Malta secured their second consecutive win in San Marino with a determined 2–1 comeback victory, scoring twice in the second half after falling behind early.
Coach Davide Mazzotta’s side showed grit and tactical flexibility to turn the match around and conclude their friendly double-header on a high.
The game began with intensity as both sides fought for dominance in midfield, resulting in a flurry of fouls in the opening stages. Malta nearly struck first in the 12th minute, when Zak Barbara’s corner wasn’t cleared properly. The loose ball fell to Daniel Letherby, who failed to connect cleanly, sending his effort wide of the target.
Just four minutes later, San Marino capitalized on a turnover in midfield. After a sharp exchange of passes, Gabriel Capicchioni found space and slotted the ball past Maltese goalkeeper Luca Camilleri to give the hosts a 1–0 lead.
The remainder of the half lacked fluidity, with few clear chances. Malta’s best moment came just before the break, when Joshua Pitts cut in from the left and forced a save from San Marino shot-stopper Jacopo Casadei. The hosts held a 1–0 advantage heading into half-time.
Coach Mazzotta made four substitutions at the interval, and the changes immediately added energy and width to Malta’s play. The equalizer arrived early in the second half through a well-worked move on the right. Isaiah Chukunyere broke free and floated a pinpoint pass into the path of Nicholas Agius, who calmly finished to bring Malta level.
Malta continued to dictate the game, restricting San Marino to set-piece opportunities. The home side came close to restoring their lead in the 74th minute when Capicchioni’s curling free-kick struck the crossbar.
As the game approached its conclusion, Malta looked the more likely to score. Tristan Viviani fired just over the bar from the edge of the box in the 84th minute following a swift counterattack.
The decisive moment arrived in the 89th minute. Gunner Elliott made a sharp turn on the left wing and drove past his marker before cutting the ball across to Alfie Bridgman. The forward took one touch and fired a superb left-footed shot into the bottom corner to complete the turnaround.
Malta saw out the final moments comfortably, keeping San Marino penned in their own half and holding onto their 2–1 lead. The result caps off a productive international window, with Mazzotta’s side coming away with two wins and growing confidence ahead of future fixtures.
San Marino
12 Jacopo Casadei (GK), 2 Federico Domeniconi (3 Simone Gasperoni 53’), 5 Riccardo Zafferani, 8 Marco Casadei (23 Simone Tamagnini 53’), 9 Gabriel Capicchioni (6 Arda Kaan Yazici 81’), 10 Marco Gasperoni (C), 13 Nicolo Chiaruzzi, 14 Tommy Cervellini (16 Alessandro Mularoni 81’), 19 Giulio Maria Bugli (4 Enea Della Balda 53’), 21 Alberto Guerra (7 Simone Riccardi 53’), 22 Bartolomeo Riggioni
Coach: Matteo Cecchetti
Malta
1 Luca Camilleri (GK) (23 Karl Sargent 46’), 2 Kean Scicluna (16 Jake Micallef 82’), 4 Finley Ging (13 Malik Amin 82’), 5 Sven Xerri, 6 Andy Borg (C) (20 Jake Grech 82’), 7 Isaiah Chukunyere (14 Gunner Elliott 56’) , 8 Joshua Pitts, 9 Nicholas Agius (11 Nathan Cross 56’), 10 Daniel Letherby (17 Tristan Viviani 46’), 19 Benjamin Hili (3 Mattias Ellul 46’), 21 Zak Barbara (22 Brooklyn Borg 46’)
Coach: Davide Mazzotta
Referee: Michele Beltrano
