San Marino end TWENTY-YEAR, 140-game wait for a victory and only second-ever win… and both against the same team
SAN MARINO have landed a sensational first win since 2004 – becoming “forever legends” with only their second ever victory.
And amazingly the whipping boys of international football have made it a double against the SAME TEAM – after a winless gap of 140 matches.
San Marino celebrate arguably the greatest moment in their footballing history
Not known, clear with picture deskHere’s the moment that sent San Marino into dreamland[/caption]
Not known, clear with picture deskFans say Nicko Sensoli became an instant legend with his winner[/caption]
This is what it means to the Sammarinese
The Sammarinese beat Liechtenstein 1-0 in the Nations League – the same result as 20 years ago in a friendly – to send fans wild on social media.
The 53rd-minute hero this time was a 19-year-old midfielder on loan in the Italian fourth tier.
Parent team San Marino Academy let Nicko Sensoli join Sangiuliano to gain first-team experience.
Now Sensoli has made a spectacular piece of history in front of home fans – with his first international goal in his third game at this level.
The “San Marino fan account” changed its profile to start: “IT HAPPENED.”
That was closely followed by joyous separate posts of: “Changed bio” and “Top of the league”.
One supporter responded: “They wrote history. They will be remembered forever as legends, as the golden generation of Sammarinese football.”
Another added: “San Marino won. That’s the tweet.”
Not known, clear with picture deskSensoli struck the only goal early in the second period[/caption]
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Incredibly, Sensoli’s winning goal was the second exciting development of the week for San Marino!
The Sammarinese left their long-held spot at the bottom of the global rankings – albeit for an odd reason.
THE SAMMARINESE ‘IMMORTAL’S
Here’s how Roberto Cevoli’s men lined up on the most famous – and fabulous – night – in their footballing history.
1 Colombo
12 Tosi (sub Benvenuti 71m)
6 Rossi (booked 96m)
5 Cevoli (booked 51m)
4 Benvenuti
23 Casadei
10 Capicchioni (sub Mularoni 81m)
17 Golinucci (sub battistini 62m)
20 Sensoli (sub Zannoni 62m)
9 Nanni (sub Giacopetti 71m)
11 Contadini
Eritrea are now unranked – as the East African nation have not played for four years.
That still leaves San Marino 210th and lowest-placed of the teams with a ranking.
But perhaps it was the psychological boost of not technically being under everyone else that inspired them to sink 199th-rated Liechtenstein!
England walloped San Marino 10-0 in a World Cup qualifier back in November 2021.
But recent improvement has included a 3-1 defeat to Denmark.
And San Marino drew with Caribbean side Saint Kitts and Nevis in March.
Now that’s been eclipsed by surely the greatest evening in their 37 years of playing international football – a competitive triumph.
Not known, clear with picture deskSensoli was understandably mobbed for his goal[/caption]
SAN MARINO’S ALL-TIME RECORD
San Marino have been playing international football with little but defeats since opening with a 1-0 loss against Lebanon in 1987.
But their first official Fifa-sanctioned contest was a 4-0 reverse at home to Switzerland in a European Championships qualifier in November 1990.
Here’s how their record stacks up over 37 years – with plenty of troughs before Thursday night’s glorious peak.
Played – 211
Won – 2
Drawn – 10
Lost – 199
Goals scored – 34
Goals conceded 845
