The Under 23 National Team’s Friendly Week got off to the best possible start. In Pinatar, Spain, Tatiana Zorri’s side defeated Portugal 2 1 thanks to goals from Alice Corelli of Roma and a penalty from Melissa Bellucci of Napoli Women. It was a win for the young Azzurre that will now take Italy to Murcia, where they will face Germany on Thursday at 17.30, after Germany’s 2-1 victory over Belgium.

“The girls always give me satisfaction and great enthusiasm – said coach Tatiana Zorri - putting into practice everything we worked on in the first days of the training camp. They showed heart, managed the situations on the pitch well and played an excellent first half. In the second half we did not come out with the right focus, but after Portugal’s equaliser we did well to take control of the match again. The result is the consequence of the overall performance”.

Alice Corelli made her senior debut last October

Italy played an attacking first half, hitting the post through Giada Pellegrino Cimò of Ternana Women and going close to scoring with Corelli, set up by Margherita Monnecchi of Lazio. It was precisely from the Monnecchi-Corelli combination that the opening goal arrived in the 29th minute, with a header from the Roma forward. A left-footed strike from Maria Ferreira on the counterattack brought Portugal level in the 49th minute, but Italy went back in front, this time for good, thanks to a penalty converted by Bellucci in the 81st minute. Zorri concluded, “On Thursday we will face a strong team, but we have no fear. Tomorrow we will recover our energy and then start thinking about Germany”.