By Martin Graham | sixth Sep 2024
San Marino made headlines with a landmark victory within the Nations League, triumphing over Liechtenstein in a aggressive match. This win marks the primary time San Marino, ranked because the lowest crew on the planet by FIFA, has secured a victory in a aggressive fixture. The end result ends a staggering 20-year and 140-game winless streak, with their earlier win courting again to 2004 in opposition to the identical opponent, Liechtenstein, with an identical scoreline.
The essential aim got here from 19-year-old Nicko Sensoli, who at present performs in Italy’s fourth tier. Sensoli, who was not born on the time of San Marino’s final win, scored within the 53rd minute by lobbing the ball over Liechtenstein’s goalkeeper, Benjamin Buchel. His aim ignited celebrations among the many crew as they held agency to safe this historic end result.
Lengthy-awaited victory and defensive mastery
San Marino’s earlier file had seen them undergo 196 defeats out of 206 video games. They endured a very harsh 10-0 loss to England in a World Cup qualifier in November 2021. Nonetheless, latest performances have proven progress. Final October, San Marino managed to attain their first aggressive aim in two years, although they have been narrowly defeated 2-1 by Denmark in a Euro 2024 qualifier. In March, they achieved a 0-0 draw with Saint Kitts and Nevis.
With a inhabitants of simply 33,000 and an space of 61 sq. kilometers – about half the dimensions of Manchester – San Marino is a small enclave surrounded by Italy and missed by the gorgeous Mount Titano. Regardless of its measurement, this victory represents a major achievement for the footballing minnows.
Martin Graham is an MFF sports activities author
