September 5, 2024, is historic for San Marino! The small state (the 5th smallest in the world), located on the central Italian peninsula and on the northeastern side of the Apennines, celebrates the first victory of its national football team after 20 years!
In the opening match of the Nations League for the 2024/25 season, San Marino defeated Liechtenstein 1-0 at the “San Marino Stadium,” with 19-year-old Niko Sensoli as the golden scorer! The young player plays for the San Marino Academy and last year had a spell on loan at the Italian fourth-division team San Giuliano.
Sensoli’s goal in the 53rd minute was celebrated enthusiastically, and with the final whistle, chaos ensued.
Several hundred San Marino fans, standing especially after the 1-0, did not stop cheering, and when the match ended, the outburst of joy was unprecedented, especially as the home players and coaching staff became a bundle of joy on the field!
The coach who led San Marino to its first victory after two decades is the former Italian defender Roberto Cevoli!
San Marino had gone 140 matches without a win, totaling more than 12,600 minutes! The last time they triumphed was in a friendly, also against Liechtenstein, 1-0, on April 28, 2004! The goal back then was scored by the all-time top scorer for Liechtenstein with… 8 goals, Andy Selva.
Now, with this “three points,” San Marino leads Group 1 of League D and dreams of promotion to the third tier!
LEAGUE D
Group 1
San Marino-Liechtenstein 1-0
Rest: Gibraltar
Next (2nd) match day (9/8)
Gibraltar-Liechtenstein (21:45)
Rest: San Marino
Standings of Group 1
San Marino 3 (1-0)
Gibraltar 0 (0-0)
Liechtenstein 0 (0-1)