Women’s U16 National Team: Kosovo strike twice in each half

After last Wednesday’s debut against hosts North Macedonia, the Women’s Under-16 National Team were back on the pitch this afternoon to face Kosovo in their second match of the Development Tournament. The Titane started with the right intensity but after just a few minutes had to deal with the first opposition attack, which broke the deadlock: Bytyqi escaped down the right flank and delivered a cross into the box, where Berbatovci attacked the space well and slotted home for 1-0. San Marino replied in the 5th minute with a neat move: Castello played vertically for Bianchi, but the Kosovan defence recovered in time. The Balkan side took control of the game and began to earn several corners, but the Titane kept their shape at the back. San Marino held firm and, midway through the half, began to show something in attack as well: on 17 minutes Penserini won the ball back with a clean challenge and launched the move by feeding Castello, who tried to pick out Bianchi, but Kosovo managed to snuff out the promising move from the Biancoazzurre. The score remained at the narrow advantage for the Balkan side and, on the half-hour mark, it took a fine save from Tani on Bytyqi, the goalkeeper tipping away a long-range effort with her gloves. Kosovo kept pressing and shortly afterwards there was a crucial intervention from Cecchetti on Qollaku, who had been sent through on goal. In the 35th minute, however, Berisha’s team doubled their lead: Gashi let fly from distance with a dangerous effort; Tani got a touch to divert it onto the crossbar, but the ball stayed in the area and the quickest to react was again Berbatovci, who completed her brace. The score remained unchanged up to the half-time whistle.

Several changes were made during the break on both sides. The match stayed balanced in the early stages of the second half until Kosovo went very close to a third. On 53 minutes, a powerful right-footed drive from Ismaili was once again parried by Tani, who then produced another excellent save on the rebound, again denying the Kosovan number 18. The ball then bounced along the goal line, where Cecchetti’s crucial clearance prevented it from going in. The Titane threatened midway through the second half with a double attempt from Brocculi and Littera, both efforts being blocked by the opposing defence. Kosovo continued to push: a fine shot from the edge of the area by Kuçi forced Tani into another save, and Forcellini did well to clear the danger. The third goal for the Balkan side did, however, arrive just after the half-hour mark in the second half. Brocculi’s attempted pass to launch the counter-attack was not ideal, Halili intercepted between the Biancoazzurre lines and, once she reached the byline, cut the ball back for Kuçi, who escaped Forcellini and made it 3-0. The Titane began to feel the effects of fatigue, and Kosovo took advantage to score again. Five minutes from time, a fine through ball from Mehmeti found Uka, who rounded Tani and calmly slotted in for the final 4-0. The closing stages did not favour the Titane, who nevertheless held on in the final five minutes even without Cecchetti, forced off with cramp. A few days of rest now await Luca Righi’s squad, before the third and final match on Monday 11 against Andorra.

U16 Development Tournament, MD2 | San Marino - Kosovo 0-4

SAN MARINO

Tani, Andreini, Cecchetti, Moroni (65’ Forcellini), Bartoli (46’ Mariotti), Castello, Della Valle (58’ Littera), Francini (46’ D’Angeli), Brocculi, Bianchi (76’ Zammarchi), Penserini (58’ Ragazzini)

Head coach: Luca Righi

KOSOVO

Thaçi, Gashi (46’ Kuçi), Halili, Konushevci, Mjeku, Zubaku (77’ Maloku), Berbatovci (46’ Mehmeti), Qollaku (68’ Rudi), Ismaili (77’ Sadikai), Bytyqi (46’ Uka), Hoxha (46’ Halili)

Substitutes: Blakaj, Berisha

Head coach: Xhemile Berisha

Referee: Violeta Jancheva

Assistant referees: Cvetanka Saveska and Radmila Nerkova

Fourth official: Jordan Jovanovski

Scorers: 2’ and 35’ Berbatovci, 78’ Kuçi, 85’ Uka