September 5th 2024.
In a historic moment for San Marino, the national football team has secured their first-ever competitive win after a 20-year drought. The team, ranked as the lowest in FIFA, has finally ended their winless streak with a 1-0 victory over Liechtenstein in the UEFA Nations League. This momentous occasion comes after a long wait for the team, who last tasted victory in 2004 against the same opponent in an international friendly.
Led by coach Roberto Cevoli, the team's perseverance has paid off as they claimed their first competitive win in their 140th game. The decisive goal was scored by 19-year-old midfielder Nicko Sensoli in the 53rd minute. Sensoli, who plays for Italian fourth-tier side Sangiuliano, took advantage of a mistake from Liechtenstein's Sandro Wieser and slotted the ball past the goalkeeper. Despite some tense moments in the final minutes of the game, San Marino's defense held strong and secured the much-awaited win, sending their jubilant home fans into a frenzy at Stadio Olimpico.
San Marino, a small landlocked country in north-eastern Italy with a population of only 30,000, has always struggled on the international football stage due to their size. In the past, they have suffered heavy defeats, including a 13-0 loss to Germany, an 11-0 loss to the Netherlands, and a 10-0 loss to England. But over the years, their team has shown gradual improvement, with their first competitive goal in two years coming in a 2-1 loss against Denmark in October last year. In March of this year, they also managed to secure a 0-0 draw against Saint Kitts and Nevis, their first draw since 2022.
However, it was the game against Liechtenstein that made history for San Marino, moving them to the top of their group in D1, which also includes Gibraltar. The team will now face 152nd-ranked Moldova in a friendly on Tuesday. On the other hand, Liechtenstein continues their own streak of misfortune, failing to win a game since their victory against Luxembourg in 2020. Nonetheless, this game will be remembered as a significant moment for San Marino, a team that has often been considered the underdog in international football.
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