SP La Fiorita and FC Vardar Skopje Play Out Tense Friendly Draw

An international club friendly between SP La Fiorita of San Marino and North Macedonia’s FC Vardar Skopje ended 1–1 on 28 June 2026 at the Stadio di Fiorentino. Both sides used the fixture to fine-tune their preparations for the upcoming season, with plenty of tactical experimentation and squad rotation on display.

Match Overview

The match started at a moderate tempo as both teams looked to shake off early pre-season rust. Vardar took the lead midway through the first half with a well-struck effort, but La Fiorita responded shortly after the break with an equaliser. Despite several chances at both ends, neither side could find a winner, and the game ended in a fair share of the spoils.

Key Moments

• 28th minute – Vardar open the scoring: A quick free kick caught the La Fiorita defence napping, and winger Stefan Stojanov curled a shot into the far corner.
• 52nd minute – La Fiorita equalise: A long ball over the top was controlled by striker David Tomassini, who slotted past the advancing Vardar keeper.
• 69th minute – Chance wasted: Vardar missed a golden opportunity to retake the lead when a penalty was saved by La Fiorita goalkeeper Luca Rossi.
• 85th minute – Late drama: La Fiorita hit the crossbar through a fierce volley from substitute Marco Zafferani.

Tactical Observations

Both managers made numerous substitutions throughout the match, typical of pre-season friendlies. La Fiorita lined up in a 4-4-2, looking to keep shape, while Vardar experimented with a 3-4-3 formation that allowed fluid attacking transitions. The equaliser came from a direct long-ball approach, suggesting La Fiorita's coaching staff want to add variety to their game this season.

Standout Players

• Luca Rossi (La Fiorita): Made several good saves, including a crucial penalty stop.
• David Tomassini (La Fiorita): Scored the equaliser and showed good hold-up play throughout.
• Stefan Stojanov (Vardar): Scored a fine goal and was one of the most dangerous players on the pitch.

Context and Next Steps

For SP La Fiorita, this friendly forms part of their preparations for the Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio, where they will aim to challenge for the title after a mid-table finish last season. FC Vardar Skopje, perennial contenders in the Macedonian First League, are building match fitness ahead of their European qualifiers later this summer. The draw will likely please both coaching staffs as they continue to assess their squads.