San Marino score rare stoppage time goal but fail to end 18-year winless run against Saint Lucia
- Seb Sternik
- 18 November 2022
San Marino failed to pick up their first win since 2004, though a 93rd minute equaliser helped them to a 1-1 draw against Saint Lucia.
The European outfit are the lowest ranked nation in the world, sitting all the way down in 211th spot on the FIFA rankings.
Saint Lucia, who are ranked 172nd, welcomed San Marino for the first of two friendly games to be played in Gros Islet.
The small Caribbean nation made a strong start and took the lead on the half-hour mark through Donovan Baptiste.
San Marino put the ball in the back of the net just three minutes later, though their effort was ruled out for offside.
The European outfit improved in the second-half, but they struggled to find a breakthrough as they appeared to be heading for their eighth defeat from nine games in 2022.
Instead, Lorenzo Lazzari bagged a 93rd minute equaliser to send the nation's growing online fanbase into dreamland.
Lazzari's effort was San Marino's fifth goal in as many years. This was also the country's fourth draw since 2015 - during which they have played 63 international fixtures.
THE GOALSCORER: LORENZO LAZZARI, 19 YEARS OLD, MADE HIS DEBUT FOR SAN MARINO AS A SUBSTITUTE AND SCORED. REMEMBER HIS NAME. OUR FUTURE IS BRIGHT.
— San Marino fan account (@SanMarino_FA) November 18, 2022
🇱🇨1-1🇸🇲#lcaSMR
Fabrizio's Costantini's men have now drawn two of their last three games after holding out for a goalless draw with Seychelles back in September.
What's more, the nation have only lost one match this year by a margin of three or more goals.
Despite this, San Marino remain winless since their 1-0 victory over Liechtenstein back in 2004.
The team will get another opportunity on Sunday when they take on Saint Lucia for the second time.
