Italy will face Portugal in the Under-19 European Championship Final on Sunday after a 3-2 thriller against Spain.
It is the second major youth tournament of the summer to go all the way to the Final, after defeat to Uruguay in the Under-20 World Cup.
The Azzurrini started the match well in Malta and saw two different Francesco Pio Esposito headers denied by great Bruno Iribarne reaction saves.
There is no VAR or goal-line technology in this tournament either, just like the European Under-21 Championship, and there was further controversy when Italy players felt Nicolò Pisilli’s strike had already crossed the line when it was clawed away by the goalkeeper.
Italy did take the lead, as after a series of fine saves, Iribarne was caught out by Samuele Vignato’s left-foot strike.
Mastrantonio parried the Victor Barberà effort and Esposito had penalty appeals waved away before Spain’s equaliser.
Luis Hasa had his scorcher fingertipped onto the crossbar, but moments later Pisilli restored their advantage with a delicate finish.
Barberà remained the biggest Spanish danger, his effort charged down by Filippo Missori, but a deflected set play fell kindly for Yarek Gasiorowski to make it 2-2 from close range with the aid of a Iacopo Regonesi deflection.
Italy went in front for a third time through Luca Lipani’s towering header on a corner and it proved enough this time.
The Final on Sunday evening is against Portugal, who crushed Norway 5-0 in the other semi-final today.
They already met in the group phase, with the Portuguese defeating Italy 5-1.
Spain 2-3 Italy
Vignato 52 (I), Barberà 58 (S), Pisilli 66 (I), Gasiorowski 74 (S), Lipani 85 (I)
portugal is relieved they dont haft to face spain italy is a easy road for them i hope i am wrong
you were indeed wrong…