Italy scraped a gap 1-0 victory over Romania within the due to Tommaso Baldanzi’s objective and Sebastiano Desplanches saving a penalty.
They’re joint high of Group A with Spain, who wanted a stoppage-time objective to beat hosts Slovakia 3-2.
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As Cesare Casadei and Diego Coppola arrived late from the senior squad duties, , with Roma’s Tommaso Baldanzi, Luca Koleosho of Burnley and Leeds United striker Willy Gnonto forming a small however . Romania had 5 gamers within the squad who’re at Italian golf equipment, together with Udinese goalkeeper Razvan Sava, Lecce striker Rares Burnete and Milan Futuro defender Matteo Dutu.
SALON-DE-PROVENCE, FRANCE – JUNE 12: Carmine Nunziata, head coach of Italy U21, reacts throughout the fiftieth Tournoi Maurice Revello match between Italy U21 and Indonesia U20 at Stade Marcel Roustan on June 12, 2024 in Salon-de-Provence, France. (Picture by Simone Arveda/Getty Photos)
Koleosho’s snapshot examined the goalkeeper from distance and Constantin Grameni had a scorcher charged down, till the Azzurrini took the lead with Baldanzi’s cease and ferocious left-foot end from 12 yards on a Matteo Ruggeri pull-back. It got here on the finish of a prolonged passing transfer.
The primary check for Palermo goalkeeper Sebastiano Desplanches was having his gloves stung by a long-range Umit Akdag rocket, however Koleosho was unfortunate to not make it 2-0 on 43 minutes when his low drive thumped the upright from 9 yards.
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As a substitute, a penalty was awarded following a VAR evaluation as Cher Ndour mistimed the clearance and as an alternative kicked Cristian Ignat at the back of the ankle. Former Fiorentina youth academy participant Louis Munteanu stepped up, however was denied by the superb Desplanches.
FERRARA, ITALY – MARCH 26: Sebastiano Desplanches of Italy U21 throughout the UEFA Under21 EURO Qualifier match between Italy U21 and Turkey U21 at Stadio Paolo Mazza on March 26, 2024 in Ferrara, Italy. (Picture by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Photos)
Ianis Stoica gathered a cross from the left to show in from six yards, however was flagged offside to rescue Italy, whereas Lorenzo Pirola’s free header flashed inches broad from a nook.
Baldanzi thought he’d made it 2-0 with a daisy-cutter from the sting of the realm, however Sava simply did sufficient to push it onto the within of the upright and reacted shortly to cease the rebound crossing the road.
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Romania had an enormous likelihood to equalise in stoppages when Desplanches was caught in no man’s land, however Zoran Mitrov’s lob was over the empty web.
Italy 1-0 Romania
Baldanzi 26 (I)
Italy U21: Desplanches; Zanotti (Kayode 86), Ghilardi, Pirola, Ruggeri; Fabbian, Prati, Ndour; Baldanzi (Pisilli 86), Koleosho (Ambrosino 63); Gnonto (Casadei 63)
Romania U21: Sava; Strata (Sirbu 61), Ignat (Perianu 46), M Ilie, Borza; Corbu (Popescu 46), Akdag, Grameni (Mitrov 88); Stoica (Burnete 61), Munteanu, R Ilie
Ref: Fotias (GRE)
Saved penalty: Munteanu 45+3 (R)