Italy’s Under-19s came out on the wrong side of a 4-3 thriller against Portugal in the European Championship final.
The Azzurrini beat France to reach the final in Seinajoki, and had already beaten their opponents 3-2 in the group stage.
That high scoring affair proved to be portentous, in what was a thrilling final.
Portugal started on the front foot, with Alessandro Plizzari forced into early saves from Joao Filipe and Nuno Nunes.
Italy’s Under-19s came out on the wrong side of a 4-3 thriller against Portugal in the European Championship final.
The Azzurrini beat France to reach the final in Seinajoki, and had already beaten their opponents 3-2 in the group stage.
That high scoring affair proved to be portentous, in what was a thrilling final.
Portugal started on the front foot, with Alessandro Plizzari forced into early saves from Joao Filipe and Nuno Nunes.
The Azzurrini had their first chance just before the half hour mark, but Joao Virginia tipped Davide Frattesi’s shot over the bar.
It appeared the match would be goalless at the break, but a cross from the right was chester down by Francisco Trincão just inside the Italy box.
It fell for Joao Felipe, known as Jota, on the edge of the box and Plizzari couldn’t stop his half-volley.
The Milan youngster should have done better, but it was he who had kept the Azzurrini in the game in the first 45 minutes.
Juventus striker Moise Kean replaced Inter’s Andrea Pinamonti at half-time, but it looked to be game over after 72 minutes.
Florentino smashed a long ball forward for Trincão, who cut inside Atalanta defender Davide Bettella.
His shot was straight at Plizzari, but the goalkeeper spilled it and Trincão was there to tap in the rebound.
That goal came with less than 20 minutes to play, but the Azzurrini weren’t beaten.
Kean received the ball from a throw-in and passed it inside to fellow substitute Christian Capone.
The Atalanta forward returned it to Kean with an inventive backheel, and the Juventus man smashed it into the bottom corner.
Incredibly Italy were level just a minute later, and once again it was Kean who found the back of the net.
Nicolò Zaniolo cut the ball across the box, and the 18-year-old was on hand to finish with his right foot.
The two sides couldn’t be separated in the following 15 minutes, so the final went to extra-time.
Frattesi almost gave Italy the lead with a deflected effort from a corner, but it was well saved by the Portuguese goalkeeper.
Instead it was Portugal who regained the advantage, Jota firing past Plizzari after some scrappy play on the edge of the Italian box.
The Azzurrini refused to be beaten though, and found another equaliser through Gianluca Scamacca.
Andrea Marcucci swung in a cross from the right and the Sassuolo striker was left unmarked to head it home.
A lapse in concentration cost Italy the final though, as Portugal got the winner two minutes later.
The impressive Jota lofted a ball into the box for substitute Pedro Correia, and he held off the defender to turn and fire home.
Italy 3-4 Portugal
Jota 45+1 103 (P) Trincão 72 (P) Kean 75 76 (I) Scamacca 107 (I) Correia 109 (P)
Italy: Plizzari; Bellanova, Bettella, Zanandrea, Tripaldelli (Candela, 65); Frattesi, Tonali (Marcucci, 92), Melegoni (Capone, 58); Zaniolo; Scamacca, Pinamonti (Kean, 46)
Portugal: Joao Virginia; Thierry Correia, Romain Correia, Carmo, Vinagre; Quina (Santos, 91), Florentino (Pedro Correia, 101), Nunes; Jota, Francisco Trincão, José Gomes (Dju, 83)