San Marino and Andorra close out with untouched goals

San Marino and Andorra close to a scoreless draw. Initially, the match struggles to get off the ground. Andorra is slightly more present in the last thirty meters of the field than San Marino, but in the first quarter of an hour it produces only a vague free kick by Marc Garcia controlled without problems by Colombo, and a shot from outside the box by Babot at the end of an insistent action on the right lane: very high ball. In the 19th minute Rosas creates some havoc in the White and Blue area. The Andorran striker is quick to swerve on his right foot and prepare a conclusion that is bricked with his back by Berardi, invaluable on the rebound.

From there, the white-blue trequartista begins to turn on the light in the other half as well. After Capicchioni’s strong but central razor-sharp shot on a free kick conceded on 20 yards, with Álex Ruiz’s safe parry, Berardi snatches the ball in midfield, runs into the lane and then penetrates the box after passing between two opponents. The home 10 goes down but the referee sees no foul. The ball then passes into the small area, where Álex Ruiz displays some embarrassment but gets away with help from Llovera. More protests in the 36th minute. Capicchioni’s free kick goes through many jerseys and the Titans complain of a touch with his arm: this time, too, the penalty claims go unheeded.

In the final half, the two teams build their respective best chances – at least so far. Marc Garcia’s very deep free kick is pinched by Rosas just enough to become potentially lethal: saving Colombo’s touch to scrape the ball from under the cross of the posts. On the other side of the field, Tosi takes off down the flank and puts in a gorgeous ball that Nanni frames at the second post. Álex Ruiz is overrun and it looks all set for San Marino’s 1-0 lead, cancelled out by Olivera’s portentous save on the line.

The second half also opened in the sign of a very good chance for Nanni. Capicchioni led a Titans’ restart head-on, then drew a perfect assist for the white-and-blue center forward, who sprinted toward Álex Ruiz’s goal but failed to angle his shot sufficiently: the Andorran goalkeeper saved with his foot. Scene that Andorra replicates on the opposite front. In this case it is Lopez who finishes for Rosas, who arrives before Columbus but has to surrender to the latter, perfect in choosing the timing of the low exit. And he is also skillful when Fernández, blatantly misjudging the cross, comes up with a lob loaded with venom: the San Marino goalkeeper takes the decisive step and saves in the corner.

Something similar happens there. Tosi, after a magical control on the left lane, puts in a very interesting cross for Nanni, lurking at the second post but anticipated at the last by Álex Ruiz’s big hand. Meanwhile, coach Roberto Cevoli had played the first – triple – change, introducing Fabbri, Valli Casadei and Gabriel Capicchioni. Michele Cevoli has a good chance on a free kick taken by Tosi. The central player disengages well from the marking, but does not impact in a happy manner. The one who does impact in a totally unhappy manner is Llovera on Nanni’s flying heel: ball deflected with his arm and this time yes, penalty kick awarded. It is awarded to Nicola Nanni himself, who crosses too far and sends it onto the post. The defense then manages to disturb Lazzari just enough for the 21 to fail to maximize the rebound. Nanni immediately tries to make up for it by kicking from distance: again, too choked conclusion. Andorra shook itself up with Rosas’ breakaway inspired by Lopez’s throw.

The Andorran 11 deflected a bit but still managed to kick at goal: Colombo manned the first post well. The front reverses and San Marino has another great goal ball. Tosi invents for Nanni, who wisely chooses to pass the ball to the freer Gabriel Capicchioni: the latter’s conclusion – practically undisturbed – laps the post. Less dangerous was Fernández’s right-footed shot from outside the box on an invitation from Rosas: the ball a span wide. Into the San Marino ranks come Giocondi and Salicioni. The forward immediately tasted chemistry with Nanni, picking up his partner’s pass and exploding a right-footed shot that proved too central. Between the 79′ and 84′, two more great chances for San Marino. The first on the foot of Nanni, who collected Lazzari’s backheel assist and created space for his left-footed shot, high. The second for Lorenzo Capicchioni on Nanni’s tower: the biancoazzurro midfielder arrives at the edge of the area and sees the whole mirror wide open in front; his diagonal, however, is too narrow. In the very last minutes Andorra goes up, but does not put fear into Colombo. CT Cevoli takes advantage of the last slot, in the recovery, to debut Mattia Sancisi. The referee put an end to the friendly a few laps of the needle later, certifying a 0-0 decidedly more indigestible to the Titans than to the guests.