enjikari

[i]*Wag - Yep, a win is a win And I thoroughly enjoyed it*
Dan - I've checked a couple of my other games, and they have no keeper in these either, but they still seem to win a lot of games *
*Tyrone - thanks a lot

----

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
Few Changes For Malta And Slovakia

24.3.05

San Marino have confirmed that they will keep mainly the same squad for a two qualifying games against Malta and Slovakia, a reward for the players that recorded the tiny nation's first international victory.

There are two changes however. One change comes with experienced goalkeeper Federico Gasperoni coming back into the squad to replace uncapped Stefano Guerra, the other change sees Marco Gasperoni finally fit to take a place in the final squad, replacing the injured Julian Aliaj.

Even without Andy Selva, still injured, the squad is confident of getting victory in the game against Malta and hopefully at least a point away at Slovakia. This confidence was lifted when they defeated Greece, scoring more than one goal in a match for the first time ever. The question remains though, can they continue this sudden goalscoring form and get some points on the board in Group 3 of Qualifying?

The squad is listed in full below. Numbers show caps/goals <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">M. Bollini - GK - 0/0 F. Gasperoni - GK - 24/0N. Giardi - GK - 3/0 M. Mancini - SW/D/DM C - 0/0 F. Bollini - D R - 3/0 R. Gasperoni - D RC - 0/0E. Gerini - D RC - 0/0 M. Giacobbi - D R - 1/0P. Cupi - D LC - 3/0 A. Della Valle - D LC - 4/0A. Gasperoni - D LC - 3/0 D. Selva - D C - 1/0A. Francioni - DM C - 3/0 A. Raschi - DM C - 0/0N. Chiaruzzi - M LC - 3/0 R. Gasperoni - M L - 0/0D. Rapanelli - M/FL - 1/0 M. Gasperoni - M C - 0/0R. Moroni - AM RLC - 3/0 M. Mariotti - AM LC - 0/0M. Zanotti - AMC - 4/0 D. Conti - F LC - 0/0M. Marani - S C - 4/0 G. Muratoria - S C - 0/0</pre>

enjikari

The above caps are not updated after the Greece game, so ignore them

enjikari

San Marino vs. Malta - World Cup Qualifying European Section Group 3
Olimpico Stadium, Serravalle

San Marino - 4-1-3-2
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> A.Selva M.Marani ^ ^ ^ | | | | | | | | | | | | Subs: N. Chiaruzzi R. Moroni M. Zanotti G. Gatti M. Mariotti A. Raschi D. Selva E. Gerini A. Francioni M. Bollini M. ManciniA. Della Valle P. Cupi A. Gasperoni F.Bollini N.Giardi</pre>

Malta - 4-4-2 Defensive
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> J. Fenech M. AbelaJ. Buttigieg M. Mizzi D. Galea K. Scerri \ \ \ \ Subs: Z. ToleskiM. Farrugia K. Farrugia S. Faizan K. Farrugia I. Jovanovski D. Nikolov K. Milosevski G. Ristovski V. Hristovski B. Jovanovski I. Kostovski</pre>

enjikari

A second qualifying game at home for us, and our visitors were Malta, the other team in our group yet to record a point. I decided to keep the same team that had beaten the Greeks, seeing no need to change a winning side and I hoped that they could win again. Malta got the game underway and the game started poorly, as you may expect from two of the worst team within the European Qualifying section, not a lot a skill shown within the first twenty-five minutes and not one chance of note for either side.

The game came to life just before the half-hour mark when Francioni pulled the first save from Maltese keeper Debono, then Conti burst through the defence minutes later to hit a strike on goal which was, unfortunately for us, turned behind brilliantly for a corner. This didn't rouse either side into much action and the first half petered out into nothing.

I told the players that we needed to go out in the second half and get an early goal, which I believed would kill off our plucky visitors. I didn't believe we would score as quickly as we ended up doing. I replaced Marani with Muratori at half time and he took the kick-off with new strike partner Daniele Conti. Conti took the ball forward and played it square to Zanotti who hit the ball first time to Moroni. Moroni played the ball left to Della Valle and he showed great control before playing the ball in behind the Maltese left back Kevin Farrugia. Conti out-paced him to get the ball to the by-line and he played it to the edge of the side-yard box where Mirco Zanotti was waiting unmarked. He had enough time to open his body and side-foot the ball into the far corner of the goal to cap a wonderful, flowing move with a high quality finish.

We had taken the lead within twenty-nine seconds of the second half and I know felt that we were sure to win, and could possibly get more than the one goal that we had. Muratori came close to putting us even further in the lead when he hit a rasping volley just over the bar after good work on the wing by Moroni, but Malta then reminded us that they were still looking to get a result when Michael Farrugia capped an excellent move by the visitors with a superb header which was saved equally superbly by Nicola Giardi in our goal.

I wanted us to push forward for another, more decisive goal but we found ourselves under pressure that we didn't feel we would ever be put under in this game. We had to defend for our lives at the back with Bollini and Cupi both having to make brilliant last-ditch tackles to keep the Maltese strikers from getting shots in on goal. Michael Farrugia was looking more and more dangerous as the game went on, having more shots on goal and managing to bring another good save from Giardi before our attack provided some relief for our defence with a move that, after good one touch passing, culminated in a Francioni header that skimmed the top of the crossbar.

Time was running out for the visitors however, and they started to tire as the game neared the end. This meant we were now seeing more of the ball and after successfully defending two corners from the Maltese we hit them on the counter attack with a move that was unlucky to end with Della Valle spooning his shot over the crossbar. It didn't matter much in the end however, as it proved to be the last action of the game, seeing us record our first ever competitive win on the back of our first ever win.

enjikari

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
San Marino Edge Out Opponents In Close Encounter

2.4.05

San Marino 1-0 Malta (World Cup Qualifying (European Section) Group 3)

San Marino recorded their first competitive win with a hard fought victory over Malta at their home Olimpico stadium in Serravalle.

In a tightly-contested afternoon game, neither side had a chance within the first half but Mirco Zannoti (46) gave San Marino the lead early in the second half, and they did just enough to hold on and secure the win.

They go into Wednesday's game away at Slovakia now with a chance of going into third place in the group with a win, and with confidence as high has it is, no-one is ruling the victory out. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">|No. | Name | |Rat|Gls||No. | Name | |Rat|Gls||-----------------------------------------------||-----------------------------------------------|| 1 | Nicola Giardi | | 8 | || 1 | Joseph Debano | | 7 | || 2 | Fabio Bollini | | 8 | || 2 | Kevin Farrugia | | 5 | || 3 | Alessandro Della Valle | | 7 | || 3 | Michael Farrugia | | 7 | || 4 | Alex Gasperoni | | 7 | || 4 | Stephan Falzon | | 7 | || 5 | Goran Micevski | | 7 | || 5 | Kevin Farrugia |(sub 79)| 6 | || 6 | Alessandro Francioni | | 7 | || 6 | Kevin Scerri (C) | | 7 | || 7 |* RAFFAELE MORONI (C) | | 9 | || 7 | Johnathan Buttigieg | | 7 | || 8 | Mirco Zanotti | | 9 | 1 || 8 | David Galea |(sub 72)| 7 | || 9 | Nicola Chiaruzzi | | 7 | || 9 | Mark Mizzi | | 7 | ||10 | Daniele Conti | | 7 | ||10 | Michael Abela | | 7 | ||11 | Manuel Marani |(sub 45)| 5 | ||11 | Joseph Fenech |(sub 72)| 4 | ||-----------------------------------------------||-----------------------------------------------||12 | Gabriele Muratori | (on 45)| 6 | ||12 | Stephen Bartolo | | | ||14 | Roberto Gasperoni | | | ||14 | Kevin Borg | | | ||15 | Andrea Raschi | | | ||15 | Joe Attard | | | ||16 | Marco Gasperoni | | | ||16 | Roderick Attard | (on 72)| 7 | ||17 | Elia Gerini | | | ||17 | Michael Gatt (Bkd) | (on 72)| 7 | ||18 | Michele Bollini | | | ||18 | Joseph Camenzuli | (on 79)| 7 | ||19 | Michele Giacobbi | | | ||19 | Jeffrey Farrugia | | | |</pre>

retired_brinker317

A win!

Another Win!

Thoroughly enjoying this :thup:

retired_embartl

good sh*t this Daz, keep it flowing in San Marino. 2 wins for that tiny rabble's bloody good.

enjikari

*D_S - That's two now :eek: *
*Jimbo - Keep that cigar for yourself mate*
*Just realised by the way, that whilst the formation vs. Malta was correct, the players in it were not. It doesn't really matter, but the following layout is the same formation with the correct players*

Slovakia vs. San Marino - World Cup Qualifying European Section Group 3
Tehelné Pole, Bratislava

Slovakia - 4-4-2 Attacking
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> ^ R. Vittek T. Oravec ^ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | M. Breska V. Janocko M. Karhan Z. Strba Subs: M. GadjosR. Konecny M. Kurty S. Varga M. Petras M. Stano J. Pavlik P. Petras T. Vencel J. Petras J. Halenar J. Hrncar</pre>

San Marino - 4-1-3-2
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> D. Conti M.Marani ^ ^ ^ | | | | | | | | | | | | Subs: N. Chiaruzzi R. Moroni M. Zanotti G. Muratori R. Gasperoni A. Raschi M. Gasperoni E. Gerini A. Francioni M. Bollini M. GiacobbiA. Della Valle D. Selva A. Gasperoni F.Bollini N.Giardi</pre>

Raptor

And we have a new Story of the Week :thup:

retired_embartl

and congratulations :thup: