Italy U21 were eliminated from the U21 European Championship after a 5-3 defeat against Portugal.

The Azzurri twice went two goals behind but managed to recover and send the game into extra time.

Sandro Tonali, Gianluca Frabotta and Riccardo Marchizza were suspended for the Azzurrini so Paolo Nicolato picked Tommaso Pobega, Raoul Bellanova and Marco Sala.

Milan’s Rafael Leao started on the bench for Portugal, but it was another familiar face for Italian football to hurt the Azzurrini in the first half.

Monza striker Dany Mota netted twice in the first 30 minutes.

Both goals were scored from corner kick situations. The first was a stunning bicycle kick effort, while the second one was a shot from point-blank range that gave Carnesecchi no chance.

The Lusitanos seemed in control, but Italy got back into the game thanks to a goal from Tommaso Pobega that came from another corner kick.

Diogo Costa brilliantly saved Davide Frattesi’s header from point-blank range before Goncalo Ramos doubled Portugal’s lead again in the second half. The Portuguese made the most of a Diego Queiros through ball finding his way between two Italian defenders.

However, Rai Sport showed his toe was millimetres ahead of the last defender, therefore the goal should have been disallowed for offside, if only there was VAR.

Portugal’s joy didn’t last long as Gianluca Scamacca scored one minute later, steering into the net an assist from Davide Frattesi.

The Azzurrini kept pushing, Paolo Nicolato threw on Riccardo Sottil and Patrick Cutrone in the last ten minutes and they were both decisive for the equalizer.

The Cagliari winger was sent running down the left flank and directed the ball squarely in the box, finding Cutrone at the near post.

Mattia Lovato saw red after picking up a second yellow card at the beginning of extra time, but it was Cutrone again who had the best chance after a fantastic individual effort forced Diogo Costa into a save at his far post.

Jota found the net in the second half of extra time picking up the ball from Romario and beating Carnesecchi in a 1vs1 situation.

Italy threw everyone forward, down by one goal and a man too, but Conceiçao, the son of former Lazio and Parma winger Sergio, found the net on the counterattack, booking Portugal their place in the semifinals.

Portugal: Diogo Costa; Dalot, Diogo Queiros, Diogo Leite, Tomas Tavares; Gedson Fernandes (Jota 74), Daniel Bragança Romario 86), Vitinha; Fabio Vieira (Conceiçao 86); Gonçalo Ramos (Luis 69), Dany Mota (Leao 94).

Italy: Carnesecchi; Lovato, Del Prato, Ranieri; Bellanova (Zappa 75), Frattesi, Rovella (Cutrone 81), Pobega (Maggiore 75), Sala (Sottil 81); Raspadori, Scamacca (Ricci 91).​

Tickets Kit Collector