corner that the Titane are unable to make count. Instead, it sparks a Romanian counter-attack led by Suciu, who has the composure to wait for the right moment to release the rapid Ungureanu, clean through on Forcellini but unable to beat the home goalkeeper, who stands tall. Another flash of inspiration from Suciu arrives midway through the half: this time the beneficiary is Miucsan, who takes advantage of a somewhat exposed defence to gallop through on Forcellini, again rock-solid. Piva makes further changes, introducing Stifani, Serenza Forcellini, Andreini and Aurora Terenzi. The match springs back into life on 83 minutes, when Mihalache-Vosloban – without doubt one of the standout players on the pitch – slips Matei through on goal, and she is ice-cool in front of Forcellini. Giacomo Piva’s players find it very hard to get anywhere near the Romanian penalty area. But there is always the option of free-kicks – even from seemingly impossible range, an option by no means unfamiliar to Anna Benedettini. On 85 minutes the captain steps up to take a set-piece situated between 35 and 40 metres out, to the left of centre from an attacking perspective. It is a much longer and more angled position than the one from which Benedettini scored against Estonia at the Development Tournament. Even so, Anna decides it is worth a try. And she is absolutely right, because her thunderous right-footed strike dips at the perfect moment to crash in off the underside of the crossbar, leaving Grigore with no chance as it nestles in the net behind her. A sensational piece of skill, rightly celebrated by the crowd and a real morale boost for the hosts. But Romania deserve credit for not being rattled. After the introductions of Moroni, Bartoli and goalkeeper Mastronardi, the visitors go back on the front foot, first rattling the side netting through Andornache and then making it 4-1 from a corner, again through the No. 18, who steers the ball inside the far post. It ends with another scoreline that does not please the home side but nonetheless contributes to their development on a journey that has only just begun. And that was – and remains – the only thing that mattered.

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Women’s football, Test Match | San Marino U16 – Romania U15 1-4   SAN MARINO U16 A. Forcellini (from 90' Mastronardi); Benedettini, Paolini, Balsimelli (from 69' Stifani), Carli (from 87' Moroni); Penserini (from 60' Bonciucci), Brocculi (from 79' A. Terenzi), Yazici (from 87' Bartoli), Bianchi (from 75' S. Forcellini); E. Terenzi (from 62' Zanotti), Paone (from 75' Andreini) Coach: Giacomo Piva   ROMANIA U15 Grigore; Abagiu (from 76' Popescu), Patrascu-Raileanu (from 64' Andornache), Crisan, Pirse; Ciortea (from 76' Matei), Suciu, Balici (from 46' Miucsan); Bujoreanu (from 46' Ungureanu), Boghici (from 64' Stoica), Mihalache-Vosloban Substitutes: Parvulescu, Tanase, Iovu Coach: Ionut Florian   Referee: Andrea Righi (SMR) Assistant referees: Giuseppe Macaddino (SMR), Andrea Zaghini (SMR) Fourth official: Laurentiu Ilie (SMR) Booked: Suciu, Brocculi Scorers: 43' Mihalache-Vosloban, 47' Ciortea, 83' Matei, 85' Benedettini, 90+1' Andornache

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