Nations League: San Marino defeats Liechtenstein in first competitive win

For 21 long years, San Marino endured a painful chapter in their football history, without managing to register a victory in a competitive international match. Liechtenstein, a team with an equally unfortunate run of form, also waited, for 15 years, to taste the sweet nectar of a competitive win.

So when these two sides, ranked 211th and 210th in the world respectively, met in the Nations League on Tuesday, there was a sense of history in the air. And it was San Marino who finally broke their unwanted record, defeating Liechtenstein 2-0 in Serravalle.

Niccolò Nanni: A beacon of hope for San Marino

The match was played in front of a small but passionate crowd, as San Marino finally ended their 179-match winless streak in competitive international football. Filippo Fabbri opened the scoring for the hosts in the 32nd minute, with Nicola Nanni doubling the lead in the 73rd minute.

Nanni has emerged as a beacon of hope for San Marino, having scored 10 goals in 44 appearances for his country. The 25-year-old forward has been in impressive form for his club side, Cesena, in Italy's Serie C, and his goalscoring exploits have given San Marino a much-needed boost on the international stage.

A historic moment for both teams

San Marino's victory was a historic moment for the tiny nation, which has a population of just over 33,000. It was their first competitive win since a 1-0 friendly victory over Liechtenstein in 2004.

For Liechtenstein, the defeat was a bitter blow, as they remain without a competitive win since a 2-1 friendly victory over Latvia in 2007. However, both teams can take solace in the fact that they have made history, and that their performances in the Nations League have given them something to build on in the future.