The Under-19 side, current European champions, have continued their march towards Round 1 of European qualifying with a 3-2 win over Northern Ireland this afternoon at the Stadio Lungobisenzio in Prato, following up their opening game of the season victory against Albania in August.

“The lads approached the game in the right manner, just as they did against Albania,” underlined Azzurrini coach, Bernardo Corradi, post-match: “Obviously, if we analyse the game there were things that were done well and others not so well, but the fact we conceded the equaliser from their first attempt on goal and managed to get ourselves back in front shortly afterwards is a really positive sign, especially from a mentality point of view." 

The lead was provided inside two minutes by Bolzan, before Evans struck back soon after for the Northern Irish with a great right-foot shot that flew into the top corner. Di Parravicini's header from a corner restored the Azzurrini's lead after 21 minutes. And just before the break it was 3-1, this time thanks to Franzoni with a beautful hit into the far corner across the keeper.

After the break, Corradi changed things up giving all of his players a chance to get some minutes on the pitch. Halfway through the second half (22’), a scramble in the Italy box finished up with substitute Moses backheeling the ball into the net, but that was the last of the goal action and it ended 3-2.

On Monday, again at the stadio Lungobisenzio in Prato, the young lads will face the Netherlands at 16:30 CEST (live on figc.it), that represents their last test before Round 1 starts: in November, Corradi's lads will be in Sweden taking on Liechtenstein, Switzerland and the hosts for a place in the next round of the European qualifying stages.

 

Italy 3-2 Northern Ireland
ITALY: Marin, Turco, Milani, Ripani, Domanico, Chiarodia, Onofrietti Teixeira, Parravicini, Bolzan, Quieto, Franzoni. Subs: Magro, Bartesaghi, Lipani, Manè, Diop, Di Maggio, Ciammaglichella, Spinaccé, Longoni, delle Monache, Calligaris, Magni.
Coach: Corradi
NORTHERN IRELAND: Chalres, Choltz, Thompson, McConville, Lennon, Atcheson, Trickett, Donnelly, Evans, Morgan, Boyd. Subs: Munn, Patterson, Goodman, Moses, Turley, Briggs, Hamilton, Walsh, Brown.
Coach: MacAuley
REFEREE: Ancora. Assistants: Minafra and Zezza. IV Official: Di Francesco
GOALS: 2’ Bolzan, 9’ Evans, 21’ Parravicini, 39’ Franzoni, 67' Evans