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There was pure emotion from the players as they won a competitive away game for the first time in their historyCredit: Optus Sports
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Manager Roberto Cevoli has secured legendary status in San MarinoCredit: Optus Sports
San Marino – who are last in the official FIFA rankings at number 210 – came from behind to register their first-ever away win.
It marks only the second competitive win in San Marino’s history since they began playing in UEFA and FIFA tournaments in 1990.
Their first competitive victory came in September against the same opposition at home, which brought an end to a 140-game winless run.
Having also draw against Gibraltar in their Nations League campaign, San Marino finish top of Group D1 with seven points.
“Finishing that first half 1-0 down was an insult to football, but the boys were brilliant and deserved what they’ve managed to achieve,” Roberto Cevoli, the San Marino manager, said.
Marco Tura, the president of San Marino’s Football Federation, added: “These boys made history tonight. As people, as athletes, as men they have shown what they are worth. I cried with the boys.”
Aron Sele had put Liechtenstein ahead in the 40th minute, but whatever half-time pep talk San Marino manager Roberto Cevoli gave his side, it certainly worked.
Lorenzo Lazzari equalised within 50 seconds of the restart with a cool finish after he made a darting run between Liechtenstein’s centre-backs.
Andrea Contadini picked out Lazzari’s run with a inch-perfect pass from inside his own half and the latter did the rest, allowing the ball to bounce before slamming it home past Lichtenstein goalkeeper Benjamin Buchel.
San Marino then went ahead in the 66th minute when Nicola Nanni sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the penalty spot.
If San Marino weren’t dreaming of promotion by then, they certainly were ten minutes later.
Cevoli’s side patiently worked the ball high up the left side of the field before some intricate passing eventually found left-back Alessandro Tosi, who had found himself unmarked in the box.
Tosi cut the ball back in the path of Alessandro Golinucci, who slammed home with a sweetly-struck first-time effort.
The 30-year-old was instantly mobbed by his teammates as they recognised how tantalisingly close they were to promotion.
Despite Liechtensten’s best efforts to slaw back the deficit, it was to little avail as San Marino soon celebrated the biggest win in their history, with their first international taking place in 1987.
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Golinucci was mobbed by his teammates after scoring San Marino’s thirdCredit: Optus Sports
The records didn’t stop there, either.
It was the first time the microstate had ever scored three goals and was also their first-ever victory on away soil.
But, most importantly, the 3-1 triumph helped San Marino, ranked 210th in the world, secure top spot in League D Group 1 and guarantee promotion to League C.
It was also San Marino’s second triumph in their last six games, with their last victory, also against Liechtenstein, ending an agonising 20-year, 140-game wait for a win.
In that time, San Marino had become renowned as the whipping boys of Europe.
They had been beaten 13-0, 11-0 and 10-0 to Germany, Netherlands and England respectively in 2006, 2011 and 2021, cementing their status as an easy three points when qualifying for a tournament.
But the Nations League has given San Marino the chance to make history and they have done just that.
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Publish date : 2024-11-19 14:47:00
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