San Marino earned another piece of history on Friday night after drawing 1-1 with Gibraltar in Serravalle in dramatic fashion.
After Dante Rossi gave away an avoidable penalty inside the first 10 minutes, Gibraltar’s record goal scorer Liam Walker stepped up to convert past Edoardo Colombo from the spot.
San Marino responded fantastically, though, flooding forward with a barrage of attacking phases as the hosts looked for a quick response, but Gibraltar hung on.
Nicola Nanni came within inches of a sumptuous equaliser following a brilliant team move, but his backheeled flick was saved by Bradley Banda to keep the visitors ahead.
But try as they might, San Marino couldn’t break through a resolute Gibraltarian defence, and looked set for a third defeat in fourth game against the visitors.
In fact, the Titani had never in their history scored against Friday’s opponents, before Nanni stepped up in added time.
Nicola Nanni sent his penalty straight down the middle to draw San Marino level in added time
San Marino’s hero of the night Nanni plays his club football with SEF Torres in Italy’s third tier of club football
Nanni, who plays his football in Italy’s third division with SEF Torres, won the penalty, and it was on his shoulders that the side’s hopes of progressing from their Nations League group fell.
As things stood, Gibraltar would be set to qualify Group D1 in top spot, forcing San Marino to go through a play-off for a chance to reach Group C in next season’s tournament.
While the hosts played the more attacking football over the night, Gibraltar could, and really should, have been out of sight by the time Nanni stepped up to score the historic penalty – just his second ever for San Marino, becoming only the fourth player ever to score for the Titani more than once.
Soon after Walker’s opener, Tjay De Barr missed a golden opportunity with just Colombo to beat, before managing to hit the cross bar from point blank range in the second half.
Manchester United starlet James Scanlon also impressed in midfield, and showed good technique on the ball to control possession and take the sting out of the San Marino attacks during the first half onslaught.
A point would be enough to take it to their final clash against Liechtenstein on Monday, but with the clock already in the red, they needed Nanni to convert his chance.
And he did just that, sending his effort straight down the middle as the calmest player on the pitch to give the hosts a much-deserved equaliser.
The goal had been coming, but there was still late drama as both sides pushed for an eventual winner.
Roberto Cevoli’s side have now picked four points from their three Nations League games
It was San Marino’s first home game in the Nations League since their historic win over Liechtenstein in September
Nicko Sensoli’s goal sealed their first ever competitive victory after over 200 games in their history
However, after another nine minutes of added time, referee Igor Pajac blew the whistle to bring an end to a breathless game at the Stadio Olimpico di Serravalle.
San Marino had dominated, with 11 shots to the visitors four and an impressive 27 touches in the Gibraltar box in a vibrant showing from Roberto Cevoli’s side.
It was San Marino’s first home clash in the Nations League since their historic night of nights against Liechtenstein, who they beat 1-0 for a first ever competitive win in early September.
That alone has made this campaign the microstate’s most successful ever in any competition, but a draw on Friday night makes it four points from three games.
A trip to Vaduz and Liechtenstein is to come on Monday, and they will now travel to their old foes knowing that a win will book their place in Nations League Group C for the next campaign.