San Marino players are sent into pandemomium after Alessandro Golinucci volleys home their first goal in nearly a YEAR against Denmark... but FIFA's bottom-ranked side still end up losing 2-1

• e-mail

Goals don't come around too often for San Marino - so they were understandably jubiliant after equalising in the second half of their Euro 2024 qualifier against Denmark on Tuesday evening. 

Alessandro Golinucci was the hero as he volleyed home their first goal in nine matches in the 61st minute of the game to make the score 1-1 - leading to incredible scenes as he and his team-mates were sent into ecstasy. Golinucci slid along the turf before finding himself at the bottom of a pile of players.

Unfortunately, their joy didn't last as Denmark went on to win the game 2-1 thanks to a strike from Yussuf Poulsen 20 minutes from time. 

The lowly European minnows - who are the bottom ranked side by FIFA - can still be proud of their efforts as they kept the game tight and forced Denmark to grind out a hard-earned win. 

Manchester United forward Rasmus Hojlund had put the Danes ahead shortly before the end of the first period before Golinucci struck. 

Alessandro Golinucci scored San Marino's first goal in nearly a year against Denmark 

The 28-year-old volleyed home from a corner to send his team-mates into pandemonium

Golinucci wheeled away after his goal to equalise against the Euro 2020 semi-finalists 

He was mobbed by team-mates as their goalkeeper and even subs got involved in celebrations

Even though it didn't prove to be crucial in securing any kind of result, it will remain a special moment for San Marino players. 

A corner had been floated in by San Marino, with Denmark managing to clear their lines by heading it away - but only as far as Golinucci. 

The 28-year-old - who plays for Sammarinese side AC Virtus and has 48 caps for his country - pounced on the rebound immediately, leaping up to volley the ball into the ground and then watching it bounce into the net. 

As soon as the net rippled, almost every San Marino player raced after Golinucci - including the goalkeeper and substitutes - as they savoured the rare moment of celebrating a goal. 

In UEFA competitions alone, it was their first goal for 12 matches. 

Golinucci ended up at the bottom of a pile of players toasting a huge moment in their history

San Marino still ended up losing 2-1 as Yussuf Poulsen struck to seal a narrow victory

San Marino last scored in a 1-1 draw with Saint Lucia on 17 November last year - and even that came in a dramatic 94th minute equaliser from Lorenzo Lazzari.

The nation has only ever won one game in their history - beating Liechtenstein 1-0 in a friendly in 2004. 

San Marino have been involved in some heavy defeats in recent memory - notably being demolished 10-0 by England in a World Cup qualifier in November 2021. 

Before losing to Denmark, their recent results have been a 3-0 loss to Northern Ireland, a 4-0 loss to Slovenia and a 3-0 defeat to Kazakhstan.