Italy Under-21s ultimately deserved their 3-1 victory over Albania, even if there was a flurry of three goals in injury time and Patrick Cutrone went off injured.
The Azzurrini were smarting after a 3-0 friendly defeat to Slovakia last week, their heaviest loss in the Gigi Di Biagio era. The Coach made many changes for this other friendly at the Sardegna Arena in Cagliari, including Milan striker Patrick Cutrone and Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli.
Italy Under-21s ultimately deserved their 3-1 victory over Albania, even if there was a flurry of three goals in injury time and Patrick Cutrone went off injured.
The Azzurrini were smarting after a 3-0 friendly defeat to Slovakia last week, their heaviest loss in the Gigi Di Biagio era. The Coach made many changes for this other friendly at the Sardegna Arena in Cagliari, including Milan striker Patrick Cutrone and Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli.
Cutrone volleyed just wide of the near post, then forced a desperate save one-on-one after springing the offside trap and his overhead kick was off target.
It was Federico Dimarco who eventually broke through with a well-taken goal, as a pass was chipped up by Luca Vido and he volleyed in with his left foot from a tight angle.
Rolando Mandragora’s scorcher flashed over the bar and Emil Audero had to make his first save on 36 minutes to deny Ademi.
Cutrone was in fine form, but then sprained his ankle and limped off the field. Albanian player Bare then risked a straight red card for his lunge on Riccardo Orsolini in first half stoppages.
Albania came so close to an equaliser after the restart, a long-range free kick bouncing off the upright with Audero stranded and Ramadani nodding the rebound over.
Vido and Vrioni saw their solo efforts deflected wide, then substitute Vittorio Parigini ran on goal, forcing Selmani to sprint off his line and clear the danger.
However, moments later, Albania found their equaliser when Audero misjudged a cross – something he has already done a few times – and Vrioni turned in the rebound off the post.
Just as the Azzurrini were about to suffer another disappointing result, Lazio midfielder Alessandro Murgia popped up to fire in a loose ball after a series of ricochets and secure the victory.
The flurry of activity in stoppages continued with Parigini adding another for good measure, his precise right-foot strike from a very acute angle into the far bottom corner.
Italy 3-1 Albania
Dimarco 27 (I), Vrioni 90 (A), Murgia 93 (I), Parigini 94 (I)
Italy U21: Audero; Depaoli (Calabria 57), Luperto (Marchizza 76), Mancini (Romagna 67), Dimarco; Pessina, Locatelli (Murgia 57), Mandragora; Vido (Cassata 76), Cutrone (Cerri 37), Orsolini (Parigini 67)
Albania U21: Selmani; Kryeziu, Tafa, Kumbulla, Hakaj (Ndau 80); Selahi (Zejnullai 70), Mucolli (Ramadani 46); Ademi, Bare (Shefiti 80), Sulejmanov (Abazaj 46); Vrioni