UEFA Nations League, San Marino v Liechtenstein, Stadio Olimpico di Serravalle.
Fifty-one minutes and 56 seconds into the game, San Marino full-back Giacomo Benvenuti floated a hopeful ball into the box. Sandro Wieser attempted to head the cross away, but instead he flicked it straight into the path of an oncoming opposition player. Nicko Sensoli, a 19-year-old midfielder who was not even born when San Marino won their last international match, gambled and was rewarded for his efforts as he cut in behind the Liechtenstein defence. He poked the ball towards goal, and even though goalkeeper Buchel got a hand to it, it was not enough to thwart his effort. The ball bounced into the back of the net – and San Marino were on their way to a historic victory.
The strike proved to be the game’s decisive moment– and will live long in the memory of everyone connected to the country. After 20 long years, San Marino had finally won again. Their 1-0 scoreline was a repeat of their friendly success over the same opposition on 28 April 2004, the last time they could celebrate a victory.
On that occasion, Andy Selva was the match-winner, whereas Sensoli was the hero this time around. The result was even more special considering it was San Marino’s first ever win in an international competition.
“Slowly but surely it’s starting to sink in,” Sensoli told FIFA. “It’s not easy to hold back your emotions, I still feel on top of the world.
“After I’d scored, my full focus was on the referee. I was afraid he was going to disallow the goal for a foul on the goalkeeper, but I knew the goal would stand because I didn’t make contact with the keeper. When I realised he’d given the goal, I went crazy. I wanted to jump into the stands to celebrate, but my team-mates stopped me and brought me back down to earth.
“The celebrations continued after the referee blew the final whistle. We were in utter disbelief after the game, we continued the celebrations in the dressing room and then long into the night.”
Written in the stars
San Marino’s last victory had come 20 years earlier and, as fate would have it, it was the boy with the No20 on his back who would re-write his country’s history.
“I was aware that it’d been 20 years since San Marino’s last win,” Sensoli added. “It was a friendly against Liechtenstein, so it’s a massive coincidence to beat the same team, by the same scoreline and at the same stadium. I made my senior debut in a friendly against Saint Kitts and Nevis and I wore the No20 shirt.
“Then one of my team-mates decided he wanted to wear it so I wore No18 shirt in my next games. When the coach asked us to choose a shirt number a few days before the match against Liechtenstein, he told me that 20 was available, so I reclaimed it without giving it a second thought. I hope they’ll always let me wear it from now on!
“Everyone was absolutely over the moon. A lot of the more experienced players in the squad have been dreaming of this moment for many years. Some of them are nearing the end of their careers and to achieve something like this can only bring joy and happiness. That’s why I’m so ecstatic, because we all deserved to be a part of this moment.”
Sensoli is a product of the San Marino Academy, a project set up to develop and nurture young players to prepare them for the national team.
“I think we’re already starting to see some positive results,” Sensoli said.
Having experienced the most exhilarating moment of his burgeoning career, the teenager is now eager to create more special memories.
“Personally, I would love to score again just to relive those emotions. I hope we manage to find the back of the net again against Gibraltar [in the next Nations League game]. Our next aim is to try to make it out of our Nations League group.”
