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Juvenes/Dogana and also San Marino
Calcio, who play in the Italian league
system in Serie D.
There has been a league championship
in San Marino since 1985-86. The
championship in its present form began
in 1996. There are 15 clubs (all amateur),
divided into two sections of seven and eight
clubs, and the champions are decided by a
series of play-off matches involving the top
three in each section. Winners last season
were Tre Penne (Three Feathers) under
coach Marco Protti.
The national cup, known as the Coppa
Titano, after the largest mountain in the
country, was won last season by La Fiorita
who defeated Pennarossa in the final 2-0.
Scorer of the first goal was veteran striker
Andy Selva.
As well as the 15 league clubs, San Marino
Calcio, founded in 1960 by the San Marino
Football Federation, play in Serie D, the
fourth level of Italian league football.
In this season's Champions League first
qualifying round Tre Penne were defeated
2-1 away and 3-0 at home by Welsh side
The New Saints. In the first qualifying
round of the Europa League cup winners
La Fiorita were defeated 5-0 at home by
Debrecen (Hungary) and 2-0 away. Third
placed league team Folgore lost 3-0 away
and 3-1 at home to AEK Larnaca (Cyprus).
SAN MARINO
AGAINST
NORTHERN IRELAND
San Marino have played twice against Northern
Ireland, with both matches in the WC 2010
qualifiers.
At Windsor Park in October 2008 manager Nigel
Worthington’s charges won 4-0 with goals from
David Healy (31 mins), Grant McCann (43), Kyle
Lafferty (56) and Steven Davis (75) in front of
an attendance of 12,957.
It was Northern Ireland’s first win in the
qualifying campaign following two away
defeats against Slovenia (2-0) and Slovakia
(2-1) and a scoreless draw with the Czech
Republic at Windsor Park.
San Marino, ranked 200th in the world, held out
until the 30th minute when David Healy netted
his 35th international goal after good play by
George McCartney and Grant McCann.
On 43 minutes Healy turned provider as
McCann shot home from 18 yards, and on 56
minutes Kyle Lafferty added a third from close
range after the San Marino keeper Federico
Valentini failed to hold a David Healy drive.
San Marino were reduced to 10 men after
defender Mauro Marani was sent off for raising
his hands to Michael O’Connor, and Steven
Davis converted a cross from Kyle Lafferty on
75 minutes.
The return match in February 2009 went ahead
after a pitch inspection following a torrential
downpour.
In front of 1,942 rain-drenched spectators the
visitors opened the scoring on six minutes
when Gareth McAuley powered home a
delightful half-volley from Grant McCann’s left-
footed corner. The visitors dominated but had
to wait until the 33rd minute for their second
when Grant McCann curled the ball home into
the top corner of the net.
A McCann free-kick hit the bar just after the
hour and on 63 minutes Chris Brunt completed
the scoring when he curled a left foot drive from
a free-kick past a hapless keeper into the net.
As in the first game San Marino were reduced
to 10 men after the volatile Manuel Marani was
shown the red card on 69 minutes.
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