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 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 team-mates, who swarmed the forward who could scarcely believe what he had just done.
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.
San Marino have secured their first ever competitive win after Nicko Sensoli’s goal on Thursday (pictured back in March)
Sensoli pounced on a moment of indecision at the back from Liechtenstein to seal history
The final whistle brought about celebrations the likes of which San Marino have 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 Titani, 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 defence, 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.
The cameras panned around the ground, and not a 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 jeers 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.
Yet despite cramp and fatigue starting to set in on the field, Roberto Cevoli’s side held firm, but only after a final, 97th-minute free-kick into the box which flew just wide of the mark, although it appeared to touch a Sammarinese player last.
The win sees San Marino take top spot in their Nations League group, with Gibraltar the third side in the pool yet to play, though few would have expected tonight’s group-toppers.
