Italy’s Under-21s came from two goals down to defeat Serbia tonight and maintain their Euro 2015 qualification hopes.
The Azzurrini began the day sat in third place in Group 9 of UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying, and went into their evening kick-off in Pescara looking to again close the gap on Belgium, following their afternoon 6-0 win in Cyprus.
Italy’s Under-21s came from two goals down to defeat Serbia tonight and maintain their Euro 2015 qualification hopes.
The Azzurrini began the day sat in third place in Group 9 of UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying, and went into their evening kick-off in Pescara looking to again close the gap on Belgium, following their afternoon 6-0 win in Cyprus.
Ahead of kick-off, Italy needed to avoid defeat to maintain hopes of winning the group, whilst a win would be twice as significant with opponents Serbia sat in second.
Luigi Di Biagio’s men suffered an early set-back at the Adriatico, though, when Serbia took the lead on eight minutes through Aleksandar Pesic, as he capitalised on the hosts’ failure to clear a cross.
Not five minutes later and the same player had doubled Serbia’s lead, with a close-ranger header evading Francesco Bardi.
Andrea Belotti pulled a goal back midway through the first half as the Italians responded, poking in after a Cristiano Biraghi free-kick was not cleared in time.
Then, the Palermo striker pulled his country level into first-half stoppages, in earning and then converting a penalty.
The second half saw the Azzurrini push for a third and come close on more than one occasion, including Domenico Berardi striking the woodwork just past the hour mark.
With 15 minutes to play, the Sassuolo striker popped up to beat the Serbian ‘keeper with an effort from outside the area and complete the comeback in Italy’s favour.
Di Biagio’s side held out for the result and next face Cyprus on Wednesday evening, whilst Serbia are away to Northern Ireland. A win for Italy will see them top Group 9.
Group winners and the four best group runners-up enter into play-offs to then determine qualification to the 2015 finals, hosted in Czech Republic.
Italy Under-21s 3-2 Serbia Under-21s
Pesic 8, 12 (S), Belotti 23 pen 45 (I), Berardi 75 (I)
Italy Under-21s: Bardi; Zappacosta, Bianchetti, Antei, Biraghi; Sturaro, Crisetig; Berardi (Benassi 86), Battocchio (Zappacosta 56), Longo (Bernardeschi 65); Belotti
Serbia Under-21s: Dmitrović; Pantić, Ćosić, Veljković, Petrović; Čaušić, Kovačević (Cavric 78), Brašanac (Milinkovic-Savic 19); Đurđević (Zivkovic 60), Pešić, Kostić