San Marino has made history by securing its first-ever competitive victory, defeating Liechtenstein 1-0 in the UEFA Nations League.
This landmark win ends a staggering 20-year winless streak, with their last triumph dating back to 2004, when they also beat Liechtenstein in a friendly match by the same scoreline.
The decisive goal came from 19-year-old Nicko Sensoli, who plays in Italy’s fourth tier. Sensoli scored in the 53rd minute, lobbing the ball over goalkeeper Benjamin Büchel after capitalising on a defensive mistake. His goal sparked wild celebrations among the players and fans alike, marking a moment of joy for the world’s lowest-ranked team, currently sitting at 210th in FIFA’s standings.
San Marino’s victory was particularly significant as it concluded a remarkable run of 140 matches without a win in competitive play. The team has historically struggled, recording only two victories in 206 fixtures, with 196 losses and 8 draws.
Their previous competitive record stood at zero wins, five draws, and 171 losses.
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The match also highlighted San Marino’s recent improvements, as they had shown signs of progress in previous outings, including scoring their first competitive goal in two years during a narrow 2-1 loss to Denmark last October.
With this victory, San Marino now looks ahead to their next challenge against Moldova, hoping to build on this historic win and perhaps start a new chapter in their footballing journey.
