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San Marino won their first ever competitive match by beating Liechtenstein 1-0 in the Nations League on Thursday, 20 years since their only other victory, also against Liechtenstein.
The Nations League D game was hardly a clash of the titans, with San Marino bottom of FIFA's rankings at 210th and Liechtenstein 199th, but Nicko Sensoli's goal in the 53rd minute will make him a national hero.
San Marino's only other success came in their 69th game, a 1-0 win over Liechtenstein in a 2004 friendly.
Their fans have endured 140 matches without a win since then and the 19-year-old Sensoli's goal sparked wild celebrations at the San Marino stadium.
San Marino win vs Liechtenstein
SAN MARINO WIN A GAME FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 20+ YEARS & A COMPETITIVE MATCH FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!!!
History is made as the worst team in the FIFA rankings (210th) finally end the longest winless run in international football history (140 games dating back to April 2004)!!! pic.twitter.com/xbB3M2WQUE— The Sweeper (@SweeperPod) September 5, 2024
Exactly how I’d imagine a San Marino goal tbf pic.twitter.com/JO6MK68zGQ
— ⛷️ (@stokaljona) September 5, 2024
Why am I getting emotional over San Marino winning their first competitive match… pic.twitter.com/lr6wacdqBg
— george (@StokeyyG2) September 5, 2024
THEY DID IT. THE FIRST EVER COMPETITIVE WIN, NO ONE CAN TAKE THAT AWAY FOR SAN MARINO. TODAY SAN MARINO WROTE FOOTBALL HISTORY. THANK YOU SENSOLI, THANK YOU SAN MARINO. FORZA TITANI.
— San Marino fan account (@SanMarino_FA) September 5, 2024
Sensoli was not even born when San Marino last won, and there was a long wait for the final whistle with eight minutes of added time before victory was confirmed to leave the hosts top of three-team Group 1, which also includes Gibraltar.
(Reporting by Trevor Stynes, editing by Ed Osmond)
