PHOTO
BAGNO A RIPOLI, ITALY - NOVEMBER 19: Luca Lipani of Italy U20 celebrates after scoring a goal with Mario Perlingieri of Italy U20 during the Elite League match between Italy U20 and Romania U20 at Viola Park on November 19, 2024 in Bagno a Ripoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti - FIGC/FIGC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Luca Lipani; Mario Perlingieri
Seven goals and six points in five days. After the 3-2 win against Poland, the Italy Under-20 team also beat Romania: with the 4-1 win at the Viola Park, the Azzurrini coached by Bernardo Corradi obtained their third win in the Elite League, the first at home after wins against the Czech Republic and Poland away, at the end of a match conducted with authority from 1' to 90’. An Italian victory already secured in the first half thanks to the goals of Adam Bakoune (AC Milan), Luca Lipani (Sassuolo) and Raphael Kofler (Sudtirol) and finished in the second half by the penalty converted by Lorenzo Anghelè (Juventus), before the visitors' goal by Trica.
‘We had prepared for the match well, holding off the pressure of facing a very physical opponent,' said Corradi. 'Then things went differently as the game developed, but we were good at creating chances with the free ball to play well and give rhythm in the possession phase. This is a good group, with character and quality: the new players integrated well right away. It's not easy to make your debut wearing the Italian shirt.'
THE MATCH Corradi, compared to the match against Poland, only re-started Bakoune; in front, Perlingieri (on debut) and Anghelè supported by Candelari. Romania started well. Italy, however, began to gain ground as the minutes passed. Rafaila was breifly in danger with Harder's right-footed shot from outside, but the Romanians responded with an attempt by Rares Pop high over the crossbar. In the 23rd minute the Azzurrini took the lead: the Romanian defence was unprepared for Reale's cross from the left, with Rafaila unable to stop Bakoune at the far post.
Curelea's team tried to react with Botogan's right-footed shot, which bounced in front of Magro and went wide, but Italy soon made it 2-0 with captain Lipani, who did well to slot in and take advantage of an assist from Perlingieri, hitting a right-footed shot into the back of Rafaila's net. Italy came close to scoring the third goal with Anghelè, his shot deflected by Rafaila, then found it during the following corner, with a perfect left-footer by Kofler.
In the second half, Corradi switched to a three-man defence, taking off Bakoune and putting on Chiarodia to team up with Kofler and Stabile, then he brought Reale and Perlingieri back to the bench to introduce Idrissi and Konaté, and it was the Empoli striker himself who earned a penalty kick after being fouled by Dorin Pop. From the penalty spot, Anghelè's conversion was perfect. The game effectively ended there, with Magro called upon to make the only save of the match on Radaslavescu but blameless on Trica's header, for Romania's only goal.
ITALY 4-1 ROMANIA (HT: 3-0)
ITALY (4-3-1-2): Magro; Bakoune (46' Chiarodia), Kofler, Stabile, Reale (62' Idrissi); Ciammaglichella, Harder (73' Cichella), Lipani (73' Manzoni); Candelari; Perlingieri (62' Konaté), Anghelè. Unused subs: Torriani, Mane, Zeroli, Di Maggio, Vacca. Coach: Corradi
ROMANIA (4-2-3-1): Rafaila (78' Lefter); Strata (46' Dorobantu), M. Dutu, D. Pop, David (46' Borza); Botogan (68' S. Dutu), Vulturar (85' Jalade); Bana (68' Radulescu), Florea (46' Radaslavescu), R. Pop; Stan (78' st Trica). Unused subs: Dinca, Pascalau, Musi, El-Sawy. Coach: Curelea
Goals: 23‘ Bakoune (I), 33’ Lipani (I), 41‘ Kofler (I), 65' Anghelè (I, pen.), 81' Trica (R)
Referees: Galipò. Assistants: Fontani and Cipriani. Fourth Official: Crezzini.