San Marino has made history by securing its first-ever competitive victory in international football with a 1-0 win over Liechtenstein in the Nations League. The milestone triumph comes two decades after the tiny republic, nestled inside central Italy with a population of around 33,000, previously defeated Liechtenstein by the same scoreline in a friendly match.
The only goal of the game was scored by 19-year-old Nicko Sensoli. Who achieved this feat two decades after San Marino’s previous win, marking a significant moment for the nation. Sensoli’s goal came as he deftly lifted the ball over Liechtenstein’s goalkeeper after a failed clearance.
“We didn’t sleep last night,” said Marco Tura, the president of San Marino’s soccer federation and a former international referee. “During the celebrations, there were those who screamed and those who cried.”
Before this historic win, San Marino had endured a long 141-match winless streak in competitive fixtures. Despite recent improvements, including narrow losses to Denmark (2-1), Kazakhstan (3-1), and Finland (2-1), this victory marks a new chapter for the San Marino national team.
Tura attributes the team’s progress to the San Marino Academy, which has been instrumental in developing local talent. “Two years ago, we realized that we were losing many young players between the ages of 19 and 22. So we established an under-22 academy team,” Tura explained. The academy’s youth team competes in the Italian leagues, while the senior team plays in the San Marino league.
San Marino’s win places them at the top of Group D1 in the Nations League with three points. Liechtenstein and Gibraltar, which has yet to play, are currently at the bottom of the group with no points.
Looking ahead, San Ma-rino will aim to build on their success with upcoming fixtures against Gibraltar and a return match against Liechtenstein in November. They will first travel to Moldova for a friendly on Tuesday.
“We’re taking it day by day,” Tura said. “But I’m confident it won’t be another 20 years before we win again.”
Leave a Reply