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.
SAN MARINO RECORD THEIR FIRST-EVER VICTORY IN COMPETITIVE FOOTBALL! 😳
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 5, 2024
This is only their second-ever win as a footballing nation, with the last coming in April 2004 📅 pic.twitter.com/LGu2mS0glk
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.
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.
SAN MARINO HAVE DONE IT!!!
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 5, 2024
THEY GET THEIR FIRST WIN IN 20 YEARS WITH A 1-0 WIN VS. LIECHTENSTEIN!!
WHAT A MOMENT 🇸🇲👏 pic.twitter.com/ZMfTWVzGyO
