These are unforgettable evenings, destined to remain in the legend of a nation, albeit a very small one. On September 5, 2024, history was made, with the San Marino national football team winning the second match in its history, 20 years after the last time. It was April 28, 2004, when the Titan national team won its first official challenge, determined by a goal from the legendary Andy Selva, and after more than 20 years, history repeats itself, against the same opponent, in the same place, and with the same result.
Indeed, San Marino has defeated Liechtenstein again, this time 1-0, with a goal from forward Nicko Sensoli, born in 2005, who will surely remember this wonderful evening forever. Back then, it was “just” a friendly match, while this time it was part of the Nations League, for the first day of Group A of League D. Therefore, it is effectively the first victory ever in an official competition for San Marino, a factor that makes the Titans’ victory truly legendary, always in the iconic Olympic Stadium of Serravalle.
IN THE LEGEND A “TORINESE”
In this page of football history, there will be all the people present in Serravalle, from coach Roberto Cevoli, who became the San Marino national coach on December 12, 2023, after his experience in Piedmont with Novara, to the very young starting formation that took the field against Liechtenstein, including 2005 Nicko Sensoli, the star of the evening with the decisive goal scored in the 53rd minute. What stands out among the 26 boys who wrote history is that, among the few players competing “abroad” (as well as in Italy), there is also Matteo Valli Casadei, a midfielder born in 2005 who grew up in the San Marino Academy and who, this year, was signed by Vanchiglia, a team from Turin competing in Group B of Excellence.
The granata club is, after Juve and Toro, the current third team in Turin, given its presence in the fifth tier for 7 consecutive seasons and the excellent results achieved in recent years. Matteo arrived in the city a little under the radar, ready to proudly showcase his qualities as a midfielder. Valli Casadei has already debuted with Vanchiglia, playing the first 45 minutes of the official season’s first match, on Sunday, August 25, in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Coppa Italia Eccellenza Piemonte Valle d’Aosta.
Moreover, enriching Matteo’s dream evening is that it was his very first match in the senior national team as a starter, as well as his second appearance overall (after debuting in June in a friendly against Cyprus). Fielded in the starting eleven by coach Cevoli, Matteo met expectations by playing the entire match with grit, quality, and courage, carrying not only the colors of the Titan high but also a “touch” of Turin and Vanchiglia, which can now say it has a San Marino international in its roster, as well as a true talisman.