Nicko Sensoli created history after his goal sealed San Marino’s first-ever competitive win over Liechtenstein on a seismic Thursday night.
Sensoli pounced on a moment of indecision at the back from the visitors, latching onto Giacomo Benvenuti’s hopeful ball into the penalty area to prod home beyond a stranded Benjamin Buchel.
Unsurprisingly, Sensoli’s heroics - on his competitive debut no less - sparked chaos in the stands, with many of those watching on probably never having seen their side taste victory before.
But that is nothing compared to the scenes on the pitch. The 19-year-old national hero was mobbed by his teammates, who swarmed the forward who could scarcely believe what he had just done.
Sensoli's previous experience of international football came in three friendly matches, all of which were losses by an aggregate score of 11-2.
San Marino’s only other victory in their entire history also came in a 1-0 win over Liechtenstein, record marksman Andy Selva getting the goal on that night back in 2004, marking a curious twist of fate between the two nations.
The final whistle brought about celebrations the likes of which San Marino has never seen - not even after that win 20 years ago.
The stadium announcer was sent into raptures on the final whistle, and could be heard chanting 'San Marino- UNO! Liechtenstein - ZERO!' over the tannoy system as the players collapsed at the San Marino Stadium, with an entire nation's hopes at last achieved.
An understandably nervy final half hour to the game lay in waiting for the Titanic after Sensoli's goal, though the hosts had their chances to make it 2-0.
Right winger Andrea Contadini’s energy and intensity late on proved a thorn in the side of Liechtenstein’s defense, and on 75 minutes he broke free once more.
With acres to run into down the right, he reached the goal mouth, but rather than square it and set up an open goal for Nicola Nanni, he went for glory but couldn’t beat Buchel at the near post.
There were signs of San Marino’s growing nervousness, Lorenzo Capicchioni giving up a corner under little pressure in the 77th minute a prime example.
As the game hurtled towards a historic climax, the cameras panned around the ground, and not a single home fan could be found in their seats - instead, they were to a supporter stood nervously, some hopping foot-to-foot, some biting nails, all feeling every second of this momentous night of nights.
As the final 10 minutes came around, the telltale calls for the referee's whistle began, but San Marino continued to plug away in the hunt of a second, substitute Marcello Mularoni denied by an on-rushing Buchel, before Samuele Zannoni again came close three minutes from time.
Yet perhaps the biggest celebration of all greeted teenager Tomasso Benvenuti's lung-bursting run deep into added time to earn a free-kick inside the Liechtenstein half, before letting out a roar and pumping his fist as though he'd scored the winning goal himself.
Sensoli pounced on a moment of indecision at the back from the visitors, latching onto Giacomo Benvenuti’s hopeful ball into the penalty area to prod home beyond a stranded Benjamin Buchel.
Unsurprisingly, Sensoli’s heroics - on his competitive debut no less - sparked chaos in the stands, with many of those watching on probably never having seen their side taste victory before.
But that is nothing compared to the scenes on the pitch. The 19-year-old national hero was mobbed by his teammates, who swarmed the forward who could scarcely believe what he had just done.
Sensoli's previous experience of international football came in three friendly matches, all of which were losses by an aggregate score of 11-2.
San Marino’s only other victory in their entire history also came in a 1-0 win over Liechtenstein, record marksman Andy Selva getting the goal on that night back in 2004, marking a curious twist of fate between the two nations.
The final whistle brought about celebrations the likes of which San Marino has never seen - not even after that win 20 years ago.
The stadium announcer was sent into raptures on the final whistle, and could be heard chanting 'San Marino- UNO! Liechtenstein - ZERO!' over the tannoy system as the players collapsed at the San Marino Stadium, with an entire nation's hopes at last achieved.
An understandably nervy final half hour to the game lay in waiting for the Titanic after Sensoli's goal, though the hosts had their chances to make it 2-0.
Right winger Andrea Contadini’s energy and intensity late on proved a thorn in the side of Liechtenstein’s defense, and on 75 minutes he broke free once more.
With acres to run into down the right, he reached the goal mouth, but rather than square it and set up an open goal for Nicola Nanni, he went for glory but couldn’t beat Buchel at the near post.
There were signs of San Marino’s growing nervousness, Lorenzo Capicchioni giving up a corner under little pressure in the 77th minute a prime example.
As the game hurtled towards a historic climax, the cameras panned around the ground, and not a single home fan could be found in their seats - instead, they were to a supporter stood nervously, some hopping foot-to-foot, some biting nails, all feeling every second of this momentous night of nights.
As the final 10 minutes came around, the telltale calls for the referee's whistle began, but San Marino continued to plug away in the hunt of a second, substitute Marcello Mularoni denied by an on-rushing Buchel, before Samuele Zannoni again came close three minutes from time.
Yet perhaps the biggest celebration of all greeted teenager Tomasso Benvenuti's lung-bursting run deep into added time to earn a free-kick inside the Liechtenstein half, before letting out a roar and pumping his fist as though he'd scored the winning goal himself.
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SportsTranscript
00:00Niko Sensali created history after his goal sealed San Marino's first-ever competitive
00:09win over Liechtenstein on a seismic Thursday night. Unsurprisingly, Sensali's heroics on his
00:15competitive debut no less sparked chaos in the stands, with many of those watching on probably
00:20never having seen their side taste victory before. But that is nothing compared to the scenes on the
00:26pitch. The 19-year-old national hero was mobbed by his teammates, who swarmed the forward who
00:31could scarcely believe what he had just done. The final whistle brought about celebrations
00:36the likes of which San Marino has never seen, not even after that win 20 years ago.
00:41The stadium announcer was sent into raptures on the final whistle and could be heard chanting
00:46San Marino Uno. However, thoughts of what is to come for San Marino are ill-placed on the
00:51night of their greatest-ever achievement. For now, the result will rightly be greeted
00:55with the elation, jubilation, and celebration that it deserves.
01:00After all, this win has been some time in the making.