San Marino have ended a run of 61 consecutive defeats in European Championship qualifying with a 0-0 draw at home to Estonia.

The visitors were on top during the opening stages as Ilja Antonov had his effort from the edge of the box blocked by the stubborn home defence after Nicola Chiaruzzi fired wide.

Sergei Zenjov was then denied by San Marino goalkeeper Aldo Junior Simoncini midway through the half before the hosts began to fight back.

The minnows almost found the net 30 minutes when Cristian Brolli rose highest from a corner, only for his header to go inches wide of the post and then Estonia went close had as Henrik Ojamaa blasted off target in first-half stoppage time.

San Marino posed an occasional threat after the break, though it was Estonia who created the better openings as Artjom Artjunin had a header saved before Konstantin Vassiljev's ambitious strike went wide.

Estonia piled on the pressure towards the end of the match as they went looking for the goal that would have kept their qualifying hopes alive, but San Marino stood firm to end their dismal record in qualifying.

Written by
Jack Prescott