San Marino made history by securing a 1-0 win against Liechtenstein in their UEFA Nations League group ‘D’ clash, marking their first victory in an official match in over 20 years. The game, held at the Olympico Stadium in Serravalle, saw the hosts break a record-long negative streak of 140 consecutive matches without a win.
SAN MARINO HAVE DONE IT!!!
THEY GET THEIR FIRST WIN IN 20 YEARS WITH A 1-0 WIN VS. LIECHTENSTEIN!!
WHAT A MOMENT 🇸🇲👏 pic.twitter.com/ZMfTWVzGyO
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 5, 2024
The decisive moment came in the 53rd minute when the 19-year old Nicko Sensioli capitalized on a mistake by the Liechtenstein goalkeeper. After a poorly timed rush off his line, Sensioli reached the ball first and calmly slotted it into the empty net, sending the San Marino fans into a frenzy.
The victory is a monumental achievement for San Marino, known for its struggles on the international stage. This result brings hope and celebration for a nation that has been waiting two decades to taste victory once again.
This is only the second victory in San Marino’s history, with their first win dating back to April 28, 2004. At that time, Cristiano Ronaldo had only 9 career goals, while today, he stands at 900. The tiny nation, currently ranked 210th in the FIFA rankings, has now ended the longest winless run in international football history.