Belarus secured a comfortable 4-0 victory over San Marino in the UEFA Nations League on 4 October 2026, delivering a dominant home performance. The result keeps Belarus in contention in their group, while San Marino remain in search of their first points of the campaign.

Belarus take control early

The home side needed just eight minutes to break the deadlock, capitalising on a defensive mistake and finishing calmly. San Marino, as expected, sat deep and tried to frustrate, but Belarus moved the ball quickly and created chances with regularity. A second goal arrived on 27 minutes, a well-worked move down the left ending with a low cross and a simple tap-in.

At half-time, Belarus led 2-0 and had complete control. San Marino's goalkeeper had already made several saves, but the pressure was unrelenting.

Key moments

• 8' – Belarus 1-0: A misplaced pass is punished with a composed finish inside the box.
• 27' – Belarus 2-0: A left-wing overlap and cut-back is converted from close range.
• 55' – Belarus 3-0: A midfielder curls a shot into the top corner from 20 yards.
• 72' – Belarus 4-0: The striker completes his brace with a header from a corner.

Tactical story: patience against a deep block

San Marino's plan was clear: defend in numbers, slow the game and limit space behind the defence. For long spells, they succeeded in keeping the score down. But Belarus remained patient, switching play from side to side and using their full-backs to stretch the opposition. Once the first goal went in, the game became much easier.

Belarus's midfield controlled possession and won the ball back quickly when they lost it. Their dominance was reflected in the shot count, with San Marino rarely able to sustain attacks beyond their own half.

Standout performers

Belarus's striker was the standout with two goals, one a close-range finish and the other a powerful header. Their creative midfielder dictated the tempo and scored a spectacular third. For San Marino, the goalkeeper deserved credit for a string of saves that kept the margin from becoming even wider.

What the result means

The three points strengthen Belarus's position in the UEFA Nations League and boost their confidence ahead of tougher fixtures. San Marino, meanwhile, continue to find the step up difficult, but their defensive organisation showed signs of improvement. For Belarus, the challenge now is to carry this attacking fluency into matches against stronger opposition.