PHOTO
Mission accomplished for the Under-17s, the reigning European champions, who secured their place in League A for the second qualifying round with a game to spare thanks to a 4-0 win over hosts Armenia. The victory came at the FFA Academy Stadium in Yerevan on Matchday 2 of Group 10 in the first qualifying round.
Italy took the lead in the 16th minute through Lazio attacking midfielder Michele Elena, before Juventus forward Pietro Salvai doubled their advantage in the 31st minute. After the break, Manuel Pasqual's side put the result beyond doubt with goals from Fiorentina forward Fortune Erhunmwun Egharevba and AC Milan striker Gabriele Borsa, who had replaced the injured Salvai in the 42nd minute. They found the net in the 49th and 78th minutes respectively.
"I'm very happy," said the Italy head coach, "particularly with the work we've done over these first ten days. We've faced and beaten two teams that defended very deep, but the lads found a way through their defences, scoring 10 goals without conceding. It's an important achievement: it guarantees us a place in League A in the second qualifying round and means we can approach our final group game like a final. We obviously want to win it and finish top with a perfect record."
The Azzurrini are level on six points with France at the top of the group. They will be back in action on Tuesday, November 17th (11:00 AM), when they face their French counterparts at the Vahagn Tumasyan Stadium. France beat Luxembourg 3-0 in Abovyan this morning, thanks to goals from Franco-Algerian Metz midfielder Yanis Bousserra in the 3rd minute, Franco-Haitian Paris Saint-Germain left-back Jordan Gervelain in the 32nd and Troyes winger Yanis Kharbouch in the 77th. "We'll assess the players' condition over the next few days," Pasqual continued, "and pick the strongest team possible. The squad has been responding well, both on and off the pitch, thanks to the excellent work of the entire staff. I'm pleased that we've managed to give everyone some playing time in the first two matches. Now we just need to take that final step and round off this first qualifying round in the best possible way."
MATCH REPORT Italy lined up in their usual 4-3-1-2 formation, a hallmark of the Azzurri youth teams: Costante in goal; Mattei, Lucarelli, Ghiotto – who took over the captain's armband from Damonte – and Dattilo in defence; Sorrentino, Blandina and Elena in midfield; and Salvai and Egharevba up front, with Furlan playing just behind them. Armenia opted for a 4-2-3-1, with Barbarian between the posts; Mkrtchyan, Sekhleyan, Mullins and Hovakimyan across the back line; Mkhitaryan and Babayan in central midfield; Harutyunyan, Samvel and Beniamin Begiaryan in the attacking midfield positions, with Gasparyan leading the line.
The Azzurrini made a bright start and, after Egharevba fired over from close range around the 15-minute mark, broke the deadlock just a minute later. Elena made the most of an excellent pass from Furlan, beating Barbarian with a fine left-footed shot across goal that flew in just under the crossbar. Buoyed by the opener, Manuel Pasqual's side continued to press forward, coming close to a second through Furlan, whose left-footed chip drifted narrowly wide in the 20th minute, and Egharevba, whose near-post header was kept out by the Armenian goalkeeper in the 27th. The hosts tried to respond in the 30th minute, but Gasparyan's tame header was comfortably gathered by an alert Costante. Just a minute later, Italy deservedly made it 2-0. Salvai collected Elena's cross from the left and fired past the Armenian goalkeeper. Towards the end of the first half, Salvai was forced off with an injury and replaced by Borsa. Armenia had a chance to pull one back in the first and only minute of stoppage time, but after Costante had made a save, Samvel Begiaryan collected the rebound and fired high over the open goal from 30 yards with his left foot. The Azzurrini went into the break with a two-goal lead.
Manuel Pasqual's side picked up where they left off after the restart and made it 3-0 in the 49th minute. Sorrentino played the ball into Egharevba with his back to goal on the edge of the box. The forward turned sharply before firing a powerful right-footed shot across goal and past Barbarian. With a comfortable three-goal advantage, Italy continued to dictate the game and came close to adding a fourth. First, Scaglione fired over from close range in the 57th minute after Lucarelli's long-range effort had been parried. Then, in the 60th minute, Egharevba sent a right-footed effort narrowly wide from a good position. The Azzurrini remained in control and found their fourth goal in the 78th minute. Borsa collected a loose clearance from the Armenian defence and fired first time from the edge of the box, with his right-footed effort taking a deflection off a defender on its way past the goalkeeper. In the closing stages, Egharevba, Italy's liveliest attacking threat, came close to making it five with a header from Ghiotto's cross that struck the crossbar in the 88th minute. After two minutes of stoppage time, the final whistle confirmed a 4-0 win for Manuel Pasqual's side, who booked their place in League A for the second qualifying round with a game to spare.
ITALY-ARMENIA 4-0 (2-0 HT)
Italy (4-3-1-2): Costante; Mattei, Lucarelli (Barbone 81'), Ghiotto (c), Dattilo (Odje 65'); Sorrentino, Blandina, Elena (Scaglione 46'); Furlan (Bernamonte 65'); Salvai (Borsa 42'), Egharevba. Subs: Rondelli (GK), Damonte, Pipitò, Norelli. Head coach: Manuel Pasqual.
Armenia (4-2-3-1): Barbarian; Mkrtchyan, Sekhleyan, Mullins, Hovakimyan; Mkhitaryan (Vuvunikyan 73'), Babayan (Asoyan 83'); Harutyunyan (S. Petrosyan 67'), S. Begiaryan (c) (Gharibyan 73'), B. Begiaryan (Gevorgyan 67'); Gasparyan. Subs: Ghazaryan (GK), Hartenyan, E. Petrosyan, Hovhannisyan. Head coach: Mher Mirumyan.
Referee: Roman Jitari (MDA). Assistant referees: Vadim Rosca (MDA) and Aleksander Jæger (NOR). Fourth official: Mathias Støfringshaug (NOR).
Goals: Elena (ITA) 16', Salvai (ITA) 31', Egharevba (ITA) 49', Borsa (ITA) 78'.
Bookings: Babayan (ARM) 35'. Added time: 1' (1H), 2' (2H).
UEFA European Under-17 Championship Latvia 2027 | Round 1
Group 10: Armenia, France, ITALY, Luxembourg
Matchday 1 (Wednesday, November 11th)
Luxembourg 0-6 ITALY 0-6
France 4-0 Armenia
Matchday 2 (Saturday, November 14th)
France 3-0 Luxembourg
ITALY 4-0 Armenia
Standings: ITALY 6 (+10), France 6 (+7), Armenia 0 (-8), Luxembourg 0 (-9).
Matchday 3 (Tuesday, November 17th)
11:00: ITALY-France, Vahagn Tumasyan Stadium, Abovyan
11:00: Armenia-Luxembourg, FFA Academy Stadium, Yerevan
NB: All kick-off times are in CET (Central European Time).