San Marino. Under 16: the heart is not enough for the Titans, Malta imposes itself by measure
After less than 48 hours, the two national teams Under 16 years old from San Marino and Malta cross the cleats at the Montecchio stadium for the second international friendly.
The Titans want to redeem the 5-1 defeat suffered in the first race last Monday and Magnani’s boys have a great start. At 3 ‘Semperlotti earns a good ball on the trocar and aims for the goal, the young titan is very fast and with a bolt that also hits the crossbar and manages to pierce Sissons for the 1-0. Malta that does not fit and begins to push. At 12 ‘Magri tries from afar, but Casadei is safe and blocks the attempt. At 18 ‘another attempt with Magri who tries to break through from the right but Mularoni closes the attempt well, with Casadei who then comes out and makes him the ball. Malta does not give up, which is very close to scoring the same shortly after (20 ‘), again with Magri who tries from outside, but Casadei makes a feat and still says no. Biancazzurra response again with Semperlotti, one of the most positive, who on 23 ‘finds the right passage and returns in front of Sissons, but this time he hits badly and without giving strength to the ball. The equalizer for Malta comes just before the half hour: corner for Vella’s team, Hijazi jumps higher than all of them, making it 1-1. Malta pushing and trying again from a distance with Micallef, Casadei always responsive. Live game full of scoring: at 33 ‘San Marino close to the new advantage with Semperlotti kicking towards the goal, Sissons rejects and on the rebound there is captain Protti who sensationally does not find the goal but the attacker can’ console himself ‘ with the irregular position at the time of the shot. We therefore go to rest on a draw (1-1).
At the beginning of the second half Protti goes well on the left wing and puts Bindi in the middle for the placed who tries in a split, but the Maltese rearguard closes. At 11 ‘the author of the equalizer Hijazi goes away quickly, arriving from the parts of Tassinari and kicks, out of a whisker to the left of Tassinari, who took over from Casadei in the interval. Two minutes later Tassinari comes out on Hijazi in the area, for the match director Andruccioli it is a penalty that Hijazi himself transforms, thus scoring his personal double and taking the red and white into the lead. Usual whirlwind of changes, with the game always in balance and with Malta ahead by only one length. At 28 ‘episode that can change the game: action from the right, Jayden Borg’s cross that goes to Marani’s body, for the referee it’s a handball and therefore another penalty. Nathan Grech goes on the spot but Tassinari guesses the corner and neutralizes the attempt amid the applause of those present in Acquaviva. Malta is not there and shortly after the half hour good dribbling from the edge of Piscopo who arrives at the conclusion, the ball comes out at the edge of the pole. San Marino also believes in it with Protti serving Colonna, a powerful conclusion but without precision that goes far from the mirror. Another attempt ahead to close the match in Malta: Farrugia brings the ball and sees the cut of Jayden Borg clearly, the latter ending in goal but always finding a reactive Tassinari. In the final, Protti recovers very well on the right and kicks in the goal, the Maltese defense who takes refuge in a corner. On the following serve, Ivan Contucci has room but does not shoot immediately and so the Maltese rearguard can move away. Despite the five minutes of injury time, Magnani’s boys do not find the same and have to yield – this time by measure – to the Maltese peers also in the second friendly match.
Friendly match, Under 16 | San Marino 1-2 Malta
SAN MARINO [4-3-3]
Casadei (46 ‘Tassinari); Bindi (69 ‘Colonna), Faetanini (62’ Marani), Marinucci, Mularoni (55 ‘Zavoli); E. Della Balda (80 ‘Baldacci), Forcellini, Pasolini (80’ Giorgetti); Protti, Semperlotti (80 ‘Bernardi), Valentini (55’ Contucci).
Available: Della Balda, Ugolini
All. Matteo Magnani
MALTA [4-3-3]
daughters; Magri (83 ‘Pullicino), Joyce, El-Nasar (65’ A. Vella), Grima; Jake Borg (65 ‘Farrugia), J. Vella (54’ Grech), Micallef (65 ‘Jayden Borg); Hijazi (83 ‘Grioli), Mercieca, Zerafa (54’ Piscopo).
Available: Massa, Seychelles.
All. Andrea Vella
Referee: Mattia Andruccioli
Assistants: Alfonso Gallo and Alfonso Giannotti
Booked: 57 ‘Bindi, 58’ Tassinari, 72 ‘Marani; 47 ‘Magri, 76’ Mercieca
Scorers: 3 ‘Semperlotti, 27’ and rig. 59 ‘Hijazi