San Marino from Heaven to Hell, Gibraltar comes back and wins 2-1 • newsrimini.it
It is the final in San Marino, which started for Hamburg with the aim of doing well with two teams out of reach such as Montenegro and Germany, to play their chances to close the group in third place in the final match against Gibraltar. For three quarters, the first target was concentrated: only the first half with the Germans saw the Titans express themselves below their capabilities. Now, what is expected for both Gibraltar and San Marino is a final: the third place in Group A is up for grabs.
That it is a real game can be understood from the first contrasts, in which Gibraltar – which seems to have less technical and tactical figure than its – often sinks the tackle. The first half is perhaps the best ever played by San Marino, who plays the game and sets the pace – suffering little or nothing from his opponents’ attempts and leaving the routine administration to Protti. He is not surprised by the clean sheet with which you change fields, the third in the last four outings of qualification to a major. Rather, the character and personality of a team that knows exactly what to do in all areas of the pitch and in different game situations. Thus, after two outsized attempts by Belloni and Busignani, the same San Marino universal tries with a free kick – finding Moxham rejected. It is the prelude to the advantage, which reaches the halfway point of the partial: Busignani recovers the ball under pressure on Castle is merciless in front of the Gibraltar goalkeeper, forced to collect the ball at the bottom of the bag. From the overwhelming joy, to the great fear: Busignani remains on the ground on the next contact with the opposing captain, Lopez, and the worst is feared for his knee. Fortunately, only one blow, and the number 9 of San Marino can return to the field. Just in time to get to the free throw spot. Gibraltar has exhausted the bonus shortly after halfway through the first half and De Angelis is able to bring home the sixth whistle in favor: execution of Busignani, who hits the reflex of Moxham, who doubled his foot. Soon Mattioli was booked for a tactical foul and Osimani began to glimpse a dangerous change of attitude among the Titans. Less intensity in the defensive phase and thinking about too many fouls – which for San Marino soon reaches the bonus. The time-out of the Marche coach is a balm for the final minutes, in which San Marino risks a lineout that – after the deflection of El Andaloussi – slams on the base of the post. Two referees’ decisions leave the San Marino bench perplexed, in particular a touch with and with hands outside the area of Moxham after a breakthrough by Busignani. The subsequent advance of Belloni on the opposing goalkeeper, which leads to head-foot contact, pushes the referees to decide not to decide. There is nothing else to see in the last minutes of a first half that deservedly rewards the Titans, but there is a whole second fraction to play.
And that Gibraltar approaches with the usual competitive fury, which this time pays dividends. After an imprecise punishment from Fortuna, Bosio breaks through on the right. Late closing, which allows the winger to pocket the far post where El Andaloussi arrives with the right timing: platters from a very short distance and everything to be redone: at 25 ‘it is 1-1. It is the period of greatest difficulty for San Marino, which is struggling to get back into the game – more from a mental than a technical point of view. Protti invites his teammates to shake off their fears, on the other hand Gibraltar seems to be able to draw on energies and games that had not been glimpsed in two and a half matches. Belloni lightens up with a destroyed from distance at 26 ‘which does not surprise Moxham and after a side by Busignani, Gibraltar’s outburst seems to be calming down. Ten minutes to play for the third force of the group: Holgado has the right ball at Garcia’s suggestion, but his shot in front of Protti is busted. The agonistic enthusiasm with which Gibraltar has heard all the matches begins to take place among the men of Gil Prieto, who must give up Olivero – a victim of cramps. It is worth remembering that Parody, sent off in the 0-5 with Montenegro, was unable to take part in this match. San Marino shows up on the left band on the Busignani-Mattioli axis, with the latter good at keeping physique before seeing his cross-shot deflected. The Titans seem to be back in possession of the timing of the match, raising the pace in defense and working the opposing defense on the flanks: Belloni’s right on the side testifies everything, but the bordota slips high over the crossbar. Gibraltar is all in Bosio’s spasmodic research, which at best produces conclusions from positions that are not dangerous for Protti. This is how we enter the last five minutes, when the details make the difference: and a concentration deficit actually costs San Marino the opponent’s comeback. Surprise punishment from midfield that surprises even the television direction, with El Andaloussi to deposit the personal double on Garcia’s genius. San Marino responds with Belloni’s lateral, which enhances Moxham’s reflexes, and then has to deal with the injury suffered by De Angelis, who was long on the ground and limped off the field after a hard stomp by Mkerref – not seen from ‘Austrian Wolf. San Marino baptizes Pasqualini goalkeeper of movement, looking for a draw which – goal difference in hand – would mean third place. Gibraltar breaks the San Marino rhythm with a time-out after improper management of Toccaceli’s power play, who ends up getting a yellow card in an attempt to regain possession of the ball. At the resumption of the game the Titans are dangerous with Pasqualini – still goalkeeper of movement – who frees himself on the short side of the field and looks for Zafferani, providentially anticipated at the far post. The situation reappears shortly after, when the central of the Three Flowers is walled up at the height of the penalty club. Subsequently, Mattioli quarrels with the ball in two circumstances, risking to collect Bosio’s goal with an empty net that does not find the goal. The side of La Fiorita tries to redeem himself with a great left from distance, which calls Moxham on the fly – decisive also on the following corner, beaten in favor of Busignani’s right. The second consecutive corner generates a scrum, with the ball slipping out for a third lap on the perpendicular to San Marino – now firmly at the gates of the opponent’s area. To say the least excited minutes are those that bring San Marino and Gibraltar to the home straight, in which anything can happen at any moment. And on Busignani’s right it takes a great Bosio to deny Pasqualini a simple tap-in. On the opposite side, Lopez tames a big ball and kicks on Protti to bring home a providential throw-in. Thus ends, the Gibraltar party and a too big and bitter mouthful that San Marino will have to digest as soon as possible. The growth of a team has also gone from days like these, and the overall performance of the Titans in Hamburg has certainly not marked a step backwards compared to two years ago. Gibraltar closes Group A in third place, for San Marino Busignani’s goal does not translate into points in the standings.
Qualification for the 2024 Futsal World Cup | Gibraltar 2-1 San Marino
GIBRALTAR
Moxham, Castello, Garcia, Lopez, Bosio
Available: Nahon, Remorino, Mkerref, Fortuna, El Andaloussi, Holgado, Olivero, Rodriguez
Coach: José Carlos Gil Prieto
SAN MARINO
Protti, De Angelis, Mattioli, Busignani, Belloni
Available: Cecchetti, Cavalli, Zafferani, Pasqualini, Franciosi, Moretti, Felici, Toccaceli, Cecchini
Coach: Roberto Osimani
Referee 1: Ugur Cakmak (TUR)
Referee 2: Manuel Wolf (AUT)
Referee 3: Lars Van Leeuwen (NED)
Timekeeper: Omar Amarkhel (GER)
Scorers: 10’31 “Busignani, 24’27”, 35’05 “El Andaloussi
Bookings: Mkerref, Mattioli, Toccaceli
Note: Moxham saves a free throw to Busignani at 14’03 “
FSGC | Press office