Bayer 04 Leverkusen were the first club to complete an entire Bundesliga season (2023/24) without losing a single match. They also set a European record by going 51 games in a row without a loss across all competitions.
However, this stands in stark contrast to the situation in the Southern European country of San Marino.
On Thursday, September 5, 2024, San Marino made history with their first competitive win in 20 years. They defeated Liechtenstein 1-0 in the UEFA Nations League, marking their first victory in two decades.
Nicko Sensoli scored in the 53rd minute, giving the small nation, encircled by Italy, their first win in a competitive match.
San Marino’s last victory was in a friendly match against the same team back in April 2004.
Since then, their fans have endured 140 winless matches, but the 19-year-old Sensoli’s goal sparked jubilant celebrations at San Marino Stadium.
Sensoli hadn’t been born when San Marino last secured a win, and the team faced a tense wait for the final whistle, with eight minutes of stoppage time before their victory was confirmed. The result left the hosts at the top of the three-team Group 1, which also includes Gibraltar.
Following Thursday’s win, San Marino’s overall official football record now stands at 2 victories, 10 draws, and 199 defeats.
San Marino is FIFA’s lowest-ranked team, placed at 210, with Liechtenstein not far ahead at number 199.
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Story by: Gabriel Tecco Mensah | univers.ug.edu.gh
