Women’s U16 National Team: North Macedonia win opening match

The opening match of the Development Tournament does not go the way of the Under-16 National Team, who faced hosts North Macedonia. In the first part of the game play was largely concentrated in midfield, where both the Macedonians and the Titane showed plenty of garra, but without finding a way through to seriously trouble either goalkeeper. The so‑called feeling-out phase was broken on 12 minutes by Karanfilovska, who skipped past a couple of opponents and shot from the edge of the box, drawing a safe save from Tani. A minute later the San Marino keeper had to produce a superb stop on Blazheska, who had gone through on goal. Luca Righi’s girls were not unsettled and continued to look for a way to pierce the well-organised home defence. On 21 minutes, a long ball from Penserini seemed the right move to do just that: the Macedonian backline did not read the situation particularly well, but were spared because the pass was just a fraction too long for Castello, who was beaten to it by goalkeeper Stojmilovska. At that point North Macedonia stepped up a gear. A free-kick from the angle by Naumoska flew over the crossbar, though not by much. Shortly afterwards Atanasovska hit the crossbar full on with a powerful effort from distance. This crescendo culminated in the opening goal on 31 minutes: a brilliant pass by Naumoska picked out Jordanova, who made the most of her pace to race in on Tani and her composure to beat her with a precise finish. The second arrived in quick succession and was again the work of Jordanova, who pounced on a loose ball in the box and fired it into the net with her customary clarity of thought. Before stoppage time was signalled – indeed, just a few minutes before – North Macedonia also found a third from a free-kick floated into the middle of the area, where Atanasovska was able to bring the ball down and place a left-footed shot inside the post. The Titane were temporarily down to ten players: D’Angeli had gone off with a minor knock and was waiting to be waved back on. The first half ended with another break from Jordanova, whose effort this time was straight at Tani, who gathered.

There were changes after the restart. Over the course of the half, Luca Righi sent on every player from his bench, while his opposite number Katerina Mileska only left goalkeeper Ilomanoska unused, having already replaced starter Stojmilovska with Sejdini. The first real threat of the half brought the fourth goal, and like the 3-0 it came from a dead-ball situation – this time a corner: Naumoska took it (her second assist of the day) and Karanfilovska applied the decisive touch. North Macedonia completed the scoreline around the hour mark: Lazaroska played wide for Velevachkoska, who with a right-footed side-foot finish picked out the top corner. San Marino, however, stayed in the game mentally and continued to chase a goal. Ragazzini tried to burst into space onto a long ball from deep, but was caught at the last moment by Naumoska – certainly one of the outstanding players on the pitch, if not the very best. On 73 minutes, Castello won the ball high up the pitch, exchanged passes with Littera and tried to beat Sejdini with a right-footed effort from the edge of the area, but it was too central. Late on, a wide free-kick won by Della Valle was entrusted to Castello, who rolled it short to Francini: the left foot of the number 10 in white and light blue picked out Littera, who rose among a crowd of red shirts and only just failed to make the desired contact in the heart of the area. There would be no further chances to alter the scoreline. The Titane will be back on the pitch on Friday 8 May at 15:30 to face Kosovo.

U16 Development Tournament, MD1 | North Macedonia – San Marino 5-0

NORTH MACEDONIA

Stojmilovska (46’ Sejdini), Manasieva (52’ Arslanoska), Atanasovska, Ivkovikj (46’ Konjanovska), Karanfilovska (59’ Lazaroska), Naumoska, Micovska, Velinovska (61’ Velinova), Miloshevska (61’ Kalajdjieska), Jordanova (46’ Velevachkoska), Blazheska (46’ Jovanoska)

Substitutes: Ilomanoska

Head coach: Katerina Mileska

SAN MARINO

Tani, Andreini, Cecchetti (61’ Ragazzini), Bartoli (66’ Moroni), Castello, Forcellini (61’ Mariotti), Francini, Brocculi (72’ Della Valle), D’Angeli, Zammarchi (46’ Bianchi), Penserini (66’ Littera)

Head coach: Luca Righi

Referee: Violeta Jancheva

Assistant referees: Cvetanka Saveska and Radmila Nerkova

Fourth official: Jordan Jovanovski

Scorers: 31’ and 34’ Jordanova, 44’ Atanasovska, 48’ Karanfilovska, 59’ Velevachkoska