San Marino get first EVER away win and secure Nations League promotion with as many wins since September as West Ham
SAN MARINO won their first ever away game AND clinched Nations League promotion on a historic night in Liechtenstein.
The international minnows, who are the world’s bottom ranked team, came from behind to win 3-1 for their second victory of the campaign.
San Marino have lost 199 of their 211 matches – and their only three victories have all come against Liechtenstein.
The first of those came back in 2004, before they picked up their opening win of League D Group 1 with a 1-0 triumph back in September.
But it was Monday night’s win on the road which ensured promotion to League C of the Nations League as they finish on seven points from four games, one ahead of Gibraltar.
Aron Sele gave the hosts the lead before goals from Lorenzo Lazzari, Nicola Nanni and Alessandro Golinucci turned things around for San Marino.
It is the first time they have scored three goals in a game and the first time they have hit the back of the net more than once in a competitive fixture.
And two wins since the start of September is as many as West Ham have managed in the same time frame.
There were jubilant scenes at full-time as those on the bench sprinted onto the pitch to celebrate.
The players then jumped up and down in front of the travelling San Marino fans in a heartwarming moment.
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Italian manager Roberto Cevoli, who has led San Marino to two wins from 10 games, said: “Finishing that first half 1-0 down was an insult to football.
“But the boys were brilliant and deserved what they’ve managed to achieve.”
While Marco Tura, president of the San Marino Football Federation, added: “These boys made history tonight.
“As people, as athletes, as men, they have shown what they are worth.
“I cried with the boys.”
San Marino will now spend the next Nations League campaign in the third division and could be drawn in a group alongside the likes of Slovakia and Bulgaria.