Football, San Marino equalized in the 93rd minute in the friendly against Santa Lucia (1-1)
The first of two consecutive friendlies between Santa Lucia and San Marino takes place in the very large Darren Sammy Cricket Ground, about 70 meters wide and primarily dedicated to the sport of which it bears a direct reference in its name. Never faced before, the race also represents the first time of the Titans outside the European borders.
Costantini launches in the middle of the field, with revisable conditions, Lorenzo Capicchioni – rookie in the national team. In his 3-5-2, Cevoli and Tosi find space on either side of Palazzi, while captain Vitaioli joins Rinaldi in attack. D’Addario and Grandoni guarding the lanes, with Mularoni and Alessandro Golinucci in the midfield position. Between the posts Elia Benedettini, who after just over two minutes sees Elva’s lash slip by just wide, heralding a corner on which the Cailungo goalkeeper finds the ball in his arms after a frantic action in the area.
The Caribbean hosts make it clear the physical and athletic approach they intend to impose on the match, lacking more on a technical level. San Marino wants to insert itself into those smudges, taking care not to leave room for fast and powerful opponents. Close to the quarter of an hour, Capicchioni’s attack leads to a recovered ball on the trocar; the duet with Rinaldi free the latter in an excellent position, from which he leaves a left-handed at the near post neutralized in two stages by Barclett.
The game is balanced and the Titans work to make the greatest tactical acumen weigh. Unfortunately, it was precisely in San Marino’s best moment that Santa Lucia took the lead. A ball lost in the opponent’s half opens the restart, in which Stern’s men exploit their athletic skills to quickly reverse the action and propose Junior Baptiste in the center. The Caribbean striker does not forgive Benedettini and unlock the result in the 30th minute. The draw could have materialized around the corner, but fades by a matter of centimeters. Those who push Kenran Daniel to raise the flag on the incursion of Vitaioli, who had found Rinaldi perfectly at the far post. The emotion of the goal soon leaves room for regret.
Everything was regular, however, when the San Marino right-wing chain led Mularoni to cross at the near post. Barclett, well in advance, lets the ball slip away on the edge of the small area, but Captain Frederick puts a patch on it, finding the ball between his feet with Vitaioli and Rinaldi a stone’s throw away. Of Tosi’s two consecutive corners, the second is the more dangerous and dangerous it almost takes the form of the Olympic goal – skimming the cross alone. At the interval Santa Lucia is ahead by a measure.
Condition that San Marino could question after just ninety seconds of the second half, when Vitaioli finds himself all alone in the penalty area. After the stop, the conclusion with the right that graces Barclett – who has a good reflex on the central shot. The Titans have the right attitude and crush Santa Lucia in their own trocar, collecting interesting free-kicks and corners that the opponent’s back pack is able to weaken. In the 57th minute the match between Hirsch and Lazzari begins, the latter making his debut among the greats. On the developments of a free-kick won by San Marino, Vitaioli gets to kick from the edge – whose left foot deflected just a little. As well as the hit from distance by Capicchioniwhich skirts the intersection of the Barclett poles, out of action in the circumstance.
San Marino is master of the field in the second half and returns to build one clear opportunity with Rinaldi, who is unbalanced just enough by the direct scorer to make his left-handed wheelie from a tempting position. There wasn’t any work for Benedettini in the second half and the Titans continued to work alongside Santa Lucia, looking for the direct winner which seemed to materialize in the 74th minute. The tower frees the insertion of Pancotti, substitute and rookie, who impacts weakly with his right foot from a tight angle. In the final Costantini raises his center of gravity and centimeters, with Stefanelli and Sopranzi on the pitch, renouncing Golinucci’s interdiction. For the Virtus attacking midfielder, first and few minutes in Biancazzurro – soon forced to leave due to an adductor problem. Titans with front-wheel drive to say the least, even in ten effective ones, and who – as seen in the second half – deserve at least a draw. On the other hand, Santa Lucia almost doubled in the only foray of the second half: both Lester Joseph and Augustin, however, slam on Benedictine’s gloves. There is no mockery for San Marino, which for once reaps the fruits of its efforts and does so with the freshness of Lorenzo Lazzari. In the third of the six minutes of added time allowed, the youngest of the group (born in ’03) shows the coolness of an attacking navigator in control oriented in the middle of the penalty area to chill Barclett with a left-footed diagonal that leaves no way out for the home full-back . A night to remember for Lazzari, who scored on his international debut at the age of 19.
The scoreboard
SAINT LUCIA [4-4-2]
Barlett; Evans, Doxilly, Myers (from 82′ Gopal), Frederick; Elva (from 81′ C. Joseph), Similien (from 66′ Propere), L. Joseph, Stanislas (from 65′ Aa. Richard); Junior Baptiste, Augustin (from 82′ Henville)
Subs: Donaie, An. Richard, Harrow, Fred, Clarke, E. Joseph, Louisien
Coach: John Stern
SAN MARINO [3-5-2]
E. Benedictines; Cevoli, Palazzi, Tosi; D’Addario (D. Tomassini from 69′), Mularoni (Lazzari from 57′), Capicchioni, A. Golinucci (Sopranzi from 81′), Grandoni (Hirsch from 57′); Vitaioli (from 69′ Pancotti), Rinaldi (from 81′ Stefanelli)
Subs: Simoncini, S. Benedettini, E. Golinucci, F. Tomassini, M. Ceccaroli, Zafferani, Ciacci, Matteoni, Franciosi
Referee: Gaymes Moeth (VIN)
Assistants: Denroy Barker (VIN) and Kenran Daniel (VIN)
Fourth Officer: Reon Radix (GRN)
Scorers: 30′ Junior Baptiste, 90’+3′ Lazzari
Notes: 750 spectators